… a bit rubbish

This week, John Barnes and Barnsley FC’s resident poet Ian McMillan judged the government-backed ‘Get On’ competition, in which fans from hundreds of clubs submitted chants that they had written themselves.

Southend Utd fan Terry Cockell penned an ode to Dougie Freedman set to the tune of The Wombles. Despite picking a melody that is rather more synonymous with AFC Wimbledon, the 39-year-old accountant’s effort won the grand prize, which was a trip to a recording studio.

Here are the lyrics to Britain’s Best Football Chant:

Underground, overground signed on a free,

He’s Dougie Freedman of S.U.F.C.

Scores goals for fun, he’s blue through and through,

Better watch out ‘cos he’ll score against you.

John Barnes - whose Anfield Rap helped Liverpool lose the 1988 FA Cup Final - was full of indifferent praise for the winning chant:

Southend/Chelsea, 8.10pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Rather than boring you with obvious reasons why Chelsea stand a decent chance of beating League One opposition, our friends at chickendinner chose to go against the grain and argue what others might consider a lost cause. Southend are available at 15/1 on Betfair to win at home to Luiz Felipe Scolari’s out-of-form side and here are six reasons why they stand a decent chance:

1. Southend masterminded a win over a Manchester United team including Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney in the Carling Cup two seasons ago and were robbed by an offside Jermain Defoe extra-time goal against Spurs in the next round.

2. Chelsea have won just one of their last six games and were knocked out the League Cup by Burnley in November.

3. The Blues aren’t used to playing away in the FA Cup and have won just two of their six games on the road in the competition, losing three.

The Blues fancied a date with the Roots Hall cheerleaders

Chelsea’s troubled home form showed no signs of improvement at the weekend when League One side Southend Utd earned a last gasp draw and a dream home replay. Imagine the dismay on Lampsie’s face when he realised he would have to play a game at Roots Hall, the home of the Bluebelles…

See more pictures of the classiest dance troupe in the whole of Essex after the jump…

It worked out pretty well for Havant and Waterlooville last year…

Histon, who overcame Leeds 1-0 earlier today, were left disappointed after being paired with Swansea in an underwhelming FA Cup third round draw. However, last year it was Havant and Waterlooville who drew the Welsh side at this stage and after getting through that tie they were rewarded with a trip to Anfield.

Barrow got the best draw of the non-league clubs and will make the trip to Middlesbrough while Forest Green face Derby and Eastwood travel away to Notts County or Crawley. Holders Portsmouth face Bristol City while runners-up Cardiff face Reading. Chelsea and Arsenal were drawn at home to Southend and Plymouth respectively while Liverpool and Manchester United are away to Preston and Southampton.

The other interesting ties see Sheffield United drawn in East London against Leyton Orient on the same day that their ”Tevezgate” enemies West Ham face Barnsley, who are considering legal action against the Blades after Chris Morgan’s horror elbow on Iain Hume: don’t be surprised to see one of those games moved to the Sunday! Check out the full draw after the jump: