Book - Congratulations, You have just met the ICF.

ChiAddick

I borrowed this book from a bloke at work (he's a hammer) and i really just cannot get into it because of how biased and unrealistic it seems.
I ask my Dad and uncles about the football violence in the lates 70's and 80's and they say it was 'a serious problem'. I am intregued to learn more. But this book uses examples like 'there was 30 of us, 200 of them and we ran 'em everywhere'. Now, i wasn't there but it does seem a little far fetched.

Has anybody else read this book or anybody around then that can actually say 'yeah to be honest West Ham did have a reputation and do things like that'. Because without the believeability i just cant get into it. Any other books in this genre to recommend?

Thanks

FrankBorman

Most books on this subject tend to be fanciful,the reason being because it sells

North Lower Neil

Hate all that stuff. Why you'd want to read a book about some fights some random stranger and his mates had years ago, I don't know.

MattD

because theres more buzz in it than sitting down with a prawn sandwich?

North Lower Neil

I wouldn't want to read about about people sitting round eating prawn sandwiches either, though. Rather one about the actual football.

Henry Irving

The pornography of violence.

Of course those books never say "we saw three harmless blokes on their own, there were 20 of us so we jumped them, kicked and punched them for no reason other than we got off on it and then told everyone we'd run the other team's firm because we thought that made us look big in front of them".

And that's not just the ICF. They are all the same.

Stig

The whole cult of football violence is the most boorish thing ever. Christ knows why anyone would want to read about it.

MattD

Dont know why anyone would want to read in the first place when there are TV's

tom_k

The films are even worse. Just watched away days which was top 5 worst films I have ever seen

Nicholas

First football hooligan book I've ever read and the last and what a crock of sh*t, Like you said every fight they had was 10 of them vs 250 yet they always won proper yawnfest.

LuckyReds

I've never read it, and can only loosely see the appeal of reading books like that. It's a pretty interesting topic, but as has already been said, is a bit like mythology - although there's bound to be some truth in the stories, their really nothing more than anecdotes which have been diluted over time and dramatised to inflate egos.

I'll never forget a lad I went to college with a few years back, he was a hammer (and, funnily enough, a complete tool in other ways). One day he was gobbing off as usual about how his father used to be in the ICF, what hard bastards they were and everything. The tutor (a lovely bloke who took no shit and learnt his trade in the military) heard, quit teaching and proceeded to rip in to this lad. "You think your Dad is hard for hunting in a pack like a wild animal and attacking people who just want to see a football game? You think thats hard? You'll learn some day what a coward is, and you'll realise that your dad hiding behind a few letters and 20 odd guys is the definition of a coward. You can tell him that, you can tell him my name and if he doesn't agree he can come and meet me.". Funnily enough, there was never another word out of this boys mouth about how the ICF were hard bastards.

ShootersHillGuru

Why anyone would want to read about or encourage these pathetic cowardly inbreds by buying the book is miles and miles beyond me.

tangoflash

When they say there was 100 of them and only 20 of us, that itself might be true. However, what it fails to mention is that the 20 are all tooled up, pumped up & bevvied up for a scrap, whereas the 100 are normal supporters with wives/girlfiends and kids with them and are there for the football. It's natural for the 100 to scatter when 20 thugs pile into them.................

WasCharleyOne

a few years ago I bought a few hoolie books just out of interest for something I was never part of. They've been read once but I'm thinking of putting them on e-bay. If anyone is interested before I do let me know.

SE10

Nothing against the books.

MOST of the authors are just normal blokes looking to make a few quid without dropping anyone in it. If you've been involved then some of the books will interest you for obvious reasons. And people who've not been involved like to read these as it's something different or something to tell their mates about in the pub if you get what I mean. I've read books about soldiers...Don't mean I've gone out after and shot someone.

RE the 20 onto 3 thing - Think you'll find 99% of 'lads' wouldn't get involved in anything like that.

And that actual book, What do you expect!? West Ham are 30 years undefeated off the pitch..

Agree that book is shite but theres some good'uns that are more life in general bitd whether it was fashion, music or fighting other estates etc...

smiffyboy

When I was about 18 I was walking through Surrey keys car park on a Saturday to meet a few mates when I heard someone shout " there's one get him" to which I looked round to see about 20-30 mill wall running towards me, I've never run so fast in all my life

Baldybonce

I've browsed a few of those books and most of it seems to be bragging fueled by a few beers.
From our point of view though 99% of that kind of stuff was just a lot of shouting and running about.
At some of the big home games in the 70's and 80's when northern teams brought a mob the atmosphere in Floyd road after a game could be electric and the noise deafening as we went up the road and they came out of thier end, sometimes meeting at the bend separated a only a thin blue line. They'ed try and push down and we'd try to push up. It was exciting stuff.

gilbertfilbert

I've browsed a few of those books and most of it seems to be bragging fueled by a few beers.
From our point of view though 99% of that kind of stuff was just a lot of shouting and running about.
At some of the big home games in the 70's and 80's when northern teams brought a mob the atmosphere in Floyd road after a game could be electric and the noise deafening as we went up the road and they came out of thier end, sometimes meeting at the bend separated a only a thin blue line. They'ed try and push down and we'd try to push up. It was exciting stuff.

Especially for the thin blue line, I imagine.

BIG_ROB

Horses for coarses, each to their own and all that.