Product Description

From the late Eighties to the new Millennium, one football gang dominated the streets and terraces. Older, harder and better organised than their foes, they travelled everywhere and feared no-one. After one spectacular victory, a vanquished rival gave them the name that became a byword for soccer violence: The Men In Black.

Manchester United's hooligan mob had long caused mayhem, but in 1989 their hardcore was the target of a massive undercover police investigation, codenamed Operation Mars. It focused on the most infamous of the firm's members, including its `general', Tony O'Neill, and led to more than thirty arrests.

But when the trial collapsed, the firm returned to the fray, wiser, more cunning and more ruthless than ever before. They went on to defend their fearsome reputation against the toughest outfits in Britain; the Soul Crew, the Zulu Warriors, the Boro Frontline and the ICF. They were never defeated.

Covering the crucial period 1988 - 2005, The Men In Black recounts these stories and many more, told by those who were there, those who were involved in the hand-to-hand, close quarter battles and notably, the man police called Target Kilo: Tony O'Neill.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13956 in Books
• Published on: 2006-06-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Review
'This fella is the Fergie of football-related punch-ups.' (Loaded)
--LOADED

Customer Reviews

Stick to euro travel
Hugely dissapointing and does The Men in Black no justice.
O'Neil is a game bloke yes we all know that, what we also know is that he has not put this together as well as it should be. Very little mention of the true leader of the MIB's means that those In The Know will have the autor, or Tony's ghost writer down as stuck up there own behind.This should have been the book to put the record straight, it just gives the Mickey's and London firms the right to laugh at the Super Firm image O'Neil likes us to believe he was part of.
He was not the person keeping it together as he was banged up!

Better than the sequel
I recently purchased both of Mr O'Neill's books, and this is the better of the two. There are some very interesting tales, and the depth of the writing is far improved, but sadly for the most part it fails to get above the usual 'we are the great we are' standard fare of these type of book. Selective memory, as always, takes centre stage, and issues not to the author, or his co-authors liking, are ignored. Come on Tony...none of us is infallible.

A Fascinating Insight into the Minds of Football 'Hooligans'
I bought the book having recently aquired 'Red Army General', and was not disapointed with the sequal. To delve into the inner sanctum of organised football 'warriors' and taste the adrenalin, fear (though not admitted) and planned battle field strategy sets these people apart from common criminals.
It was also intriguing to have an alternative inside story of 'Operation Mars', and the resulting Crown Court trial. Excellent reading and would sell well if published in Italian (being a resident). Remove the 'blinkers'and you will not put it down.