Football Culture | The People's Archive ®

Our archive highlighting the popularity of football fandom and culture in the UK, 1950s-2000.

Football fandom in 20th century Britain transcended the boundaries of the sport itself. It became a cultural touchstone, influencing music, fashion, and even political movements. As the 20th century drew to a close, football fandom in Britain had evolved from the local passion of the terraces as community and working-class identity became intertwined with the sport, to a global phenomenon that united fans from all walks of life. 

School Football Team, Salford, 1968.
Salford, 1968.

Photo © Lee Heywood/The People’s Archive.

Oakworth, West Yorkshire, 1987.
Oakworth, West Yorkshire, 1987.

Photo © Johnny Mozzarella/The People’s Archive®

Chelsea Fans, London, 1969.
Chelsea Fans, London, 1969.

Photo © Jimmy Nugent/The People’s Archive®

“My Dad, some mates, and myself. This was taken before the 1969 Cup Final. Chelsea Played Tottenham Hotspurs. We Lost…..We hired the Monkey from a Gypsy for the photo. It cost 5 shillings.”

Liverpool Fan in Rome, 1977.
Rome, 1977.

Photo © Sam Porter/The People’s Archive.

A Liverpool fan in Rome for the European Cup Final against Borussia Mönchengladbach. 25th May, 1977.

Keeping it Casual. Luton, 1982.

Photo © Harrison Jones/The People’s Archive®

Keep-Ups on Redcar Beach, 1990s.
Keep Ups on Redcar Beach, early 1990s.

Photo © Mark Wall/The People’s Archive.

“This picture was taken by my dad in the early 90s. Alone on a bleak looking Redcar beach playing keepy up with a football just above my head, the steelworks kicking out god knows what in the background. I only recently rediscovered this picture; it feels like the perfect image for growing up on Teesside in the 80s/90s. The soon-to-be-broken industrial backbone of the region intersects with the already faded seaside scene of Redcar beach, juxtaposed with the individual focus, concentration and naivety of an 11-year-old unaware of any of that!” – Mark Wall.

Heywood, 1969.
Heywood, 1969.

Photo © Abbie Davison/The People’s Archive.

A Liverpool Fan in Wigan, 1981.
A Liverpool Fan in Wigan, 1981.

Photo © The People’s Archive®

Liverpool, 1984.
Liverpool, 1984.

Photo © Paul Kayley/The People’s Archive®

Paul: “This was taken in 1984 at Jacob’s Sports & Social Club when Everton won the FA Cup. It’s my Nan (and Joe, her “fancy fella’ as my mum referred to him).”

Montrose, North East Scotland, 1980s.
Montrose, North East Scotland, 1980s.

Photo © Rhudi Twidale/The People’s Archive ®

Rhudi: “My dad (second from left) and his pals ‘the Dynamo Casuals’ who follow Montrose FC. This was taken outside a pub they still love to go to now. They haven’t changed, just a few more wrinkles and grey hair!”

Chiswick, West London, 1982.
Chiswick, West London, 1982.

Photo © Sarah John/The People’s Archive®

Chiswick, West London, 1982.
Chiswick, West London, 1982.

Photo © Sarah John/The People’s Archive®

Subbuteo Footballl Game, Bristol, 1970s.
A game of Subbuteo. Bristol, 1970s.

Photo © Steve Chapple/The People’s Archive®

Coventry City Fans on the way to Wembley, 1987.
Coventry City Fans on the way to Wembley, 1987.

Photo © Mitchell Batchelor/The People’s Archive®

Coventry City FA Cup Parade, 1987.

Photo © William Leigh/The People’s Archive®

“A photo of myself aged nine at the Coventry City FC Sky Blues Cup Tour in Coventry. It looks like something out of communist Russia! I love that loads of people had got onto the roof of the Belgrade—no Health and Safety!” – William Leigh.

Glasgow, 1970s.
Glasgow, 1970s.

Photo © The People’s Archive®

Olympic FC at Glasgow Train Station, 1973.
Olympic FC at Glasgow Train Station, 1973.

Photo © Greg Wilson/The People’s Archive.

Newcastle United Fans, 1970s
Newcastle United Fans, 1970s

Photo © The People’s Archive®

Aston Villa Fans at Selhurst Park, 1992.
Aston Villa Fans at Selhurst Park, 1992.

Photo © Nick Worthington/The People’s Archive®

“One of many away trips with Villa. This was memorable due to Dalian Atkinson’s wonder goal against Wimbledon.”

All images © The People’s Archive / British Culture Archive. All rights reserved.

No usage or reproduction of any kind without prior permission.

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