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We had a little chat with the man behind Grand alliance clothing about the label, football & music among other things. Hi, you're the owner of Grand Alliance Clothing. Tell us a bit about the back story behind how and why it all came about. So, the back story of the birth of my brand starts from losing everything around the year 2015 when I was arrested for Violent Disorder with intent for a scrap in Brighton at the football, I was on bail for 2 years and the only reason they left it so long is because the euros were coming up and they knew all the lads involved on both sides were planning on going over to Marseille and it would only help their case on sending us down with footage of us messing around in France, so we went out there and I managed to make an appearance on crime stoppers and sky news, I thought I was fucked anyway so why not go let my hair down one last time. Anyway, when I got back I had to face a few home truths of; losing my job, my missus and face court weeks after my return. the Fuckers tried giving me 4 years, luckily, I got self-defence but the realisation of coming that close to losing a big chunk of life from football shook me up. So, at this time I had a bit of bad media against me, and no one would employ me for a while so i had to graft In a shit job and I thought, fuck this, I want to be my own boss so this can’t happen again, I started to build the brand straight after court and just put everything that I love into the idea, and here we are now. I've been following your social media posts for a while, and I love the posts about British military history. Tell us about the idea behind it. So, I’ve always loved and been interested in learning about history, not just British but all kinds, especially military history. My old man and grandad were bang into it. I remember watching old war films with my old man and there are moments of bravery that give you goosebumps, films like Zulu, the patriot, master and commander, and Braveheart. There is an abundance of beauty in British artwork and British history from here to the dark ages, it’s a history worth remembering and being proud of. We’re not making a political statement, but rather showcasing our history. My love for history breathes through the brand. What are your hopes and dreams for Grand Alliance going forward? To be honest mate it’s not about the money, I love my clothing and I love the casual culture, the first place I’ve felt I belong, just seeing proper bods wearing and loving my gear would be enough for me. But I know there’s potential to be a household name worldwide, I’ve got the vision to make this brand like the famous Aquascutum, I don’t want to be some terrace wear brand that throws out cringey football prints. I want to be a professional brand that keeps the quality high and customers and community happy with what I produce. It’s all about creating an identity that’s relevant to the people buying my clothes as long as it keeps true to the customers then I see us becoming a big name In menswear fashion. When and why did you first get into Casual culture? I fell in love with the casual culture after being one of those lost boys at school with a different taste in music, different interests, and dressed different. My dad was a mod back in the day and his music and Fred Perry polos influenced my own taste in music and clothing before football. while all the kids were listening to that rap and grime shite I was listening to indie bands, northern soul and 60s RnB. My dad took me to football and a Few lads who lived in my area that went to football with our local mob got introduced into the world of English casual culture and from the first game I was in love, the lads dressed smarter than anyone I’ve seen to date, it wasn’t just clothing, it was the attitude and personality to match the clothing I finally felt the sense of belonging. I was hooked. So, I dropped all the little wallys in my area who had a shit taste in music and clothing and became a football casual. In your opinion who/where did casual start? You know it’s one of them I’ve spoken to people up and down the country and know lads all over, and they’ve said before the scousers we’re robbing shops worldwide and bringing the gear back the movement was emerging and changing up and down Britain anyway regardless with new fashions emerging. Definitely an argument for the Mancs and scousers, leave them to it 🤣 Do you have a favourite clothing brand Apart from your own of course? 😉 Mate, for me it’s Aquascutum, Paul and shark and cp company. The old Paul and shark stuff was unreal, but I haven’t bought much of it over the last few years. Standard attire for me is Clark's wallabies/ dessert treks or kickers boots, Levi 511s navy, aqqy shirt or nice polo and big mig with a nice Ralphy cap, the English pig look I call it. 