Several incidents around the behaviour of the so-called Spice Boys generated major media attention, notably the squad's decision to wear matching cream
Armani suits to the
1996 FA Cup Final – a game they went on to lose to key rivals
Manchester United. Robbie Fowler told the
Daily Mirror in 2008 that "People still remind me about the white suits all the time. It's one of those things – if we had won the game nobody would have mentioned it but we lost and it has become infamous." McManaman and Fowler were also associated with the controversial "dentist's chair" story prior to
Euro 1996. Rumours of a controversial 1998 Christmas party also filled the press. "Win, draw or lose, first to the bar for booze," was the dressing-room mantra, reportedly according to
Neil Ruddock. Certain members of the Liverpool squad would sometimes be seen after matches flying down to London to get to the capital's nightclubs, such as Chinawhite, Ten Rooms or the Emporium, by 9pm. Players were romantically linked with known figures, such as
Phil Babb dating the glamour model
Jo Guest. Ruddock was quoted as saying "We were the first players to get big money, Porsches and Ferraris and get page three birds into bed." Ruddock shared an anecdote on the
Sky Sports television show
Soccer AM that Liverpool players would play a game during their fixtures where they would pass a pound coin between them in-match, and whoever was left holding it at the final whistle would have to pay for the first round of drinks after the game. The players were also linked to music industry figures, with
Robbie Williams joining the squad on the team bus before and after a Premier League fixture against
Aston Villa in 1995. Jamie Redknapp, Jason McAteer and Phil Babb appeared in the music video
One Kiss from Heaven by the pop singer
Louise in November 1996.
Decline of use Following the departure of Liverpool manager
Roy Evans in 1998, with his co-manager
Gérard Houllier taking full charge, the majority of the Spice Boy players were slowly transferred out of the squad or put under greater pressure to perform. The term gradually declined in media use, although was briefly revived when, in 2004, James, Fowler and McManaman were reunited at
Manchester City, under
Kevin Keegan. ==See also==