Arsenal firm

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The Herd
Founding locationHolloway, London
Years active1978-present
TerritoryIslington
EthnicityWhite, White Irish, Greek Cypriots, Asian and Black British
Membership (est.)120-160
Criminal activitiesFootball hooliganism, riots and fighting
AlliesThe Gooners

There are two Arsenal hooligan firms, The Gooners (a mutation of the club's nickname, The Gunners) and The Herd.

The Gooners were a violent football hooligan firm mainly active in the 1980s and 1990s. However, the name is now used by most non-hooligan Arsenal supporters.

The Herd was mainly active between the late 1970s and early 1990s, it still exists but prefers to stay undercover.[1] The Herd are a violent football hooligan firm and have the distinctive war-cry E-I-E. The main rivals of The Herd in the 1980s and in the present day are West Ham's I.C.F., Tottenham Hotspur's Yid Army, Chelsea's Headhunters and Millwall's F-Troop (later known as the Millwall Bushwackers). Although The Herd was mainly considered to be a violent firm, a few members were not physically violent.[citation needed] Dainton Connell (aka Dainton "The Bear" Cornnell) was considered a folk hero by many Arsenal fans, but died in a car crash in 2007, with 3,000 mourners attending his funeral including several ex players.[2] The Herd's two most notorious clashes were with Millwall fans at Highbury in 1988 and with Galatasaray fans in City Hall Square, Copenhagen in 2000.[3][4][5]

References[]

  1. ^ Jackson, Jamie (22 August 2010). "The hooligan problem and football violence that just won't go away". The Observer. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
  2. ^ "Thousands attend funeral of legendary Arsenal fan". The Times. 19 October 2007. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
  3. ^ Millwall versus the mob
  4. ^ "Surprise attack by Arsenal fans seeking revenge sparked battle". The Guardian. 19 May 2000. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
  5. ^ "Arsenal fans fear more violence". BBC News. 17 May 2000. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
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