Student Refused Entry To Club 'Because Of Stone Island Jacket'

A student at Northumbria University is taking a Newcastle club to task - after claiming they refused to let him in because of his jacket.

Connor Lilley was out celebrating his girlfriend's birthday in the city's famous Bigg Market when he was allegedly refused entry to Filthy McNasty's nightclub because of his Stone Island jacket.

Connor claims that it was his jacket that got him turned away, while Filthy's say that he was denied entry because he was drunk.

The student refuted that claim, telling the Newcastle Chronicle: "That's ridiculous - I'd only had about three drinks."

Stone Island is an Italian menswear brand beloved by football hooligans, though it has also become a more mainstream label after being worn by pop stars such as Drake.

"The doorman told me that I could come inside if I turned my badge inside out," said Connor.

"But what is a badge going to do? Is a badge going to turn me into a hooligan all of a sudden?

"I thought they were joking at first," he added. "I was out with my girlfriend - what harm was I going to do?"

"The irony is, I don't even like football. I wore it at 21 (another Newcastle venue), where I work, for dinner that night, and it is funny I can wear it there but not Filthy's."

Newcastle United had played West Ham United earlier in the day at St James' Park, a fixture that in the past has seen fighting between hooligans from both teams.

Filthy's released a statement denying Lilley's claims. It read: "People are allowed in wearing jeans and trainers - and if someone has a hat, we just ask them to take it off for the CCTV. Speaking to our door staff, we understand he was rejected for being intoxicated."

Stone Island jackets are now associated with football hooliganism, but began life as a high-end Italian designer label, founded in 1982 by Massimo Osti, a noted menswear designer.

Osti also founded CP Company, another brand beloved by football hooligans and those who adhere to the soccer casual subculture.

Italian menswear designs were popularised in the 1980s, when hooligans would wear clothes that did not feature the colours or insignia of their clubs in order to go undetected by the police.

Featured Image Credit: NCJ Media

Topics: Newcastle United

Mike Wood

Mike Meehall Wood is a freelance journalist and translator. He writes for LADbible, VICE and countless sports publications, focusing on rugby league, football and boxing. He is a graduate of Leeds University and maintains a fizzy pop obsession. Contact Mike at [email protected]