# Anfield Rap > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Anfield_Rap > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Anfield_Rap.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anfield_Rap > Source revision: 1288099230 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1988 single by Liverpool F.C. "Anfield Rap (Red Machine in Full Effect)" Single by Liverpool F.C. Released 3 May 1988[1] Studio Motor Museum[2] Label Virgin Songwriters Paul Gainford, Craig Johnston, Derek B, and Mary Byker Liverpool F.C. singles chronology "Sitting on Top of the World" (1986) "Anfield Rap (Red Machine in Full Effect)" (1988) "Pass & Move (It's the Liverpool Groove)" (1996) **"Anfield Rap (Red Machine in Full Effect)"** was a song released by members of [Liverpool F.C.](/source/Liverpool_F.C.) before the [1988 FA Cup Final](/source/1988_FA_Cup_Final) against [Wimbledon F.C.](/source/Wimbledon_F.C.) The song reached number 3 in the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart). The song was co-written by Paul Gainford, Liverpool midfielder [Craig Johnston](/source/Craig_Johnston), rapper [Derek B](/source/Derek_B)[3] and [Mary Byker](/source/Mary_Byker) from [Gaye Bykers on Acid](/source/Gaye_Bykers_on_Acid).[4] The song was met with mixed reviews; the tune has become a cult classic among Liverpool fans, but critics often cite it as one of the worst sports songs of all time.[5][6] Liverpool would go on to lose the final in one of the biggest upsets in the [history of the competition](/source/History_of_the_FA_Cup).[7][8] ## Style The song is a parody of a number of hip hop tracks, notably the intro from [LL Cool J](/source/LL_Cool_J)'s "[Rock the Bells](/source/Rock_the_Bells_(song))" and [Eric B. & Rakim](/source/Eric_B._%26_Rakim)'s "[I Know You Got Soul](/source/I_Know_You_Got_Soul_(Eric_B._%26_Rakim_song))" (which sampled the opening drum roll from [Funkadelic](/source/Funkadelic)'s "You'll Like It Too"). The song also featured the guitar riff (and the Ahhhhh-ahhhhh-ahhhhh element) from "[Twist And Shout](/source/Twist_And_Shout)" by [The Beatles](/source/The_Beatles) who hailed from Liverpool. ## Participants The track featured [John Aldridge](/source/John_Aldridge) and [Steve McMahon](/source/Steve_McMahon), who (along with [Gary Ablett](/source/Gary_Ablett_(English_footballer))) were the only native [Liverpudlians](/source/Liverpudlian) in the regular line up at the time, making fun of the accents of the other players. The other players featured were [John Barnes](/source/John_Barnes_(footballer)), [Bruce Grobbelaar](/source/Bruce_Grobbelaar), [Ian Rush](/source/Ian_Rush), [Craig Johnston](/source/Craig_Johnston), [Kevin MacDonald](/source/Kevin_MacDonald_(footballer)), [Gary Gillespie](/source/Gary_Gillespie), [Steve Nicol](/source/Steve_Nicol), [Ronnie Whelan](/source/Ronnie_Whelan), [Alan Hansen](/source/Alan_Hansen), [Ray Houghton](/source/Ray_Houghton), [Jim Beglin](/source/Jim_Beglin), [Nigel Spackman](/source/Nigel_Spackman), [Colin Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colin_Bridge&action=edit&redlink=1) and [Jan Molby](/source/Jan_Molby), along with manager [Kenny Dalglish](/source/Kenny_Dalglish). One verse of the song was performed by then-[ITV](/source/ITV_Network) football commentator [Brian Moore](/source/Brian_Moore_(commentator)). There were also archived voice clips from the club's former manager [Bill Shankly](/source/Bill_Shankly). ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["News - RELEASES"](https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/88/Record-Mirror-1988-04-30-OCR.pdf) (PDF). *[Record Mirror](/source/Record_Mirror)*. 30 April 1988. p. 6. Retrieved 30 April 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-SOSJul2016_2-0)** Bieger, Hannes (July 2016). ["Motor Museum, Liverpool"](https://www.soundonsound.com/music-business/motor-museum-liverpool). *Sound On Sound*. SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 25 January 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Anfield Rap co-writer Derek B dead at 44 - Football Banter"](http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/football-banter/Anfield-Rap-co-writer-Derek-B-dead-at-44-article223623.html). MirrorFootball.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-01-09. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Interview with Graham Crabb from Pop Will Eat Itself"](http://www.phoenixfm.com/2014/05/08/interview-with-graham-crabb-from-pop-will-eat-itself/). [Phoenix FM](/source/Phoenix_FM). 8 May 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-08. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Mark Savage (24 July 2012). ["Why are sport songs so hard to get right?"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18861947). BBC. Retrieved 6 August 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Anfield Rap still top of the league; MY CITY. - Free Online Library"](https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Anfield+Rap+still+top+of+the+league%3B+MY+CITY-a0597421038). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Beasant, Dave (15 May 2010). ["14 May 1988: The first FA Cup final penalty save"](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/may/15/dave-beasant-wimbledon-liverpool). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. London. Retrieved 24 June 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["English FA Cup Finalists 1980 – 1989"](http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/English_Football_League/FA_Cup_Finals/1980-1989.html). *Historical Football Kits*. Retrieved 24 June 2011. ## External links - [Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcy3gwwxat4) on [YouTube](/source/YouTube_video_(identifier)) - [Official Liverpool Site Article](http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/25-years-since-the-reds-rapped) v t e Liverpool Football Club Honours Managers Seasons Records and statistics Reserves & Academy Current season History 1892–1959 1959–1985 1985–present European record List of matches Founding Fathers of Merseyside Football Home stadium Anfield Training ground Melwood The Academy Players 100+ appearances 25–99 appearances 1–24 appearances Player of the Season Awards Rivalries League record by opponent Chelsea rivalry Manchester City rivalry Manchester United rivalry Merseyside derby Tragedies Heysel disaster Hillsborough disaster 2025 Liverpool parade attack Controversies 1915 British football match-fixing scandal 2022 UEFA Champions League final chaos Supporters Spirit of Shankly Fans Supporting Foodbanks Media LFC TV Being: Liverpool Liverpool (video game) The Anfield Wrap Well Red magazine Fearless Books 43 Years with the Same Bird Red or Dead Films Fifteen Minutes That Shook the World (2009) Will (2011) One Night in Istanbul (2014) Chants "The Fields of Anfield Road" "You'll Never Walk Alone" "One Kiss" Singles "We Can Do It" (1977) "Liverpool (We're Never Gonna...)"/"Liverpool Anthem" (1983) "Sitting on Top of the World" (1986) "Anfield Rap (Red Machine in Full Effect)" (1988) "Pass & Move (It's the Liverpool Groove)" (1996) Related articles A.F.C. Liverpool The Boot Room Fenway Sports Group Liverpool F.C. Women Respect 4 All Spice Boys Spion Kop Prenton Park Stanley Park Stadium Superleague Formula team Category v t e Hit singles recorded by Liverpool Football Club "We Can Do It" (1977) "Liverpool (We're Never Gonna...)"/"Liverpool Anthem" (1983) "Sitting on Top of the World" (1986) "Anfield Rap (Red Machine in Full Effect)" (1988) "Pass & Move (It's the Liverpool Groove)" (1996) See also: All UK hit singles by footballers Authority control databases MusicBrainz work MusicBrainz release group This 1980s single–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. - [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:1980s-single-stub) - [t](/source/Template_talk%3A1980s-single-stub) - [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:1980s-single-stub) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Anfield Rap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anfield_Rap) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anfield_Rap?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.