Zigger Zagger

[Snedger]

Bit of a weird question but is anybody allowed to chant Zigger Zagger these days?

When I was a lad, it was Mick Greenaway that chanted it and as far as I was concerned, only he could chant it. After all, he was known as the Zigger Zagger man to many. I remember a great one in the concourse at Anfield at half time the day we finally won there after 56 years, thanks partly to Vinnie Jones. If I recall correctly, he used to quickly wave his index finger like a conductors baton as he chanted it.

So now that he has sadly passed away I often hear it chanted but I guess that anyone who has the confidence and belief in their voice can have a go now. Must say though, I’ve heard a few attempts that would have Greenaway turning in his grave.

Also, is there not an official version (as such)? I’m pretty sure Mick Greenaway’s version ended “Zigger! (oi) Zagger!! (oi) , Zigger Zagger, Zigger Zagger, (oi,oi,oi) – Oh when the blues…. But I’m sure I’ve heard variations on the part before that final Zigger Zagger, Zigger Zagger in more recent times.

[mclovin83]

Too young to remember the original Greenway version sadly however there is a fairly well known Zigga Zagga man in the Matthew Harding Lower (around block 12) who sings the version you mention.

Sadly it never seems to spread the the entire stand, yet alone ground. Better for the pub tbh....

[Mike 93]

Yeh I always hear the guy in MHL singing that. Sometimes its pumping sometimes it not. Munich was quality for these great type of songs. Also pubs on fa cup final and semi final days.

[Itsintheblood89]

I hear it sung all the time but to my suprise, when I was in Germany yesterday, whilst watching the Germany match a few of the locals started singing it?!!! I also heard it being sang when that BBC documentry was being shown about the Ukraine Ultras and their stadiums. Is it known/sung across europe???

I dont really know of its origin but I think when Chels play away people just draw up the courage to give it a go!!!

Edited June 11, 2012 by Itsintheblood89

[Fast Eddie]

Quality song - all together now...

[Uno]

I hear it most from the corner of the shed end. maybe because im closer to the shed than the MH stand.

[Scott]

This firm likes a proper sing song.

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[/media] Edited June 11, 2012 by Scott

[Itsintheblood89]

Haha fairplay to them thats class!

[Carshalton Blue]

Its caused grief in the past with certain people wanting to sing it, i went to two Greenaway benefit do's, the 1st before the 97 final where MG also attended & was given a st, the 2nd do was a benefit do to raise money for the up keep of MG's grave, over a 1,000 CFC were there that night & raised loads of dough.

That night saw a well respected fella no longer with us & another old skool fella have a blazing row about who was going to sing it in tribute to MG, in the end they both sung it.

I know an older well known fella at CFC who sings it in the mhl, personally i think it shouldnt be sung, there's so many knobs who f@ck it up it doesnt do MG or the chant justice.

While i'm on about chants if any of you sing or know lads that sing that "CHEL-SEA-HOOLIGANS" chant leave it out its cringeworthy as f@ck & comes across as so Americanised its untrue.

[Mike Carefree]

No one will better Greenaways zigger zagga (or his train ticket prices), but it should always continue , by whoever wants to do it , as it will remind us older Blues of the good days and it is a lasting tribute to mr g

[Nitro]

Greenaways ZZ is probably unmatchable, but fair play to those that give it a go in the all seater enviro:-

As an OS observer, fair play to the person in the Shed upper that stands up alone in the seats and gives it a go.

[mclovin83]

While i'm on about chants if any of you sing or know lads that sing that "CHEL-SEA-HOOLIGANS" chant leave it out its cringeworthy as f@ck & comes across as so Americanised its untrue.

Agreed, that has always made me cringe due to the fact that the sort of lads that sing that are typically the sort that have never been involved in anything of that nature and would probably be on their toes the second anything went off.

I don't claim to have been involved but then again I don't sing 'Chelsea Hooligans' either. Much prefer the 'Chelsea Champions' chant.

Without wanting to derail the thread- can anyone give me the genuine history behind the celery song etc? I have heard a few different versions over the years but have never really found any of them very believable to be honest and would love to know how that one came about?

[BlueBeard]

Bit of a weird question but is anybody allowed to chant Zigger Zagger these days?

When I was a lad, it was Mick Greenaway that chanted it and as far as I was concerned, only he could chant it. After all, he was known as the Zigger Zagger man to many.

Used to be a laugh in the Shed when somebody other than MG tried to start the chant. They'd yell out 'Zigger Zagger', and the entire Shed would respond with 'SHUT YOUR MOUTH', they'd continue, and get the same response, then they'd normally just give up.

[Uno]

Thats a bit out of order if you ask me.

[Mike Carefree]

A good question by Mclovin 83. How n when did the celery scene come about..Ive racked my brain but seem to just come up with...It was just there all of a sudden, the time the date unknown....

