Playing with style: how football tackled fashion

From Pelé and George Best to David Beckham, footballers have always been fashion iconsI love nothing more than to contemplate Andy Carroll’s man bun. I am fascinated by the bravado of Marcos Rojo’s “Pride” and “Glory” leg tattoos. I never fail to marvel at the transformative power of Jamie Vardy’s skinny suits (he cleans up well). Where others see reasons for mockery – a swishy sarong, a bleached mohawk, a camo-painted Bentley – I see mysterious self-disclosure, creativity, swagger and style. The unapologetic flamboyance of the star players is now an established part of football culture. This is the lens through which I view the world of footie. I am, therefore, less Fever Pitch and more Saturday Night Fever Pitch.My footie journey began in my home town of Reading in the late 1950s. Back then Reading FC players were dubbed the Biscuitmen, a homage to the Huntley & Palmers factory that belched fumes on the horizon. You could see it clearly from the window of our lav. Extracting enjoyment from the rain-lashed terraces of Elm Park was challenging, with my view of any dynamic plays being frequently blocked by a wall of threadbare demob suits and filthy John Collier overcoats. Of all the Reading games I attended in my teenage years, one in particular, the Biscuitmen v Man City, remains lodged in the memory. I can still remember that horrible sinking feeling as the Man City lads scored goal after goal. The final tally was 7-0. Continue reading…
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