A couple of weeks back this bar - the Foundry Hill in Bingley - had its windows smashed in, stock destroyed or stolen and customers threatened and intimidated. By men who claimed to be supporters of Bradford City - a "firm" known as Ointment. I am sure that up and down the country people can tell of similar tales - whether it is of the Brighton Headhunters, Palace's Dirty 30 or the Service Crew from Leeds. For all the adoption of a particular badge, these men are more lovers of violence than lovers of football.Yesterday evening saw the seemingly inevitable violence break out at the game between West Ham and Millwall - long-standing rivals in London. Others like The West Ham Process and Darren Lewis in the Daily Mirror described the experience first hand and it did not sound pleasant or enjoyable - emotions we should be able to associate with a sporting occasion.
Some - like our sports minister - have responded with the obvious knee-jerk condemnation accompanied by calls for books to be thrown and stones not to be left unturned. I find this unhelpful since it heaps too much of the blame on the police, the stewards, the club and the ordinary fan. These reactions, however much they might be understandable, do not get to the heart of the matters, do not ask why such violence takes place and simply fuel the calls for more draconian restrictions on football - and by extension other sports as well.
Other observers - before and after the game - seem more wise, more thoughtful and should be paid more attention. Peter Preston in the Guardian reacts as a long-standing Millwall fan by saying it's not the game but the people. And before the game West Ham fan and regeneration writer, Julian Dobson asked what it is that creates divisions and prejudice - in society generally as much as in football.
And these writers appreciate that this hooliganism, this violence, reflects our wider society and culture - football is victim not a perpetrator. The solution - if there is one - lies within the minds of those who join these "firms" of hooligans. And with a society that is at best equivocal towards violence and at worst rewards it with license.
2 comments:
Definitely the blame should fall at the feet of the minority that use the game as a platform to beat their caveman chests and inflict harm upon the very platform that they rely upon so much for "recruitment"
I have had contact with members of various "firms" as generally these people come from all walks of life. From my experience there are different "types" of crew member, some more "involved" than others. But as in any group there is often a more "supremacist" element that are more focussed upon the main aim. That aim is to have fun in what they do by any means. Their idea of fun can often be a million miles away from the idea of fun that you and I have. None-the-less it appears to have its place in some areas of society. I believe that the Police are doing a great job, and that believe it or not we are far away from the sights of the 70's and 80's where this level of activity was more of a norm. I believe that if the Police were not so aggressive as they currently are (and I believe that North Yorkshire Constabulary have a rather infamous reputation with dealing with such activity)with regards to football violence, then we would be seeing this happen on a weekly basis. There is a fine line I feel between being passionate about your team and getting involved in the less tasteful means of support. Unfortunately there will always be leaders of peer pressure and gullible yet eager followers . In the end it is the club, the loyal supporters and the innocents harmed by the violence that will always suffer.
A good post, and thanks for the link. I think people (politicians and pundits of all hues, especially) are far too keen to be seen to condemn, far too quick to hijack every bit of trouble as evidence of 'broken Britain', and far too unwilling to recognise that this sort of behaviour exists in most societies at most times. In the end, it's the strength of family and community ties that keeps antisocial behaviour at bay, not the firmness of politicians or even the police.
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