Terrace Legends - The Most Terrifying And Frightening Book Ever Written About Soccer Violence. Cass Pennant
The old Park End until it got fashionable to go in the seats, then we all just went in the Stand above the terrace.
CAN YOU RECALL A BATTLE YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN, EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE A GROUND?
Too many to mention, but we have had some top battles with both the Manc sides and the main Cockney mobs. Aberdeen was good in 1995. We had a top mob out and they gave it a go but weren’t good enough on the day, and they are the first to admit it. Inside the ground, one of the best I ever got involved in was against Southampton at Highbury in the ’84 FA Cup semi-final. Running battles on the pitch, horses, dogs loose biting every fucker, over 100 arrested and eighty in hospital – it was the norm then. Today, it would be made into a film.
CAN YOU RECALL THE BEST EVER MOB YOUR TEAM HAS PUT TOGETHER?
I missed the mob we took to Millwall in about 1989 as I was on the ban, but I was at Chelsea in ’85 on a Friday night and we had 400 of the tastiest lads you could hope to have on your side. Years earlier, Everton had been battered at Kenny High Street and this was our first time back there, as they had been relegated ever since. It was payback and we pulled it off big time.
WHO’S THE BEST RIVAL FIRM YOU’VE EVER SEEN?
We went to Boro a few years ago after doing them at ours, got off the bus and walked into about 400 of the bastards. They mullered us – end of. At Everton, United have brought some tasty mobs over the years but it has been numbers rather than quality, whereas West Ham never had the numbers but always the quality.
WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST RIVALS TEAM-WISE?
The Red Shite. Total cunts. Horrible, horrible smug bastards. Some of their lads are sound but the majority of the fans, players and staff make me vomit.
WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST RIVALS FAN-WISE?
It has eased off for a couple of seasons but I think Boro will always be number one on our list. It went on from the ’70s to the late ’90s and there were some bad casualties on both sides – pure hatred at times.
HAVE YOU EVER JOINED UP WITH ANOTHER TEAM’S FIRM?
Bristol Rovers when I was working down there. They had a small mob but didn’t give a flying fuck for anybody. I always thought City were the main mob down there but, the year I went, it was Rovers who ran the show – they were fucking crackers. They were pissheads but loved a fight.
DID YOU EVER FOLLOW ENGLAND AND WOULD YOU PUT ENGLAND BEFORE YOUR CLUB?
I went to Euro ’88 and Italia ’90 and to loads of games abroad, but it was for the crack. Not many Everton or Liverpool lads give a fuck about the national side. I cannot believe anybody would rather watch any country before their own club side. I can’t cheer when someone like Heskey or Gerrard scores for England because they are Red Shites. Owen is okay as I know him, but I’d rather not cheer any of the twats.
WHICH WAS THE BEST ENGLAND ROW?
Luxembourg, early ’80s. They took the place and had the army on their toes, looted the place, then kicked off on each other. Someone could write a book about that trip alone.
HAVE YOU EVER SUPPORTED OR LOOKED OUT FOR ANOTHER TEAM’S RESULTS?
Not supported, but I have a soft spot for Bristol Rovers – top ‘kiddies’ as they call each other. I always look out for the Red Shites’ result and pray they’ve been fucking hammered!
NAME YOUR TOP FIVE FIRMS, IN ANY ORDER.
It is hard to leave out the likes of Stoke, Birmingham and Millwall, but for one reason or another – mainly that they had shite sides and were always in lower divisions – we never met them much when it mattered. Loads of the Burberry brigade reading this will be saying, ‘Who the fuck are Everton?’ but anyone in the know will admit we took it to the best when it mattered.
A top five is hard, as on their day anybody can get a result against the so-called main firms, but for home and away combined, over a period of 25 years, I’d go for: 1. West Ham. We never had a major result there and they always looked for it away when it mattered; 2. Boro. They got better as the years went by and had a close-knit firm a bit like Everton. I respect them 100 per cent. Game as fuck and fair; 3. Chelsea. The Man. United of London but over the years they’ve had some unbelievable turnouts; 4. Man. United. Purely because of their numbers and the time they have been at it. Like them or not, you have to respect them for it; 5. Spurs. Always showed away and, unlike many Cockney mobs, always came looking for it at Euston.
WHICH IS THE WORST GROUND YOU’VE EVER BEEN TO AND WHY?
Exeter City. There was a wasps’ nest at the back of the terrace behind the goal and they went mad. In the Premiership, Anfield by a mile – the place is a cesspool. Most grounds, including ours, need knocking down and rebuilding. They’re the pits compared with the new ones you go to.
WHICH IS THE BEST STADIUM YOU’VE BEEN TO?
Juventus’s Stadium delle Alpie. For Brazil v Argentina in Italia ’90 it had just been built and was pure class at the time.
WHO ARE THE FAIREST COPPERS YOU’VE COME ACROSS AT A MATCH?
Boro. They only nick you if they 100 per cent have to and seem to be as mad as the Boro lads.
AND THE WORST OLD BILL?
Since my book came out, the Scouse bizzies have been a nightmare and try and nick me for fuck all, as they got a bit of stick in Scally. Over the years the twats in Birmingham are pure snides. They must have been on courses on ‘How to be a total cunt’.
WHAT WOULD HAVE STOPPED YOU GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE BOYS AT MATCHES?
A marriage offer from Julia Roberts! Fuck all, really. I have had good kickings, fines and jail, and still went back for more. If it’s in you, you’re hooked. It’s worse than a drug – there’s no rush like it. Someone was quoted as saying, ‘Scoring a goal is better than sex.’ Well, I’ll tell you, a full-scale off at the match is better than scoring a hat-trick in the Cup Final then shagging Kylie in the showers after!
DESCRIBE SOME OF THE METHODS AND TACTICS USED BY THE POLICE AND AUTHORITIES TO STOP FOOTBALL VIOLENCE, AND DO YOU THINK THEY WORK?
Banning orders, and stuff like that, are bollocks and will never stop it, as it’s so easy to travel today. The spotters are a good idea but, with new lads coming through all the time, you would need a lot more of them. CCTV is the one. When you see those cameras everywhere, you think twice about it. They are the main deterrent.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN SICKENED BY SOMETHING YOU’VE WITNESSED AT A GAME?
Heysel was bad, believe me. It was very, very bad. I still think of it now and think, fuck me – that was horrible. At home I have seen a few lads slashed, including plenty of Everton, and it is never a pretty sight. A few of the refs today sicken me, as well as the Red Shite!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE FOOTBALL SONG OR CHANT AND WHICH IS THE WORST YOU CAN RECALL HEARING FROM ANOTHER TEAM?
Everton always run out on to the pitch to the old TV Z Cars tune and that always gives me a tingle down my spine. As for a song, we don’t have one! The chant ‘You’re gonna get your fucking heads kicked in’ in the ’70s was boss when it was sung