The Muckers

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The Muckers are a football hooligan firm linked to the English Football League team, Blackpool F.C. They take their name from the word mucker, a colloquialism meaning good friend.

Although Blackpool FC are a relatively small club, there is a long history of hooliganism which had all but disappeared until recent times. Part of the reasons given for this history of violence is that a feature of Blackpool life is fighting especially as in the Summer months groups of young men would visit the resort giving the locals ample opportunity to fight whenever they wanted.[1] Benny, one of the leaders of another Firm associated with Blackpool, Bennys Mob stated that “Blackpool is full of mobs, especially in the Summer. You could easily be fighting every week.”[2] Whilst many other Firms have retained the same name throughout their history such as the Chelsea Headhunters or the Inter City Firm who follow West Ham United FC, there have been a number of names for the Firm who follow Blackpool - Rammy Arms Crew, Bennys Mob, BISONS (or Bisons Riot Squad) and now The Muckers.

Blackpool Muckers
Blackpool Muckers

Contents

[edit] History

In 1985 when hooliganism was rife in England, the BBC Six O'Clock News had a special report in which they listed the worst Football gangs creating mayhem across England. They listed the five worst clubs:

It was the culmination of years of hooliganism surrounding Blackpool.[3]

[edit] Kevin Olsson

On 24 August 1973, 17-year-old Blackpool fan, Kevin Olsson, was stabbed to death at the back of the Spion Kop, Bloomfield Road at Blackpools home match with Bolton Wanderers F.C.[4] It was the start of a long period of hatred between fans of the two clubs and was widely reported as being the first hooligan death at an English football match. Together with Manchester United fans behaviour that year it ushered in a dark era of hooliganism in England. There were numerous attacks on Bolton fans both after the match and in the coming years[5][6]

Earlier that season, in December 1973, Blackpool fans had invaded the Home End at Boltons Burnden Park when the two teams met when they smashed down a gate and stormed into the ground. Speculation was that the stabbing was as a result of that and the stabbing of a Bolton fan by a Blackpool fan in 1970 at Boltons Home ground,Burnden Park.[7]

[edit] Rammy Arms Crew era

The first organised Firm, known as the Rammy Arms Crew, began in those years, taking their name from the pub they drank in , the Ramsden Arms, opposite Blackpool North Railway Station. Many of them became notorious including Jenks, Fogs and especially the late Tommy Throup. Their fighting cry was “We are the Tangerine Fighting Machine”.

The Rammys greatest moment was when they led the England fans charge into Italians in Turin at the Italy vs England match in 1980.[8] As a result of which, at least one Rammy Arms Crew would later adorn the jacket cover of one of the first hooligan books, ‘‘Hooligans Abroad ‘‘ by John Williams.[9][10]

In the late 1970s as Punk Rock became popular in the UK, football fans would also attend Punk Rock concerts. And in 1978 at a concert in Blackburn King Georges Hall a Skids concert (incorrectly reported as being The Dickies) was the scene of a near full scale riot as a group of about 50 Blackpool fans clashed with over 250 Blackburn Rovers F.C. fans, disrupting the concert, before Riot Police were called into restore order, as reported in the local Blackpool Evening Gazette. Then on 6 May 1978 at a concert by The Vibrators in Preston a young man from Preston was stabbed to death during clashes between Preston and Blackpool fans.[11] It ushered in a new era of hatred between fans of the two clubs, following the attempts by Blackpool fans to burn down the Town End at Prestons Deepdale stadium the year before, when two fires were lit during a match between the two clubs.

