Spending life around football in East London teaches you quickly that you cannot bluff the game. Football is a lifelong commitment, and while my days are grounded in leading the Men's Football Scholarship Programme at the University of East London, my heart belongs to the golden era of 90s football culture. The Era of Blank VHS Tapes & Menswear Back when weekends meant recording Match of the Day and Football Italia on blank VHS tapes, football shirts were pieces of character and poetry. Whether it was Cantona's collar or iconic club jerseys, 1990s shirts carried weight on and off the pitch. Styled thoughtfully under an unstructured blazer with a silk neckerchief, a classic kit transforms into effortless menswear—embodying sprezzatura. No Shortcuts on Authenticity Launched three months ago to share this spirit, FC Classico puts every archive piece through strict checks. Following our authentication process—inspecting product codes, wash-label typography, and embroidery—anything counterfeit is rejected and binned. A Squad Effort & Hitting the Road Transitioning from the touchline to building a digital brand has been a massive challenge, made possible by a squad of lads from my university programme who step up to model, shoot content, and graft at live events. From East London pop-ups to the Walthamstow Flea Market, meeting collectors has proved these are wearable time machines. We are now taking the next leap live on Whatnot and heading to the Retro Football Fair in Birmingham on 29 November. Explore the latest additions in our New Arrivals, or come say hello at the Birmingham Retro Football Fair on 29 November.
Founder’s notes
Three Months In: Blank VHS Tapes, East End Pop-Ups, and Stepping Out of the Technical Area
Football isn’t a hobby—it’s a life sentence. After twenty years on the touchline leading the Men’s Football Scholarship Programme at the University of East London, my heart still lives in the era of blank VHS tapes, Match of the Day, and Football Italia on Channel 4. Three months ago, I launched FC Classico to bring that spirit back with zero compromise on authenticity and a nod to Italian sprezzatura. Stepping in front of the camera has pushed me way out of my technical area, but with my university players helping build the site, model, and graft at East London pop-ups like The Well Bean Co and Walthamstow Flea Market, it has become a proper squad effort. Next up: going live on Whatnot this week before taking the rails to the Birmingham Retro Football Fair on the 29th.
