Music and Football Rivalries: How Fashion Plays a Role
The Pompey Boys © John Payne
In the UK, music and football aren’t just pastimes — they’re tribal, emotional, and tightly woven into the fabric of everyday identity. And when these worlds collide, something unique happens: fashion becomes the battleground where rivalries are worn just as much as they’re chanted.
Terrace Culture Meets Music Subculture
From the terraces to the stage, artists and fans have long used clothes to signal allegiance, reject the mainstream, or align themselves with certain values — all while looking sharp.
The rise of the casual movement in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s saw football fans ditching colours and kits in favour of designer sportswear — a look that quickly bled into music scenes. Bands like The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, and later Oasis, were all steeped in the aesthetic of the terraces, blending it with their own swagger and sound.
Liam Gallagher, a lifelong Manchester City supporter, became a fashion icon in his own right. His look — part Mod revival, part terrace lad — made parkas, Adidas, and bucket hats symbols of both football and music loyalty. Meanwhile, his rivalry with Blur (and their strong London identity) added fuel to the fire between northern vs. southern style, both musically and sartorially.
Rivalries on and off the Pitch
Football rivalries have long been about more than just sport — they’re about class, location, and even fashion tribes. Take Liverpool vs. Manchester United, Celtic vs. Rangers, or Spurs vs. Arsenal — each has its own set of unofficial style codes.
In some scenes, what you wear can even point to what you listen to. Grime and drill artists from London’s north or east might favour Nike Tech, Trapstar, or full-black fits, while Northern indie fans still rep Adidas Spezial, vintage Stone Island, and terrace-ready outerwear. These identities aren’t always clean-cut, but fashion plays a key role in building that cultural allegiance.
When Artists Fly the Flag
Musicians have never shied away from showing club pride. From Stormzy’s open support for Manchester United to Slowthai’s nods to Northampton Town, or IDLES’ punk energy wrapped in Bristol City red, artists often use fashion — kits, scarves, colours — as subtle (or not-so-subtle) symbols of their loyalties.
This blurring of music, football, and fashion creates an aesthetic rivalry just as potent as anything on the pitch — one built on attitude, identity, and the refusal to follow the mainstream.
Final Word: The Style of Support
Whether it's a bucket hat in your club’s colours at a summer festival or a vintage away kit in a music video, the link between football, music, and fashion is as alive as ever. Rivalries go beyond chants and goals — they play out in what we wear, the brands we rep, and how we carry ourselves.
In this culture, your look is your loyalty.
