If anyone wonders why we were filmed in another documentary, we only have to listen to the description of Millwall by undercover journalist Jason Williams in October 2002: ‘By far the most dangerous football firm in Britain.’
I cannot help but wonder if the timing of this documentary was in any way linked to what I have described as ‘the mad season’. From August 2001 to May 2002, it seemed we were in the press as regular as clockwork. Was it all that mad, or was it just usual football banter, a bit of rucking, a bit of aggro with the Old Bill and all just vastly more publicised? Let us assume for a moment that the BBC have commissioned a documentary on, ooh, let’s say football hooliganism. They know it is a ten-month project. Could it be beyond the powers of a corporation like the BBC to drip-feed the public a diet of hooligan stories about Millwall culminating in the crescendo of their own documentary? Is that an impossibility? Is that unfeasible?
When you examine the events closely, some startling facts appear – like the match against Spurs in August 2001. A pre-season friendly and we caught the Old Bill on the hop. It was well arranged. After that came Birmingham away and we were wrapped up all day. Cardiff and Burnley at home in the space of a few days and young Millwall have a bit of fun with the riot police. Late evening sun with beers in hand. Nothing too major. Forest was the same. At Wolves away, we beat the Old Bill by travelling early, a little ruck with Wolves and it was game over. Portsmouth in December at home, they came for a ruck, they took a pasting and went home. Nothing major – except all of them were heavily reported. Then one of the biggest headline-grabbers came at home to Birmingham in January 2002: ‘A half-eaten pie thrown at the linesman.’
Some geezer with his Christmas turkey still clogging his arteries and fresh on his tastebuds flung a sweaty steak pie and how the press loved it. Forest and Portsmouth away, Sheffield Wednesday and Wolves at home, we were heavily policed which prevented any real trouble at all these games. Didn’t prevent big headlines from following Millwall, though. So the documentary was aired. And what happened? The Birmingham riot. We had just been knocked out of the play-offs. Does life imitate art? Think we all know the answer to that non-riddle.
So what of the documentary itself? The journalist involved made some interesting remarks: ‘Filming undercover – whether it is exposing disreputable businessmen or mixing with hooligan gangs – can be exciting, but also very dangerous.’ So, there is the BBC journalist admitting to the kicks he was getting by running with Millwall. ‘Exciting because of the complete adrenalin rushes it gives you and dangerous because of the fear of exposure.’ Yes. That just about sums it up for us, too, Jason. I like this guy.
‘Months of hard work and research could be wasted if you fail to convince someone you are who they think you are. There is also the threat of being the victim of a violent attack.’ Not sure about months but certainly a bit of planning is involved nowadays. As for being the victim? Concentrate. Hit. Don’t get hit. Hit. Don’t get hit. Come on now, Jason, get with the programme.
‘There is a fascination among football hooligans with designer labels such as Lacoste, Burberry, Aquascutum and, in particular, with Italian label Stone Island.’ Fashionistas they are, Jason. All the gear with no idea.
‘Having trawled the designer shops, I felt confident that I would at least be accepted as a “lad” – a term football hooligans use amongst their peers.’ Nice one, Jason lad. Welcome to this wonderful world of ours. A sub-culture with a buzz you can’t buy.
‘But in my opinion, by far the most dangerous football firm in Britain is Millwall. I have travelled undercover to eight matches, home and away, with them this season.’ Why thanks very much, Jason lad. Only confirming what the whole country already knew.
‘In March 2002, we were expecting trouble at their game in Portsmouth. Earlier in the season, I had witnessed a mob of Millwall lads attack a Pompey fan outside The New Den in south-east London.’ More hoping than expecting, Jason. You know the term ‘bubble wrapped’?
‘Walking to the ground I could see that many of Millwall’s hardcore hooligans had made the trip. They are known as The Bushwackers, and they had not come all this way to take in the sea air.’ He was right; most of the top boys were there. But we do like the seaside games to get a bit of clean air into our smog-filled lungs. So wrong on that one, lad.
