Post by bluetornados on Apr 19, 2023 15:22:11 GMT
Ex-Millwall football hooligan names ‘hardest rivals’ with ‘4,000-strong firm’..by Jon King & Rory Bennett
The ex-leader of one of football’s most infamous firms has opened up about the toughest opponents he ever faced. Known as 'Ginger Bob', the ex-hooligan revealed stories about his time at the head of Millwall’s notorious Bushwacker gang during a podcast appearance.
Telling James English of the Anything Goes podcast about his time as leader of the firm during the 1970s and 80s, "Ginger Bob" named the 'toughest' rival firm he ever faced. The ex-hooligan said: "I've got to give it to Cardiff City. Cardiff had an around three to four thousand strong firm, while Millwall, with around 300, had nowhere to run.
"My mates thought they were going to die. The best row I had ever seen was on March 18, 1976." Ginger Bob explained how 300 Millwall Bushwackers faced 2,000 City hooligans.
He recalled: "Some of our people were getting stabbed. One of my friends got captured by Cardiff and he was being beaten to death... so I've gone back into Cardiff's firm and pulled him along the floor."
Thanks to an adrenaline rush, "Ginger Bob" managed to get his pal away from danger. He said: "When we got back to the station Cardiff's firm and the police were all laughing."
Officers ordered the Bushwackers to get on an empty train and head home, however, only 50 did. Bob then delivered a "Council of War" speech, telling the rest to get back to Cardiff's mob and "kick them".
The warring groups then went head to head, with 250 Bushwackers against 2,000 raging Welshmen. "Ginger Bob" said: "We kicked the gates in, ran riot and smashed all the pubs up.
"The police had to come back and force us back. That was the day before my 18th birthday. It was just like the Wild West.”
Millwall gained a reputation as one of the fiercest and most violent clubs in the UK at a time when football hooliganism was at its height. While still retaining that reputation amongst older fans, the club has looked to shake off its past in recent years.
The club is currently eying up a Championship playoff place which would see them elevated to the premier league if they could win. Although it has been a while since major clashes have broken out between Millwall and rival fans, the club has still had a string of incidents that aren’t too far in the past.
In 2009, 20 people were injured as Millwall and West Ham fans clashed outside the Hammers' Upton Park ground. Fan behaviour has prompted the FA, football’s governing body, as well as the Premier League and EFL to introduce new measures and stronger sanctions across the game last year in a bid to tackle increased anti-social and criminal behaviour.
Actions targeted pitch invasions, smoke bombs, pyrotechnics, throwing objects, drug use and discriminatory behaviour. Offenders are reported by clubs to the police with prosecution possibly leading to a prison sentence.
The FA also announced a tougher charging and sanctioning policy for clubs, which is expected to reinforce the measures. Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: "Everyone should feel safe and able to enjoy a football match."
The ex-leader of one of football’s most infamous firms has opened up about the toughest opponents he ever faced. Known as 'Ginger Bob', the ex-hooligan revealed stories about his time at the head of Millwall’s notorious Bushwacker gang during a podcast appearance.
Telling James English of the Anything Goes podcast about his time as leader of the firm during the 1970s and 80s, "Ginger Bob" named the 'toughest' rival firm he ever faced. The ex-hooligan said: "I've got to give it to Cardiff City. Cardiff had an around three to four thousand strong firm, while Millwall, with around 300, had nowhere to run.
"My mates thought they were going to die. The best row I had ever seen was on March 18, 1976." Ginger Bob explained how 300 Millwall Bushwackers faced 2,000 City hooligans.
He recalled: "Some of our people were getting stabbed. One of my friends got captured by Cardiff and he was being beaten to death... so I've gone back into Cardiff's firm and pulled him along the floor."
Thanks to an adrenaline rush, "Ginger Bob" managed to get his pal away from danger. He said: "When we got back to the station Cardiff's firm and the police were all laughing."
Officers ordered the Bushwackers to get on an empty train and head home, however, only 50 did. Bob then delivered a "Council of War" speech, telling the rest to get back to Cardiff's mob and "kick them".
The warring groups then went head to head, with 250 Bushwackers against 2,000 raging Welshmen. "Ginger Bob" said: "We kicked the gates in, ran riot and smashed all the pubs up.
"The police had to come back and force us back. That was the day before my 18th birthday. It was just like the Wild West.”
Millwall gained a reputation as one of the fiercest and most violent clubs in the UK at a time when football hooliganism was at its height. While still retaining that reputation amongst older fans, the club has looked to shake off its past in recent years.
The club is currently eying up a Championship playoff place which would see them elevated to the premier league if they could win. Although it has been a while since major clashes have broken out between Millwall and rival fans, the club has still had a string of incidents that aren’t too far in the past.
In 2009, 20 people were injured as Millwall and West Ham fans clashed outside the Hammers' Upton Park ground. Fan behaviour has prompted the FA, football’s governing body, as well as the Premier League and EFL to introduce new measures and stronger sanctions across the game last year in a bid to tackle increased anti-social and criminal behaviour.
Actions targeted pitch invasions, smoke bombs, pyrotechnics, throwing objects, drug use and discriminatory behaviour. Offenders are reported by clubs to the police with prosecution possibly leading to a prison sentence.
The FA also announced a tougher charging and sanctioning policy for clubs, which is expected to reinforce the measures. Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: "Everyone should feel safe and able to enjoy a football match."