Green Shirt Mush

 From Marseilles 23 years ago, wandering calmly clutching his pints onto a pin badge and sticker. Unintentional cultural icon. Green shirt mush. 

Recent Purchases

 Haven't done one of these for ages. Years in fact. When I post a load of bits and pieces I've picked up. This lot is especially random, boredom of lockdown taking effect...

A vintage Folk rainmac in a striking royal blue. Came as part of a job lot of coats, including an Elka x Norse projects fisherman's jacket and couple other smart folk overcoats. Couldn't get a decent photo of the others, anyway this was pick of the litter.

Brook Brothers shirt. Classic long sleeved button down with a fine check from the shirting staple siblings.

Garbstore x Indigo Farm selvedge denim. eBay bargain this, £13. Only couple of blurry photos in listing so took a risk. Paid off nicely as in top condition - no fading or wear. Very smart.

Clarks desert boots. My old pair have gone the journey so pleased to some new ones dirt cheap from TK Maxx.

Another job lot, this time of tittfers. Two Highland 2000 wool watchcaps - these were the brand who did CC's OG McMurphys (which I've got a handful of) so the quality shines through. Made in England also. Then a couple tweed numbers - a bakersboy, for when I'm feeling Peaky, and a trilby for when I'm Still Game.

Pissed up OG England 96 home shirt and Hackett cap. Recently got a refund on my EURO 2020 tickets so was a bit glum. Got these for watching it at home and throwing patio furniture round my garden...

...with an England soundtrack. World in Motion and England's Irie. The two best football tunes IMO.

The devil makes work for idol hands. Particularly when Sara Cox is the centrefold. Few vintage Loaded mag from eBay. For the articles.

A signed Pools ball. Celebrating 100 years of Hartlepool United. Fortunately I've only been around for 37 of them.

2004 Linoflax

Was supposed to be heading up Glasgow today for Euros - tickets for Czech Republic Vs Croatia, doing a bit scouting on England's opposition. Had a nice weekend planned, just me and the eldest son, cheap hotel and rail sourced - typical  it all went south - but sadly need to wait another year.

Spare a thought for the jacket I purchased for the trip, first time in yonks I've bought something for a specific awayday. Felt good. Nice lightweight khaki Linoflax number from 2004 - wonder if it went to Portugal '04?

Epidemic - A Fashion Story

World in Motion

It's quarter of a century to the day one of the greatest footie songs was released. And World in Motion had it all - an anti violence message sung by a band who were popular amongst the casual movement, World Cup song lyricsmith Fat Les aka England's Irie aka Keith Allen amongst the ranks, ray bans and those iconic 1990 England shirts, and, of course, John Barnes "unique" rap.

It remains a popular tune 25 years later, and usually pips Three Lions to number one spot when the music channels do their top World Cup songs every four years.

It could have been so different though. New Order were tricked into doing it by manager Tony Wilson, the Factory Records supremo claiming he'd been approached by the FA (he'd actually pleaded his bands cause to Lancaster Gate). Then the lyrics could've changed - the FA wanted 'loves' to be replaced by 'we've got the world in motion) and Allen wanted to play on the acid house scene at the time, calling the E is for England. And finally Barnes only taking his role after winning a rap off with Paul Gascoigne, Peter Beardsley and Steve McMahon. Imagine Gazza doing it? I mean it's pretty cringey now (albeit fucking deadly when you're drunk).

Best Football anthem ever though? Whether yes or no, band member Bernard Summer described it as "the last straw for Joy Division fans"...

Gascoigne (The Film)

Twenty-five years ago today World Cup Italia 90 kicked off, giving England's most gifted, yet flawed, midfield genius stroke madman a platform to perform (in more ways than one). After some iconic displays of dazzling skills, self destructive tackles and child like tears, a quarter of a century later Gascoigne the film is in cinemas for one night only. The legend's story - in his own words. It's going to be emotional.

Summer Swag

With the summer fast approaching and with me dropping a fair bit of weight, I've had a massive clear out of big baggy XL numbers and replacing with slightly slimmer, almost trimmer larges.

First up a few Madras check shirts. A Barbour sample with double chest pockets and hidden button down collar, a staple Ralph Lauren short sleeve Yarmouth and a modern classic L/S by favourite British shirtsmiths tuktuk. All in a pleasing array of summeresque blues, reds and greens...

Summer wouldn't be summer without some cool as Connoisseur bits and pieces. The already iconic Mary Pigeon polo and Heron bucket hat. Also some pinbadges, for FREE, courtesy of Hess the Horse. Sharing some pinbadgelove indeed...

After a spell of weighing up whether to go Stan Smith or Reebok Classic for a cool white summer trainer, have opted for the Exofit Lo Clean. Boks won it being that theyre unlikely to be seen on instagram with the hashtag casuallyobsessed preluding it. #ThatsNotCasual...

Didn't really need another Jacket if I'm honest, but then do we ever need another one? An Oi Polloi issue Armor Lux parka for a criminally low £13 off eBay. In a lovely hue of Francais Bleu (French Blue) and also includes the Frenchies other favourite colour inside the hood and as the lining - white. Anyway 'Lux' like a decent parka anyway...

I'm away this week. In Scotland. And apparently it's going to start raining later today. And not stop until we come back next Saturday. So I've packed a mac...

And finally, with the Gascoigne film out in June (for one night only) a replica version of the 1990 England shirt, complete with his trademark number 19. Perfect for flinging a bit of garden furniture round when on tour in Scotland...

Ince Ready For War

Found him in a charity shop for ten bob and thought I'd rejuvenate him to his blood and guts battling best.

You'd think that with a full time job, two small kids to raise, a holiday to pay for and the threat of eviction looming, I'd have better things to do. But apparently not.

Mundial

Mundial magazine. A one off mag that celebrates everything good about the world cup - the clobber, the stickers, the underdogs, the memories and even the dopey mascots.

Has to be said I thought this magazine, despite being produced by the likes of STAND, Proper and CC, would be (like most of the tournaments England have taken part in) a bit disappointing. The hype surrounding the mag, like any World Cup the Three Lions enter, was unbelievable and I didn't think Mundial could live up it, even with the list of credible contributors.

But I'm literally blown away by it, it's as satisfying as a Scotland defeat to Costa Rica. Only 2014 copies world wide which are each named after a player from World Cup history. I've landed 1315 Toni Turek. A German keeper from days of old. Disappointed it wasn't Gazza. But he did make an appearance in the excellent CC/Peter O'Toole collectors cards, twice. And unlike Gazza there'll only be tears of joy with this mag.

Ireland v England 1995