The scarf is an integral part of a football club’s identity. They’ve become a cultural symbol within football, not only accompanying the rowdy atmospheres, but also providing that winter warmth for travelling fans. Yet do we ever stop to think about those who provide us with this luxury?
Stephen Foster, 28, is a scarf seller outside Elland Road and has been selling accessories at the stadium for over 15 years.
Stephen believes his father was the biggest factor behind his passion for selling merchandise.
“When I was a lad, he used to drag me out of bed on a Saturday, hours and hours before the game. We used to load boxes of scarves into the car and drive to the ground.
“He’d set up his stall and put me a chair out and I would help him set the table up and put all the scarves in order.
“We’d be there hours before the game, and it drove me mad. But now I do it every single game. It’s my way of keeping him with me.
Originally, Mr Foster began selling scarves at 13 years old, where he used to accompany his dad at his stall for home games, before rushing off through the turnstiles to catch kick-off.
His father, Ian, tragically passed away from Pancreatic Cancer in 2013.
Since then, Stephen has only missed one game in the last 12 years, even despite the passing of his late father.
“When he died, I didn’t stop putting up the stall or selling our scarves.
“I was a lot closer to my mum after they split up because I lived with her, but the stall was mine and my dad’s thing.
Stephen estimates he sells between 50-100 scarves, every single home game.
Just how scarves connected him and his father, he believes that his scarves bring other families together.
“It’s a massive part of our club, our identity. It’s more than just wrapping something around your neck.
“I see it every match day, some little lad pestering his dad for a scarf – its proper sweet.
“Scarves have always been a massive part of my life and it’s a way to connect generations of people together.”
The Beeston-born salesman has been a die-hard Leeds supporter since he was 8 years old.
When asked about his relationship with his club, Mr Foster revealed: “My club has always been the most important thing to me.
“I love the culture that my club has, it makes it unique.”
Leeds United have always had a strong connection with football-fashion, having been the first football club to introduce replica kits and memorabilia items, in their partnership with Admiral Sports in 1974.
Fashion accessories have become commonly associated with the West Yorkshire outfit, most notably with scarves, with supporters swinging them around, as the rocking terraces of Elland Road bellow: “We are the champions, champions of Europe”, referencing their infamous loss to Bayern Munich in the 1975 Champions League final.
Mr Foster believes the fashion associated with The Peacocks is what makes the club “special”.
“A lot of fashion that Leeds have worn has become iconic. The ‘Smiley Face’ badge, the Thistle Hotels kit, our yellow shirts… They are all part of the club’s image.
“We are the best fans in the country and the support I get every Saturday proves to me how much my community cares about my business.”
Stephen Foster is just one example of hundreds of supporters, up and down the country, who express their passion for football through fashion.
Whilst you may not notice them on your weekly walks to watch your team, scarf sellers, like Stephen, add to the buzz and culture that makes football beautiful.