Terrace Legends - The Most Terrifying And Frightening Book Ever Written About Soccer Violence. Cass Pennant
in. It’s all about pound notes and ripping the arse out of the fans. The worse thing to happen was they got a German firm in to knock it down – now that’s really taking the piss.
MARTIN KING MEETS
CLUB: MILLWALL
FRANK HARPER
THE MEET
I met Frank just after he’d finished filming one of the main characters in The Football Factory. Most people remember Frank for his part in Guy Ritchie’s film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, but I was surprised to learn that he’d also appeared in films alongside stars such as Michael Caine (Shiner), Bob Hoskins (24-7), Daniel Day Lewis and Emma Thompson (In The Name of the Father), and hosts of other top actors. He told me the drama school he went to was SMADA, which spells the Smithfield Market Academy of Dramatic Arts. One thing about Frank is he doesn’t look like an actor. For a start, he’s a big fucker, but he’s nice with it. We met down on the coast in Eastbourne in East Sussex, where he’d gone to see his mum and dad. And over a few beers and a spot of lunch he told me about the days of his dad being a pro at Millwall, his acting career, and everything and anything. So, lights, camera, action.
BACKGROUND
I grew up on the Downham Estate, which is between Catford and Bromley, in south-east London. It’s a hotbed of Millwall support and most people from that area follow Millwall. I grew up following Millwall as my dad played for the club between 1957 and 1965, and won the Fourth Division Championship while he was there. He later moved on to Ipswich. Harry Cripps and Alex Stepney were there at Millwall with Dad, and there was a lot of real characters at the club. I dreamed about following in Dad’s footsteps and becoming a pro footballer, but on leaving school I ended up working at Smithfield Market. One day a mate of mine took me down to a youth theatre at the Albany Empire in Deptford and from then on I had the bug. Did I get some shit from the boys at the market! I was insulted by experts for ten years – acting became a hobby. As a kid there’s probably three jobs you dream of – pro footballer, Grand Prix driver or actor. I took the latter road. I’m 40 now and my younger brother runs all the kids’ football for Lewisham Council, and Mum and Dad have retired down in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE TERRACE FASHION?
Back to the early ’80s and I’d say Burberry fly-front macs. I think I went through about three of them. Football’s such a big fashion statement.
WHAT’S THE WORST FASHION YOU’VE EVER SEEN ON THE TERRACES?
Dodgy flared trousers still being worn by northerners in the ’80s.
DESCRIBE YOUR WORST FEELING AT A GAME.
Me and four mates got caught by Charlton fans after a night game at the Valley. We were thirteen or fourteen years of age and a mob of geezers flocked on us and ambushed us. Millwall had taken the piss over there all night and we came close to getting a good hiding.
HAVE YOU EVER INCURRED ANY SERIOUS INJURIES OR BEEN BADLY BEATEN UP AT A MATCH?
One of my most frightening experiences at football was when Millwall played Ipswich at the Den in the ’70s. Somehow a mob of Ipswich came into the Cold Blow Lane End of the ground. Everyone pushed down the terraces towards them, and I was being carried and shoved by one mass of angry bodies. My head was heading towards a metal barrier and I just ducked underneath it, but my mate hit his head and I had to drag him up because he was nearly out cold.
HAS YOUR OWN SIDE EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A FULL-SCALE RIOT?
There’s been more than a few with Millwall but the one that sticks in my mind is Luton away in the Cup. I think the main reason behind the troubles there was that the game wasn’t made all-ticket. Fans from lots of other clubs turned up that night, many packed like sardines behind the goal with the bulk of Millwall fans. I remember my mate commenting that there’d be people injured because of the packed crowd swelling around the terraces. It was a sea of bodies and the only escape for some was the safety of the pitch. A few spilled over and for a moment it looked like people were going to get seriously hurt. Later the seats were ripped out as a mob of Millwall had it with the Old Bill. It was a mental night and the pictures of it say it all.
DESCRIBE THE BEST TAKING OF AN END YOU’VE EVER WITNESSED.
Chelsea away. Millwall came into the Shed in about four different mobs and it was going off all over the place. It ended with the bulk of the Millwall firm standing on the dog track behind the goal.
WHICH WAS YOUR OWN TEAM’S POPULAR END?
Cold Blow Lane. But in the ’70s and ’80s Millwall’s gates were that small you could walk around the ground. I’ve seen people sunbathing on the terraces on a sunny day, stretched out with one eye on the game.
WHERE DID YOU STAND OR SIT IN THE GROUND?
Cold Blow Lane. It was always a giggle.
CAN YOU RECALL A BATTLE YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN, EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE A GROUND?
Leeds at home in the league. I was in a pub and suddenly it emptied. The ones that couldn’t get out the door were climbing out the toilet windows to get out on to the street. Thousands of Millwall came out of nowhere as bottles and glasses rained down on the Leeds lot. The Old Bill pulled a transit van across the pub doorway to try to stem the flow of Millwall fans. That day Leeds were dead lucky to reach the ground.
CAN YOU RECALL THE BEST EVER MOB YOUR TEAM HAS PUT TOGETHER?
A couple of seasons ago, when the Wackers went up to Maine Road to play Man. City. We took an unbelievable firm up there that day. The Wackers have now become an urban myth. That’s why I think no top face has written a serious book about Millwall’s exploits over the years.
WHO’S THE BEST RIVAL FIRM YOU’VE EVER SEEN?
West Ham has always had a serious firm and a lot of my good pals are ICF. And, besides the hatred between Millwall and West Ham, I think there’s a mutual respect between the two. Both teams come from tough areas, and tough areas breed tough people.
WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST RIVALS TEAM-WISE?
The main one has to be West Ham, but I like to get one over Crystal Palace. My dad used to have The Clifton Arms pub right near the ground so it was nice when we beat them and took a few quid off them, having won a bet.
WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST RIVALS FAN-WISE?
Cardiff, because they’re Welsh.
HAVE YOU EVER JOINED UP WITH ANOTHER TEAM’S FIRM?
Yeah, I’ve got a couple of really good pals who follow Chelsea, so sometimes it’s nice to watch Premiership football. I remember when Millwall were in the top flight and we played Forest, and Brian Clough came out the tunnel and got a standing ovation. We can be fair at Millwall and appreciate good football and characters.
DID