Terrace Legends The Most Terrifying And Frightening Book Ever Written About Soccer Violence

Meet the men who, for decades, have ruled the football terraces. They are the faces behind the biggest firms in football history; behind the rucks, the rules and the respect. They have caused chaos for the public and the press and struck fear into rival fans that have crossed their path. In this book, the men behind the mobs have joined forces to reveal their experiences as key figures in the most notorious terrace fights. From the bovver boys of the sixties and seventies to the football casuals of the eighties, the names central to the biggest firms - the names that were to become the stuff that terrace legends were made of - have all been tracked down and interviewed. They tell their stories in this book.

MEET THE MEN WHO RULED THE FOOTBALL TERRACES. THEY CAUSED CHAOS AND STRUCK FEAR INTO ANY RIVAL FAN WHO CROSSED THEIR PATH. THE MOST TERRIFYING AND FRIGHTENING BOOK EVER WRITTEN ABOUT SOCCER VIOLENCE – The Independent In this groundbreaking book, the men behind the mobs come together to reveal their experiences as key figures in the most notorious terrace fights. Bestselling writers Cass Pennant, from West Ham’s InterCity Firm (ICF) and Chelsea Head Hunter main man Martin King have joined forces to produce the definitive book on terrace culture. From the bovver boys of the sixties and seventies to the football casuals of the eighties, the names central to the biggest firms have all been tracked down and interviewed, the names that were to become the stuff of which terrace legends are made. Cass Pennant is the bestselling author of Want Some Aggro?; Rolling with the 6.57 Crew; Congratulations, You Have Just Met the ICF and his hugely successful autobiography, Cass. Martin King, left, is the highly acclaimed author of Hoolifan and its bestselling followup The Naughty Nineties. He has also written A Boy’s Story; On the Cobbles: The Life of a Bare-Knuckle Gypsy Warrior, The Estate; The South Downs Way; Ossie: King of Stamford Bridge and Grass: The Phil Sparrowhawk Story.

Cass Pennant is a man who lets his fist do the talking. One of the hardest men in Britain, he lives his life on the edge of the law, giving respect where it is due, and dishing out retribution upon anyone who dares to cross him. Cass's life story reads like a Hollywood gangster movie. He tells the amazing stories of how he once saved the life of World Boxing Champion Frank Bruno; how he was shot 3 times in the chest in a South London nightclub; and how he was alleged to have been the leader of the notorious West Ham 'InterCity Firm'. His remarkable life story has been made into a film released in May 2008.

Portsmouth's 6.57 Crew, named for the time of the train they took to away games, were the most talked-about casual football firm of the 1980s and 1990s. Labelled 'the worst in the land' by the police, this is pompey's true shocking story. For the first time, the firm's insiders reveal the truth behind the tabloid headlines. Cass Pennant is the best-selling author of Want Some Aggro?, Congratulations You Have Just Met the ICF, and a hugely successful autobiography, Cass. Rob Silvester tavelled on the 6.57 train many times and became a part of the notorious group of fans. As a no-holds-barred look into a world of turmoil and violence, this is an unsurpassed book. It's required reading not only for football fans, but also those who want to know the amazing facts about a social phenomenon that changed the face of British culture.

They have names like Barmy Bernie, Daft Donald, and Steamin' Sammy. They like lager (in huge quantities), the Queen, football clubs (especially Manchester United), and themselves. Their dislike encompasses the rest of the known universe, and England's soccer thugs express it in ways that range from mere vandalism to riots that terrorize entire cities. Now Bill Buford, editor of the prestigious journal Granta, enters this alternate society and records both its savageries and its sinister allure with the social imagination of a George Orwell and the raw personal engagement of a Hunter Thompson.

In 1985, forty hooligan followers of Stoke City FC experienced a riotous trip to Portsmouth - and the Naughty Forty was born. It became one of the most notorious soccer gangs in Britain.Mark Chester was a founder member of the N40. Already a hardened fighter, he had been expelled from school after an unsettled childhood and joined the Staffordshire Regiment, only to be discharged for misconduct. Stoke City's emerging 'casual' mob became his family. 'Right or wrong, I was ready to be a committed football hooligan,' he says.He recounts tales of raucous coach trips from the Glebe pub and the pivotal clashes with the likes of Everton, Manchester United and West Ham that defined the new firm. Formidable characters came to the forefront, men like the giant Mark Bentley, Philler the Beast and the legendary Miffer, while hair-raising clashes with the likes of Millwall, Spurs, Aston Villa and Manchester City saw the gang's reputation spread.The N40 code was simple: whatever the odds, they would always make a stand. Many times they fought when heavily outnumbered yet often came out on top. They developed a closeness and cohesion rare among the football gangs. Loyalty was their watchword.Soon they were joined by the Under-Fives, a younger element determined to win acceptance from the terrace legends they admired and who carved out their own niche as well as fighting side by side with the old-school heads.Police operations, bans from the ground and the introduction of ID schemes have prevented many from attending games, but the author, long 'retired' from the scene, argues that in the new millennium the gangs are back - and as ferocious as ever. NAUGHTY is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the illicit but seductive lure of terrace combat, the emotional ties of a gang and the addictive buzz of Saturday afternoons.

