It only lasts about 40 seconds, but the playing of God Save The Queen as Northern Ireland’s national anthem is a major bone of contention.

Similarly the Ulster banner is the flag that the Northern Ireland football team goes under and it only measures a few feet in length and breadth.

Still, many football fans and players within the country have issues with both and won’t support or play for Northern Ireland until such times as they are ditched.

The anthem issue has been discussed by the Irish FA at a high level, but no change has been made and neither is it in the offing any time soon.

The alternative? Finding an anthem that Catholics and Protestants would both back would be difficult.

Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games gold medallists have Danny Boy played, but that’s as uplifting as a walk along Portstewart Strand in the bucketing rain.

Ironically the Ulster Banner is the flag of choice at the Commonwealths and nobody questions that.

Would a change of anthem from God Save The Queen bring a single extra fan through the turnstiles or change the mind of one prospective Northern Ireland player? That would remain to be seen.

Some regular fans are so staunch that they would refuse to accept any such change and may take their ball and go home.

They are the kind that add two extra — and unwanted — words in the middle anyway and there is no doubt that puts Nationalist fans off.

Just remember that if Northern Ireland ever face Liechtenstein again, the tune will be played — whether we like it or not.