swappies & having a laugh

[hibee]

I have no experience whatsoever of Man City (apart from attending an extremely dull cup game at the old Maine Road against Swindon Town in early 2002, can't remember the score other than it was a draw) so I'm not in a position to sit in judgement. What I will say is that every single person who can remotely be considered a football fan knows not to trust these hooligan books an inch. It is well known that, while they usually contain a kernel of truth, the publishers usually ask the hoolies to "improve" their memories ie invent stories. And we are talking about people who you wouldn't expect to have any qualms about doing so.

I did once read something half decent by Irvine Welsh, who has written a lot of bullshit on the subject, in which he acknowledged he was only on the fringes of the Capital City Service and said every single casual at one time or another has run away or failed to stand their ground. Apart from that, my eyes go past those books in Waterstones to the biographies of Puskas or whatever.

I don't particularly have a problem with consenting adults battering fuck out of each other - I've always thought they should do it on the pitch as half time entertainment - but anyone who went to a game in the late 80s/early 90s peak of Scottish casuals knows the stuff about hooligan "codes of honour", not attacking "civillians" with scarves and flasks, is rubbish. Also, like most young males of my generation I've been involved in the odd bit of handbags. But ultimately I'm a lover, not a fighter (cue snorts of derision from mrs hibee).

 

[Chuck Wilson]

On the subject of that Guvnors book, wasn't it mostly this that planted the idea of an organised mob calling themselves The Guvnors in the public mind?

Back in the mid-to-late eighties, nobody ever referred to The Guvnors until a series of arrests of leading City hooligans took place and the media latched onto the idea that these were the infamous Guvnors. While most of those I knew who followed City knew about The Young Guvnors, these were mostly Stanley-wielding teenagers. (They obviously never came up against MC5 and his intrepid team of veteran stewards.) The main City firm at the time was known as the Mainline Service Crew. After the arrests and jailings, people increasingly came to talk about The Guvnors, so maybe, having been almost willed into being, there was a group that actually adopted the name. Or, as I said, maybe it was just Francis's book that has been responsible for the 'legend.'

That's how I remember it anyway, although I'm not a close follower of the scene. Personally, it's always seemed a bit fucking daft to me, working class lads taking out their aggression on each other.

Like Hibee I always take these books with a pinch of salt, bar room tales normally inflated with the pomp of being 'the last gang in town'. 'Guvnors', apart from allowing loads of 40 somethings in local pubs to buy the Daily Sport (where the book was serialised) to see if they got a mention also boosted the notoriety of the author. As Mickey was running a 'security' firm at the time and in competition with other rivals he was able to attract suitable employees due to this sudden burst if minor celebrityism. The employees alledgedly would appear as punters at clubs and bars where his rivals stewarded and kick off allowing Mickey to step in a a company that could 'handle' such trouble.

Unfortunately it also elevated the business into a period of very very short rivalry with the Noonans. Such is the way of the local market forces.

 

[boxinghefner]

I thought this was a thread about cunning japes and such like.

I'm disappointed.