They've Done Us On The Wardrobe Front
There's a plethora of books on terrace culture. Alex Roest has spent a lot of time reading and came back with the following recommendations.
What would make anyone want to read a book on football hooliganism, let alone another one and then another? Well, in my case it's obviously the clothing of those involved for one thing. Also I'm always interested in whatever it is that makes people tick. Having read quite a few of those books, let me introduce you to the most interesting ones from the perspective of social commentary.
Personally I take the violence for granted, as it's a fact of life and people do change after all. So I'll concentrate on the stylish side of things mostly. Because, contrary to what many may believe, some of those naughty boys have got soul alright. Anyway, here goes - it ain't no boogie wonderland.....
Starting off chronologically with Martin King's "Hoolifan" there's an example I rate as a terrace-culture classic. The introduction tells of rattles' nostalgia and how the author got 'the bug' going to the football with his dad. As a fan of the actual sport that is. As a teenager following Chelsea he witnesses some battles between rival supporters to make the headlines for the first time and he wants in. This is during the rise of the Peanut, the first distinguishable soccer thug if you will. Jungle greens and army boots were still all the rage at that point (1967) and various descriptions of changing fashions follow throughout the book. It's a shame the follow up, "A Boy's Story"( nice cover photo though ), doesn't live up to the expectations of telling the story of Skinhead fashion in great detail. A sloppy read as opposed to "Hoolifan" which I found funny at times as well.
By far the best publication on the subject however is Chris Brown's "Bovver". Covering roughly the same ground as "Hoolifan" but picturing much more in detail the ever changing fashions of the Seventies ( Onitsuka Tigers anyone ? ), from Budgie gear to bondage trousers.What makes this book outstanding is the author's refreshing honesty about the error of his ways as well as the sounds he speaks of, the latter with the emphasis strongly on the Funkateer's choice of the day. Very well written and humorous indeed. The anecdote in which some young Bristol Rovers fans are getting a taste of their own medicine from some anonymous small town coppers is exemplary of a thing or two. Parents wouldn't believe stories like that in those days for instance.
"Bloody Casuals"- Diary Of A Football Hooligan by Jay Allan is written in an amateurish style as the subtitle suggests. It's worth reading still as it was the first of its ilk to my knowledge ( not counting Colin Ward's "Steaming In" which was published in the same year-1989 ). The Aberdeen Soccer Casuals were the first Trendies to follow a Scottish team and there are some interesting facts stated when it comes to terrace Casual fashion. The last part of the book deals with the two months term Allan spent in Aberdeen Prison. There's quite a bit of street level philosophy and reflection to be found there, making up for the lack of humour. The author later ran a bar in Spain where his experience ( as a hooligan ) came in handy.
"Soul Crew" finally is another one, written by two former members of Cardiff City's firm- David Jones and Tony Rivers. Interesting also from a fashion point of view especially the first part, written by Dave who later got involded in the Baggy/House Scene like so many other footy lads. Various reports about shopping trips to The Smoke, which shops to visit and what labels were in and where to get the gear in Wales and so forth. One observation confirming The Look comes before the label, so to stand out in a certain array of garments would be the aim. Sure appeals to me that one. Oh, and always an eye on what the opposition were wearing they had too. Funny thing to remember about someone you've just decked, but to most of those involved it was apparently all a game to enjoy and let off steam. For some the adrenaline rush proved to be somewhat too addictive though. Well, I suppose for the true psychopath bungee jumping will hardly suffice as 'good clean fun'.
[Published 28 July 2005]
Other articles on Uppers you might enjoy
The Fashion of Football by Paolo Hewitt, Mark Baxter (Mainstream Publishing)
A must have book for those with a passion for sharp threads, the beautiful game and sweet soul music, according to Alex Roest
They've Done Us On The Wardrobe Front pt II: Phil Thornton "Casuals" (Milo Books)
A recommended read for those with a mild fashion obsession. By Alex Roest.
| Comments: | |
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| bomb | aug 9 2006 4:10PM |
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| yeh I know its Arkins, I used to go to Chelsea a lot in the 70,s, with the SLOUGH crew about 40 strong, they usally associated with the Lewisham lot. Arkins seemed quite old to me when I was 17/18 he was like 24. older even. They were wild days though, all of a sudden I,m hitting 50 myself and it all seemed like yesterday, travelling the length of the country on football specials. Life has changed dramatically from them days. | |
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| CFC | maj 15 2006 8:20AM |
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| Yeah it is eccles on the front, Danny Arkins is his real name my old man used to be best mates with his brother Neil they used to live in Wandsworth and of that 150 crew there was 70 who were hardcore, they used to meet up in a cantine down north end road before every game. | |
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| Browner | nov 30 2005 3:24PM |
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| Ahh, the Dugout, go to: http://www.electricpavilion.org/dugout/ you just might see something you recognise - and stop calling it Boover mate, it's Bovver! LOL!! What's the news on Ollie - we hear he could be coming back to save us? (We wish) | |
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| bomber | nov 29 2005 7:14PM |
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| browner, your a bit older than me by a year , went to football like most working class lads in the 60,s -70,s. It was part of your up-bringing. What I liked about Boover was the references to music and fashions. Lets face it by at least 1975 we,d all thrown the DMs away. Soulboys were now in vogue, at nightclubs and football terraces. I went to a few northern does at YATE, near Bristol and frequented the DUG-OUT [?].once , do you know it. Hope your 50th goes well , I,m djing at 48 still playing loads of 70,s funk, and northern. I literally given up on football now, about 10 yrs ago after a few serious run ins , with WHU and Forest , I thought I,m getting a bit old for this caper. QPRs small hardcore could mix it, but were usually out-numbered by the big teams. I gave up the football thing after a mass brawl in Hammersmith one night, and old bill had us all singled out for nicking. I,d had a good innings for at least 30 yrs as a young kid travelling the country for my team. I ended up writing a fanzine Beat about the bush, and advancing to the politically correct indepentant supporters commitee LSA. But I just got pissed of with the way the game was going, big business. bomb. | |
