Bell & Spurling (Spurling variant)
Bell & Spurling are an English comedy-music duo, Martin Bell and Johnny Spurling. They are best known for the 2001 football novelty single "Sven, Sven, Sven", which entered the UK Singles Chart at number seven.
Sourcing: strong 1 reference · 1 news
Variant spelling: this act's Johnny Spurling bears the related surname Spurling, not Spurlin. See Spurling (surname).
Bell & Spurling are an English musical comedy duo made up of Martin Bell, from Chigwell, and Johnny Spurling, from Romford. Both started as session singers and formed the duo in the 1990s.[1]
"Sven, Sven, Sven"
Their best-known record is "Sven, Sven, Sven", about the England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson. It was inspired by England's 5–1 win over Germany in 2001 and uses Jonathan Pearce's commentary from that match.[1] In October 2001 BBC Sport reported that the single had been the previous week's highest new entry, at number seven. It was then competing with Michael Jackson's "You Rock My World", and the duo were preparing to perform it on Top of the Pops.[2] Bell told BBC Sport that the song had taken only 20 minutes to record.[2] A follow-up, "Goldenballs (Mr Beckham to You)", reached number 25 in 2002. A 2018 World Cup reworking, "Gareth, Gareth, Gareth", did not chart.[1]
Other work
According to Wikipedia, the pair's singles sold more than half a million copies. They hosted radio shows on Capital Gold and later Love Sport Radio, and have appeared as guests on GB News.[1] Wikipedia also states, without citing a source, that Johnny Spurling appeared in the comedy film The Flirting Club and in 2018 took part in Terry Alderton's show All Crazy Now at the Edinburgh Festival.[1]
For musicians named Spurlin, see Spurlins in music.
See also
- Spurling (surname) · The Surname strong
Spurling is the fuller spelling from which Spurlin derives. Unlike Spurlin, it is well established in England, Australia and especially Bermuda as well as the United States. - Spurlins in music · Culture strong
A roundup of musicians and music credits under the Spurlin name, from 1950s rockabilly and small-label country 45s to a 1980s soul single, jazz sidemen, a Christian metal guitarist, Bill Clinton's high-school band director, a university marching band director, a record-company sales representative and present-day streaming artists. - The Spurlin name outside the United States · Culture strong
Spurlin is an overwhelmingly American surname today, with about 98% of bearers in the United States. The spelling is older than American settlement: English archives record Spurlins in Middlesex and Bristol between 1670 and 1717, and 18th-century leases name a field called 'Spurlins' in Hertfordshire. Outside the U.S. the related form Spurling is far more common. - Notable Spurlins · People strong
An index of notable people surnamed Spurlin, with related Spurling-surname figures listed separately as variants.
References
- ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ Bell & Spurling — Wikipedia — Members, singles and chart positions (citing British Hit Singles & Albums, 2006), later work Reference
- ↑ ↑ Jacko set to scupper Sven — BBC Sport, Funny Old Game (10 October 2001) — Highest new entry at No 7; Top of the Pops; interview with Martin Bell News
Last reviewed 2026-09-24.