Product Description

During the 1980s, a new youth phenomena swept across the football terraces in the UK: the casuals had appeared on the football scene. They formed style-conscious gangs who took the soccer wars to a new level. One of these gangs became known as the portsmouth 6-57 Crew, for the simple reason that enabled the main firm to get to London to catch the connection to various northern outposts. Author Bob Beech has followed Pompey all his life, took part and witnessed many of the events that made the Pompey 6-57 Crew one of the most talked about football firms of all time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39768 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-16
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

From the Author
This paperback edition of Playing Up With Pompey is no longer
avaliable to buy. The all brand new HARDBACK edition completely revised and
updated published by Head-Hunter Books (ISBN 1906085021) will be published
August 2007. The hardback book is avaliable through Amazon. Do not waste
your hard earned cash buying this over priced paperback when you can buy
the all new hardback edition.

Customer Reviews

Playing Up with Pompey
tells the story of the infamous 657 Crew from 80's to the present day in a way that leaves the reader in no doubt as to it's honesty, accuracy, & laced with dark humour throughout. So many books of this type are slanted in favour of the author's particular team. This one isn't,it just tells it as it happened. An enjoyable & involving read.

A different class
This subject still holds a fascination with many of us who watched football in the 70s and 80s. However, there are two distinct camps which these kinds of books fall into. Sadly the bulk fall into the 'we went there and done them' rubbish, whilst the few quality reads go a little deeper and allow the reader to get inside the mind of the author.

This book fits neatly into this second category.

To anyone who has any experience of any inhabitant of 'the island' will know that they are a wonderful peculiar breed. Mr Beech reflects that confidence spiced with humour that makes them such a unique working class section of our society.

This is well written,violent but not gratuitous, opinionated and fun. If you still wear Lacoste, have a number 1 hair cut, but are now married with kids and know getting involved in trouble is no longer worth it, get your kiddie to buy it you for Christmas!

Just a fantastic read!!!
A regular reader of terrace culture books I found this one to be fantastic. A warts and all look at life on the terraces, win some lose some they are all here unlike other such books doesn't try to cover up or make excusses for defeats and doesn't glorify the victories. The book tries and on the whole succeeds in trying to tell what being a casual was all about, also unlike just about every book in this genre it has an extensive chapter about following England home and away. This book fills the gap in your hoolie book collection an honest read which at times will make you laugh out loud. This book will not dissapoint Portsmouth's 6.57 Crew used to be one of the very 'top' firms the book tells of their rise to the top and charts their run ins with all the usual 'suspects'. A brilliant read.