Fifty years ago, British music a rather sharp turn. In 1976, frustration and politics collided to form a new sound that would define the late 70’s. Punk was a rupture and when the Sex Pistols released “Anarchy in the U.K.”, they ignited a movement that reshaped music.
Half a century later, that movement is still going strong. To mark this anniversary of the Pistols’ debut song, the band teamed up with Admiral Sports, Britian’s oldest sportswear brand, for a collaboration that brings back to its original home, the football terrace.
Punk and Football
The connection between both punk and football has always been closer than people love to admit. In the mid-70s they were places where the youth would gather to vent frustration and express their identity. This was long before punk was a global phenomenon and everyone was wearing band tees. In the mid-70s punk lived among matchday crowda and record shops.
When The Sex Pistols launched their first tour and single, advertisements for Anarchy in the UK. appeared in football programmed across the country. Members of the band were football supporters as well. As Malcolm McLaren (Sex Pistols manager) once put it: “Many of the early instigators of the punk scene were football fans.”
The Shirt
The Sex Pistols x Admiral Football Shirt has a certain DIY attitude. Instead of following a nostalgic piece it is inspired by punk’s visual language. The band’s iconic scrapbook-style logo replaces the traditional sponsor usually found on football kits. The cut-and-paste letters continue onto the number on the back, tying the look back to the football and terrace culture that shaped punk.
Stuart Pearce
The campaign revolves around Stuart Pearce, nicknamed Psycho for his playing style. Pearce love of punk music is well documented. He has openly named Anarchy in the U.K. aa his favourite song, and famously introduced the Sex Pistols on stage in 1996, between England’s Euro ‘96 quarter-final win over Spain and the semi-final against Germany. “I was always into punk. Ever since I saw Sex Pistols on the Bill Grundy Show, it felt like something I wanted fo be a part of,” Pearce stated.
Fifty Years of Anarchy
The Sex Pistols x Admiral Football Shirt comes fifty years after Anarchy in the U.K. first disrupted Britian and this collaboration honours a moment when music and football were still raw and political. The shirt will be available on Thursday 5 February 2026 via AdmiralSports.com and the official Sex Pistols store.
