HAPPY CLAPPY SING-A-LONG

United fans will have the chance to shatter once and for all the myth that they don't make much noise at Old Trafford. Later this month, 67,000 of them will try to set a world record by singing an "Irish" anthem inspired by Salford.

They hope to break a record set 68 years ago in Germany when 60,000 people sang together at a choir concert in Breslam.

To mark the end of the Manchester Irish Festival, Reds fans will swop Rooney, Rooney for the Ewan MacColl song Dirty Old Town which opens with the line "I met my love, by the gas yard wall".

The record attempt was announced by Manchester United and Republic of Ireland star John O'Shea. It will take place at half time at United's home game with Fulham on March 19.

Phil Townsend, United's director of communications, said:

“We have never done anything like this before and the club is very excited about hosting this record breaking attempt. The stadium's capacity is 68,000, so we hope that the supporters will turn out on the day to be part of this one-off event.”

Dirty Old Town was inspired by Salford where its writer, MacColl, was brought up and later worked as a labourer and motor mechanic. The song was adopted as an unofficial Irish anthem after it was made famous by The Pogues.