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10 Biggest Hooligan Clubs in English Football

EPL

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Reading time: 14 min.

Football fans much older than me will remember a time when fences separated rival fans, and weekly skirmishes were a regular occurrence. Hooliganism was so bad during its peak in the 1970s that it was known as the “English Disease”.

Is the mindless thuggery of hooliganism a thing of the past? 

Hooligans can no longer hide away from the glaring eyes of CCTV, but like a dormant volcano, hooligan firms still exist. Violence is ready to rise up and explode under pressure at any time if the conditions are right. 

Keep that in mind, as we take a look at the most violent football fans, and the biggest hooligan clubs in English football.

10. The Herd (Arsenal)

Founded in 1978, The Herd’s hooligan activity peaked through the 80s and early 90s. Unsurprisingly the firm’s main rivalries are with firms from London clubs West Ham, Tottenham, Chelsea and Millwall. 

During the 2000 UEFA Cup Final, The Herd led a notorious attack on Galatasaray fans in revenge for the stabbing of two Leeds fans in the semi-final. They were able to unify an attack with hooligan firms from Chelsea, Cardiff City, Swansea, Leeds, Rangers and Linfield.

Former herd leader Dainton Connell eventually became a cult hero and was even influential in steering young fans away from joining the far-right British National Party. After his passing in 2007, 3,000 people attended his funeral including several ex-players.

9. Soul Crew (Cardiff City)

Founded in 1983, The Soul Crew (Criw Enaid Dinas Caerdydd) has its origins from the hardened dock areas of Cardiff and are one of the most active football firms across the United Kingdom today. The namesake was inspired by the original firm’s love for soul music, and members of the Soul Crew have reflected the multiculturalism of Cardiff. 

Despite playing mostly in the fourth division during the height of hooliganism, Soul Crew gained a reputation for being one of the toughest to fight. Although Soul Crew’s biggest rivalry is with Portsmouth’s 6:57 crew, Cardiff City is seen as one of the biggest hooligan clubs because of Soul Crew’s notoriety, as well as their “invader” status due to their Welsh identity.

8. 6.57 Crew (Portsmouth)

Soul Crew’s biggest rivals 6.57 Crew were established in 1979 and they got their name from the first train time of the day that took Portsmouth fans to London for Saturday games. The firm was one of the most active during the 1980s and they caused mayhem across England.

In 2001 the firm were involved in an infamous fight against Coventry City fans at an away game with hooligans ripping up stadium seats and throwing them at Coventry fans. 

In 2004, 93 fans were arrested following riots against rival Southampton fans. A 10-year old boy became the youngest ever hooligan to be convicted in the UK as a result of the fights. On the international stage 130 English fans, who were mostly 6.57 Crew, had to give up their passports before the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

7. Naughty Forty – N40 (Stoke City)

Founded by Stoke City hooligans, the Naughty Forty were amongst the most violent hooligan firms in England during the peak of hooliganism. The firm began in 1985 when a group of forty “naughty” fans made an away trip to Portsmouth. At its height the firm had over 700 members who were more than willing to fight anyone before, during and after games.

Although hooligan activity has settled since its 1980’s and early 90’s peak, Stoke has been involved in numerous incidents recently. In 2018 at an under-21s game against local rivals Port Vale, violent fighting took place in the streets and inside the stadium. Fans threw coins, flares, seats and toilets through windows and at police who struggled to contain the violence.

Stoke City also remains one of the biggest hooligan clubs, having had the highest number of football banning orders in England during the 2019-20 season.

6. Red Army (Manchester United)

Also known as the Men in Black, the Manchester United hooligan firm Red Army formed in the 1970s and was considered to have the most firm members during the height of hooliganism. During Manchester United’s Second Division season in 1974-75, the Red Army caused havoc across England, often outnumbering home supporters during away games. 

In a game against Blackpool in 1974, a Red Army member was involved in the stabbing death of a young Blackpool fan which led to the introduction of crowd segregation and fencing at grounds across England.


Although the Red Army has kept it calm in recent times, the Men in Black attacked Manchester United’s chief executive Ed Woodward’s home in 2020. A year later they mobbed the club’s training ground following backlash to the European Super League proposal.

5. Chelsea Headhunters (Chelsea)

Starting off as the Shed Boys in the 1960s, the firm was renamed to the Chelsea Headhunters in 1985. The Headhunters have gained notoriety for their strong links to white supremacist organisations and they’ve formed alliances with Scottish club Rangers, and Northern Irish team Linfield, due to their common interest in unionism. Chelsea Headhunters main rivalries are with:

  • Millwall Bushwackers (Millwall)
  • Inter City Firm (West Ham)
  • Soul Crew (Cardiff City)
  • Service Crew (Leeds United)
  • Yid Army (Tottenham)
  • Baby Squad (Leicester City)

The Chelsea Headhunters still remain active and in 2010 the firm clashed with Cardiff City’s Soul Crew during a fifth-round FA Cup tie. A police officer suffered a broken jaw resulting in Operation Ternhill being launched and 24 members of the Headhunters being convicted.

