I am a new fan and fascinated with many aspects of soccer/football and was wondering if anyone has seen and could give feedback on: Green Street Hooligans (2005) - Hollywood movie starring Elijah Wood. The Firm (1988) - Independent British movie starring a young Gary Oldman. "Hooligan" - The controversial Thames TV documentary 'Hooligan', brought the problem of football hooliganism to the forefront of the nation's conscience, follows the notorious Inter City Firm, "supporters" of West Ham United. Battling rival soccer fans up and down the country, they often reduced city centres to little more than looted shops and burnt out cars, and have left victims scarred from the effects of their weapon of choice - the Stanley knife. The perpetrators then melt away, back on the next Inter City train that takes them back to the east end of London. Hooligans and Thugs; Soccer's Most Violent Fan Fights - Documentary The Football Factory - Documentary Soul Crew: The Inside Story of Britain's Most Notorious Hooligan Gang -Documentary
the football factory is based on a novel by john king... why are americans so obsessed with hooligan culture?
I thought they fear hooligan culture, but I think they secretly want to relive the days when they were tearing down goalposts, turning over cars, starting riots, or throwing beer bottles at refs in college.
Why are Germans, obsessed with David Hasselhoff? Or why were banners made popular at stadia in Latin American nations? Maybe it has to do with the cross-culture of soccer culture (choreography) between Latin America and say, Italian Ultras from the 70's. So even though us Yanks may not want to emulate hool culture outright, it is something that some people (especially us those that enjoy sociology/psychology/international studies ) find interesting. Besides, take a look at American programming and notice the amount of programs dealing with crashes, police chases, lovers cheating, humor at the expense of others. The boom, bang, and noise is something that American culture tends to draw towards. I just saw a chick in the movie The Devil's Rejects get TOOK by a 18 wheel semi-truck. It was horrid, but worth a rewind in a sick way. Hooligan flicks are a small notch in the sub-culture that is, the American soccer fan I guess.
I saw Green Street Hooligans and I thought it was ok. It didnt make me want to run out and start up a firm so I could go take on the top boy from the next street or anything like that though I also recently read 'How Soccer Explains the world' and it had a good section on Hooliganism.
I did read this several years ago - very entertaining. Trying to find where I can get "Hooligans" a very serious Thames TV documentary from many years ago.
I thought that Green Street was a pile of shite, just something about it that I didnt like, think it was the mockney accents.... ID is alright. Shadwell Army! The Firm was quite good too. The message in the FF is a bit misguided I think, I mean the moral of the story is that its alright to be a hooligan but don't go ripping off rock dealers or you will get done in. but I reckon its the most enjoyable film of the lot. If you do a bit of searching on the web, you can get some proper vicious stuff recorded from real rucks and that.
You know, there were are a series of books out about 1970s hooliganism. i can't remember who wrote them though... i think someone named douglas or brimford... one of the title's was "capital punishment" and focused on london firms. the books weren't particularly well written or anything, but they were entertaining...
I know it is "The Beautiful Game" but a little rough housing is all good to me. So I would like to see some of the documentaries most of all. BTW, here is a good onfield display of violence. Need more videos like this. http://propunter.blogspot.com/2006/02/football-video-football-violence.html