We caught up with Paul Smith from Clobber Magazine and asked him a few questions about his passion for clothes, football and the Terrace Culture casual scene.
1. Who's your team and how did you first start supporting them?
Man Utd, although I grew up right next to Man City's original ground at Main Road. I had no interest in City whatsoever! I remember first hearing about Matt Busby, the Munich Air disaster and how Manchester United rose from the tragedy with Best, Law and Charlton... and that was it... I was hooked!
2. When and why did you first get into Casual culture?
Around about 1981/82, I was just a little kid minding the cars of the Man City fans, a local hustle of all the kids in Moss Side and Fallowfield areas on match days. I remember seeing a mob of City lads leaving the ground early, they were decked out in Adidas trainers, Pringle sweaters, Fila and Sergio Tacchini track tops and what I later found out were Lois Cords. You could say it was my Goodfellas moment,
I knew I wanted to be part of them, its where I belonged!!!!!!"!"
3. In your opinion who/where did casual start?
In Liverpool & Manchester, Liverpool first though... it's simply beyond dispute! The Mickeys were always away in Europe and were bringing back gear that no one else could get. And just as in Manchester the flares and boots had been replaced with straight leg or semi flared jeans and trainers. The cockneys just can't handle the truth about the origins of the movement, but the history is there for all to see, well for those who choose to see it!
4. Favourite piece of terrace attire?
The CP Company Mille Miglia (Goggle Jacket), there's nothing quite like it (and its countless iterations)! It just stands out from any other item of clothing, even when it's on a hanger, it's got a life of its own... as if someone is already inside it, wearing it. It's a wearable piece of art, and for me it's the ultimate bit of gear!
5. Least favourite trend you've witnessed on the terraces?
The whole Geography Teacher look the Mickeys started off around 1983'ish, it spread to Manchester a bit too, thankfully it didn't last! Oh, and the whole Deerstalker hat thing, WTF was that all about!!!
6. I believe you're a bit of a collector, what is your most prized possession?
Indeed, although I am always buying and selling, and I am not hung up on keeping hold of all my Vintage pieces (although I've kept a good few)! Casual was all about moving with the times, so it's still very important to me to do exactly that. At the moment my favourite piece is a rather understated Stone Island "Compact" Jacket from season SS 2005. It still looks brand new today, and it outstrips most modern pieces!
7. Is there anything you would love to own but just can't get your hands on it?
Yes, most original Fiorucci pieces, in particular the jeans... superb clobber from a superb brand. I also really miss the vintage Valentino stuff, their modern (garish) gear is complete and utter shite, and its waaaaaaaaay overpriced too!
8. You run Clobber Magazine. Tell us a bit about it.
Yes, Clobber Magazine is an online platform that kind of does what it says on the tin, we write about Clobber, Trainers, and occasionally Music... and of course all things casual! It started as a passion project and has just become one of my best mates! It opened a lot of doors for me and through my humble scribblings I've met some truly great people. So, all in all, I owe it a lot. It's also very outspoken when needed and a few arses on the Casual scene have been stung via our Facebook rants!
9. What is your hopes for the future of the magazine.
I am really not sure TBH, I've been at a crossroads with it for a while, I might go into a partnership with someone at some point and take it on a more commercial footing. In saying that I still really like the underground, indie status that it has so who knows!
10. I see you visited the 'Art of Casual ' exhibition at the Walker Gallery in Liverpool, any good?
Absolutely Brilliant!!!!! The photos online really don't do it justice! As well as the visual exhibits it also maps the history of the Casual movement and Liverpool's role in it. I will probably go back a few more times before it closes in March because there's so much to see and take in. It was a really emotional experience for me too, it took me back to the great days if my youth. So, if you're ever in Liverpool before March 2023 I recommend that you go and take a look.
11. In our opinion the music has always been an important part of Terrace Culture. What would be your favourite tunes for a match day?
