You may hear the passionate chanting of ‘Yma o Hyd’, Wales’ stirring anthem of resilience, before you see them, but the sea of red, yellow, and green that follows completes the picture of steadfast Welsh spirit that radiates from the stands.
The original iconic hats are made by Spirit of 58, a Bala-based clothing company set up in 2010. Sales have soared in recent years, fuelled by the revival of Welsh football as Cymru qualified for the European Championships in 2016 and 2020, the World Cup in 2022, and now – for the first time - the Women’s Euros. With excitement building for the Women’s European championships, now is an exciting time to wear the nationally symbolic headgear.
Ahead of Wales’s first World Cup qualification in 64 years – the Football Association of Wales teamed up with Spirit of 58. Giant bucket hats popped up all over the country - not just on the heads of fans, but towering over the streets of Cardiff, Wrexham, and Swansea. The distinctive, giant installations became instant hits, drawing crowds eager to snap photos with them ahead of the team’s arrival in Qatar.
During the tournament, many Welsh fans also donned rainbow bucket hats as a statement of solidarity with LGBTQ+ rights. The hats became an emblem of inclusivity, largely associated with Wales' LGBTQ+ supporters' group, the Rainbow Wall.
With Cymru’s attention now turning to the UEFA Women’s Euros, the bucket hat remains an important mascot to supporting Welsh football. It’s more than just a fashion statement – it’s a symbol of pride, passion and unwavering support for Welsh football.
Football Fan Culture
Welsh football fan culture is a unique thing. In a nation where rugby has long dominated the sporting landscape, football fans have had to be resilient, weathering years of near-misses and heartbreak.. But this struggle has forged a fanbase that is not only fiercely loyal but also gracious, with many supporters having waited a lifetime to see their team thrive on the international stage.This inherently passionate, purposeful nature of supporters has not gone unnoticed. In 2016 Wales fans were officially recognised by UEFA for their ‘outstanding contribution’ to the Euros in France. Defying certain stereotypes of football fans, the Red Wall was heralded for its dedication, sporting and respectful behaviour.
This etiquette is weaved throughout Wales’s fans as an unwritten rule, knowing the hurdles they have faced to get there and the many near-misses. The chance to support their team on the biggest stage is a new phenomenon, and not an opportunity they take lightly.
It is the bucket hat that encompasses this ‘together, stronger’ feeling. Wherever Wales plays, whether home or away, spotting these unmistakeable hats and retro shirts in a crowd brings an instant sense of belonging - proof that Wales is never far away.
Forget fisherman and festivalgoers, the Red Wall will go down in history as the custodian of the bucket hat. And as Cymru takes centre stage at the Women’s Euros in Switzerland, the world will once again witness the symbolic tricolor headwear standing proudly among the sea of supporters.
Fun facts about the humble bucket hat:
- Cymru’s connection with the bucket hat was started by fan-owned brand Spirit of 58, their name a reference to the year the team first forayed into the World Cup. Their shop sits on the high street in the lakeside town of Bala, alongside a range of other independent retailers, cafes, antique shops and accommodation.
- First edition bucket hats from Spirit of 58 have sold for upwards of £200 on eBay.
- Cymru players have embraced the fan fashion with shots of stars wearing them during key moments such as the walkabouts at Euro 2020 and the celebrations after reaching the World Cup in the play-off v Ukraine.
- In the BBC studio, after the Ukraine World Cup playoff game, former internationals and pundits Ashley Williams and Danny Gabbidon donned hats alongside suits to celebrate the magical moment.
- In the run up to the World Cup, giant bucket hats popped up all over Cymru from Cardiff to Wrexham and Swansea.