One of the biggest and most successful clubs in Australian sport, Essendon Football Club has this week released a new version of its theme song, ‘See the Bombers Fly Up’ recorded by award winning Ugandan gospel musician Emmanuel Edwin Kusaasira, better known as Coopy Bly.
Essendon is recognised for its on-field success, its stability and its pioneering work in the community, particularly with Indigenous Australians. The Club has won 16 League premierships and four Association premierships. No other League club has won more, according to media sources.
The Club explained in a statement that Coopy Bly came across the song in an encounter with Essendon diehard supporter David Efron.
During a September rotary project trip to the not-for-profit organisation Yimba Uganda (founded by Edwin and his Australian wife Anne-Marie Reddan), Efron presented the musician/philanthropist with two Essendon playing guernseys alongside a recording of ‘See the Bombers Fly Up’.
“Edwin’s creative brain was immediately sparked by the song,” Efron told Essendon website.
“He said, ‘I can make a real song for this, this is fantastic,’” recalled Efron, who has been a Bombers’ fan since 1946.
“He started doing the song when I was over there and when I’d come back he had out it on video and everything.”
Edwin’s cover combines a slick in-studio vocal performance with a traditional Ugandan musical arrangement. His accompanying film clip of locals exuberantly dancing mirrors the enthusiasm with which he took to the recording.
The club has 23 Hall of Fame Legends. These Legends comprise players, coaches and administrators who have made an outstanding contribution to the club. Among them are legends of both Essendon and the game and include Dick Reynolds, John Coleman, Bill Hutchison, Simon Madden and James Hird.
The club joined the new VFA in 1878 and in 1897 Essendon was one of eight clubs that left the VFA to form the new Victorian Football League, now called the Australian Football League.
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