[edit] Bennys Mob era

In 1978 Blackpool FC were relegated for the first time to the third tier of English football. And around this time a new younger gang appeared, "Bennys Mob". Led by Benny they would take on firms from numerous other clubs including the Pompey Skins from Portsmouth F.C. in August, 1980 when a group of about 150 Bennys Mob met up with them at Blackpools Coach Park. And Sheffield United F.C. fans in 1982, when a Sheffield fan was stabbed during clashes between fans in the West Paddock at Bloomfield Road, whilst police were already dealing with an incident in the South Stand. The Blackpool Evening Gazette headine ran "Fan sought after Pool stabbing" as the police tried to find the person(s) responsible.[12]

It was in 1984 though that the Blackpool hooligans started to earn their reputation. In March, Rochdale F.C. were totally overwhelmed when 3,000 Blackpool fans descended on their Spotland Stadium when they usually had crowds of about 1,300. A mob of Blackpool fans went on the rampage causing “A trail of havoc” according to the Manchester Evening News headlines who continued, “21 cars were damaged, two parked vehicles overturned and 4 Police cars damaged.”[13] By April, 1984 according to the Blackpool Evening Gazette, the police were worried about an army of about 200 hooligans and vowed to drive them out.

In May, 1984 Bennys Mob led a weekend of violence and anarchy in the seaside town of Torquay. Police had made the game a 7.30pm Saturday kick off with Torquay United to try and avoid trouble, but it backfired totally as it simply meant that hordes of Blackpool fans travelled down on the Friday and stayed over until Sunday, where they caused 24 hours of carnage. The local Torquay newspaper headline read, “Soccer Mob Storms Resort”. 61 Blackpool fans were arrested, 5 people treated for stab wounds, including a man from Liverpool who was was attacked with a carpet knife and received a 15 inch wound. Thousands of pounds worth of damage was done to the town with The Yacht House pub wrecked and a nightclub front demolished. Two Blackpool fans were even convicted of stealing a Four Poster Bed from a luxury hotel. Helen Chamberlain a presenter of Sky Sports Soccer AM show, and a Torquay United fan, would many years later on the show state that “Blackpool fans are mad”.[14]

The following season saw Bennys Mob again involved in numerous fights. And it also saw Blackpool FC charged twice by the English FA, who held two inquries into the Blackpool fans behaviour. Both times the club themselves were exonerated from blame.

In February 1985 Bennys Mob took revenge in Chester for an earlier season attack on them by Chester City fans. The game was held up for 15 minutes when what appeared to be a pre-planned invasion of 200 Blackpool fans ran onto the pitch toward the Chester fans. The Police called in reinforcements, but were pelted by bricks, stones, broken terrace barriers and a Corner flag which had been uprooted and used as a weapon. The referee was also attacked. Two crash barriers were uprooted, a refreshment hut wrecked and Stand seats torn out. The first FA Disciplinary Inquiry was instigated.[15]

The following month 3,000 Blackpool fans went to a match at Bury FC. Again, what seemed like another carefully planned attack took place. “An orgy of violence, theft and destruction” reported the Blackpool Evening Gazette. After Bury had scored a goal, Blackpool fans at one side stand started to wreck the stand, which received extensive damage whilst another group of Blackpool fans behind one goal also started to riot. All to chants of “Smash it up, smash it up, smash it up”. Pieces of the Stand were thrown onto the pitch and yet another referee had to take the players off the pitch. A brick wall was demolished and pushed onto parked cars as the Police held the Blackpool fans in the ground after the match. 64 Blackpool fans were arrested and 5 Police Officers hurt. Yet another Disciplinary inquiry was instigated.[16]

[edit] Bisons Riot Squad era

Another gang started to appear in this period, BISONS, or the Bisons Riot Squad (BRS). They reputedly took their name from the noise they made when attacking rivals. And they soon earned a reputation for carrying knives. At a game in Brighton four people were slashed with knives. And one of the main Blackpool BISONS members was reported to have taken a gun off one of the younger BISONS gang before they set off for Brighton. It resulted in 3 fans being banned from every Football Ground in England, the first time the Courts had made such bans.[17]

In the 1985 - 86 season came another opportunity for revenge on Bolton Wanderers when they played them at home on Boxing Day 1985. It was the first time the two clubs had met in a number of years. And it brought out the different gangs with them all joining up with other local gangs from Fleetwood, Bispham and other areas on the Fylde Coast. One of the first things they did that day was to attack the Ramsden Arms pub, even though it was the drinking and meeting place for the Rammy Arms Crew. However, a group of Bolton fans unwittingly had come off their train and gone into the Ramsden Arms for a pre-match drink. According to the Blackpool Evening Gazette, “Windows were smashed as louts hurled snooker balls and cues through the expensive lead weighted windows” as they attacked the Bolton fans inside. Blackpool had 100’s out that day and a number of battles took place in and around the ground.[18]

