Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #789702 in Books
• Published on: 1999-10-13
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Synopsis
An account of life on the terraces in the 1970s and 80s, this book is an inside story of a football fan. Colin Ward's experiences at Arsenal, Chelsea and England matches, at home and abroad and his experiences of camaraderie and confrontations, chavinism, hatred and colourful terrace characters are charted. He is outspoken on drunkenness, racism and unprovoked viciousness and has harsh words to say about the attitude of politicians and the media to football hooliganism.

Customer Reviews

Required Reading
The cover of the edition I read is emblazoned with the phrase "The Classic of Football Writing," and for once I'm almost inclined to agree. Ward's book was the first (that I know of) to write of soccer hooliganism from the insider perspective. Ward's account is important in that he was neither an outsider to the violence, nor a central provocateur, and thus perhaps best represents the "average" hooligan of the '70s and '80s. Ready for a punchup if the situation called for it, ready to run if outnumbered, and disdainful of the more excessive violence (knives, etc...) and crazies who were attracted to the hooligan scene. He writes honestly about what he did and saw going to see Leatherhead, Arsenal, Chelsea, and England. It is in the "England Away" chapter that he really gets indignant about the behavior of his fellow fans, sharply critiquing their behavior abroad (see John King's novel England Away). By the end, one gets the impression he's fed up with the new, more organized system of hooligan gangs, police crackdowns, and has gotten out of the violence. It's an excellent and quick reading book for understanding the terrace culture of the '70s and '80s. For a great fictional insight into this area, try The Football Factory by John King or for an academic study, see Football Hooligans: Knowing the Score by Gary Armstrong.

classic jounal of the 'terrace days" of football
Well crafted account of Ward's coming of age in the 70's and 80's world of terrace violence. A number of books have since followed, and perhaps been influenced, by this work. Makes for eye opening reading with accounts of infamous terrace characters and various offs. The author's style is not self promoting however and Ward always keeps his sense of perspective. His other books are well worth reading too, full of intelligent oppinions of the way football has changed, for both better and worse.

Overrated
I'm amazed this book is regarded as some sort of "classic". It's poorly written, rambling and fairly incoherent. On one hand the author praises hooligans, on the other he condemns them. He can't seem to decide whether he's "in" or "out" but keeps going back like a moth to a flame.