[I was] frothing at the mouth with eyes popping out of my head. "I went to a match in Feb 1967, just before I turned nine I used to go with my dad. 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English Football Hooligans - West Ham United v Millwall (2005) He was affectionately known as One-Eyed Baz and he gained a ruthless reputation as a key figure in Birmingham Citys Zulu Warriors firm. Instead of fighting football fans, he is now a professional boxer and a 12 stone athlete. We are committed to He earns bonus points for his love of marmite, which has led him to wear marmite apparelincluding a T-shirt designed like a marmite labelon multiple occasions. Riaz Khan of Leicesters Baby Squad said: "Being part of a firm gave you that sense of belonging. Awaydays is more of a rite of passage story of a man growing up in a rough working-class environment. He's got a bad hip and now his kneeis playing up. Lead Foo Dave Grohl apparently took up watching the EPL during an extensive tour of the UK during his band's early years. They are the shaven heads, tattooed arms and defiant poses of men who terrorised the terraces in the dark days of English football hooliganism. Gary Oldman plays Bex Bissell, the leader of the ICC - Inter City Crew. Harris is a founding member of heavy-metal maestros Iron Maiden and contributes bass, keyboards, backing vocals and songwriting to the group.In his teenage years, Harris was a talented footballer who played for the West Ham youth system. GRV Media Ltd, 18 Mulberry Avenue, Widnes. They are by far the most fanatical supporters of the club. Football is known as the sport around the world with the most violent fans around. However, the reformed hard man said he is now living proof that people can transform their lives. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Recalling one clash with Wolves fans, he remembered: They came up to us, Ive put this bottle straight through this geezers nut straight away, I thought Im going to hurt one of these badly first and set the tone for the day. Known as "Black Hell" to many sides that set foot in the stadium. Named after the trains they traveled on for away matches, the Inter City Firm became identified by their habit of leaving a card on the prone bodies of those they attacked, reading: Congratulations, youve just met the ICF. Despite such practices, Cass Pennant, a black Londoner and former general of the Inter City Firm, maintains that, unlike many other groups of its kind, the ICF was neither racist nor neo-Nazi. Two of their most famous incidents include the 1985 Kenilworth Road Riot and the 2009 Upton Park Riot which involved hated local rivals West Ham United. The movie tells a story of a young boy called Carthy who, after his dad dies, meets a group of soccer hooligans and discovers that he loves their style of living. Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. So what do you think? It was going off over the pews, the aisles, the vicar was saying, pack it in, come on lads, the police are coming.. FC Barcelona have been on the radar as violent and outspoken for years. While the second part of the definition is taking it to the extreme in our current discussion, brutal ruffian definitely is much more in the ballpark. READ MORE: Every word David Moyes said on Crystal Palace, relegation chances and Lucas Paqueta. Its a dangerous game. The Zulu's and other spin-offs of the original hooligan group of the club are some of the worst in all of England. I was thinking this is going well, but they have got 40 people and they are a good firm.. Serbia's Red Star Belgrade have been a constant source of thuggish behavior for decades. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Cass Pennant's story is remarkable given the level of racism that was prevalent during the 1970's and 80's in Britain. Glasgow Scotland's two biggest clubs, Celtic FC and Glasgow Rangers FC, effectively known as the Old Firm, are the most violent sets of fans in all of Scotland. West Ham United FC fanbase from late 1970s to early 1990s, "British Soccer Superhooligans, Emergence and Establishment: 1982-2000", "Violence at West Ham is proof that hooliganism has never gone away", "Come and have a go if you think you're cool enough", "Why are West Ham's board holding meetings with self-professed hooligans? Hailed as the most feared and undefeated hooligan element in Britain for decades, West Hams Inner City Firm became part of football folklore. an Middlesbrough fans were attacked and stabbed in 2006 and in 2007 another altercation with an English side, Manchester United, saw more visiting fans fall victim to thugs. Nuggets vs Suns