How many other times a year do you sing it ?

That's exactly how it was around the whole stadium, with humming / mumbling inbetween ...

I remember a brass band doing it at Wigan before a GB vs Aus match (might have been the one when Morley lasted 7 seconds). That was tear inducing, absolutely brilliant.

I'm also old enough to have a vague recollection of Windsor Davies leading it at Wembley. Did I hallucinate that?

Abide with Me is a strong tradition that should be continued. Pity about the mic yesterday - the sound engineer wasn't worthy of some of the sheds my band plays in getting that wrong. As for the words, for years we sang the first and the sixth verses, now they changed the sixth for the eighth ( and last ) verse so I need to see them to sing 'em. Wouldn't want to go without it, though.

2009 - www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg3gCw5mm7c (uploaded by Hayley Westenra's website before you kneecap it)

2009 - www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg3gCw5mm7c (uploaded by Hayley Westenra's website before you kneecap it)

When the lady was singing Abide With Me we did have a few fans around us singing get your t1t5 out for the lads,sad really.

V sad that again like i said why not ban boose at RL finals would be worth a try if you cant go 2hr without a drink you have got a problem as we are classed as a "family game" not any more i think.

Only watched it on TV but it seemed that she did have awful problems with the microphone but also that her singing was bad anyhow. I think she also sang "God save our Queen" rather that "God save the Queen."

[urlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLaUdcwjvAg[/url

Not quite as good quality but this compilation says it all about what a Challenge Cup final day is all about.....

I know it's traditional, but to paraphrase my nan "Why are they playing a funeral song."

I've sung it when I've gone, but felt weird. Felt far worse watching it on TV, made the sport look amateurish.

A lot of people associate the hymn with relatives and friends no longer with us, hence why it's common to see grown men and women openly crying. It does bring a tear to the eye and a lump to the throat, it did with me on TV yesterday.
I was lucky enough to go to 11 Wembley Finals in the eighties and nineties with my old man (who's no longer with us), I know for a fact that my next wembley visit with Wigan will be difficult for me to listen and sing to Abide with Me.

Some great scenes there.

The clip of the Hull fan crying during Abide With Me in 2005 is one of the most memorable of that amazing weekend. IIRC he'd been at his grandfather's funeral not long before that where it had been sung.