For forty years, the scourge of hooliganism has blighted Britain's national game. Organised gangs from almost every town and city in the nation have used football as the arena for violent clashes in an unofficial contest for supremacy. They have rioted, wrecked, maimed and even killed. Yet they have remained largely anonymous, a reviled yet intriguing sub-sect of society. · Who are the hooligan gangs of Great Britain? · Where do they come from and how do they organise? · Who are the principal players - past and present? These questions and many more are answered in Hooligans, the first volume of a unique and comprehensive two-part reference guide to the most ingrained and active soccer yob network in the world. Packed with photos and informative profiles of the gangs both large and small, Hooligans also documents the myths, the nicknames, the victims, the localities, the battles and the police operations. Combining hard fact with occasional touches of black humour, and intense research with first-person recollections, Hooligans covers the whole spectrum of the gangs from Aberdeen to Luton ... the Barnsley Five-O and their vicious slashing at the hands of Middlesbrough ... Paul Dodd, England's self-styled "Number One" hooligan ... the combined force of the Dundee Utility ... the riots of the Leeds Service Crew ... Benny's Mob, the Main Firm, the Lunatic Fringe, the Bastard Squad - they're all here, together with numerous photos of mobs, fights and riots. "Packed to the brim with scrupulous research, hard-hitting interviews and black humour, this is the final word on terrace yobbery." FRONT magazine "The real history of soccer violence." LOADED "A comprehensive look at some of Britain's most notorious hooligan factions." THE LADS MAG

This explosive book is the eagerly awaited follow up to "Terrace Legends, " the groundbreaking bestseller that built bridges between the Cass Pennant and Martin King, who came together in a no-holds-barred account of terrace culture. The result was a hard-hitting, unflinchingly honest testament to life with some of the biggest firms in football history. This sequel packs an even harder punch, bringing together the frontline faces, the top boys who ran the legendary firms from all over the country.

He arrived to rally the troops, the main man in the Inter City Firm and his greeting passed into football fan history. 'Afternoon, gentlemen, the name's Bill Gardner.' That introduction alone was often enough to provoke sheer terror in his opponents. He is a genuine legend to anyone who's ever stood proud on a football terrace. No serious book on the culture would be complete without at least one mention of him. And now at last, he's telling his own, long-awaited story. For the first time, Gardner himself reveals what made him the top man, including his innermost thoughts and his memories of the classic years for football fans. And many familiar faces have queued up to add their comments in this book which shows just what it is that makes Bill Gardner unique among the toughest and the greatest of them all.

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is a classic ghost story that continues to captivate readers over a century after its initial publication. Set in the late 19th century, the novella follows a young governess who is hired to care for two young children, Flora and Miles, at the remote and eerie Bly Manor. As the governess begins her duties, she becomes increasingly convinced that the manor is haunted by the spirits of the previous governess, Miss Jessel, and her lover, Peter Quint, who both died under mysterious circumstances. The story unfolds as the governess tries to protect the children from the malevolent ghosts, while also questioning her own sanity and the motives of the children in their interactions with the spirits. One of the most intriguing aspects of The Turn of the Screw is its unreliable narrator. The story is told through the perspective of the governess, whose mental state and perceptions of events are constantly called into question. This creates a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, leaving readers to question whether the ghosts are real or just figments of the governess's imagination. James masterfully plays with the theme of perception and reality, leaving readers to draw their own conclusions about the events at Bly Manor. Another striking element of the novella is its use of Gothic elements. The isolated location, the decaying mansion, and the presence of ghosts all contribute to the eerie atmosphere of the story. James also incorporates psychological horror, as the governess's fears and paranoia intensify throughout the story, building tension and suspense. The Turn of the Screw is a prime example of Gothic literature, with its exploration of the dark side of human nature and the blurred lines between the living and the dead. One of the most controversial aspects of the novella is its ambiguous ending. The governess's final confrontation with the ghosts and the fate of the children are left open to interpretation, inviting readers to ponder the true meaning of the story. Some critics argue that the ghosts are a product of the governess's overactive imagination, while others believe that they are real and that the children are in danger. This open-ended conclusion has sparked countless debates and interpretations, making The Turn of the Screw a thought-provoking and enduring piece of literature. In addition to its literary merits, The Turn of the Screw also offers insight into the societal norms and expectations of the time period in which it was written. James explores themes of gender roles and class distinctions through the character of the governess, who is expected to be subservient and obedient to her male employer and to maintain the social hierarchy between herself and the children. The story also touches on the taboo subject of sexual relationships, particularly in regards to the ghosts and their influence on the children. Ultimately, The Turn of the Screw is a haunting and enigmatic work that continues to captivate readers with its complex characters, Gothic atmosphere, and thought-provoking themes. It is a testament to Henry James's mastery of storytelling and his ability to create a sense of unease and suspense that lingers long after the final page. A must-read for anyone interested in Gothic literature, psychological thrillers, or the blurred lines between reality and the supernatural.