The headhunters?

[WHFBlue]

Alive & Kicking, Munich 2012

This was where i watched the game ... Nam Nams, fair police presence built up outside during game but was not required great atmosphere amongst everyone that was in there especially when we all spilled out onto the street at end of game ... Fantastic !!!

 

[WHFBlue]

couple of pics from Munich

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[Scott]

So can I still wear my hat?

 

[BumsteadCFC]

It's quite depressing to see so many people on here sticking up for this lot - sure they're racist thugs who travelled the country looking for a fight, but as long as they support Chelsea it's fine, yeah?

I know I'm months late on this but tbf I don't think anyones doing that fella.

With regards fv I think the best approach is a "it is what it is" or a "it was what it was" attitude I suppose. At the end of the day from the late 60s till the late 80s going to the football was a overwhelmingly male and working class pursuit and hooliganism was a natural product of that, wrongly or rightly. Football was a lot more tribal back then, there was a real feeling of togetherness and solidarity among fellow fans, us and them type attitudes against oppo fans and police.

Also you've got to realise a lot of the stuff that happenned at football was exagerrated out of all proportion by the media.

 

[c.bryce]

I started spot Chelsea in late 80s because "they have die-hard fans". in my country behind the Iron Curtain there was less info about what was going beyond and even we didnt know the proper shirt colors of Div I teams. we knew Liverpool, Forest, Villa and Man Utd because they won trophies while Chelsea were known because "they got trouble fans" so I choose the bad guys. I suppose Headhunters has to be blame for and I still respect them

 

[ws6blue]

Lots good points made on this topic...my summary Issa follows

60's - everyone was young, all active clubs groups were pretty well mixed race wise, virtually every club had a mob, away matches could have many hundreds, not organised but with no stewards, and few old bill lots innocents got hit too. Mods became sued heads and skinheads and the uniforms came with that

70's very similar to 60's, but some clubs mobs got bigger and rivalries really established and built to last. mobs got better organised and more ruthless. Late 70,s skinheads reappeared racism became vogue, if not popular. Lots 30year olds now involved so no longer just the boys. Getting more serious

80's extended the organisation on the big clubs and clubs from rougher areas.. All the dock cities for a start, plus the usual suspects. Lots real thugs, organised and experienced and armed. Away now more about a plan and arrangements and the bill catching up on intelligence. Average age now split between the old boys and the young lads being shown the ropes

Heysel and hills borough brought the whole thing back to an acceptable level, bar the odd skirmish

Still a few of the old boys about, now in their late 40's or 50's, see them at away but now more interested in the fotie,the beer and vain a good moan

As a lad, it was great fun. In my 20's it was exciting but I dropped out of it when the racism and organised stuff spread. No regrets but don't want to see it back

 

[Londons Finest]

Great not all us Skins in late 70's early 80's were racist and we still followed Ska and of Course Madness, Punk and Oi for me were a definate no,i needed music to dance too. We were brought up in an Era were our Pm wanted us to show nationalistic pride. We did, and yes stuck our right arms out as we knew no better,, as to us it was showing how hard we were. Looking back now we were "mugs" and I know it,but will never change a thing about Chelsea, as i love Chelsea Football Club more than any man alive.

We were a group of lads that stayed together, drank together,took hidings and gaive them out, that was the Buzz, nothing beat it, and as the fella from Carlshalton said that gave us the high.Times changed we got older, grew up,Chelsea is no longer my Chelsea, they are the next generation on. Whats more as stated earlier, maybe operation" own goal" helped, as the old bill got found out for being liars and fabricators, so they too have had to grow up.You know what though, when we was running round causing mayhem at Football the plod knew were we were. Nowadays they have not got a clue.

 

[Mike Carefree]

Thinking back to the origional Headhunters made me wonder....What would most of us do....You are a Blue through n through...You do time for whatever youve done.....What happens afterwards...Does one just stop going..If so does the pull of attending matches such as say , spurs , or west ham eat at you..Id like to know how these fellows cope..Yep, they all grow older and get married n have kids, but that part inside you that took over all sense and sensibilities cant just dissipate, or can it..Do some attend secretively as i would imagine they would be lifetime banned...Do they stop their love affair with the club and say enough is enough...Do they watch tv on a sat night and yearn for what was..Where are they..What are they doing...I miss em, but as im aware , ive never grown up.Wherever you guys n girls are..Hope your life has been good

 

[Oldschoolcfc]

I know I'm bit late here,I must say that in the late 70's & 80'S I must of miss only about a dozen games home and away.

