Product Description

In 1985, forty hooligan followers of Stoke City FC took a riotous trip to Portsmouth - and the Naughty Forty was born. It became one of the most notorious soccer gangs in Britain.

Mark Chester was a founder member of the N40. Expelled from school after an unsettled childhood, he joined the Staffordshire Regiment, only to be discharged for misconduct. Stoke City's emerging 'casual' mob became his family. 'Right or wrong, i was ready to become a committed football hooligan.'

Pivotal clashes with the likes of Everton, Manchester United and West Ham defined the new firm. Formidable characters came to the forefront, men like the giant Mark Bentley, Philler the Beast and the legendary Miffer.

The N40 code was simple: whatever the odds, they would always make a stand.

Soon they were joined by the Under-Fives, a younger element determined to win the acceptance from the terrace legends they admired.

Naughty is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the illicit but seductive lure of terrace combat, the emotional ties of a gang and the addictive buzz of Saturday afternoons.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24722 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 380 pages

Review
'Shows the psychology behind the brutality. One of the most frank accounts of the yobbo mindset.' (Ice Magazine)
--ICE MAGAZINE

Customer Reviews

Top Banana
Just finished reading this book and must say that it is probably the best book of its genre.

It is not simply a repetitive tale of " we did so & so with 30 lads" followed by more of the same. The book actually gives an insight into the main characters, most noticibly the author himself, which must have taken some courage to open up his past life but also admits when the N40 or the Under 5's get a slap.

Coming from a northern industrial town, it's easy to relate to the relationships and camaraderie that are built, especially being a Burnley fan.

This is no comparison to the bilge that the Brimson brothers trot out and comes across as a genuine and honest account.

If you like Hoolifan & the Naughty Nineties, buy this book!

WORTHWHILE READING FOR CASUAL LADS
Having bought every book on football hooliganism and terrace culture within the last fifteen years and having been an ex member of a firm myself, I treat most of the books in the same manner,most of them being biased one sided accounts of that particular firms encounters against rival opposition.
But the NAUGHTY FORTY book is one of the better books to have hit the bookshelves with Mark Chester giving a fairly obvious honest account of events and the social side of being involved in a firm.

The book is clearly tailored for "lad culture" and those who study the enigma of football violence.
Some accounts willbe shocking to those who are uninitiated but relevant and common to those who have participated or are stillactive.
Mark Chester uses a verytrue quotation in the book when he states that"only those who have had that adrenalin rush from organised football violence" can relate to what it is all about, there are many who try to explain the reasons why people get involved in the violence but they are only looking in from the outside, thus making this book good reading from those who have actually been there and understand what the attraction is.

WOW
What can i say? This book is both powerful and exciting.

I have read a fair few 'hooligan' books as it is a topic i am interested in and studying. This is probably the most strongest one i have read so far and certainly showed me into the world of a football hooligan, that it isn't just about the violence and the football team. It details the life and trials of Mark Chester and you can almost relate to ecerything that he is saying. It wasn't a book just about fighting it was a brillant insight to a retired hooligan telling us about the culture of a 'firm'. I would reccommend this book to anyone, it is superbly written and extremely fascinating, i know i didn't want to put it down! Whats more is that it is written with pure honesty which is a rarity in many cases and is nothing but a credit to the author. Well done!