Around this time the gangs had fights with the fans of bigger clubs like Manchester City, and would regularly fight the Leeds United Service Crew (LSC) who had started visiting Blackpool on Bank Holiday weekends. In 1985 more than 50 were arrested as Bennys Mob planned an attack on the LSC as a major riot ensued. And finally a Blackpool fan was stabbed in his back in 1987.[19] The local rivals have always been Preston North End and matches between the two clubs have usually resulted in trouble.

In 1989 Blackpool played Bolton again for the first time for four years. And it was again the cue for revenge attacks on Bolton fans in the Sherpa Van Trophy. The Bolton team coach was attacked, Police twice had to clear the pitch of fighting fans. In 1991 Benny was banned from football grounds for 3 years for fighting with Tottenham Hotspur fans. And for much of the 1990’s there was no real organised hooligan firm.[20]

[edit] The Muckers

In ‘‘Hooligans A-L ’’ Nick Lowles and Andy Nicholls state that for the past decade there has been no Firm in Blackpool and that Away fans have been left virtually to do as they wish in the town and at matches. However, since the book was published this has led to the development of The Muckers in 2005 when a group of 25 Blackpool fans, all friends started to organise The Muckers Firm.

They very soon started to earn a reputation in an era when CCTV has severely restricted hooligan activity. The Blackpool Evening Gazette described the worst scenes of violence at Blackpool matches in years at a match against Nottingham Forest in February 2006 when Mounted Police had to separate fans as they clashed in the streets. 200 fans were involved in fights around The Castle Pub in Blackpool. After the game another 75 fans fought outside the Swift Hound Pub with both fights being blamed on Blackpool fans for instigating them.[21][22]

The following week, after a Home game against Huddersfield Town, a coach carrying Huddersfield fans was attacked and a brick smashed the coach windows. This incident though has never been linked to The Muckers who themselves condemmned the attack as it goes against their strict self imposed "Hooligan Code" of not attacking innocent fans (what they term "Scarfers"). The local Police also did not link the attack stating, "This appears to have been a random, stupid, isolated attack. There is no link between this incident and the trouble at the previous home fixture with Nottingham Forest." Local reports would seem to suggest that this and other similar incidents since then are connected to a gang of youths from the area around the stadium.[23]

In April 2006 seven Blackpool fans were arrested following the incidents at the Nottingham Forest game, and 12 Blackpool fans homes raided.[24] No fans from Nottingham were arrested.[25][26][27]

Ahead of the Home game against Nottingham Forest on 8 August 2006, Blackpool fans were banned from using The Castle Pub and The Swift Hound pub had extra security as fears grew of a repeat of the violence in February. The Landlord of The Castle Pub stated that he did not wish to see a repeat of the violence, stating that, "The Forest fans were just drinking. Then, out of nowhere, about 50 Blackpool fans charged in and started throwing punches and bottles. There was blood everywhere, my staff were terrified so I locked them in the back. The police were there in minutes and stopped it getting worse." This game though went ahead with a much increased Police presence that prevented the large scale violence repeating itself.[28]

The rivalry with Preston fans reignited itself on Saturday 2 September 2006 when a mini-riot broke out on Preston railway station between Blackpool fans returning from their match at Millwall FC and local fans returning from an England match in Manchester. Bottles, cans and signs were hurled as the two sets of fans fought each other, and two British Transport Police (BTP) Officers were injured in what the Police described as a large scale disorder.[29][30]

On 23 September 2006, Blackpool FC played an evening match at Carlisle United where The Muckers were again apparently involved in attacking Carlisle fans and windows of the Carlisle United Club shop were smashed. 30 Carlisle fans were locked in the Whitehouse Pub to prevent any attacks by the Blackpool fans amassed outside.[31][32]

