Book Review: TIFO: The Art of Football Fan Stickers by Ryo Sanada & Suridh Hassan
A couple of years ago whilst on holiday in Albufeira and about to stroll into a local bar, my eyes were drawn to the back of a street sign, where adorning it was an Ipswich Town sticker displaying a cross of St George. In one section was the club badge, a second with images of the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and First Division trophy and the others with the wording “Champions of England & Europe” and “Pride of Anglia over land and sea”. A sticker about 1,500 miles from Portman Road.
I’ve no doubt this wasn’t the only football related one I would have found if I’d have looked, and if you go to any town or city at home or abroad, these stickers in all sorts of forms are out there.
Indeed as the authors detail in the introduction, “our journey in creating this book began quite casually, taking pictures of unique football stickers across Europe during family holidays.” What they have created is a glorious, riotous, colour filled, page after page of stickers from around Europe in a format that feels more akin to a catalogue from an art gallery than a book
As the title of the book suggests, these stickers have become quite simply an art form, expressing as paintings can, a range of emotions, messages and meanings. This includes stickers from fans simply marking their territory or putting down their nearest rivals to others which convey political and social messages.
In terms of the various chapters of the book, these are broken down to cover the British Isles, and the four compass parts of Europe. Additionally there are some short articles which are useful aide-memoires to the body of graphics.
One such is, “A Note on…Andy Capp.” This cartoon character first seen in 1957 in the Daily and Sunday Mirror would possibly be viewed as a strictly British working class character but who adorns within the book various club stickers not only in the UK but in Europe. For instance, Andy is known as Willi Wakker in Germany, Andre Chapeau in France, Kasket Karl in Denmark, Tuffa Vitkor in Sweden, whilst in Italy he is simply Carlo. Who would have thought!
Given this is a book image heavy, it is one you will pick up and put down on many occasions and often see something for the first time.
If your Club isn’t featured in this edition, fear not – there is already the promise of a second volume. Watch this space!
(Publisher: Stickerbomb Ltd. May 2024. Paperback: 248 pages)
Buy the book here