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| Browner | nov 27 2005 5:04PM |
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| Still am a Soulboy Bomber! Got my 50th coming up in a couple of weeks, just layed down a few tracks to be played on the evening - loads of Ohio Players, Undisputed Truth, Brass Construction, not to mention my all time favourite, Wipe your feet and dance by Wee Willie and the Winners, sadly like the football we all lived and breathed for back then, the music has gone the same homogenised way - I feel privileged to have lived through some of the best times for street and terrace culture - somehow can't see it ever returning. I do recall seeing Eccles at Eastville many years back - when it comes to top 'names' and 'faces' he was certainly the most well known back then, apart perhaps from Bill Gardner - geezers like them made my involvement in terrace culture seem almost insignificant, I was never in their league or have claimed to be, but if you stood on the terraces in the 70s, whether on the Tote End, the Shed or the Loft, in some way, either good or bad, large or small, you played your part in defining an era. | |
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| bomb | nov 1 2005 6:38PM |
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| just adding the photo on the cover of hoolifan is of ECCLES, he of Chelsea fame. He was Chelsea,s Leader in the late 60,s through to the 80,s. A real skinhead I might add , none of your bonehead nonesence. The publishers have tampered with the photo altering his face.on the cover. i can still picture him today in the green harrington jacket and white levi sta-prest. Always had that slighty grown out crop hair style, and was inpecably dressed. He was the commander on the terraces. With a crew of around 150 to 200 hardcore. Some even supported QPR .[me for example] Looking back it seems stupid, but at the time it was the best buzz ever. | |
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| bomber | nov 1 2005 6:18PM |
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| Hi Alex, I can still remember a few years back recommending to you Boover and Bloody Casuals. And you tracking them down [ is,nt the internet a wonderfull tool] Boover by Chris Brown is without a doubt the best football culture book I,ve read. The music ,the clobber, the fans. I,m convinced Chris was a Soulboy, like myself. And his book certainly diss-misses the Soulboy scene as being a bit poncey as it often is portrayed. Some of the hardest guys I went to football with in the 70,s were Soulboy Funkers. Who commanded the Chelsea North Stand in its prime. The North stand at Chelsea was where your hardcore boys were. While The Shed was more a scarffers end. I witnessed West Ham on many occassions in the 70,s , litrally walking straight into the Shed End with very little resistance. The North Stand was were Chelsea,s top boys gathered for battle. I lived through an age when you,d be down QPR one week and Chelsea the next. How times change, now football is so expensive to attend, I hardly go now. Tonight I watched Liverpool on the box v Anderlect. The crowd sitting pleasantly on the KOP in rows of seats. When they did WALK ON the show of scarfs was pathetic. Long gone are the days when crowds swayed and fell on the mighty kop end. Singing Beatles songs , it put a chill right down your back, it was a magnificent sight. The Shed, The North Bank, even my beloved LOFT. Are all but dead and gone. The Peoples game has been lost to big business, T.V. and overpaid players. How I cringe when Svens bird introduces Footballers CRIBS on M.T.V....And those overpaid prima-donnas show you round there latest gaff. Its a fine example of how American sport and TV has influenced our once humble and proud game. The players are out of touch , with the fans, the live in a different world. I think football died years ago. bomber | |
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| Alex Roest | sep 1 2005 6:09AM |
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| Hi Chris, Glad you like the site. I've just read the reviews on amazon that are quite mixed really. Then again when you write a book like "Bovver" that's the least you can expect I'd say. I liked it anyway and some feedback from the authors I review is always appreciated of course. All the best, Alex. | |
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| Browner | aug 31 2005 4:14PM |
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| Thanks Alex. I was beginning to feel mighty inadequate following the latest review on Amazon of 'Bovver' - after all I'm a sensitive sort of chap who is still searching for the holy grail that is white Onitsuka Tigers, surely the grand-daddy of Adidas Forest Hills? Great site by the way, only just discovered it. | |
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| Karsten | aug 16 2005 3:46PM |
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| Aaah, brings me back to my childhood years, freezing my ass off in my local hockey rink, cheering for a hopeless team. Dressing weren´t a matter of style though, rather keeping the body nice and warm. Thanks for the suggestions, will pick up these books asap! | |
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| Alex Roest | aug 6 2005 9:07AM |
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| That should have read 'opposition'....attention to detail is everything :-) | |
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| Alex Roest | aug 5 2005 11:02AM |
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| Hi Baz, I chose the title because it suggests a smart ( sic ) alternative to impress both your peers and the oppositon alike. Then again people will always be people..... | |
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| Patrick | aug 3 2005 5:16PM |
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| 'They've Done Us On The Wardrobe Front' (as football fashion and culture fans will know) refers, naturally, to Arsenal supporters.... Hi Barry! | |
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| bazden | aug 3 2005 8:15AM |
| http://www.pippip.net | |
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| Nice stuff Alex. These books ARE strangely fascinating to anyone that has ventured near a footie ground and has been brought up within the street tribal rival gang psyche. Wonder if there really is a deep seated primal urge to 'display" and "belong" and "hunt"... these books would allude to that line. | |
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