On 28 October 2006 Blackpool fans fought pitched battles with Bradford City fans before and after their home match when the Princess Hotel pub had all it’s windows smashed as Blackpool fans attacked the Bradford fans drinking inside.[33][34]

Following a home match against Swansea City on 9 December, 2006 two Police Officers were surrounded in The George pub by between 30-40 fans, and one officer assaulted before he pressed his panic button for reinforcements.[35]

Millwall FC were the visitors to Bloomfield Road on 24 February 2007 and with the growing reputation of The Muckers, Millwall brought many more fans than they would normally bring. The Police were fully prepared for there to be clashes between the two sets of fans, with far more Police being on duty and even Intelligence Officers from the Metropolitan Police in London travelling to Blackpool to hunt down known hooligans. The large Police presence and awareness of the potential for clashes prevented any large scale violence which clearly otherwise would have happened. Both Riot Police and Mounted Police were employed after the game when the visiting Millwall fans were kept in the ground in an attempt by the Police to avoid clashes. Unfortunately this only led to the Blackpool fans being able to prepare themselves and a small number of about 25-30 Muckers and Bennys Mob attacked the Millwall fans.

The majority of The Muckers had already been surrounded in the Old Bridge pub, where they tried in vain to escape. The Police though surrounded the pub, even the pubs roof to ensure no-one escaped. The remaining Muckers and Bennys Mob tried to attack the Millwall fans but severely outnumbered, they for the most part stood their ground, but were beaten back by the Police. Up to 15 younger Blackpool Service Crew (BSC) - a separate Youth Firm, together with a couple of older members were alleged to have run, and local reports would suggest that main, older members of Bennys Mob and The Muckers dealt with them severely for doing so. There were a number of small fights in town centre pubs following the game with some Millwall fans staying the night in the resort.[36]

Several arrests were made for Public order offences.

[edit] The Muckers controversy and the BNP

In November 2006 The Muckers were embroiled in controversy when they were alleged to have links with the Far Right British National Party (BNP) something which the BNP totally denied, and even with the British Neo Nazi para military group Combat 18. The BNP held their Annual Conference at a hotel in Blackpool. And the far left Pressure Group, Unite Against Fascism (UAF) anti-Nazi group planned to protest. Members of The Muckers were alleged to have said that they would smash the protest. Local Police stated that they had intelligence and knew in advance of the planned attack.[37] And Blackpool FC stated they would ban from Bloomfield Road anyone involved in attacking the UAF protest.[38]

The Muckers always maintained that they had no intention of attacking the UAF protest, and that they had no links with either the BNP or Combat18. A point especially relevant considering one of the Muckers is of Asian origin. The UAF protest subsequently went ahead peacefully with no arrests.[39]

[edit] Main rivals

Blackpool's main rivals are:

