The Sex Pistols x Admiral Sports 'Anarchy in the U.K.' Football Shirt
In 1976, a single record helped define a generation. “Anarchy in the U.K.” marked a turning point in British music, introducing a sound and style that would go on to influence fashion, culture and sport for decades. Fifty years on, we’re proud to celebrate that landmark moment alongside one of the most influential bands of all time.
Released in November 1976, “Anarchy in the U.K.” announced the arrival of a band that would redefine music, fashion, and attitude. That same year, the Sex Pistols’ notorious appearance on the Bill Grundy Show propelled them into the national spotlight, cementing their reputation as the most uninhibited band in Britain and sending shockwaves through mainstream media.
“I was always into Punk, ever since I saw the Sex Pistols on the Bill Grundy Show it felt like something I wanted to be a part of!”
— Stuart Pearce
Fronting the campaign is true ‘football punk’ Stuart Pearce. The former England international and lifelong punk fan has long declared “Anarchy in the U.K.” his favourite track. Pearce’s connection to the band runs deep, even introducing them on stage at a London show in 1996, between England’s Euro ’96 quarter-final victory over Spain, complete with his iconic ‘Psycho’ celebration, and the semi-final against Germany.
“Many of the early instigators of the punk scene were football fans.”
— Malcolm McLaren, Sex Pistols manager
The band’s connection with football runs deep. During the launch of their first single and UK tour, Sex Pistols adverts appeared in football programmes across the country, promoting “Anarchy in the U.K.” and taking punk directly to the terraces.
The imagery for the campaign reflects this heritage, reimagining the kind of adverts that once appeared in football programmes, updated for today and fronted by Stuart Pearce.
The new Admiral x Sex Pistols Football Shirt captures the raw energy of 1970s punk, channelling the chaos and creativity of an era when football, music, and rebellion collided.
