I've been watching the old series "The Real Football Factories." Its a series that aired in the UK in 2006. The premise basically is that Danny Dyre, the actor who played Tommy Johnson in the 2004 movie "The Football Factory," a movie about football hooliganism, goes around to different cities and even countries meeting up with the firms top boys. He talks to them about the firm what they are about, their motto's, football violence, how far they would go, what the teams mean to them, etc..
As I'm sitting here sipping my drink, I start to think about some events that took place last week in Jolly ol' England.
For anyone who grew up in England or for anyone who has seen the movie "Green Street Hooligans" you understand that there is a bitter rivalry between the clubs West Ham United and Millwall. If neither of those apply to you, They HATE each other and they hadn't played each other in a long time.
Well, Last week at Upton Park, West Hams ground, there was a meeting of the firms outside the ground, and numerous pitch invasions inside. The old bill were supposed to be out in full force but from what I have seen they were utterly under prepared.
Long story short a man was stabbed and there was lots of fighting (a news story reported broken beer bottles, bricks and other weapons strewn across green street). When this happens it is inevitable that the stories will hit the paper quickly. I saw the first one, even while the game was going on, obviously only because I was expecting a tear up between the boys and was hitting f5 to keep up with goings on in the news and the game.
Cutting to the chase, the point of this post is just that every time there is any football violence or hooliganism, it seems to be, according to the press, exponentially worse than last time. You will inevitably hear the words, "The worst scenes of football violence/hooliganism since the 80's," or something to that effect.
I'm sick of this. Its not the worst. and having watched these shows and heard the people in England and in other countries it is obvious that there have been obvious worse things than what happened there.
I don't want anyone to think that I'm defending these actions but I'm just sick of hearing that, anytime the Hoolies show up or do anything. It wasn't the worst it wasn't even close. The violence was sure scary, the pitch invasions were disgraceful, but nowhere near the worst ever. In some countries there have been civil wars started over football hooliganism, don't tell me its the worst.
Forgive me if I've offended or overstepped a boundary but i just think its kinda funny, when i saw the first story i said to myself sarcastically, "the worst ever, you just wait." I wasn't there, maybe I'm wrong, but I sure feel better having spewed about it.
Rant Over!
Here are some links to some stories:
From the Guardian
From the BBC
