Origins
The 1960's brought the mod movement which grew and spread throughout Britain, certain elements of the mod scene became engaged in well-publicised clashes with members of a rival subculture, the rockers leading to violence across the beaches Britain.
skinhead or skin is a member of a subculture that originated among working-class youth in London, England, in the 1960s. It soon spread to other parts of the United Kingdom, with a second working-class skinhead movement emerging worldwide in the late 1970s. Motivated by social alienation and working-class solidarity, skinheads are defined by their close-cropped or shaven heads and working-class clothing such as Dr. Martens and steel toe work boots, braces, high rise and varying length straight-leg jeans, and button-down collar shirts, usually slim fitting in check or plain. The movement reached a peak at the end of the 1960s, experienced a revival in the 1980s, and, since the.
During the early 1970s, came The Punks associated with the underground music scene, including bands like the Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Damned and the Cockney Rejects delivered a fiercely working-class sound and working class violence through their links to the ICF
Whilst the casual movement sprung up all across Britain, the frontrunners were certainly the groups in London & those up in the North-West. London was already a hotbed of culture & in the 1960s & 1970s had witnessed subcultures such as the Mods & the Skinheads.
In terms of style, it was a very natural progression to go from being a Mod to becoming a Casual. Bands such as The Who, The Small Faces and The Kinks had all been popular amongst Mods. The popularity of reggae & soul music also highlighted a crossover in tastes between the Mods & the Skinheads. The Jam, fronted by Paul Weller, were heavily influenced by the Mod scene. Releasing their first album in 1977, it was no surprise that they would be popular amongst Casuals in England's capital.
Another sound which was popular amongst the London Casuals, was Punk, to be more precise Oi Punk. One of the most prominent Oi Punk groups was the Cockney Rejects. At a time, where football-related violence was at a high, the band's links with West Ham's 'Inter City Firm' would often bring controversy upon them.
By the late 70s early 80's one subculture would dominate working class culture The Football Casuals
Significant number of young men attending football matches began wearing clothing and footwear produced by designer sportswear brands, including Adidas, Burberry, Sergio Tacchini, Lacoste and Fila, In the 1980s, casuals also began to wear other Italian brands including Stone Island and C.P. Company created by fashion maverick Massimmo Osti
Hooligan elements sprung up from every club with names that would identify them as they left the mark all over Britain and Europe.
Up in Manchester & Liverpool, there was a plethora of talented bands coming through. On Merseyside, the 'New Wave Scene' was at its height with bands such as Echo & The Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes & Frankie Goes to Hollywood gaining popularity amongst Liverpool FC, Everton FC and Tranmere Rovers casuals. Meanwhile in Manchester, match-going folk were spoilt for choice in the late 1970s & early 1980s with bands such as Joy Division (later New Order) & The Smiths rising to fame.
Then in 88/89 the emergence of the dance summer of love
From that moment on, people were out every night in an underground playground of warehouse parties, sweaty basements, abandoned shops and derelict railway arches. Club nights popped up and disappeared again like shooting stars and there was always the possibility that the police would turn up and pull the plug or the sound system would cut out or be confiscated.
The Haçienda and Quadrant Park were two of the most legendary nightclubs in the UK's North West. While the Haçienda defined the Manchester "Madchester" scene, Quadrant Park (in Bootle) was Liverpool's crucial equivalent, famous for pioneering legal all-night raves and laying the groundwork for the 90s superclub
Word spread so quick what was going on next. This was long before the internet and social media. Pirate radio stations like Centreforce set up by leading West Ham ICF members were prominent in the movement.
It was as if there was a tribal drum echo on the street and soon you'd find yourself in an abandoned warehouse or farmers field locking eyes through the dry ice with a dancer from the West End, or a saucer-eyed scaffolder from Canning Town. All barriers melted away. Football hooligans happily embraced lads from other firms as the night turned to day on the dance floor.
Leading to some firms producing T-shirts with the words "Hooligans against acid"
Rave culture had ushered in a new era of weekday partying and the priority was dancing: models and Chelsea girls rubbed shoulders with East End market traders.
The authorities soon suffocated the scene and lads slowly drifted back to the terraces and violence increased once more.
Madchester & Britpop emerged as the music backdrop.
Perhaps the era of music associated with the Casual Culture is the 'Madchester' / Britpop Era of the late 1980s & 1990s.
By far the most influential band from this era was Manchester's The Stone Roses. Combining a variety of sounds, the band's debut album has become one of the most iconic albums of all time. As working-class lads who loved their football, it was inevitable that this band would become a favourite on the terraces in Manchester & across the UK in general.
Whilst Oasis and the Gallagher brothers are also hugely popular amongst match-goers, The Stone Roses seem to be the band that unites football fans in the UK & the world over. As well as having a wonderfully unique sound, the artwork associated with the band was also iconic. This artwork has been recreated and reimagined countless times & is regularly featured on the stickers & t-shirts of fan groups the world over.
Fast forward 40 years & the bands who were popular amongst football casuals during the formation of the movement, continue to be adored.
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