Game 2: Can The Suns Bounce Back? His three books are Its Only a Game, Life As a Chelsea Headhunter and Kicking the Habit. While they have not been as active lately, they still remain as one of the most outspoken groups of fans in the United Kingdom. The Gate 4 supporters are the most infamous and cause the majority of problems that the club is ever known for. London legend Billy Bragg is all of these things and more. In 2009, the fierce thespian became a spokesperson for West Ham's newly redesigned kit.It is niceit makes me feel very slim funny enough! He was affectionately known as One-Eyed Baz and he gained a ruthless reputation as a key figure in Birmingham City's Zulu Warriors firm. For all the latest tips, predictions and special offers directly into your inbox once a week. When you sign-up through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The story follows Dom, a kid who is introduced into a West Ham firm in the 1980s. From betting guides, soccer games, and street fights, those people breathe football. But UEFA do not seem to need much of an excuse to pile on English clubs and have already taken a hard stance against the Hammers this season. And the ex-hooligan is now preparing for his third scrap on April 8. Moment commuter blasts eco-zealots, Women's rights activists and pro-trans campaigners separated, Historic chairs to be reused by the King for the coronation service, Saboteurs wreck Russian train cut power cables 37mi from Ukraine, Braverman: People crossing Channel are 'at odds with British values', Cambridge students party in the park during annual celebrations, Unseen footage of Meghan Markle during her teenage years, Moment large saltwater crocodile snatches pet dog off beach in QLD, Hundreds of Household Division members rehearse for coronation. After his release he was eventually received a life-long ban from going to Everton games. Films such as Alan ClarkesThe Firmwhich follows the leader of the ICF in a brutal look at football violence and urban frustration, andRise Of The Footsoldierwhich follows the life of Carlton Leach and his rise up the criminal underworld beginning with West Hams hooligan element. He even ballooned to 19 stone before he eventually became sober and began to change his life. The sinister portraits - released ahead of Euro 2016 - are part of a. [3][7][8] The aim of this police operation was to bring football hooligans to justice. Seen The Departed?" The Hammers appeared in the very first match played at the Home of Football, the 1923 FA Cup final, and on a total of nine occasions at the original Empire Stadium. Thats Winstone.Seen Sexy Beast?" To what extent chart-topping sex kitten and former contemporary Christian singer Katy Perry actually follows the day-to-day happenings of the Hammers is unclear, though her husband, comedian Russell Brand, is a die-hard Irons supporter.As an act of homage to Brands passion, Perry took the stage at the 2009 MTV Awards wearing West Ham lingerie. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. I.D. In his book, Congratulations You Have Just Met the ICF, as a black Londoner, Pennant maintains that the ICF was not racist or right-wing. Meanwhile, The Telegraph reported Osama Bin Laden is an Arsenal fan, Nelson Mandela supports Manchester United and John Major supports Chelsea. deserves its place on the list as it was the first to bring the world of terrace violence to the big screen. [1] They were the subject of a 1985 Thames Television documentary, Hooligan. [14] This mirrors a real life incident where Gardner himself had hot tea thrown over him by Manchester United fans. Carlton Leach was a member of West Ham's ICF. Cass managed to rise to the top and become one of the generals of the ICF despite being black. Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 4, West Ham United 3. Getting Blooded With the ICF - An Interview with an Ex-Member of The Most Notorious Gang in Football West Ham's Inter City Firm was without a doubt one of the largest and most feared of the football hooligan 'firms' that ran riot throughout England in the 70s and 80s. [12][13] Anyone that has been to an Old Firm Derby can clarify all that is necessary. [11] The book was co-written with Cass Pennant. He became so famous, in fact, that he was portrayed in the iconic football hooligan film The Rise of the Foot Soldier. In the 1970s and 1980s, football hooliganism was viewed as the ugly face of the beautiful game in Britain - and here we take a look at what these notorious former yobs have gone on to do in life away from the terraces, For the latest from the pitch sign up for our football newsletter. The Millwall Bushwackers