The ring of fire was definitely started by the lads who get ont he kirby coach, Phillie is mates with all of them. The coach used to leave from the fantail in Kirby and it was Paul Cook (ex player, now coach of southport i think, brought accrington into the league this season) who arranged the coaches as he owned the fantail (or was a co-owner). It was while he was playing for Burnley and used to get the BUrnley first team coach through his contacts so the lads could travel in a bit of luxury, little game of poker on the way etc.
All of his mates including tony hall mentioned above used to listen to their own music on the coach and the de de de de deerr etc caught on while all pissed and it caught on from there.
First time I heard it i was on the coach with them going to the Man U game when gerrard scored the screamer and owen done keane and scored. It was a worthington cup final in Cardiff, or a charity sheild.
The next time i heard the song was definitely at the Fulham game and I think that it definitely caught on from there. Hope i have shed some more light on this for you.
I must add, they used to sing the tune and the whole song, so first time i joined in (at Fulham) i went to start the first verse and everyone just carried on with the de de de de blah blah, looked a right knob!!!