It's time to look for a new anthem for the Northern Ireland football team, a former Ulster Unionist has said.

Ex-Irish rugby international and community relations campaigner Trevor Ringland said another song could “send a gesture towards those who find it difficult to stand for God Save The Queen”.

Mr Ringland’s call came after former Northern Ireland international and Irish FA ambassador Gerry Armstrong said the feedback he had received suggested there was no benefit to changing to a different song.

But in today’s Belfast Telegraph, columnist Ed Curran says there is a need to find a song that could unite everyone behind the team.

>>Ten alternatives to God Save The Queen<<

He writes: “There is no more emotional moment in sport on this island than when God Save The Queen is played at Windsor Park and A Soldier’s Song at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. And yet, in the context of 2011, I now feel they are both wrong.

“If Scotland and Wales can do it with Flower Of Scotland and Land Of My Fathers, so can Northern Ireland. Given our divisions, we have even more reason to find words to unite and inspire all.”

He said an anthem should never cause unease to some spectators or players on the pitch.

“Yet that is precisely what happens in Dublin and in Belfast,” he argued.

The contentious debate was re-ignited after former Northern Ireland international Paul McVeigh said the IFA would never endear itself to Catholic footballers until it ditched the traditional anthem.

The west Belfast native last month conceded he found it difficult to have heartfelt pride in the jersey, and said he believed the IFA had the power to bring a halt to Catholic players’ unease.

Mr McVeigh said: “I have no doubt that it is a tough decision for some players to play at Windsor Park and stand before the English national anthem at Northern Ireland internationals.

“The decision-makers should sit down and ask themselves if their decision to continue with the anthem and continue playing at Windsor Park is beneficial to Northern Ireland.”

But Gerry Armstrong said any gains achieved by changing the anthem would be far outstripped by the potential loss of the loyal fans who had supported Northern Ireland in difficult times.

Armstrong, who has been researching the contentious issue of the national anthem with young players recently, said he believes it cannot simply be ditched.

“There is no point, no benefit to be gained when it comes to bridging the yawning gap in society,” he said.

But Trevor Ringland, who resigned from the UUP after party leader Tom Elliiott declined to take up his challenge to attend a GAA game, called for a rethink.

He stressed this did not necessarily mean ditching the anthem but could amount to an additional song “that everyone could buy into”, on both sides of the divide.

He suggested that fan Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol, could possibly write a song which he said “would be 99% better than anything anyone else could come up with”.

Mr Elliott said while he was “happy to discuss it”, he said he “would be coming at it from the view that it is the national anthem of Northern Ireland and I’m happy to keep it that way.”

Party colleague David McNarry, is also against any change.

“I am saying we have a team and we have an anthem and let’s not tinker with it but let’s do whatever there must be done in order to make Northern Ireland attractive for anyone from Northern Ireland to play for it.

“One helpful thing would be if the Republic did not poach our players.”