[Snedger]

Thanks everyone for the responses to my question, especially Carlshalton and BlueBeard.

It’s good that Zigger Zagger is still sung and it is as Chelsea to me as celery and meadow mowing. But some quality control wouldn’t go amiss.

I did do it myself once outside Bramall Lane in 1993. I was with the merry band of Chelsea Up Norf lads as we were making our way from the pub to the ground. It caught the attention of the police though I and got pulled out the queue at the turnstile and was frisked and lectured. When he found my student travel card he told me that I could ruin my future if I wasn’t careful and that if he heard any singing they’d come in and find me. d**khead South Yorkshire copper. They also had a word with my cousin who’d tagged along with me for the day (a City fan). They frisked him and took his house keys out of his pocket and asked, “what are these for?†to which he replied, “they’re my house keys, don’t you lock doors in Sheffield?â€. He was lucky to get away with that cheek.

On the origin of Chelsea songs, is it right that One Man Went to Mow was first sung on a ferry heading over to Scandinavia for a preseason friendly? And talking of OMWTM, it seems to me that no one seems to sit down prior to 10 anymore. I recall a fantastic one at Old Trafford when all 5 or 6 thousand of us stood on the terrace behind the goal got down on our haunches as it got through 5, 6, 7 ready for all standing up on 10. It must have looked amazing from their end. Although I’ve heard quite a few Mancs say that they hated us singing it as it did their heads in. Those were the days… (wistful sigh)

[mclovin83]

A good question by Mclovin 83. How n when did the celery scene come about..Ive racked my brain but seem to just come up with...It was just there all of a sudden, the time the date unknown....

Someone must be able to shed a bit of light on this surely? I am relying on some of the older lads (no offence intended!)

[BlueBeard]

Thats a bit out of order if you ask me.

Maybe you should have been there

[dkw]

Someone must be able to shed a bit of light on this surely? I am relying on some of the older lads (no offence intended!)

Its always been difficult to pin the origin down, but there seems to be a few reasons floating around. This gives a few versions http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/s379/st113363.htm

Also, this is where the "one man went to mow2 song is supposed to have originated http://www.simplesite.com/CFCCathy/96820217 which sort of confuses one version of where "celery" came from.

[mclovin83]

Its always been difficult to pin the origin down, but there seems to be a few reasons floating around. This gives a few versions http://www.thefootba...79/st113363.htm

Also, this is where the "one man went to mow2 song is supposed to have originated http://www.simplesit...CCathy/96820217 which sort of confuses one version of where "celery" came from.

Cheers dkw, I have previously heard that Greenaway started it as he did with 10 men went to mow which is certainly believable. I have also heard more far fetched stories such as a group of well known Chelsea lads being chased through a field of celery by old bill and ripping it up and chucking it at the old bill as they fled.

Not heard the Gillingham one tho- will add that to my collection of Celery stories!

Edited June 13, 2012 by mclovin83

[Nitro]

Not sure on the celery front however there were are lots of fruit and veg moments for our travelling fans,

One was at Luton away, possibly the year the train was set alight when the contents of a fruit and veg shop were used in an Agincourt manoeuvre.

The contents of another non F+V were also used.

[mad_mac]

On the Clery front I had heard it was a group of lads were going to a game at the bridge, were diverted (either by chasing others, or being chased by the old Bill) through an allotment where Celery was growing. The pinched it and took it to the game and that's where it started. Certainly glad they didn't pinch some carrots as that just wouldn't fit in with the tune now, would it?

As for teh Zigger Zagger, I think it's important that we keep it going. I know that Greenway is an integral part of the history of this club, so why should his songs die with him. Keep them going, afterall letting it go would only add fuel to the "no 'istoree" crowd

Scott

[nonotnowjim]

Honestly i wouldnt be that fussed if Zigger Zagger was retired in memory/respect of Micky G.

I never like that song much anyway....

[mclovin83]

On the Clery front I had heard it was a group of lads were going to a game at the bridge, were diverted (either by chasing others, or being chased by the old Bill) through an allotment where Celery was growing. The pinched it and took it to the game and that's where it started.

Yeah that is a close match to the story I heard about celery, only that I heard they were being chased by old bill.

Everyone seems to have a different story though so bever sure which is the right one...

[dkw]

On the Clery front I had heard it was a group of lads were going to a game at the bridge, were diverted (either by chasing others, or being chased by the old Bill) through an allotment where Celery was growing. The pinched it and took it to the game and that's where it started. Certainly glad they didn't pinch some carrots as that just wouldn't fit in with the tune now, would it?

As for teh Zigger Zagger, I think it's important that we keep it going. I know that Greenway is an integral part of the history of this club, so why should his songs die with him. Keep them going, afterall letting it go would only add fuel to the "no 'istoree" crowd

Scott

That was always what I had heard and what my Dad told me, but there seems to be several reasons floating around.