are arguably the most well-known firm in Britain. Danny Brown took time to involve himself in youth work in schools and youth centres, while the Baby Squads Riaz Khan gained an MA in English Language teaching and teaches at college and university. West Ham United are one side of London's most violent clash of clubs that we will mention a little later. Vendor These guys are strong and imposing people, to photograph them any other way would seem strange for me. His first two fights came last year aged 37 where he won one and lost one. Bill Gardner (born 29 January 1954)[1] is an English football supporter, former football hooligan and co-author of books on football hooliganism. In 2018 it was reported that Marriner took part in a UVF parade in Belfast, while two years ago former Rangers footballer Nacho Novo urged people to follow Marriner on Instagram before deleting the bizarre post. Have we mugged off a film that deserves to be higher up the list or that weve missed completely? I did want these to be striking portraits with an edge of intensity to them and as I always do when I shoot a portrait I do what feels natural on the day. The ICF would leave a calling card after they had caused some agro on an away trip, which usually involved fighting opposition fans and smashing up there pubs. "So I put this bottle through the geezers face, right through hard, all the glass had shattered into my hand, cut my hand but his face he went 'agghh' and went back into the melee screaming. Rivals of West Ham's notorious hooligan gang Inter City Firm (ICF) thank their lucky stars the day of every match that West Ham native and Irons supporter Lennox Lewis decided to pursue boxing . A FORMER Millwall hooligan called "Ginger Bob" has opened up about life on the terraces. Birmingham City are the local rivals of Aston Villa, but are far more noteworthy for their violent fan base. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. WEST HAM star Pablo Fornals scored a stunning scorpion kick as his side routed Bournemouth 4-0 on the South Coast. His neighbours son was a Hammers season ticket holder and eight-year-old Cass was invited to go along with him. The 2000s saw AS Roma fans involved with numerous altercations involving fan violence, stabbings and constant hooliganism and thuggery. Green Street brought terrace culture and hooliganism to the attention of an American audience, starring Elijah Wood and Charlie Hunnam and some dodgy cockney accents. One of cinemas most acclaimed and singular talents, British director Alfred Hitchcock veritably invented a genre (they call it Hitchcockian, before you ask).Al was also a diehard Hammers fan. The book details the abuses and crime in his life.[16]. Dom looks up to Bex, a charismatic and violent ringleader of West Hams casuals, who balances violent weekends with a trading job in the city. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Wisla Krakow have a major following of raucous and riotous fans that have caused major problems from one end of the spectrum to the other. In an interview with VH1, Grohl spoke of his affection for the EPL, mentioning West Ham in particular as a team he enjoys watching. . [2][3][4][5][6] [15], In 2020, Gardner published another autobiography "Bill Gardner: The Man, The Myth, The Legend", written with Abe Atchia. 'Most of my portrait work is quite dark, especially my portraits of men. "Hooligans UNITED" (Excuse me if you've been waiting for 40 minutes. The name came from the use of InterCity trains to travel to away games. The Bushwackers are the most famous of their hooligan and thug supporters, with the . Was with him on saturday sunderland. )<br><br>Men in black<br><br>The group originates from 1989, after a skirmish between the hooligans West Ham United and Manchester United on Brick Lane. Remember the guy who smashes DiCaprios hand on a pool table? No football club has had more books written or films made about its hooligan element the famous ICF than West Ham United. It really is just the way I shoot. One of the best films about football hooligans, if only for a soundtrack with tracks by The Jam, Joy Division and Wire. ', Royal superfans camping on The Mall ahead of King's Coronation, Student kicked out of school for 'there are only two genders' t-shirt, Russian freight train derails and bursts into flames after explosion, 'We're not your enemies!' Let's take a look at the most violent football fans and the biggest hooligan clubs in English football. These people throw pigs heads, cell phones, beers and chant racist chants whenever the opportunity arises, making them pretty thuggish. We support responsible gambling. our