'People' rallying for England glory

"We've got the World Cup in our hands"

A group of England fans is calling on the public to join them in recording an anthem to support the national team's World Cup bid.

People United has re-written the words to "He's got the whole world in his Hands" as a challenge to the official England song.

The group, from Oxfordshire, want as many supporters as possible to record their version of the song, to be compiled into a "peoples' anthem" for the finals in Japan.

They kicked the campaign off at England's friendly against Italy on Wednesday night, and got the crowd singing the song, re-named "We've got the World Cup in our Hands".

People United began their campaign at the England friendly

Initiated by Julian Sharples, the group is aware people will accuse them of being over-optimistic, especially with England's 2-1 defeat in Leeds.

Mr Sharples, a songwriter, told BBC News Online it was time to stop agonising over 1966 and "30 years of hurt".

"We're determined to change the emphasis of this. You don't go into battle saying 'We'd like to win, if that's all right with you'.

"What we're saying is the message has got to go out that we've already got the World Cup, you've got to come and take it off us."

People United kicked things off before Wednesday's game by lifting the World Cup itself, during a TV interview, after the BBC managed to get it on a brief loan.

Towns represented

They have also recorded a version of the song in January, which is available to download from their website.

"However, from now until the cup and during it we want the people's version to represent as many towns and cities as possible up and down the country," said Mr Sharples.

"We're having some fun with this, but we really do believe the more people who sing this, the more help we can give to England winning the cup."

He stressed this invitation is not just for diehard football fans, and said the way to get involved initially is to send an e-mail to People United.

Mr Sharples said: "We've done lots of interviews, and the aim is to organise for anyone who wants to get involved, to go into their local radio station and record it, and email it to us."

The anthem will be posted on the group's website when it has been completed.