IT’S official – the England football team has given the thumbs up to Okehampton’s homegrown World Cup anthem When the Lions Roar.

England players posted their approval on the YouTube link to a video of the musicians at The Kings Arms recording their tribute.

The players gave the song three rounds of applause, saying ‘We have just played this on repeat a few too many times! Brilliant job everyone, we loved it!’

And the song has taken on a new emphasis following Tuesday’s victory by the England team over Columbia which had the whole country on the edge of its seat.

England will now play Sweden in the quarter finals of the World Cup on Saturday at 3pm.

Landlord of The Kings Arms Rob Bass said: ‘It’s brilliant, we were number one on the players’ playlist too and I think we are number three now. I keep listening to the games and I’m hoping that the band that plays at the England matches is going to start playing the song.’

The track recorded at the Okehampton pub was launched on the first day of the World Cup on The Kings Arms Collective’s Facebook page and on YouTube.

It has also been played on local radio stations, including BBC Radio Devon, Radio Cornwall and Radio Walkham, which is based in Horrabridge.

It is also available for sale by downloading at digital music sites.

‘Altogether we are looking at 40 odd-thousand likes on Facebook and YouTube,’ said Rob. ‘We are just hoping that someone picks up on it now!’

Rob penned the lyrics which ace record producer Richard Brown, a regular at the pub, set to music.

It features guitarist George Nixs, who played for the likes of The Hollies, Suzi Quatro, Eric Clapton and Dire Straits.

The chorus, meanwhile, was provided by a choir of regulars. A number of other musicians and vocalists, who play or drink at the hostelry have taken part.

‘There is a real buzz about the song in the pub,’ said Rob. ‘People are listening to it, singing it and commenting on it.’ He’s also been approached from Okehampton MP, Mel Stride, a fan of live pub music.

‘He wants to come and visit me and says it is the “most tolerable of all the World Cup songs out there!”’