Jun 8 - Jul 4
Euro 96
England hosted the European Championship. Gascoigne scored THAT goal against Scotland. Shearer was golden boot. Southgate missed the penalty against Germany. 'Football's Coming Home' became an anthem.
🇬🇧United Kingdom · 90s
Football's Coming Home
England nearly won Euro 96, Dunblane broke hearts, and the Spice Girls told you what they wanted.
What happened
5 milestones of 1996
Mar 13
Dunblane Massacre
Thomas Hamilton shot 16 children and their teacher at Dunblane Primary School in Scotland before killing himself. The youngest victims were five years old. The resulting campaign led to a handgun ban.
Mass murder of children — deepest sensitivity required. Focus on victims, community, and legislative change
Feb 9
IRA Docklands Bomb Ends Ceasefire
The IRA ended its 17-month ceasefire with a massive bomb at Canary Wharf. Two people were killed. £150 million of damage. Peace hopes crumbled. The Manchester bomb followed in June.
Terrorism — honour victims
Mar 20
BSE Crisis
The government admitted BSE ('mad cow disease') could be linked to the fatal human variant CJD. British beef was banned worldwide. The beef industry was devastated. Consumer trust in food safety collapsed.
Jul 8
Spice Girls Release Wannabe
The Spice Girls released 'Wannabe.' It went to number one in 37 countries. Girl Power became a global phenomenon. Five women from England became the biggest pop act since the Beatles.
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
Trainspotting
Danny Boyle — Ewan McGregor. 'Choose life.' Edinburgh heroin. Iggy Pop. British cinema reborn.
Brassed Off
Mark Herman — Pete Postlethwaite and a brass band. Pit closures as tragedy.
Secrets & Lies
Mike Leigh — Brenda Blethyn. Palme d'Or at Cannes. Family secrets.
Independence Day
Roland Emmerich — Aliens blow up the White House. Summer blockbuster sensation.
Mission: Impossible
Brian De Palma — Tom Cruise hanging from a wire. UK box office smash.
What was on TV
Euro 96
Jun-Jul 1996 — 26 million watched England lose to Germany on penalties. Again.
Our Friends in the North
1996 — Eccleston, Craig, Strong, Whately. BBC's epic of post-war Britain.
Shooting Stars
1995-2011 — Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer. Surreal quiz show chaos.
TFI Friday
1996-2000 — Chris Evans. Live Friday night chaos. Pop stars and pints.
This Life
1996-1997 — Young lawyers in London. Sex, drugs, ambition. Generation X on screen.
How much things cost
Currency: GBP
Pint of milk36p
Loaf of bread58p
Pint of bitter£1.58
Average house£57,533
Gallon of petrol£2.60
Cinema ticket£4.00
Inflation: 2.4%
Economy growing steadily. New Labour poised for power. Consumer confidence rising. Cool Britannia in the air.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Pint of milkONS
1996 (GBP)
36p
→
Today's value (£)
--
Loaf of breadONS
1996 (GBP)
58p
→
Today's value (£)
--
Pint of bitterBBPA
1996 (GBP)
£1.58
→
Today's value (£)
--
Average houseONS
1996 (GBP)
£57,533
→
Today's value (£)
--
Gallon of petrolAA
1996 (GBP)
£2.60
→
Today's value (£)
--
Cinema ticketBFI
1996 (GBP)
£4.00
→
Today's value (£)
--
Technology
Internet
Dial-up internet spreading to homes. AOL, CompuServe, freeserve.
DVD
DVD format launching in Japan — coming to UK soon.
Hotmail
Free web-based email launched — email for everyone.
Nokia phones
Mobile phones becoming mainstream — Snake was coming.
Dolly the Sheep (prep)
Scientists at Roslin Institute cloning Dolly — announced 1997.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Britpop lad fashion — Adidas Gazelles, parkas, bucket hatsGirl Power — platform shoes, Union Jack dressesCasual sportswear — Kappa, Ellesse, tracksuit culture
Slang
Buzzing— Excited, thrilled
Safe— All good, trustworthy
Sorted— Done, arranged
Behavior
- Euro 96 created a wave of football-fuelled patriotism
- Dunblane united the country in grief and led to real gun law change
- Girl Power gave young women an assertive cultural identity
Share
Download or share cards from this year
1200×630 · WhatsApp/Facebook