 
Congratulations, You Have Just Met the I. C. F.
Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 10
More Information
 On: 2008-09-27
as a reader of many hooligan books, this has been done well enough by cass pennant, it keeps u interested and concetrates on the violence and what these guys got up to. there is still a bit of the old, there was 700 of them and just 2 of us and we still gave em a slap, but not too much (woulda have got 4 stars if he left some of that out). the ICF are a very proud bunch, from reading other books they were a well respected firm in their time, he gives a good account.
 On: 2008-08-30
This guy was really there versus some of the tripe you see coming outy about soccer.
On: 2008-04-10
The title of the book is their business card, I think its brilliant on their part though I cant say Im sorry I was never handed one. Or perhaps I am. There are probably large cardboard boxes full of whats written about football hooligans. They analyze the why and the how; violence seems to attract a sort of fascination and I admit I am not immune to it. And I am not immune to a level of admiration for anyone like Bill Gardner who could walk up to the mob of another firm and say "Good afternoon gentlemen. The names Bill Gardner." And then the rucks on. Its a sort of utter fearlessness and abandon, and this book wont analyze anything, itll bring it to life for you through the words of all the right faces in the Inner City Firm. Its stories of the West Ham supporters through the height of violence in the 70s and the 80s, along with a glimpse into the meaning of the violence from some of the most feared men of the I.C.F. Youll find no academics or reporters talking about hooligans here, I love it because here people get to speak for themselves.
Interestingly enough, though, theres very little said about West Ham or football itself. A great book with a lot more about football is Eduardo Galeanos Soccer in Sun and Shadow, highlighting the great games and the great players and the politics behind it all, a great counterpoint to give context to a book like this one...
 On: 2007-12-31
Bill Gardner was a top member of the ICF, the firm that supported (supports) West Ham United in Londons East End. What that means is, he kicked butt in the many battles between firms that were huge in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. These are not minor fisticuffs, people. These are full-on wars between hundreds of experienced fighting men. He made a name for himself as a fearless leader. His telling of those battles comes across as honest and, believe it or not, humble. He doesnt want to talk himself up, he isnt looking to crown himself the baddest of the "hooligan" element. (And Gardner didnt go around trashing chippys or doing random hooligan vandalism, he was looking for the lads of the opposing firms, just for the record.) He just remembers the crazy years on the terraces and on the streets after matches, where it all kicks off and it could be a serious, dangerous battle to get back to your tube station. He gives a straight forward and entertaining tale about many, many classic battles between Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham, and of course Millwall, amongst many others,
Gardner is famous for not using weapons (unlike the Everton mob, for example), just his fists and cojones, and his presence was enough to put opponent firms on the retreat. His story telling is great, and there is even a great section on when he worked the door at some gnarly clubs that saw equally fierce action. The book is great and comes from a man who never was looking for the limelight, just a winning West Ham football game and a good steaming in afterwards!
On: 2007-07-28
Cass wasnt there a lot of the time.
Too much secondhand knowledge, to keep me gripped for long. But an easy read and entertaining all the same.
Id like to read more of what these people are thinking and feeling, than just related events.
Cass, Gardner, Swallow, Leach and co, write your stuff first hand - it would be facinating.
No doubt these books are the life breath of DVDs like Green Street or Football Factory; both of which bear no resemblence to what really went (goes) on.
Buy Good Afternoon, Gentlemen, the Names Bill Gardner by Bill Gardner and Cass Pennant - good read. Gardner is a diamond. Totally loyal to WHU and all it stands for. He certainly has my resect.
West Ham usually win in their battles. A tough bunch indeed.
They are definitely the second hardest firm since the Great War.
The hardest being Millwall of course. Always outnumbered, never outdone. Sounds like a good title for a MFC book.
If you REALLY want to know about WHU, buy Bobby Moore: By the Person Who Knew Him Best by Tina Moore. A GREAT read. He is WHU.
Lord Moore of Dagenham, I refer to him as.
On: 2007-01-27
the book was a interesting read a little one sided i have years of experience in these sort of things and felt we only heard one side of the story. Otherwise very entertaining.
On: 2007-01-03
FOUND THIS BOOK VERY INTERESTING BUT IT WAS ALL ONE WAY TRAFFIC.. I REALY GOT INTO ALL THE STORIES AND IMAGINED AT TIMES I WAS ACTUALLY THEIR INVOLVED WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON.. THE ONLY DISAPPOINTING THING WAS THE FACT THEY NEVER SEEMED TO GET DONE. THEY ALSO SEEMED TO BELITTLE THEIR CLOSEST RIVALS AT TIMES BUT I MUST ADMIT THEY WERE AT THE TIME AWESOME BUT NOT INDESTRUCTABLE AS THIS BOOK LEADS YOU TO BELEIVE.
On: 2005-11-28
I have been very interested in the hooligan culture that pervaded English football not long ago. As all of the former brawlers are now out of the fight scene, many of them have turned to writing about their exploits. After reading about how notoriously tough the West Ham firm were, it was time to hear about them from the source.
Cass Pennant, the author of the book, would almost be better considered the editor. Much of this book is actually a collection of recollections from other members of the famous I.C.F., so youll see the book dominated by pages in italics. Whether these were transcribed in-person interviews or if the members wrote them out and submitted them I cant tell, but this constant shuffling between different speakers did get a bit distracting.
It is also worth mentioning that it does indeed feel when youre reading it that these guys were unstoppable, that nowhere do they ever say they were beaten. Now, not being there myself, I cant say whether they ever were or werent but I did get to wondering occassionally towards the end of the book when every battle went their way.
Despite this, it was a very interesting read, and the way that the interviews are included actually use the language of the subjects ("He looked a nice feller") so you do feel immersed. The print also is a bit larger so despite the size, it is also a very quick read. Course, being as interested in the subject matter as I was makes it go even quicker.
All in all, a recommended read on the subject of hooliganism.
On: 2005-11-27
I have been very interested in the hooligan culture that pervaded English football not long ago. As all of the former brawlers are now out of the fight scene, many of them have turned to writing about their exploits. After reading about how notoriously tough the West Ham firm were, it was time to hear about them from the source.
Cass Pennant, the author of the book, would almost be better considered the editor. Much of this book is actually a collection of recollections from other members of the famous I.C.F., so youll see the book dominated by pages in italics. Whether these were transcribed in-person interviews or if the members wrote them out and submitted them I cant tell, but this constant shuffling between different speakers did get a bit distracting.
It is also worth mentioning that it does indeed feel when youre reading it that these guys were unstoppable, that nowhere do they ever say they were beaten. Now, not being there myself, I cant say whether they ever were or werent but I did get to wondering occassionally towards the end of the book when every battle went their way.
Despite this, it was a very interesting read, and the way that the interviews are included actually use the language of the subjects ("He looked a nice feller") so you do feel immersed. The print also is a bit larger so despite the size, it is also a very quick read. Course, being as interested in the subject matter as I was makes it go even quicker.
All in all, a recommended read on the subject of hooliganism.
 On: 2005-02-05
If Cass Pennant came up against 500 people with just him and his mate the 500 people would come off worse,well thats if your to believe this book.Its a good read but he does exagerate and it should be in the fiction section.Those Cockneys do like to bend the truth.
On: 2002-10-27
Never mind all the other books about Football Hooligans, this is the real thing, from real known faces - excellent - cant wait for "Want some aggro" the early years before the ICF.
|
|
