Every print by 80's Casuals tells of a iconic time from birth of the casual movement and onwards. Whether it be icons from sport or music, fights or fashion, there is a story behind each one. The first five tees selected by Section Fifteen tells of this time.
The "Grim up North" tee tells of when this was spray painted on the wall leaving London Euston train station, this statement was mocking southern folk. "Turn back now it's grim up north" has been the inspiration for a whole series of tees dedicated to the brands homeland. Another one of these tees is the "Turn back now" this has the classic statement on and a print of the infamous Millie Maglia C.P. Company field jacket. This jacket has had a place on the terraces of the U.K. since the eighties to the present day. The "Bandit Country" tee also features the goggle coat with the statement taken from Nick Love's novel "Football Factory", You're in bandit country now! Another iconic peice of clothing from the eighties was the Benetton rugby shirt, not lasted the test of time as the "Millie Maglia" but still has a place in time gone by as the tag line remembers, "Those were the days my friend." The fifth t-shirt of the selection is the "Ordinary to Chelsea", this print tells the story when in 1977 Everton fans travelling to Chelsea took a battering at Kensington High Street tube station when ambushed by opposing Chelsea fans. In retaliation to this "ordinary to Chelsea" was sprayed in front of Liverpool Lime Street Station calling on all scousers red and blue to join forces for Liverpool's fixture later that season at Chelsea for a little payback.
There will be more t-shirts coming from 80's Casuals in the New Year.
HISTORY
The “Football Casual” is an evolvement of British youth subculture that has lasted more than any other. First we had the Teddy Boys of the fifties, Mods and Rockers of the sixties and the Skinheads and Punks of the seventies. Ever since the Mods and Rockers clashed these types of tribal clashes of various youth cultures have dominated our shores. In the late seventies a strange new subculture was appearing on the terraces of the North West, especially in Liverpool and soon after Manchester. This new tribe evolving was very different to the other terrace goers of the time, known as the “Bootboys”. The “Bootboys” wore donkey jackets, Doc Martins and sported skinhead haircuts. The “Casual” was a different breed they were effeminate looking teenagers sporting “wedge haircuts” and European sportswear, they loved football, fashion and of course fighting. This new tribe became known as the “Casual” nationwide, or “Boys” or “Lads” when the “Casual” would talk about other like minded people. The look took off all over the country. At the beginning you had the “Scallies” and “Perry Boys” from Liverpool and Manchester, following the four big teams of the two cities. These two cities started off the image for all others to emulate all over Britain, then worldwide.
You can trace the original pioneers of this look back to the fans of the highly successful team of the seventies, Liverpool F.C. T here supporters would travel all over Europe following The Reds to cup glory. Liverpool was a very successful team in Europe in this period winning a total of five trophies, two European Cups, two UEFA Cups and the UEFA Super Cup, between 1973 and 1979. During this time in Europe, supporters of the club were bringing their booty back to these shores in their Head travel bags. They brought back brands such as, Sergio Tacchini, Lacoste, Fila and adidas.
A new subculture was born and this gave the casual the freedom of any town or city, because the Police thought this bunch of effeminate trendies would not have anything to do with football. As the “Boys in Blue” worried about the “Bootboys” who showed their colours with pride, the “Casual” would melt into the crowd and disappear and turn up at any pub or home end without detection. Before long many northern firms were going on “shopping trips”, crossing the channel and boarding the “Transalpino” to loot designer sportswear stores all across Europe as security was far more lax than in the U.K.
English teams continued to dominate European competitions with Nottingham Forest ending the seventies winning the European Cup. The eighties started with Forest winning the competition for a second successive year and Liverpool had further success in 1981 and 1984 in the same competition, Aston Villa won the competition also in 1982. Everton, Ipswich Town, Tottenham Hotspur and Scottish team Aberdeen enjoyed success in the other European competitions.
Other brands had been added to the casual’s wardrobe throughout the eighties, with the likes of Stone Island, C.P. Company, Armani, Burberry, Lois jeans, Aquascutum and Fiorrucci. Something else was added to the casual’s lifestyle, English clubs banned playing competitive football in Europe. This was due to widespread hooliganism at home and abroad with the media dubbing it the “English Disease”. The ban was issued after The Heysel Disaster in 1985 when 39 Juventus fans were killed when a wall collapsed during their game with Liverpool F.C. The fans of the English clubs were unable to follow their teams in Europe so they turned their attentions to the national team, following England throughout Europe. The authorities had to take action and an international football banning order was imposed in 1989. This was “SECTION 15” it was put in place to stop “THE BOYS WHO LIKE TO PLAY AWAY”.
www.section15.co.uk does NOT PROMOTE VIOLENCE. This site is dedicated to football fashion and the subculture that is the football casual.