‘Stewards were searching everyone entering the ground. I became concerned for my safety.’ Wise move. You would have been on very thin ice if you had been outed in the middle of the firm. In serious jeopardy.
‘I have been searched by police officers and stewards before. Trying to explain who you are and why you are carrying a secret camera tends to lead to a lot of questioning. The last thing I wanted was to be searched in front of Millwall’s mob. Casually, I moved to the back, and slipped away down a side road before the police had an opportunity to usher everyone into the ground. I waited until kick-off, as by then the stewards and police were inside. I paid my entrance fee and walked through the turnstile. Another close escape.’ It was that.
Jason did make some very valid and interesting points. Notably: ‘With the huge amounts of money now involved in the football industry, the role of branding and marketing has become central to the national game. Anything that is seen to present a negative image of football is very unwelcome.’
He discovered how far underground hooliganism was, at least in the eyes of the football authorities. During the making of his programme, he approached a number of clubs and footballing authorities to contribute. The Football Association refused him permission to use any footage of football matches. They stated that their responsibilities involved ‘maintaining and promoting a positive image for football’. Perhaps Jason was more surprised by their response than by anything else that he discovered. Except, of course, for the buzz he found himself having with us. He also said Millwall declined to take part in the programme.
‘Despite the extraordinary scenes of violence and disorder we filmed involving Millwall hooligans, the club preferred not to be interviewed.’ Now that surely came as no surprise. Nobody really wants to acknowledge or even think about the rat in their kitchen.
‘They claim to have taken a lot of action against the hooligans who tarnish the image of the club, but still preferred not to contribute to our film.’ Ah, Jason. They try at the club. They do but, as you discovered, we are a hardy bunch of boys and, on occasions, the runaway train will not be stopped.
Cardiff City apparently set stringent conditions on appearing in the programme, conditions that apparently no broadcaster could comply with. They also claimed that the BBC was on a crusade against Welsh football. He had been with us to Cardiff, so he must have seen that one coming. Fucking typically touchy there, the old Cardiffians. He then approached Stoke City.
‘Another club with a very problematic hooligan following, and a club which has gone to great lengths to combat the problem – including a joint initiative with Port Vale called True Supporters Against Violence. Stoke, too, preferred not to appear in the series.’ Jesus, Jason. Pattern emerging here. You sure it wasn’t just your aftershave? You been buying the cheap stuff down the market? Or was your patter slightly flawed? You must have got someone to talk to you. Finally, he got word – Bristol City was an exception to the rule.
‘Their Chief Executive, Colin Sextone, told us about the appalling scenes at the match in Cardiff and was frank enough to admit to the role of Bristol City hooligans in some of the trouble.’ So finally, and surprisingly, one goes on the record and admits guilt. See, Jason, as you know, all that the football authorities and clubs will do is deny, deny, deny. Why? Hooliganism now seldom occurs inside the ground, so as far as clubs are concerned it’s job done. Over to you, local constabulary. That is what we pay you for. Extortionate amounts, too. Such that Wigan Chairman Dave Whelan nearly took his beloved club down over the bill he was receiving from the police. They threatened to prevent any games being played, in effect shutting him down. He paid. The police and the State know billions are kicking around and they want their slice of the football pie. Clubs don’t want to acknowledge hooliganism because it is costly enough, without the fines on top of that already paid to the Old Bill. The Premier League doesn’t want to acknowledge the problem because it doesn’t want to tarnish the brand from its clean-cut image. Remember Tiger Woods after his infidelities? Sponsors can be fickle. The FA is the same. Politicians don’t want to acknowledge it as they claim to have virtually conquered it. So hooliganism is pushed around the plate like a scabby sirloin at a vegetarian’s dinner. Everyone wants to pass it to each other, no one knows what the fuck to do with it and they have no idea where the bin is. Hooliganism remains.
Not sure what exactly this documentary exposed. If it showed Jason anything, he learnt how much of a buzz it was to run with the Millwall mob. Welcome to my world. That’s a wrap!