At the away games every body know each other and there was something existing about going to places like Oldham or Burnley in the second division

In the 80's a lot of us started going in the seats instead of standing on the terraces .

Them days we did not call each other Headhunters .

It was great going to away games knowing that the 3rd of the crowd of were chelsea fans and most of of us would stick together when trouble came our way.

But in them days that was just how it was .

 

[Mike Carefree]

I know I'm bit late here,I must say that in the late 70's & 80'S I must of miss only about a dozen games home and away.

At the away games every body know each other and there was something existing about going to places like Oldham or Burnley in the second division

In the 80's a lot of us started going in the seats instead of standing on the terraces .

Them days we did not call each other Headhunters .

It was great going to away games knowing that the 3rd of the crowd of were chelsea fans and most of of us would stick together when trouble came our way.

But in them days that was just how it was .

And unfortunately mostly gone

 

[Fast Eddie]

Well, I joined all this in the casual era and can say it was alive and kicking then for sure and arguably better than the 70's/early80's, more stylish and more edgy, perhaps? Things and people mellow as they get older but I could still get off on it, even at 44 and as I hear you're not middle aged until 55 nowadays I have every right to . But to bring race into it is a big no for me as having black friends what would that make me...

 

[NoSeatingInTheShedInMyDay]

As I've mentioned a few times now, I'm female. I'm also quite short and slimly-built. I was about 14 when I started going to Stamford Bridge. I've been caught up in numerous melees, chased by opposing fans for daring to wear the club's colours (god only knows what they'd have done to me had they caught me but I saw what they did to two Blues men just before they came after me screaming, "Get the Chelsea slag!") and been in the Shed End when it was infiltrated by another London club's "fans" too. More than once I was scared s**tless, more than once I was threatened, more than once I was pushed or knocked flying.

I thought the hooligan minority were barbaric w*nkers then and I think they're barbaric w*nkers now, some 30-odd years later.

I've read the claims that these were just adult men looking for a bit of the same action from other willing adult male participants... and I can assure you that this was far from always the case. Certainly even when innocents were not the target their safety and peace of mind was very rarely considered. Anyone who condones and excuses the violence using that argument should be asking themselves whether they would be ok about their own daughters, wives, girlfriends or mothers experiencing what I did.

 

[Carshalton Blue]

As I've mentioned a few times now, I'm female. I'm also quite short and slimly-built. I was about 14 when I started going to Stamford Bridge. I've been caught up in numerous melees, chased by opposing fans for daring to wear the club's colours (god only knows what they'd have done to me had they caught me but I saw what they did to two Blues men just before they came after me screaming, "Get the Chelsea slag!") and been in the Shed End when it was infiltrated by another London club's "fans" too. More than once I was scared s**tless, more than once I was threatened, more than once I was pushed or knocked flying.

I thought the hooligan minority were barbaric w*nkers then and I think they're barbaric w*nkers now, some 30-odd years later.

I've read the claims that these were just adult men looking for a bit of the same action from other willing adult male participants... and I can assure you that this was far from always the case. Certainly even when innocents were not the target their safety and peace of mind was very rarely considered. Anyone who condones and excuses the violence using that argument should be asking themselves whether they would be ok about their own daughters, wives, girlfriends or mothers experiencing what I did.

Fair enough & its nice to hear what it was like to be a female at football back then albeit quite negative for you, maybe you should have just stayed at home & done your housework, i blame Maggie Thatcher & the Spice Girls, Women know your place!!



All joking aside that must have been a nightmare for you, you may be surprised but certain firms incl Chelsea also had women who liked to get get stuck in as well, especially certain times of the month lol!

 

[Nitro]

All joking aside that must have been a nightmare for you, you may be surprised but certain firms incl Chelsea also had women who liked to get get stuck in as well.