Wow so many really, growing up in Moss Side & Fallowfield a lot of us were bang into Street soul, Reggae, Hip Hop. Of course, being a Manc I was also into The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Joy Division etc. I can be blasting out a hard Ragga track one minute then flipping to the Sex Pistols the next, so pretty much anything goes depending on my mood!
12. Do you have a favourite album/single of all time?
That's another really tough one because my musical tastes are so varied now. I'd say in terms of commercial music I'd probably say, 'Good to be free' by Oasis, or maybe a dead heat between that and 'Shadow play' by Joy Division. If I was picking an underground track I'd go for 'Shining Through', it's a classic 1990 Street soul track by a group called 'Gold In The Shade'. It was only pressed in limited numbers, of course I've got copy!!!
13. Favourite band/artist?
Commercially I have so many really... including, Joy Division, The Smiths, and anything Liam Gallagher, the Pistols, The Jam, and the most underrated of them all...... 'The Las'!!!
14. Any bands/artist that you feel are part of Terrace Culture?
Loads really, I remember The Smiths being huge amongst many of the Firms, The Jam of course and a lot of smaller indie bands. The Stone Roses seem to have become a firm favourite amongst many Casuals. But I suppose it's all subjective, I remember speaking to a West Ham lad on holiday years ago and for him 'Sham 69' were the ultimate Casuals band... Oi Oi Oi...! Liam Gallagher has also really become ingrained within the Casual scene,
but I attribute most of that to the clobber he wears... although I do love his music!
15. Manchester has been a hot spot for music for quite a while. Any local up and coming bands you can recommend?
I quite like 'Working Men's Club', although I don't know if they can still be classed as up and coming now! There's another band I quite like called 'Delights'; they knock out some decent indie pop/funky stuff.
16. Obviously the Hacienda and dance scene is now obviously world famous. Did you get into that scene in the late 80's/ early 90's?
Yeah of course, the whole '2nd Summer of Love' thing fell right into my lap as I was just leaving School at that time. It really was a magical time, although I was still mainly a Soul boy, I also loved the emerging dance scene, and everything it had to offer!!!! I only actually went to the Hacienda twice though, I much preferred clubs like 'Precinct 13' and 'The X Club'... and the famous Canal Bar.
17. On to a bit about the football....sum up your team's season so far.
Steady progress with the inevitable slip up and bad thrashing here and there (AKA the Man City game)! Ten Hag is top draw and if he's given the time and the backing, I am confident he can bring the title back to Old Trafford. As for Ronaldo, I only have two words... LEGACY RUINED!!!!
18. Do you still attend games regularly?
A lot fewer and far between now, the modern era has killed it, killed the fun, and the joy of standing on the terraces. Old Trafford has been sorely affected by United's worldwide fame, which in turn has killed the atmosphere on many occasions. Mid-week games are the best, and of course those ropey away trips (say no more)!!
A lot of fans have been drawn towards lower/non-league football recently. Anyone else you follow?
I personally never got into the whole FC United of Manchester thing (the breakaway fans club). Rightly or wrongly those that chose that path were labelled as traitors! I quite like the lower leagues though; in fact, I might get over to a Tranmere Rovers game at some point this season.
Any views on this year's World Cup in Qatar?
It's an absolute disgrace. It's all about money. All those poor people have died building the stadiums, and yet all the woke, self-serving virtue signallers (Gary Neville, Gary Lineker etc) are all flocking to Qatar in their droves... to pick up their fat pay cheques! I am only gonna watch the England games, just solely out of the love of our great nation. As for the rest I shan't be partaking!!
Finally Paul, Sum up Modern football in one sentence.
Ruined, it's been stolen from the working man, to be replaced by the shirt wearing (popcorn eating) 'NEW FANS'. I honestly can't wait until the arse falls out of it; I mean come on... the money that's currently in football cannot be sustained. And alas, we (The Casuals) shall take over the grounds once again, and we'll... "Do what we want, we'll do what weeeee waaaaaant, we are the Casuals, and we'll do what we want!!!!
Thanks for talking to us at Proper Football Paul.
You can check out Clobber Magazine here,
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