🤣 In our opinion the music has always been an important part of Terrace Culture. What would be your favourite tunes for a match day? Music is life, always had a wide taste in music before football but when I started going with the proper boys I was introduced into some more bands and stuff I wouldn’t of before going to football. Now there’s some football lad anthems but for me it’s Milburn - Roll out the barrel. There's something magical about a 17-seater minibus when everyone’s singing with people standing up getting slung about with beer and gear flying about all over place, it’s fucking magical, the tunes being played are a necessity for any football day, other songs that get me buzzing are Jake bugg - lighting bolt. The lyrics are like the build-up of a proper away game leading up to a successful brawl. You’ve got to throw in stuff from the smith's, Arctic monkeys, the libertines, Courteeners, Jamie T, the list is endless. Do you have a favourite album/single of all time? For me I’ve always loved the view and the twang, they were bands I was introduced to when I first started going and they have a lot of songs that mean a lot to me and my friendship group. But it’s hard to say I’ve got one favourite album; I love Jamie T and the streets, the relevance to my generation is infused in their lyrics. The strokes got me hooked on indie music from a young age watching the music video to the song, last nite. I'm also a massive soul fan. If you love music, you appreciate all kinds as long as it has relevance to your life. But grime is for tramps. Favourite band/artist? Could not pick one mate, but the jam, the who, the smiths, the strokes, Johnny cash, Elvis, Jamie t, the streets, the view, arctic monkeys, the clash, canned heat, Ray Charles, the animals, Kasabian, oasis, blur there all up there 🤣 On to a bit about football. Do you still attend games regularly? Well, I’ve been banned 5 years after the riots in Marseille in 2016, I’ve been back to a few games but now with the business I can't risk being involved, I done palace away, got in my seat sat down for 3 minutes and left to go back to the pub 😂 I enjoy the away games and still try to go to as many games as Possible. Any views on this year's World Cup in Qatar? Yea mate, what a load of bollocks, look, fair play to the fans that travel and follow and support their country, the fan bases for country’s are community’s, it’s what they do, they shouldn't have to miss out just cos of the circumstances and corruption of a few scumbags, I salute them for travelling. but it's Just more magical having a beer in the summer watching your country play, those tournaments are supposed to bring your countrymen together, regardless of colour race etc, people that don’t even like football watch it and support their team, I love seeing that. I just think that the hosts are fucking backwards and don’t deserve to host the tournament which sole purpose is to bring people from different backgrounds together through football. Be typical if England win this one 😂😂 Sum up Modern football in one sentence. Fucking pony!! Thanks for joining us!! Do yourself a favour and get yourselves some new clobber here.... Grand Alliance (grandallianceclothing.com) Facebook.... (20+) Grand Alliance clothing limited | Facebook

Who's your team and how did you first start supporting them? I have 2 teams I know people say you can’t but born in Cleethorpes I went to Grimsby games from a very early age & that was where I first got into the causal scene. The area is a hotbed of fans who followed Grimsby but also had old school first division teams and mine was Everton from Bob Latchford days 1979 after they played Grimsby. I have been a season ticket holder following Everton for 36 years home and away. When and why did you first get in to Casual culture? I would say I went from my MOD SKA days slipping into the casual world in 1981 (13 yrs old) when I was at senior school from Fred Perrys, I got my first Pringle jumper to go over the top Adidas samba, Patrick cagoule and went from there really. In your opinion who/where did casual start? This will always force an argument north v south but travelling the country following not just my teams but going to games which you knew were going to be a good day out I would say Northwest all day long. I know this is documented in videos and books & friend in the south would argue the case, but the northwest was ahead of the game, but I also think different labels found home in different parts of the country. I am married to a Kent girl, and she says knowing my background that she cannot remember lads at her school been into the labels like the North. Favourite piece of terrace attire? You could not keep up with the change in labels the scene changed so quickly of what was in ad what was out. Strange one my Benetton rugby shirt I wore to death it was never off my back, I hunted for years and picked the blue & the green one up when Selfridges re issues them about 4 years ago. I had a few lovely Armani jumpers with the GA eagle on the sleeve that was classic casual. But then my first Stone Island jacket in 1985 blew me away and started a strange love affair. Least favourite trend you've witnessed on the terraces? Leather & Suedes, Strange one I remember Chelsea coming to Grimsby and a big firm arrived on the Friday night all in these market stall mash ups. Pleased to see that they stayed down south in the main :) I believe you're a bit of a collector, what is your most prized possession? A few of my Stone Island jackets fall into that category, Hard to single one out. The Scarabeo smock I love, Great colour and design. Often get offers to buy it from me. Is there anything you would love to own but just can't get your hands on it? A couple of the really early 82 pieces especially an original Tela Stella You mainly collect Stone Island pieces. Why Stone Island in particular? I first went in 84/85 to Milan, it may sound cliche but having been a mod with scooters when I was there, I saw gatherings of young lads and lasses in lots of bright coloured clothes