"We had a certain lady on away trips that used to do knitting, the needles used to double up as a threatening device" especially in Newcastle. lol

 

[alan'82]

As I've mentioned a few times now, I'm female. I'm also quite short and slimly-built. I was about 14 when I started going to Stamford Bridge. I've been caught up in numerous melees, chased by opposing fans for daring to wear the club's colours (god only knows what they'd have done to me had they caught me but I saw what they did to two Blues men just before they came after me screaming, "Get the Chelsea slag!") and been in the Shed End when it was infiltrated by another London club's "fans" too. More than once I was scared s**tless, more than once I was threatened, more than once I was pushed or knocked flying.

I thought the hooligan minority were barbaric w*nkers then and I think they're barbaric w*nkers now, some 30-odd years later.

I've read the claims that these were just adult men looking for a bit of the same action from other willing adult male participants... and I can assure you that this was far from always the case. Certainly even when innocents were not the target their safety and peace of mind was very rarely considered. Anyone who condones and excuses the violence using that argument should be asking themselves whether they would be ok about their own daughters, wives, girlfriends or mothers experiencing what I did.

Must admit that I never wore the clubs colours back then,It just wasn't the smart thing to do,you just never knew who was watching!.

Having said that,there is no excuse for any mob to pick on regular supporters,guys with their missus,older fans & God forbid,women!.

Anyone who did/does is a low life bag of sh*t of the first order.

But,in order to keep things in some sort of balance,I would like to say that it was because of these guys,(not because of), that I felt safe/confident enough to go to away games on my own back in the day.

You see,even if you travelled alone,looked like a soppy so & so,was as quite as a church mouse,if you were Chelsea,these guys would look out for you,as if you were one of their 'own',wherever we played,it was a wonderfull thing to be honest.

In fact,I felt safer surronded by these guys than the old bill,often enough,they would protect you from the unwarranted and often bullying attentions of the matchday 'officials'.I simply wouldn't have enjoyed all those away games without them.

Not everything was that good in the old days,but,it wasn't always that bad either.

 

[Carshalton Blue]

"We had a certain lady on away trips that used to do knitting, the needles used to double up as a threatening device" especially in Newcastle. lol

There was supposed to be some brummy CFC bird Tina? i think her name was but not 100% who used to love getting involved at away games.

 

[Nitro]

There was supposed to be some brummy CFC bird Tina? i think her name was but not 100% who used to love getting involved at away games.

CB,

I think that the good old Sun possibly NOW newspaper did an article on 2 Bover Birds as far as I can remember they were from Wolverhampton, maybe one of them although never saw them at matches " Press Cutting anyone"?

 

[NoSeatingInTheShedInMyDay]

Agreed Alan, there have been times when I've felt safer with the CFC lads than the police... although not always because the police were unlikely to protect me. Sometimes it was because I knew that they were going to be targets and one thing you don't want to do if you don't want to take a direct hit is stand next to the ruddy target!

I still maintain that when it would all kick off few of those involved cared who was caught up in the middle of it though.

Fair enough & its nice to hear what it was like to be a female at football back then albeit quite negative for you, maybe you should have just stayed at home & done your housework, i blame Maggie Thatcher & the Spice Girls, Women know your place!!



All joking aside that must have been a nightmare for you, you may be surprised but certain firms incl Chelsea also had women who liked to get get stuck in as well, especially certain times of the month lol!

Talking of taking a direct hit... you had me going there Charlshalton Blue, I was just about to rollock you!

 

[shedpensioner]

NoSeatingInTheShedInMyDay, Genuine question this, what di draw you to go to the games when you were younger, I mean The terraces were hardly the most welcoming of places for a lady were they?

I kind of understand why women go these days because the facilities are much better.

But back in the day when people were packed tightly together and people were having a piss straight on the ground and the surgeing and the old bill would come in and give people a clout, what was the draw?

 

[Carshalton Blue]

CB,

I think that the good old Sun possibly NOW newspaper did an article on 2 Bover Birds as far as I can remember they were from Wolverhampton, maybe one of them although never saw them at matches " Press Cutting anyone"?

I didnt know that mate, i'd heard about that "Tina" from an older mate who went everywhere in the 70s, would love to find that cutting.