- Hardcover: 304 pages
- Publisher: Milo Books (12 July 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1903854598
- ISBN-13: 978-1903854594
- Product Dimensions: 24 x 16 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
418,320 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #15 in Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Football > British > Football Clubs > Aston Villa
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Product Description
Product Description
Aston Villa is one of the biggest and best-supported football clubs in Britain, the giant from England's second city with a long and distinguished history, culminating in an unforgettable European Cup victory in 1982. The story of their terrace army, however, has never been told - until now.
Like all major clubs, Villa have had their hooligans and hardmen, and have been involved in some of the fiercest battles of the past four decades. VILLAINS traces their gangs from the 1960's up to the present day. Through first-person testimony, it reveals for the first time the antics of the Steamers, who achieved nationwide infamy, led by a band of colourful and fearless characters such as Pete the Greek, who famously once headbutted a police horse and took on the Millwall leader in a one-on-one brawl.
Eventually they were superseded by the C Crew, a multi-racial gang who brought together youths from different areas of Birmingham during the 2-Tone era. This was the heyday of hooliganism, and the Villa Park faithful clashed with the toughest and most violent mobs around, often led into battle by co-authors Paul Brittle and "Black" Danny Brown, who was jailed in 1981 for one of the most infamous football-related attacks.
They went on riotous trips to Europe, fought at service stations and in nightclubs, and conducted bitter rivalries against foes from across the Midlands and beyond. The story is brought up to date with tales of the Villa Youth and accounts of the notorious Battle of McDonalds Island against their Birmingham City rivals the Zulus. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As a Villa fan, and knowing most of the guys personally it would be easy to write a biased review, so will try and be as unbiased as possible, firstly, the humour portrayed in here is a first compared to anything in any other book Ive read.
Ive read most of the football violence books and most of them are the usual " 5 of us went to Millwall, and smashed 300 of them", no you didnt !! they are mickey mouse bull**** stories, these lads have as many stories of getting the wrong end of a result as well as the good days at the office.
The lads concerned put their stories across well, and are brutally honest, Paul Brittle takes more slaps in once incident at Leicester than the whole West Ham firm take in their book. Dannys chapter about Liverpool at home is harrowing, as it takes you into another world of violence that most people can only have nightmares about, never mind being involved in.
What I did like was the way the sub chapters within each chapter are told by a different lad with a different angle, and the story flows nicely, without you getting bogged down as if one person alone had written it.
The chapter about Blues is good, as it gives them credit for being a class firm in the mid 80's and only a fool would not acknowlege that, but also ridicules them as a club, Brittle is so funny(and spot on)when he describes the differences between the 2 clubs .
All in all one of the best books Ive read on this subject, along with Naughty by Mark Chester of Stoke, and The Frontline by Boro.
Ive read most of the football violence books and most of them are the usual " 5 of us went to Millwall, and smashed 300 of them", no you didnt !! they are mickey mouse bull**** stories, these lads have as many stories of getting the wrong end of a result as well as the good days at the office.
The lads concerned put their stories across well, and are brutally honest, Paul Brittle takes more slaps in once incident at Leicester than the whole West Ham firm take in their book. Dannys chapter about Liverpool at home is harrowing, as it takes you into another world of violence that most people can only have nightmares about, never mind being involved in.
What I did like was the way the sub chapters within each chapter are told by a different lad with a different angle, and the story flows nicely, without you getting bogged down as if one person alone had written it.
The chapter about Blues is good, as it gives them credit for being a class firm in the mid 80's and only a fool would not acknowlege that, but also ridicules them as a club, Brittle is so funny(and spot on)when he describes the differences between the 2 clubs .
All in all one of the best books Ive read on this subject, along with Naughty by Mark Chester of Stoke, and The Frontline by Boro.
20 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A very honest account of what actually went on in the 70's and 80's in a solid multi-racial football crew. None of the fantasizing which is so frequent in other books of the genre. Excellent on friendship and the love of a football club through good times and bad. A superb read.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having read most of the books within this genre, it was refreshing to read an honest of 70's and 80's football violence. No claims of being a superfirm who never got done, no badmouthing other firms, just an honest account by lads who were first and foremost mates. Top read.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
VILLIANS IN FARYLAND!!!
A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME & MONEY!!!
.1P IS TOO MUCH FOR THIS BOOK!!!
A TISSUE OF LIES AND JACKANORY FAIRY TALES
DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY! Read more
.1P IS TOO MUCH FOR THIS BOOK!!!
A TISSUE OF LIES AND JACKANORY FAIRY TALES
DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY! Read more
Published 8 months ago by T. Gussmann
A great story...whether a football fan or not
This satisfying and readable book by Messrs Brown and Brittle for me was a journey of discovery whilst at the same time bordering on a symphony of unease. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Monica
great read
best thing about the book is the humour, the honesty and the flow of each story. the lads in the book come across as being likeable, which is rare in hoolie books, mostly written... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Morris.av
good book
Enjoyed the book, thought it was well written and gives a great view of Villa's side of things regarding the rivalry with blues, recommend this book
Published 21 months ago by spire para
New version?
I know this is not a review but...
Does anyone know if this is the version containing the four new chapters?
Thnx
Does anyone know if this is the version containing the four new chapters?
Thnx
Published on 8 April 2010 by Marina Nash
As it says on the cover
Now over the years i've read most of the football hooligan books, but this is a first. Books like ZULUS talk about in every conflict whether it was 20 against 50 or 100 against 500... Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2009 by Mr. A. J. Turner
Not bad
Having read quite a few of these 'hoolifan' books due to having a mild interest in the subject (Being in my mid 30's myself and remembering some of the events mentioned rather than... Read more
Published on 20 Mar 2009 by Gogol
Villains? (or Heroes?)
Some will inevitably and predictably say that this book glorifies Soccer violence, but critics need to read deeper than that. Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2009 by Mike Dolphin
pretty good
a good book well worth a read not the best one iv read but it still a quality book, if u do buy it you wont be wasting your time
Published on 30 Jan 2009 by gary hodgson
Hilarious !
Apart from being one of the most boring reads I have had in a long time, it is also one of the funniest. I have read quite a few of these hoolie books..... Read more
Published on 25 April 2008 by k.r.o.
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