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The Wealdstone Raider overtakes One Direction, Take That and Taylor Swift in the charts

The YouTube sensation and football fan's bid for Christmas number one is gathering momentum

Jess Denham
Friday 19 December 2014 15:55 GMT
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Builder Gordon Hill wants to have fun and make money for charity as The Wealdstone Raider
Builder Gordon Hill wants to have fun and make money for charity as The Wealdstone Raider

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The Wealdstone Raider has emerged as a surprise contender for this year’s Christmas number one with charity single “Got No Fans” and has overtaken One Direction, Take That and Taylor Swift in the charts.

The viral sensation, real name Gordon Hill, shot to fame on YouTube after he was caught mocking football rivals while drunk in March 2013.

The builder's song entered the Official Singles Chart at number 37 earlier this week but has now entered the top 5, according to the Official Charts Company.

The Raider’s Christmas chart bid was kick-started by a Daily Mirror campaign. “I’m just a builder who wants to make money for charity and have a bit of fun while I’m doing it,” he says in the song's video.

“Got No Fans” sees the Raider call out celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Piers Morgan and Kim Kardashian.

Profits from the track are going towards Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, Autism Concern and, naturally, Wealdstone Raiders Youth FC.

The Raider claims to have raised £3,000 for the charities by charging £2 for fans to take a photo with him. He has an agent who takes event bookings for him.

X Factor winner’s Ben Haenow is currently leading the festive chart race with his cover of “Something I Need” by OneRepublic, but the competition remains open.

The Christmas number one will be announced on BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart show with Scott Mills and Jameela Jamil from 4pm this coming Sunday.

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