I remember asking my Uncle the first time I went what they were singing. So you can't say that it has nothing to do with the club because it's been part of the club's culture for at least 30 years. I'd be interested to know when this was first sung.

It contains an expletive, but you hear plenty of them at rugby matches, often in chants. It's directed at two organisations which I find far, far less offensive and threatening than chants directed at the referees or players. Change the F word for another and is it still so offensive.

As you pointed out, one of the organisations targeted is a Rugby League team so to then say that the song has nothing to do with RL is a self-contradiction.

Other fans' chants are worse than this also. Referring to Leythers as inbreds in song is common and far worse than the flute song. And then the 'small town in Wigan jibe'! Horrific.

Got to say again its not a song i like to hear because you all sound like idiots singing it really you do and the only reason the IRA is in it is because it rhymes simple so find another word that rhymes instead ,the swearing i can live with ,the Wigan part fine .Oh and just because its been sang for 30 odd years does'nt mean it cant be changed.

The IRA bit is a bit embarassing these days.

Why are folk moaning about the 'F' word in the Flute song and yet no mention of the chant "It's nice to know your here etc.......now 'f' off" - quite clearly sung on several occasions yeterday.

I'm surprised no one reported us to the RSPCA for finishing off the 'red red robin' song for HKR

When I was young......

Even when the IRA was in its pomp it was just a convenient rhyme. Now it's becoming a bit of an anachronism, but then, so what? If you choose something more relevant, more topical, then you really will risk offending people.

How about something to do with Leigh rugby that wont offend .

I cant believe some people are so hung up on a bloody song, get a grip and chill out and if you dont like it there is no need to get all personal to those who sing it, its just a bloody song!!!

Have the club been warned by the RFL in the past about this song or was that a rumour.

Just a rumour

I can't be bothered. No, in fact I don't want to. I have never sang it but think that of all the songs that are sung around the country, I find the flute song to be one of the quirkiest and most interesting there is.

Well there you go then enough said

Well it simply doesn't offend me so why would I want to try and change it when no-one would listen anyway?

WF your points make absolutely no sense. This song has not been sung on the terraces of our club for 30 years at all. Where have you got that from? Secondly if you are trying to say that this crap has a cultural attachment to the club you are a fool.

I first heard it in the mid to late 80's so it is a good 20 years old.

I thought it was composed (well the Leigh version) in the late 90s in the Boars Head by a lad that no longer gets to games much if at all ????

It has not been around before 1990 and I would hazzard a guess at about 1995.

When did Salford trash to pubs because it had been sung at Leigh for about a year before that.

Why not substitute the word IRA with the word Taliban, an equally repulsive organisation yet, more in 'tune' with current events and it gives support to our brave Service Personel currently attempting to rid the world, of this evil organisation!

However you sugar coat it, its a cr@p cringe worthy embarressing song, and as already said nowt to do with supporting Leigh.
Maybe the club should help by not playing the tune. The tune is harmless and fitting to celebrating but it puts in their yeds to start singing about IRA and hating (F@ck) W1gan instead of about Leigh.

Well although I think the Taliban are a repulsive bunch of loonies if you substitute that for The IRA you will notice that it does not scan properly.

Try it at home when there is no-one about otherwise your nearest and dearest might think there is something wrong.

There is one and only one offensive word in the song which is causing this lengthy thread and I wonder if objectors would be ok with using stuff instead of the F word.

My view' as I have said before' is that there are a lot more important things to get worked up about than a swear word heard at a sporting event for goodness sake you hear the word in a pub on busses and trains.

It would concern me a lot more if our supporters took to physically assaulting other teams supporters just because they did not support the same team as them.

Edited for accuracy

How can some fans of this club who claim to follow it with such passion, do something that is clearly putting the club they love in such a bad light? You lot who sing it sound so stupid it is beyond belief. Why don't you go on other forums and ask what other clubs think of it. I would like to do a poll of all Leigh fans to see what they think of it.

I honestly think you would be surprised at the result if such a poll was held.

Most do not care one way or the other.

I don't think I've ever actually heard any opposition fans even comment on it, let alone be offended by it. Even plenty of pie eaters I know consider it to be nothing but a harmless chant. And I think my credit card statement will back up any claims of mine to follow the club with passion!