OK, guys, here are the first three verses for you to look at. There's no way you'd get me to sing it - even in the bath - but you are welcome to have a go yourselves. In case you've forgotten the tune, you can play this to remind yourself.
I didn't know much about the origins of our club, so I did some research on the founder. James Hannay McGaul was a bit of a character and became a local celebrity. Long after he started the club, he became mayor of Birkenhead. We all thought three years in the National League was long enough, but it took 37 years to get into the Football League originally. Thankfully, McGaul lived to see it happen and died just two months after our first league match.
The verses below cover the period up to the start of the Second World War.
The Tranmere Rovers Song
("The team called Tranmere Rovers")
At the start of it all James Hannay McGaul
A Birkenhead man of renown
He had a dream to start a football team
To represent Birkenhead town.
"It shall have fame wherever the game
Is played the whole world over
So wherever we go, the people will know
The team called Tranmere Rovers."
Now they started off small and won nothing at all
But he knew that it all would take time
But in 1921, McGaul’s job was done
To the Football League they did climb.
Soon along came a teen, his name Dixie Dean
A player known the whole world over
Though he may have moved on to Everton
He started at Tranmere Rovers.
On Boxing Day ’35, Prenton Park came alive
As Oldham were put to the sword
A record score of 13-4
And nine of them Bunny Bell scored!
That team won the Welsh Cup, then as champs they went up
But after one year it was over
Because Division Two was like their Waterloo
For the team called Tranmere Rovers.