and then I saw a couple of lads wearing coats with this badge on the sleeve. I found this store the next day with a couple of jackets in the window and recognised the badge. Knowing nothing I spoke with a guy in the store and told me a bit about the label. By then we were wearing Italian sportswear and a bit of Armani, but it was my first time coming across stone island. I bought this 3/4 length cream jacket and keep it for years. There's a lot of newer independent clothing labels popping up all the time. Anything that struck you that stands out from the rest? I've got to know a couple of lads who have started their own labels, one called Grand Alliance & one called Project North, I love the stories behind both brands and have got a few pieces, Go and check them out very much a link to casual culture and nice items. In our opinion the music has always been an important part of Terrace Culture. What would be your favourite tunes for a match day? I have such an eclectic music taste right across the board, from my SKA MOD days, Reggie, but then late 80s Stone Roses arrived. My left leg tattoo is dedicated to the band but again that whole Northwest music scene from Joy Division, New order, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Farm, then to Happy Mondays, Oasis & Liam & Noels solo careers, The Knebworth gig in the summer with Liam was immense, Stone Roses must have seen 25 plus times. Do you have a favourite album/single of all time? The Stone Roses remastered, Oasis Time Flies, Favourite band/artist? Stone Roses/ Oasis/Liam Gallagher Any bands/artist that you feel are part of Terrace Culture? All of above mentioned I think those down south would chuck Blur & the Clash in (Do like London calling) Got to mention The Jam too. The Northwest has been a hot spot for music for quite a while. Any local up and coming bands you can recommend? Not sure if it's my age it like my record needle has stuck. Music like the casual clothes scene is not the same. Too much manufactured music without the graft for me now so I'm stuck in a time warp. Did you get into the dance music scene in the late 80's/ early 90’s? We had a nightclub called the Flam(ingo) in Cleethorpes and would also go the Hull Lexington Avenue or Black Orchid in Nottingham. It was all about George Benson and Luthor Vandross Prince etc On to a bit about the football.... sum up your team's season so far. Grimsby promoted to league 2, Some great away days in the national league, Bit inconstant but transitioning slowly. Everton Well where do you start, Since Moyes bad manager after bad manager. Rafa was the worst football decision ever but with Frank, I actually like him, we already have people calling for his head, but the problem is within the boardroom. I think Moshiri will sell, and I would like Frank to be given time & backing. Fingers crossed we stay up. Do you still attend games regularly? Yes 80% of them, refuse to step foot in Anfield so that gets the boot every season and sometimes a work travel commitment. A lot of fans have been drawn towards lower/non-league football recently. Anyone else you follow? I think that is explained above, Now the World Cup is on I will be looking at Cambridge away in the cup and Wimbledon away with the Mariners. Any views on this year's World Cup in Qatar? Absolute farce. I've been to World cups and Euros in the past. No interest in this event whatsoever How it was ever allowed is beyond belief. Sum up Modern football in one sentence. Money driven PLC business. I can’t divorce my club but take me back to pre 92 anyway of the week, & Everton were half decent then too :) Give Scott a follow on Instagram stonedlove1982

Today we should have woken up in excitement and anticipation with the imminent start of the World Cup but sadly in all honestly we really couldn't care less. Today is a sad day for football, the day that football sold its soul, the day that FIFA, the corrupt cash machine stuck two fingers up to football and fans across the World. We're not naive to realise buying the World Cup is something new as its been going on for years, but this World Cup is the most blatant piece of corruption for all to see, FIFA's hypocrisy is laid bare with all their faux social justice campaigns being put aside for money to fill their coffers and line their pockets and that goes for all the sponsors, football associations, managers, players, media outlets, pundits and so-called ambassadors. The World Cup in Russia should never have been allowed to happen either because of their record on hooliganism and Racism, same with Qatar with their human rights issues, don't get us wrong though we are far from being PC and social justice warriors at Proper Football but what we are like many others are sick and tired of our game being hijacked by causes outside of football and this latest tournament smacks of hypocrisy of the highest level, the fact it's been moved to the winter is another big factor, our issue isn't with the Qataris even though we don't agree with some of their ideals this is about FIFA taking the blatant p*ss out of us all and this comes on top of all the other issues with modern day football where many of us fans are treated like customers and given no second thought by the big TV companies and money makers. Will we watch it? Some of us will some of us won't but none of us will feel the buzz and excitement that comes around every 4 years. FIFA needs to be dismantled and a new organisation needs to replace it.