The police eventually launched Operation Wild Boar to take down the ringleaders, only to convict a small number of relative fringe players. In the 1982–83 season, in the club's first game (at Grimsby on 28 August) in the Second Division after relegation, some Leeds fans went on what was described in The Sun newspaper as "an orgy of drinking, looting and fighting" in Cleethorpes, where 600 Leeds fans had stayed the night before the match. For 40 years they have run riot across the country, punching their way to international notoriety, yet they have remained the most secretive of all mobs. A rampaging mob of Service Crew members smashed up pubs, fought running battles with police and left a trail of destruction in there wake.

Leeds is a highly cultured and cosmopolitan city streets ahead of Leicester(my home town) and frankly I feel safer here than in Leicester. On 11th May 1985 a 14 year old boy died at St Andrew’s Stadium when fans were pushed by police onto a wall which subsequently collapsed following crowd violence at a match between Birmingham City and Leeds United.

Brighton was the last away match of the season and a few decided to go down on a minibus to London on the Friday before the match. Although I will be taking care, travelling on the official supporters coach, wearing neutral clothes etc I still find it unbelievable in this day and age that you cant go and watch a fooball match without fear of getting your head kicked in. Leeds United have a well known football firm known as Leeds United Service Crew, in 1985 when football hooliganism was very popular in England, the BBC Six O’Clock News made a special report regarding the worst football firms causing mayhem up and down England, with Leeds United Service Crew listed amongst the worst five clubs. However, I had a look at the link posted above and there was some talk about Leeds being a bit indiscriminate. The point was, we had a massive away following which got bigger in inverse proportions to the clubs success.

Leeds Service Crew Beer Mat Football Casuals Awaydays T Shirt | Original Dandy Lads Club Artwork And Direct To Garment Printed.Victory in the game would give them the Second Division title and promotion back to the top flight after eight years away. I was there from 81 first casual in my area i use to get scruffy bastards shouting puffter because of my flickhead wedge haircut and the way i dressed kikos straps leg warmers tight jeans adidas cagoule slazenger v neck polo necks silly cunts didnt know i was the biggest thug about and often made them pay for there disrespecting comments. Leeds had two penalties turned down before Peter Lorimer’s disallowed goal led to rioting by the Service Crew as seats were ripped up and thrown onto pitch. Victory within this game would give Leeds the Second Division title and promotion back to the top flight after eight years away from top level competitive football. Groups travelled down to Brighton the night before the match and it wasn’t long before fights broke out with late-night drinkers in the town.

It was estimated that more than 1,000 fans became involved in the ensuing riot, which saw seats and advertising hoardings being torn up and used as missiles, 96 policemen being injured and the collapsing wall also crushing several parked motor vehicles beyond repair. Gall does a very thorough and detailed job in investigating Leeds United's hooligan element and produces a well written, in depth, more serious and less sensationalised account that varies from the usual 'run of the mill' hooligan (to doorman) autobiographies.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Improvements to security in Elland Road as with all grounds in England have led to confrontations more usually taking place away from stadiums. They emerged as the casual era dawned and, against the violent backdrop of the Miners' Strike, quickly became feared by their terrace foes. The fighting between Birmingham City and Leeds United fans was described by Justice Popplewell as more like "the Battle of Agincourt than a football match".