Being a casual

[Justice]

Going back to the start of this thread, Paul & Shark clothing is very expensive and that's the truth.

And mostly shite designs.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

I got mine in London, can't remember the shop but you couldn't get the proper green one in Brighton at first, I had a navy blue flight jacket bought in Brighton.
We used to go to London to get Lonsdale t-shirts and sweatshirts from the Lonsdale boxing shop near Carnaby Street.
Any youngsters reading this, this was years before Sports Direct bought Lonsdale and started selling t- shirts for peanuts.

it was on the corner of Sydney street proper stuff, not the tacky ones that came out later
regards
DR

 

[Bolton va va]

It's a shame this thread was thrown off track at the start, you are correct about Green Street.
The film that does give the start of the casual scene some credit is Awaydays, based on the book by Kevin Sampson.

I thought that some of the second version of "The Firm" came close to catching the mood ( & clothes) of the casual era.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

I got mine in London, can't remember the shop but you couldn't get the proper green one in Brighton at first, I had a navy blue flight jacket bought in Brighton.
We used to go to London to get Lonsdale t-shirts and sweatshirts from the Lonsdale boxing shop near Carnaby Street.
Any youngsters reading this, this was years before Sports Direct bought Lonsdale and started selling t- shirts for peanuts.

I wondered why it seems impossible to buy a white Lonsdale t-shirt nowadays without a big lion on the front and Sports Direct logos on the sleeves...

 

[BN9 BHA]

I thought that some of the second version of "The Firm" came close to catching the mood ( & clothes) of the casual era.

Not sure what the second version of the Firm is, I have seen the first and the main lad strutts around in a FULL track suit, no one I know wore a full track suit.

 

[BadFish]

Not sure what the second version of the Firm is, I have seen the first and the main lad strutts around in a FULL track suit, no one I know wore a full track suit.

This one?

 

[BN9 BHA]

This one?

This one?
What do you mean?

 

[BN9 BHA]

it was on the corner of Sydney street proper stuff, not the tacky ones that came out later
regards
DR

Surrey Street mate, just down from Brighton station, do you mean that place?
No shop in Brighton sold the green flight jackets when they came out in London, this was 1980 or 81.

 

[BadFish]

This one?
What do you mean?

Sorry interrupted during my post.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Sorry interrupted during my post.

Ok thanks I understand now, I had forgotten about that film.

 

[Working class pride]

Anyone got any photos of the skins / sudeheads arounds Brighton?

 

[Beach Hut]

Ok thanks I understand now, I had forgotten about that film.

That was not a film wasn't it a TV program the original Firm ?

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Surrey Street mate, just down from Brighton station, do you mean that place?
No shop in Brighton sold the green flight jackets when they came out in London, this was 1980 or 81.

silly me , yes Surrey street , i deffo got one in there, i've got a photo of me wearing it

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Anyone got any photos of the skins / sudeheads arounds Brighton?

there's a group one one taken outside the Bell knocking about
regards
DR

 

[BN9 BHA]

That was not a film wasn't it a TV program the original Firm ?

#229 from Badfish, looks like he has posted a film, but I had forgotten all about this until today, so can't answer your question.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Anyone got any photos of the skins / sudeheads arounds Brighton?

I have a book called Brighton the century in photographs volume 2, this has 2 pictures of skinheads taken in the 80s on a bank holiday.

If you want a good book about skinheads try Skinhead by Nick Knight.

 

[B.D.P]

Same happened to me and my 8 yr old at millwall away . Being escorted to med room through dockers stand bloke jumps in front and says " what are these c**** doing in here " later found out he got banned for 3 years. ( sometimes these idiots get there comeuppance )

 

[B.D.P]

From this one . Der

Question is though were they casuals in the proper sense of the word and part of a firm or just wannabes who happened to copy the style? Back then we all wore the casual look. I did and I certainly wasn't part of a firm. My mate and I got into a bit of trouble at Ipswich away in 91 by some blokes in casual gear. I seriously doubt they were part of a firm. Likewise, I had a bit of verbals with a few Millwall fans a season or two back at the Amex. The way they were behaving towards the Brighton fans it was obvious they were just coked-up wannabes.

I agree though, I've erroneously drunk in pubs I really shouldn't have gone into on matchday and each time we've either taken the hint and left of our own volition or someone's come up to us and pointed out our mistake. My mates and I could have been slapped around each time but the unwritten rule that firms only attack other firms has applied each time.

And that's not romanticising them. The reason they don't do it is because there's no kudos for the firms involved and everyone knows that. There's always a few bad apples but they get sorted out soon enough. A few seasons back at Swindon a few of their fans were making the most offensive homophobic comments to me and me then 9 year old son because I was holding his hand as we walked to the station after the match (my son had his Albion shirt on). Things got a bit heated and there was no way I was going to wade in if I had my son with me. The situation was soon resolved when another Swindon fan came from nowhere and belted the gobbiest of the group. He apologised to me and told the group to eff off. I honestly think that this self-regulation would be identical across most clubs in Britain.

 

[Soulman]

Iv'e read a lot of this thread, the different styles, the clothes etc.
I was born in Chelmsford Essex and lived there until i was 21. My brother is two years older than me and the skinhead, swedehead and smoothie were the styles.
I suppose myself and my mates, although still at school latched onto the older lads and the styles. The leader of the firm and his mates were all West Ham supporters, and the leader, who was known as Dutchy went onto be one of the top lads in the ICF.
Us young ones would wear in the daytime Doc Martins, always highly polished and normally with ox blood or cherry blossom polish, the stitching had to be kept white, by scrubbing with a toothbrush and paste. Levis or stay press, and shirts with Harrington jackets, although mine was an imitation Harrington because i could not afford a genuine one.
If we were going out, it would be Ben Sherman shirts, tonic suits and loafers, the loafers normally had quarter steels on the heels. I did not have a Crombie, which was either blue or black, handkerchief in the top left hand pocket, with a gold stud to pin it in. The sheepskin came later for me after i had left school, and so i suppose i then became a Smoothie.
I remember the leader of the area was the only one that had Gold painted DM's, the second lad had Blue ones.
I thought it was quite a smart fashion, especially the evening gear, and because it was costly you had to look after it.

 

[paul & shark]

And mostly shite designs.

i agree, i have 1 nice jacket, oh and a polo

its more of a northern label

my coat is the nuts though