O'Shea: Fans still sing my chant - it's great!
John O’Shea says Manchester United fans still send clips of them performing his chant, a decade on from his last game for the club.
The versatile defender left the Reds for Sunderland in 2011, after an illustrious spell which took in numerous trophies.
Sheasy was perhaps best known for his versatility, uniquely playing in every position on the pitch for the United.
However, it was his impressive performances as an attacking full-back when he first came into the side in the 2002/03 season which led to Old Trafford coming up with the song, which goes to the tune of ‘When Johnny Comes Marching Home’.
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“That’s getting back to something that inspires you,” John said, when asked about his chant on the latest episode of UTD Podcast.
“Obviously you want to do well anyway. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not as if they’re not singing the song, I’m going to play bad.
“I think it was just how I played the first few seasons, in terms of going for it and attacking when I could.
“The song ‘marching down the wing’ obviously alludes to me going forward quite a lot and trying to create stuff. It’s amazing. It’s a good tune and it’s an easy one to sing along to.”
So, has Sheasy ever been tempted to belt out a few lines, whether during his 393-game United career or in the decade afterwards?
“I would have got some stick if there was a clip of me singing my own song!” he laughs.
“It was a great buzz and it’s one of those great things. United fans are witty and clever with their songs and they still are to this day when you hear some of the latest chants.”
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The Irishman, who turned 40 this year and is currently helping coach his country’s Under-21 side, believes he still has that rapport with United fans.
And he was sent evidence, in the form of a travelling group performing the song prior to our first away game of this season, on the south coast.
“Yeah, you’d hope that would be the case [that he has that connection],” he adds.
“Look it was funny, I was sent a video of the fans singing on the way down to Southampton on the train – they were still belting it out!
“Obviously it’s a long journey down, so they had to go through the whole repertoire!”