Chants about angels are usually the reserve of Gregorian monks, but one Birmingham City supporter has scooped £10,000 for penning a football chant about his club's nemesis - Aston Villa striker Juan Pablo Angel. Blues fan Jonny Hurst has been appointed the country's first Chant Laureate after impressing the judges, who included Poet Laureate Andrew Motion and football commentator Stuart Hall, with his ditty about the Colombian international set to the tune of Barry Manilow ' s Copacobana. The song starts: His name is Angel/And he's a show boy/An Alice Band keeps up his hair/ Juan Pablo from Col-om-bi-air. The 37-year-old solicitor, who lives in London, beat more than 1,500 entries to win the coveted title of Barclaycard Chant Laureate which comes with a £10,000 bursary to travel to football grounds around the country composing chants for the 2004/05 season. Mr Hurst also entered a chant about Birmingham City to the tune of Tammy Wynette's Stand By Your Man which began: Sometimes it's hard to be a Blues fan. The judging panel said he displayed linguistic skills, wit, insight, and passion to create "rousing and original chants that reflect the pride and passion of English football". Andrew Motion said he was delighted and surprised by the quality of the entries, but Mr Hurst was a genuine find. "The Barclaycard Chant Laureate competition provoked a terrific response: a large number of entries, and an impressive variety of chants - ranging from the brisk and simple, through the comic and curious, to the elaborate and heartfelt," he said. "In the end, the judges were unanimous in thinking that Jonny Hurst stood out above the rest. His chants have the wit and energy to make them eminently chantable, but they also have a distinctive ingenuity. He's a real find." Mr Hurst said he was aware of the irony of a Blues fan writing a chant celebrating a Villa player, but explained he often thinks up songs for opposing fans. "I am delighted and honoured to win this prestigious competition," he said. "I have always enjoyed singing and composing football chants for Birmingham City because it's such a massive part of the game. "I'll even admit to thinking about words and tunes for other clubs, so it's brilliant to be given the responsibility for writing chants across all the clubs in the Barclaycard Premiership." Announced in November last year, the search for the inaugural Barclaycard Chant Laureate has been supported by the great and the good from the world of football and literature. The five-strong judging panel were: Andrew Motion; Stuart Hall; Radio One's Chris Moyles; Barclaycard Group sponsorship director and Villa fan Nic Gault, and poet Ian McMillan. Mr Gault commented: "Judging was very difficult, but great fun because the quality of the chants was so high. However Jonny stood out as a real talent and we are all looking forward to working with Jonny over the coming year." Runners-up in the competition included Sean Kelly from Leamington Spa for his Norwich City Chant based on the popular nursery rhyme Yankee Doodle and a special commendation was given to Sharon Marshall from Bacup, Lancashire, for her chant about Robbie Savage to the tune of Eric Clapton's Wonderful Tonight. All together now... The winner! Jonny Hurst (to Barry Manilow's Copacobana) His name is Angel And he's a show boy An Alice Band keeps up his hair Juan Pablo from Col-om-bi-air He came to Villa To be a winner He succeeded overnight Our very own Angel Delight Just hear the Villa roar With each Juan Pablo score We've got him on a four year deal But we still want more At the Villa, at Aston Villa The greatest club west of Manila At the Villa, at Aston Villa Football and passion All ranges of fashion At the Villa, we have it all La-la, Aston Vil-la-la Aston Vil-la-la-la Vil-la-la-la Commended Jonny Hurst (to Tammy Wynette's Stand By Your Man) Sometimes it's hard to be a Blues fan Givin' all your love to just one man We've had some bad times But now there's-only good times Thanks-to Brady, Bruce, the Golds And Sul-li-van And if you love him, you'll forgive him Though Robbie's hard to understand DD, we love you, Kenny, we're proud of you Leads by example, Cunningham (But) Stan is the man His shirt they try to cling to As he weaves down the wing to Find Forssell with precision (So) stand Birmingham To show the world you love them Keep givin' all the love you can Stand Birmingham (CHANT) BIRMINGHAM! CLAP-CLAP-CLAP etc Runner-up! Sean Kelly, from Leamington Spa (to Yankee Doodle) Delia Smith's a brilliant cook She feeds our whole team porridge She makes a cracking steak au poivre But that don't rhyme with Norwich! Chorus: We don't care and we're all right You're a bunch of fairies We're the Kings of Carrow Road We are the Canaries! Robbie Green's so brave and true He's well known for his courage Naturally there is just one Club for him, and that's Norwich! Darren Huckerby is great He's always on the forage He'd really like to score some goals But that don't rhyme with Norwich! The famous chant contest is here We wish we'd been to college We didn't, so we didn't learn More words to rhyme with Norwich! Commended Sharon Marshall (For Robbie Savage to Eric Clapton's Wonderful Tonight) It's late in the evening He's wondering what boots to wear He pulls on his blue shirt And brushes his long blond hair And then he asks Steve Bruce "Did I play alright?" And Steve says: "Lily, you played wonderful tonight!" | 