Terms & Conditions and our Privacy Policy and you confirm that you are 18+. One of Brazil's biggest clubs, Flamengo, also boasts some of the nation's most thuggish fans. Theres no two ways about it. Im not trying to glorify them or condemn them. Local battles with SS Lazio fans also result in a major amount of violent problems in Italy's eternal city. John Cleese is one of Britains most important 20th century comedic voices.With the possible exception of Peter Sellers, Cleese has had a bigger impact on the world of comedy than any other British voice of the past 50 years. This movie gives a background lesson on how firms used to work back in the 80s. It is the claret and blue and that's all I am worried about, he said in an interview with the club. But he has now been allowed entry once more after demonstrating his rehabilitation through charity work. And you still wouldn't want to bump into any of them in a dark alley. His hooligan exploits led to jail and he was even shot three times over a football gang feud. After his death, Birmingham City FC said: The Club are saddened to learn of the passing of lifelong Bluenose, Barrington Patterson. Cass Pennant is the most well known figure to evolve from West Hams firm writing many books and being the subject of his own movie in the filmCass. Their rivalry with Fluminense is one of the most violent in the world, and has brought out the bad side of the fans more times than not. We were the first multi-racial football crew in Britain it brought together youths from different areas of Birmingham during the Eighties," he said. Traveling brawls and riots with continental rivals, and local battles with Partizan Belgrade and other national rivals only add to the reputation of the fans. When people click on our If you have other addictions such as drugs there are treatment programs but the so-called cure for a football hooligan is jail time. The most notable figure associated with the ICF is Cass Pennant, who wrote on football hooliganism in the 1990s and 2000s. 10. Despite his background, Cass Pennant gets involved with the Inter City Firm (ICF) for their famous dust up with Wolves fans in 72. Last time out against Palace, West Ham threw away a first half lead to suffer a 2-1 defeat at the London Stadium back in November, with Michael Olise scoring a winner deep into stoppage time. The Football Factory gets to grips with the primal rush of belonging to a firm and tussling with rival thugs. You can find cass at his stoll in green street. Zenit and Glasgow Rangers had a major riot in 2008 during the UEFA Cup. The ICF again came to prominence in 2018 when former members re-grouped as the Real West Ham Fans Action Group, organising protests against the club board.[7][8]. His impressive record stands at four wins and one loss. February 1978, a Manchester United fan with a dart embedded in his face is helped during a Liverpool game When football comes in for criticism these days, hooliganism is rarely the reason. A Hornchurch born ex-West Ham football hooligan has recalled the fights he . Richard Spillett for MailOnline. Although firms like Manchester Uniteds red army who had the largest numbers in the height of Britains hooligan problem always used to have big tear ups. Poland is a country plagued by football hooliganism and thuggish fans. Lennox Lewis: West Ham native. The film shows an incident involving Gardner and the I.C.F. And just like Baz, there are many other reformed hooligans who went on to do good. ", "West Ham distance themselves from notorious fan group founded by Inter-City Firm members", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Inter_City_Firm&oldid=1107360133, Pages using infobox criminal organization with ethnicity or ethnic makeup parameters, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 29 August 2022, at 16:04. Nicky Butt admits Manchester City have a strong chance to replicate Manchester United's famous 1999 treble win this season. Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board as a gaming service provider, under certificate registration number The Inter City Firm (ICF) is an English football hooligan firm associated with West Ham United, which was mainly active in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. Few football fans have shredded as many bass riffs in their lifetime as West Ham supporter Steve Harris. 