The late seventies saw the emergence of Perry Boys on the northern terraces of Old Trafford and Maine Road, which would leave an indelible mark on football fashion and identity. The term ‘Perry Boys’ originated from the British heritage brand Fred Perry, whose polo shirt, with its iconic laurel wreath logo, became a symbol of the subculture. With a uniform made up of Lee cords, and Stan Smiths, Perry’s were into Glam Rock, Motown, and Roxy Music, with working-class lads adopting David Bowie’s wedge haircut (as seen on the cover of 1977’s album Low). Thirty miles or so down the road, Liverpool fans were also wearing a similar uniform on Merseyside under the ‘scally’ name, wearing hard-to-find Adidas, pilfered and sought out during Euro-aways across the continent.

The movement, characterised by a distinctive style and a passion for fashion and football, reflected the changing landscape of British society at the time. The Perry and Scally look was a precursor to the more well-known ‘football casual’ of the 1980s, who were decked out in expensive tennis and golfing brands, a classic style and identity that continues to evolve to this day.

At its core, Perry’s and Casuals differed from the traditional image of football fans wearing team colours and scarves. The focus shifted from supporting a team to expressing a unique identity through fashion. The subculture peaked during the mid-1980s, coinciding with the heyday of English football hooliganism. However, it’s important to note that not all casuals were hooligans; many were simply obsessives of the fashion and music associated with the subculture.