Post by admin on May 14, 2005 2:08:36 GMT 1
Customer Reviews:
Soccer violence in question
I have given this book a low rating due to the hypocrisy of the subject and people in question with regards to “the game they love”. The author gives the impression of soccer casuals at the forefront of fashion with statements like: “the violence and thuggery was never mindless – it had culture, it was the fashion, it had an addictiveness not easily shaken” and “in the seventies, football fans – so often the leaders of new trends and fashions”.
“You had the ICF with its unwritten rules, codes, honours”, there are loads of quotes like these scattered within the contents of this book which portrays the ICF and other firms as cultured trendy superheroes. I don’t know if people believe this along with the clearly exaggerated numbers we are talking about.
The book is obviously intended for a certain section of the community, and not the casual reader or follower of football. It makes depressing reading if you are a parent. The book is also written in a child like context and is probably aimed at the under fifteens. If you do enjoy reading about mindless violence with music, fashion and politics thrown in, and a bit older, a better book is “the rise and fall of combat 18”.
I don’t want to be too disrespectful to the author as he is clearly writing about his past, where the grass will always be greener, and is intended as I have said for a minority readership. I did enjoy the last 2 summing up chapters thu.
There is also a chapter on the authors favourite West Ham songs, if your interested.
I’ll finish with a quote from the book that possibly sums up this era of the 70s & 80s, “it was the original Birmingham Zulus that we had to respect. They never went to a Bhics game”<br>Great narrative
If you are looking at this book then you already have an opinion on the moral aspect, so whichever way your view I will not attempt to influence it.
I grew up in the 70's & early 80's with football violence ever present on the news and in my town whenever matches were played, it seemed a part of life. To now be able to read a book that describes what it was like to be actively involved, at the centre of the action is totally absorbing. Read it in the way it is intended, not as a justification but a narrative of how and what happened. The term "I couldn't put it down" is an overused cliche but I use it here without apology. Captivating stuff.
Don't believe the hype
If Chels were only good at singing how come you got done TWICE at Parsons Green and on other occasions by us? If ur gonna write a book about the ICF at least make it balanced. Muppets reading ya book will think you were Supermen, which you were'nt, as you know. As for Bill G., embarrassing mate.
Soccer violence in question
I have given this book a low rating due to the hypocrisy of the subject and people in question with regards to “the game they love”. The author gives the impression of soccer casuals at the forefront of fashion with statements like: “the violence and thuggery was never mindless – it had culture, it was the fashion, it had an addictiveness not easily shaken” and “in the seventies, football fans – so often the leaders of new trends and fashions”.
“You had the ICF with its unwritten rules, codes, honours”, there are loads of quotes like these scattered within the contents of this book which portrays the ICF and other firms as cultured trendy superheroes. I don’t know if people believe this along with the clearly exaggerated numbers we are talking about.
The book is obviously intended for a certain section of the community, and not the casual reader or follower of football. It makes depressing reading if you are a parent. The book is also written in a child like context and is probably aimed at the under fifteens. If you do enjoy reading about mindless violence with music, fashion and politics thrown in, and a bit older, a better book is “the rise and fall of combat 18”.
I don’t want to be too disrespectful to the author as he is clearly writing about his past, where the grass will always be greener, and is intended as I have said for a minority readership. I did enjoy the last 2 summing up chapters thu.
There is also a chapter on the authors favourite West Ham songs, if your interested.
I’ll finish with a quote from the book that possibly sums up this era of the 70s & 80s, “it was the original Birmingham Zulus that we had to respect. They never went to a Bhics game”<br>Great narrative
If you are looking at this book then you already have an opinion on the moral aspect, so whichever way your view I will not attempt to influence it.
I grew up in the 70's & early 80's with football violence ever present on the news and in my town whenever matches were played, it seemed a part of life. To now be able to read a book that describes what it was like to be actively involved, at the centre of the action is totally absorbing. Read it in the way it is intended, not as a justification but a narrative of how and what happened. The term "I couldn't put it down" is an overused cliche but I use it here without apology. Captivating stuff.
Don't believe the hype
If Chels were only good at singing how come you got done TWICE at Parsons Green and on other occasions by us? If ur gonna write a book about the ICF at least make it balanced. Muppets reading ya book will think you were Supermen, which you were'nt, as you know. As for Bill G., embarrassing mate.
