This is England
During a crisis
A nation united.
This is England.
66 million from thousands of communities.
That's our heart-line.
We say thank you to the NHS and all the key workers.
We hold high our multi-cultural frontline
Because this is England.
Where we take the spirit of the Three Lions.
That's stitched right above the heart on our fabric.
Where we sit as a family and go old school with video cassette tapes
Getting lost in all the home-made classics.
This is England.
We stand with the rest of the world
On psychologically figuring out ways to get through this.
So therefore our formation has developed a few new tactics
And, until the whistle goes, we keep the faith.
Exactly like when we’re watching the players in the matches.
And the sun is in the sky with us too.
Now we all know that's magic.
Because this is England.
Where we sing and we pray and we hope.
Where we give, we stand together and we know
That this is England.
During a crisis
A nation united.
This is England.
Hussain Manawer is a British poet, writer and actor. The 29-year-old Muslim recently penned ‘This Is England’ for The FA.
In 2017, he set a Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Mental Health Lesson in partnership with Kings College London and Hackney Empire.
Manawer was born in Essex and grew up right outside West Ham United’s Boleyn Ground. But he only recently attended his first football game, when Tottenham Hotspur invited him to their new stadium for their 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace last April.
He's been part of our Heads Up campaign this season, having suffered depression himself at university. He performed in front of the England squad at St George’s Park, meeting the likes of Tyrone Mings, Harry Winks and Tammy Abraham.
Away from his work in football, Manawer has supported the likes of Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding and Cher and has spoken in front of world leaders, including Justin Trudeau and Meghan Markle.