In 2014 the Chelsea Headhunters caused mayhem on a continental level, involved in pre-planned violence in France before a Champions League quarter-final against PSG. Around 300 hooligans from the Headhunters entered France through Belgium to avoid detection.

4. The Zulu Warriors (Birmingham City)

Active since 1982 the Zulu Warriors are the most notorious football firm associated with Birmingham City. The name came after Manchester City fans chanted “Zulu, Zulu”, referencing Birmingham’s multicultural fanbase. The racist chanting backfired as the firm adopted the name in endearment. 

The Zulu Warriors differed from other firms especially in its earlier days. Almost all hooligan firms were exclusively white at the time, while the Zulu Warriors embraced all races. Throughout the 80s the firm was so dangerous, West Midlands Police launched Operation Red Card in 1987 to infiltrate the firm.

Birmingham City remains one of the biggest hooligan clubs and they have the most football banning orders in force across England. The Zulu Warriors were involved in the notorious Cardiff City riots in 2001, and a year later, involved in one of the most violent clashes in recent history against Millwall fans.

The Zulu Warriors have a fierce rivalry with Aston Villa Hardcore as well as firms from West Ham, Cardiff City, Stoke City, Millwall, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton. The Zulu Warriors also featured in the movie Green Street, alongside the Green Street Elite.

3. Service Crew (Leeds United)

The Service Crew are associated with Leeds United and were founded in 1974. Named after the trains the firm travelled on to away matches, the Service Crew took these trains instead of chartered trains which were heavily policed. The main rivals of the Service Crew are:

  • Milwall Bushwackers (Millwall)
  • Red Army (Manchester United)
  • Hull City Psychos (Hull City)
  • Soul Crew (Cardiff City)
  • Chelsea Headhunters (Chelsea)
  • Birmingham Zulu Warriors (Birmingham)

The Service Crew hooligans were involved in major disturbances after the 1975 European Cup finals. Enraged at two turned-down penalty appeals, Leeds fans ripped seats from the Parc des Princes stands and threw them onto the pitch. As a result Leeds became the first English club to be banned from European competition.

One of the darkest days in St Andrew’s Stadium history was as a result of football hooligans. A 14-year-old boy died in 1985 when a stadium wall collapsed as Leeds fans were pushed up against a wall by police. More than 1,000 fans were involved and almost 100 policemen injured.

The Service Crew are one of the most notorious football firms not only in England, but in Europe. So bad was Leeds reputation for hooliganism, they’re one of the most hated football clubs in the world. At the height of hooliganism, non-league club Telford United refused to host Leeds in an FA Cup third round tie in 1987.

2. Inter City Firm (West Ham)

The Inter City Firm (ICF) was formed in 1977 and named after the InterCity trains fans travelled on to away games. The firm formed out of several West Ham firms including Essex East London and Mile End Boys. Along with the Millwall Bushwackers and Chelsea Headhunters, Inter City are among the most notorious in London. 

ICF have a ferocious rivalry with the Bushwackers, as well as rivalries with the Chelsea Headhunters and the Tottenham associated Yid Army. The firm gained notoriety for leaving calling cards on victims that read “Congratulations, you have just met the ICF”, something that was adopted by other football club firms.

The Green Street movie was centred around the Green Street Elite (GSE) firm which is based on the ICF, gaining the firm international notoriety along with their hatred for the Millwall Bushwackers. West Ham continues to struggle with hooliganism and have the most football related arrests in England.

1. Millwall Bushwackers (Millwall)

Millwall’s fanbase was traditionally made up of dock workers. The Millwall Bushwackers are a culmination of the physical and aggressive conditions those dock workers faced and are the most notorious and worst behaved football fans in England.

Active since 1972 the Millwall Bushwackers have an extensive rap sheet. A dummy grenade was thrown onto the pitch in a 1965 match against Brentford. It gets much worse though. In an FA Cup away match against Luton Town in 1985, the Millwall Bushwackers were involved in arguably the worst incident of football hooliganism in English football. 

During the Kenilworth Road Riot, the Bushwackers were involved in ripping out seats, smashing windows at pubs, and at newsagents throughout Luton. Projectiles were thrown at Luton supporters, and police dogs were needed  to help clear the pitch. Millwall chairman Alan Thorne even threatened to close the club because of the violence.

The Bushwackers were involved again in one of the worst examples of hooliganism in recent times in 2002. Almost 50 police officers and 24 police horses were injured when hundreds of Millwall fans were involved in incidents around St Andrews Stadium following a play-off loss to Birmingham City.

The Bushwackers’ main rivals are:

  • Inter City Firm (West Ham)
  • Soul Crew (Cardiff City)
  • Service Crew (Leeds United)
  • Chelsea Headhunters (Chelsea)
  • MIGs (Luton Town)

Millwall fans have developed a siege mentality over the years as one of the most hated football clubs in England. In a dangerous sign, Millwall has had the most new banning orders in England, the Bushwackers and firm hooliganism no doubt playing a role.

 

Matt Ieriko
Matt Ieriko
Matt Ieriko is a freelance writer who's evolved his lifelong passion for sport into the creation of WolfgangSport.com in 2020 - an American sports blog covering the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS and more. As an Australian, he's always been fascinated with the cultural differences and global significance of sports in America.

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