“Dance of the Knights” Hits New Heights as Sunderland Return to Premier League - The Songs That Define UK Football Ranked in New Streaming Era Study

A new digital-era study conducted by BoyleSports has ranked 16 of the UK's most iconic football anthems - and Sunderland’s powerful matchday blend of “Dance of the Knights/Elevation” has claimed a standout third-place finish, following the club’s dramatic stoppage-time 2-1 victory over Sheffield United in last month’s Championship Play-Off Final.

As the Black Cats roar back into the Premier League, this latest accolade underscores the emotional power of the Stadium of Light’s soundtrack. The dramatic mash-up, a fusion of classical drama and atmospheric build-up, placed just behind Liverpool and Celtic’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and Newcastle United’s “Local Hero” in the nationwide rankings.

The cultural study, compiled by BoyleSports, home of football betting, examined each anthem's presence across YouTube, Spotify, and Instagram audio tags. Each song was given a score out of 100 based on performance across all three platforms, offering a glimpse into how traditional terrace chants and modern stadium anthems are faring in the streaming and social media age.

While “You’ll Never Walk Alone” dominated with a perfect 100 - amassing over 87 million YouTube views and 114 million Spotify streams - Sunderland’s anthemic offering earned a score of 73/100, making it one of four to break into the 70s or above.

The Wearside anthem’s high YouTube interest and fast-growing Instagram usage were key drivers in its rise. Though less globally known than some Premier League counterparts, its atmosphere-building qualities and emotionally charged orchestration have resonated with supporters and neutrals alike - especially during this promotion-winning campaign.

“Sunderland’s anthem is a perfect reflection of the club’s spirit this season - dramatic, defiant, and ready for the big stage,” said a BoyleSports spokesperson. “It might not be a chart hit in the traditional sense, but it’s incredibly powerful in a stadium, and now we’re seeing that spill into digital culture too. It’s a modern soundtrack with timeless intensity.”

Notably, both of the North East’s major clubs occupied top-three positions, with Newcastle United’s “Local Hero” taking second place with 83/100. The Mark Knopfler instrumental has long been associated with the Magpies’ walkout and now boasts over 42 million Spotify streams alongside strong social media traction.

In contrast, more widely recognised anthems such as “Blue Moon” (Manchester City), “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” (West Ham), and “Z-Cars” (Everton) found themselves in the lower half of the table, with the latter scoring just 21/100 - just weeks after its final use for David Moyes’ side at Goodison Park.

The study also highlights a changing dynamic in football music. Arsenal’s “The Angel - North London Forever,” released by Louis Dunford in 2022, stormed into fourth place with 71/100. Despite being a recent addition, its rise on Spotify and Instagram reflects a generational shift in how fans engage with club identity.

Scottish sides also made a strong impression. Celtic shared top billing thanks to “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” while Hibernian’s “Sunshine On Leith” ranked joint-sixth with Nottingham Forest’s “Mull of Kintyre,” both earning 63/100. Rangers’ “Follow Follow” placed further down with 25/100, just ahead of Hearts’ “The Heart’s Song” in last place.

“Football songs aren’t just pre-match rituals anymore - they’re part of how clubs express identity online,” added the BoyleSports spokesperson. “Sunderland’s anthem is a brilliant example of that - its theatrical nature, combined with a rising digital footprint, shows how clubs can carry their sound far beyond the terraces. It’s not just what you hear in the stadium, but what fans take with them on their phones and in their playlists.”