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Nicholls, Andy (2005). Hooligans A-L. Milo Books, 64. ISBN 1 903854 41 5. 
  2. ^ Nicholls, Andy (2005). Hooligans A-L. Milo Books, 68. ISBN 1 903854 41 5. 
  3. ^ Nicholls, Andy (2005). Hooligans A-L. Milo Books, 63. ISBN 1 903854 41 5. 
  4. ^ "Thirty Years Ago", Rothmans International plc, 1975. Retrieved on August 13, 2005.
  5. ^ Nicholls, Andy (2005). Hooligans A-L. Milo Books, 63. ISBN 1 903854 41 5. 
  6. ^ "25 years ago, October 2 1976", Bolton Evening News, 2002-02-19. Retrieved on February 19, 2002.
  7. ^ Nicholls, Andy (2005). Hooligans A-L. Milo Books, 63. ISBN 1 903854 41 5. 
  8. ^ Nicholls, Andy (2005). Hooligans A-L. Milo Books, 64. ISBN 1 903854 41 5. 
  9. ^ Nicholls, Andy (2005). Hooligans A-L. Milo Books, 64. ISBN 1 903854 41 5. 
  10. ^ Williams, John (1984). Hooligans Abroad. Routledge. ISBN 978-0710201430. 
  11. ^ Nicholls, Andy (2005). Hooligans A-L. Milo Books, 64. ISBN 1 903854 41 5. 
  12. ^ Nicholls, Andy (2005). Hooligans A-L. Milo Books, 64,65. ISBN 1 903854 41 5. 
  13. ^ Nicholls, Andy (2005). Hooligans A-L. Milo Books, 65,66. ISBN 1 903854 41 5. 
  14. ^ Nicholls, Andy (2005). Hooligans A-L. Milo Books, 66. ISBN 1 903854 41 5. 
  15. ^ Nicholls, Andy (2005). Hooligans A-L. Milo Books, 66. ISBN 1 903854 41 5. 
  16. ^ Nicholls, Andy (2005). Hooligans A-L. Milo Books, 66. ISBN 1 903854 41 5. 
  17. ^ Nicholls, Andy (2005). Hooligans A-L. Milo Books, 67. ISBN 1 903854 41 5. 
  18. ^ Nicholls, Andy (2005). Hooligans A-L. Milo Books, 67. ISBN 1 903854 41 5. 
  19. ^ Nicholls, Andy (2005). Hooligans A-L. Milo Books, 67. ISBN 1 903854 41 5. 
  20. ^ Nicholls, Andy (2005). Hooligans A-L. Milo Books, 67. ISBN 1 903854 41 5. 
  21. ^ "A black day for Blackpool", Blackpool Gazette, 2006-02-06. Retrieved on October 22, 2007.
  22. ^ "Football thugs be warned", Blackpool Gazette, 2006-02-07. Retrieved on October 22, 2007.
  23. ^ "Football fans tell of terror on coach", Lancashire Evening Post, 2006-02-16. Retrieved on March 15, 2007.
  24. ^ "Raids target soccer thugs", Blackpool Gazette, 2006-04-05. Retrieved on February 16, 2007.
  25. ^ Dunthorne, Steve. "Arrests made over football violence", Blackpool Citizen, 2006-04-06. Retrieved on October 22, 2007.
  26. ^ "Five arrested in hooligan raids", BBC News, 2006-04-05. Retrieved on October 22, 2007.
  27. ^ "Soccer violence: Nine charged after brawl", Blackpool Gazette, 2006-06-21. Retrieved on October 22, 2007.
  28. ^ "Pool fans are banned – from resort boozer", Lancashire Evening Post, 2006-08-08. Retrieved on March 13, 2007.
  29. ^ "Football fans clash in mini-riot", Lancashire Evening Post, 2006-09-07. Retrieved on March 13, 2007.
  30. ^ "Gangs in brawl at station", Lancashire Evening Post, 2006-09-08. Retrieved on March 13, 2007.
  31. ^ "Police break up rival fans", Carlisle News & Star, 2006-08-27. Retrieved on February 16, 2007.
  32. ^ "Match of the bad old days", Carlisle News & Star, 2006-10-11. Retrieved on February 16, 2007.
  33. ^ "Football thugs in clash on streets", Blackpool Gazette, 2006-10-30. Retrieved on October 22, 2007.
  34. ^ "Police focusing on football yobs", Blackpool Gazette, 2006-10-31. Retrieved on October 22, 2007.
  35. ^ "Soccer fans surround police", Lancashire Evening Post, 2006-12-13. Retrieved on March 15, 2007.
  36. ^ Hyde, Nick. "Thugs arrested after clashes mar football", Blackpool Gazette, 2007-02-26. Retrieved on February 26, 2007.
  37. ^ Stocks, Rob. "Hooligans not welcome here", Blackpool Gazette, 2006-11-23. Retrieved on January 22, 2007.
  38. ^ "Hooligans face soccer ban", Blackpool Gazette, 2006-11-25. Retrieved on January 22, 2007.
  39. ^ "200 march in anti-BNP protest", Blackpool Gazette, 2006-11-27. Retrieved on January 22, 2007.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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