Casual? Anything but…

‘Wish you were here’ is an exhibition of the Leeds casuals – reflecting on the culture of the city’s football fans.

Leeds United fans were among the most notorious in the country during the 1980s and this presents a chance for unique look-back on those times. The exhibition presents a photographic history of that period as captured by the characters themselves, who grew up in and around the city and followed the club around the country.

Richard Cusworth, who has collated the exhibition, said: “The lads have an amazing collection of photographs which show something that was a part of their lives and has a long lasting legacy in modern culture.

“People all have their own views when they reflect on the 1980s and the casual culture. This exhibition captures the spirit of that time.

“This is something that has never been displayed before in this manner and we hope it will give an insight to people that the football casuals aren’t the violent criminals the media would have you believe. Many of the images are of teenagers growing up and finding there way in life like us all.”

Karl Skirrow, who is one of those featured, added: “We were all young lads growing up together in the city. This exhibition is about that time and what it was like for us.

“The name of the exhibition is in memory of our old friends from those days who are now, sadly, no longer with us.”

The exhibition takes place on Saturday 19th February at Temple Works in Holbeck. It is free to enter and open from 11am until 2pm. It will open again after Leeds United v Norwich City that day at Elland Road.