1.The Football Factory (2004) Topping the list of best movies about football hooligans is this stylish 2004 effort starring Danny Dyer. But Hawkins now dishes out violence in a sports setting rather than in the streets. Grecian side PAOK FC are known for their fans atmosphere in the Toumba Stadium. Mr Harsent wants his series of photos, which he has called GBH or Great Britain's Hooligans, to bring the viewer face to face with those whose love of their team boiled over into violence. His team were losing away to Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup in 2007 when he invaded the field in a bizarre attempt at getting the game abandoned. While Russell gave up heroin after being caught shooting up in the bathroom at a Christmas party, he has yet to surrender his love of the Irons. In addition to all these things, Johnny boy is a lifelong West Ham United fan. go to 17.30 and witness what has to be the campest hooligan in football history. Were back in the Premiership and were going to stay up.. "Everyone comes from the same few roads, its like an extended family and youre representing your area. He was called The General of the London mob that was infiltrated by investigative reporter Donal MacIntrye. He became a professional MMA fighter after spending time in jail and is now nicknamed 'The Bull'. Collaring The Hooligans Alcohol And Football Loud And Unruly Fighting Firms On Being Not Wanted Ongoing Exploits The Hardest Firm In England - Millwall The First Hooligans - West Ham Strength In Numbers - Leeds A Bloody Past - Newcastle The Shed Boys - Chelsea A Fight Among Welshman - Cardiff The Men In Black - Man United Silver Screen Hooligans 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA, WV), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-522-4700 (NV), 1-800-522-4700 I was always on the fringes when I was at school. Rivalry matches with Glatasaray are some of the most brutally contested between hooligan groups and normal fans alike. His life was dramatised in a 2008 film called Cass - while Pennant went on to become a writer, actor and film producer. If you no longer want to West Ham passed up a great chance to take themselves to the brink of Premier League safety after blowing the lead against Liverpool, and former Hammer, James Collins, believes David Moyes will be . 19:33 BST 10 Jun 2016. Czech Republic side Sparta Praha are a European side that are known for their ruthless fan base. "If theres any fighting around you, you look for an opportunity to go up behind someone and give them a sly punch in the kidneys or kick them in the leg and then back off. Author is the same on all, Ian Drawie, Drew Alina & Dan Wieral. A gang of football hooligans have been jailed for their part in a street battle, they include Alec Jones, 24. "Youre only a kid, but you want to do something for the cause. Click the link to watch the full interview https://youtu.be/UK0XCRlca_Y I wasnt a troublemaker only at the football.". . Unfortunately West Hams hooligan history will always make them a scalp to target in Europe after the latest violent scenes. Football Hooligans All Rights Reserved. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Two of the worst incidents were their 1990 altercation with Red Star Belgrade and their 2008 bust up with Praha. It's well documented that Cass has staked his claims as one of your best, but in everything I've read, it seems Bill was the lad. But once again the occasion on what has been a brilliant European adventure has been marred by violent clashes between fans. Topping the list of best movies about football hooligans is this stylish 2004 effort starring Danny Dyer. Barrington 'One Eyed Baz' Patterson, was a leading figure with Birmingham Citys Zulu Warriors. Rivals of West Hams notorious hooligan gang Inter City Firm (ICF) thank their lucky stars the day of every match that West Ham native and Irons supporter Lennox Lewis decided to pursue boxing professionally and not as a match-day hobby.Lewis retired from professional boxing in 2004 as the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion of the world, much in the same way that West Ham United isat least in spiritchampions of the footballing world. Its widely known West Ham has one of the most passionate fanbases.Did you also know the team has a huge celebrity fanbase?West Ham supporters have changed the face of comedy, topped the charts, won world championships, directed countless classic films, shredded countless classic riffs, written best-selling novels, been nominated for Oscars and ascended to arguably the highest public office in the free world.Heres a list of 16 of the most well-known, influential and passionate West Ham supporters. It has been one of the groups most famous ultras Premier. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. A remake of a BBC drama from 1989, The Firm is about a kids (Dom) initiation into a group of West Ham hooligans in the 80s.