Boxing legend launches England’s New World Cup Anthem
The song itself has been years in the making.
Stracey Strikes Again: Boxing Legend Launches England’s New World Cup Anthem
WBC Welterweight icon John H Stracey — the world champion with the knockout left hand and the velvet singing voice — has unveiled 66 All Over Again, a rousing new anthem for the England World Cup team. Early reaction suggests he’s delivered another hit destined to echo far beyond the terraces.
A Song Born From 1966 — And From Friendship
Unlike most tributes to England’s greatest footballing triumph, this one comes from a man who knew the heroes personally. Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst — to Stracey, they were not just legends, but friends. All three, along with Trevor Brooking and rugby great Jason Leonard, were born at Barking’s famed “Sporty Unit” — Upney Hospital — a birthplace that produced champions across generations.
From Royal Oak to Upton Park
Stracey’s football roots run deep. As a young fighter under Terry Lawless at the Royal Oak Gym, he and his fellow boxers were regular visitors to West Ham United, where the club physio would “hammer out” their aches after brutal training sessions. Before he became a world champion, Stracey was a talented East London footballer — a passion that still fuels him today.
A Long‑Awaited Anthem Finds Its Moment
The song itself has been years in the making. Stracey wrote the lyrics long ago, with musician Gary Murphy crafting the melody. But it was a performance for entrepreneur Michael Knighton — once linked with a bid for Manchester United — and Senol that brought the track back to life. They connected Stracey with manager Mark Morgan and Starry Ray, whose backing vocals, recorded in Shepherd’s Bush, give the anthem its soaring finish.
A Champion’s Heart, A Showman’s Voice
Stracey’s musical confidence was nurtured by his mother, Betty, who urged him to “belt it out,” while his father, Dave, first took him to Repton Amateur Boxing Club at eleven. A natural southpaw switched to orthodox, his left hand never lost its sting — in the ring or on stage.
England Backed to Roar in Mexico
With the World Cup approaching, Stracey believes England have the firepower to make a serious impact. “If they roar through the first round and show their claws, I’d love to come to Mexico to cheer them on — and sing them on,” he said.
Mexico, of course, is where Stracey carved his own sporting legacy, dethroning José Nápoles in 1975 at Mexico City’s Plaza de Toros to become WBC Welterweight Champion of the World.
A New Anthem for a New Adventure
Half a century later, Stracey hopes Mexico will once again become a lions’ den — this time for England’s footballing dreams. With 66 All Over Again, he may just have delivered the soundtrack to the nation’s next great summer. John H is managed by Northamptonshire based celebrity management team Mark Morgan and Hannah Varney of Rapture Artist Management.