Manchester derby

[jimmy068]

Hooligans rarely go to matches these days. Its usually away from the ground and out of the law's sight. All organized street fighting on some waste ground somewhere or behind some shithole boozer. The buzz years ago was to see what trouble you could get away with inside a ground - not always neccessarily a punch up with rival fans.
Kicking someone into a coma isn't my idea of a fun day out at the football or being chased by a gang of psychotic thugs.

I think West Ham's fans coined the phrase "Firm" back in the early 80s. They used to be called mobs in those days, then they started with giving themselves names. City's used to be the Cool Cats and the Maine Line Crew as I recall. There was a mob called the Guv'nors but i think that was a more underground Moss Side gang thing. They were all arrested and sentenced years ago. It was big news in town at the time. I don't think united bothered much with names. They had one of the hardest and scariest mobs going in the 70s and 80s as they had the numbers as opposed to a lot of other football mobs. Although they did have one called the cockney reds made up from united fans from London and the south which even proper Manc reds found a joke.

Millwall and later Chelsea had reputations for violent mobs. Most Chelsea lads were from the outskirts of London as Chelsea is pretty much part of the central area of the capital probably closest out of all the London teams although I'm not sure, so they attracted a lot of lads from the outer boroughs rather than local lads living near the grounds.

Leeds were possibly the most hated mob as i remember for City and United. They would pick on anyone - grandads, women, young kids. For that fact alone they were always given a "special" welcome from City & Utd (in one game against united, both Manchester mobs came together to give 'em a good hiding. Don't think they ever recovered from that!)

Liverpool had one of the worst reps too. Thankfully and after two key events in the 80s the scousers were involved in, the rampaging days came to end. It still goes on, but these days its all organised with little mobs arranging meets away from public view. Now and again it will spill over but its very rare. Getting a 10 year ban and a 2 year prison sentence usually makes most of the would-be or wannabe hooligans think twice.

Anyway Rude Boy, hope you enjoy the derby if you're going to watch it. City need the points to climb back into contention for the European places and United still want to catch Chelsea so it should make for a good match. !thumbsup!

[eduardo]

Alot of the worse and most violent hooligans came from the lower divisions as well.

Bristol City, Cardiff, Milwall and Wolverhampton were some of the nastiest.

It still goes on as some of the Plymouth crew aka The Central Element got banged up a couple of months ago for causing a ruck at a home match with Leeds.

<http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/display ... ebarsearch.

[jimmy068]

Cardiff for definite! And Stoke.

[mex]

Hardest and best firm back in the day was Everton. First firm to bring "weapons" into it as well (say hello to "stanley"........)

[Rude Boy]

I can't claim to have any knowledge of football to be honest but what makes the "Firms" tick does form part of my fascination with the dark side of life!

In fact I was chatting to a guy I know who is a die-hard Ipswich fan and he was telling me about away trips to Millwall with graffitti on the way to the ground reading "Turn back or die" and people chucking petrol bombs at them!! It might well be bollocks but it was a good story!

[eduardo]

No that sort of thing goes on I believe.

I don't know too much about it all myself but I have a mate who used to be part of a crew some years ago (until he grew up and got out of it) but some of the stories he told me were staggering.

As for why they do it then I understand in Plymouth that some of the drug gangs are supposed to send there young recruits into TCE to toughen them up.

I don't know if that's true but it's part of the rumours when I am down there.

[fudgeflaps]

'jimmy068'- does that imply a sky blue like yourself was born in 1968, Jimmy? The year Utd conquered Europe? At least Celtic got there first! !wink!

As a neutral, sorry j068, if I was to bet on this on a coupon: 2-1 United.

Although without the leadership of Keane and with derby unpredictability, this one really is a lottery.

[davewells]

HOOFUCKINRAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT'LL DO FOR ME. I actually predicted 2-0 and Rooney sent off so I wasn't far wrong.

[Pervert]

And I'm very glad to have been proved wrong.

[jimmy068]

1968 - The year I was born. The year Man City won the league title. The year they beat the european cup winners 3-1 at old trafford.

Its a great being a blue. !happy!