"I would say that football songs are traditional in a way that 'Little Boxes' never was and never will be, simply because of their context and transmission."

If there remains a gushing wellspring of spontaneous voice to expedient conditions, it is surely the football song. It meets any and all definitions of 'folk', save the one that demands it sounds like every other revival piece and is performed in a pub by those estranged from barber and tailor.

I've heard sung commentaries on politics, fashion, the north-south divide, television, gender as well as the ability of footballers, organic blossoms of wit borrowing tunes from where they may. Traditions are being forged week on week.