Celtic & Hibs Shine in Streaming Era Study of UK’s Most Influential Football Songs

New research from BoyleSports ranks Scotland’s top anthems in digital culture league table.

Whether being sung in the stands of Celtic Park or bellowing on exit from Easter Road following a crucial win, Scottish football songs are holding their own in a digital culture dominated by YouTube, Spotify, and Instagram.

Image: Celtic Park | Credit: Getty

This study from the football betting team at BoyleSports assessed 16 of the UK’s most iconic football songs.

To measure the cultural impact of these football club anthems, data from three key digital platforms: YouTube (total views), Spotify (total streams), and Instagram (the number of times the anthem’s sound was used in posts or stories) was gathered. 

Each anthem was ranked from 1 to 16 on each platform, with 16 representing the top-performing anthem. These rankings were then added together to give each anthem a combined score out of 48, so a higher total meant the anthem was performing well across all platforms. 

To make the results easier to understand and compare, these totals were then converted into a standardised score out of 100 by calculating what percentage of the maximum possible score each anthem achieved.

Topping the list with a perfect score was “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” the iconic Rodgers and Hammerstein number embraced by both Liverpool and Celtic. With over 87 million YouTube views and 114 million Spotify streams, it remains a defining piece of both clubs’ identity and proves its enduring emotional power far beyond matchday.

Another standout came from Edinburgh, with Hibernian’s beloved anthem “Sunshine On Leith” finishing joint sixth overall. The Proclaimers’ classic continues to spark viral moments thanks to its spine-tingling renditions at Easter Road – and its influence has now crossed into digital culture, backed by strong Instagram and Spotify numbers.

Meanwhile, Rangers’ “Follow Follow” placed mid-table in terms of overall digital presence. Despite its traditional status and recognisable tune among fans, the track finished joint 13th, showing less traction across global streaming platforms compared to newer or more widely shared songs.

Heart of Midlothian’s entry, “The Heart’s Song,” placed 16th overall – a reminder that while tradition remains powerful locally, it hasn’t yet translated into a wider digital presence like other UK anthems.

A spokesperson for BoyleSports, who conducted the study, said:

“Football songs are more than just pre-match rituals – they’ve become cultural landmarks in the digital age. 

“Songs like ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and ‘Sunshine On Leith’ continue to capture hearts and reach new generations through streaming and social media. 

“These tracks aren’t just sung in stadiums anymore – they’re reimagined in Instagram stories, TikToks and Spotify playlists around the world.”

Full rankings: