West Ham‘s violent Saturdays were recalled in memoirs and immortalised in gritty movies that occasionally skirted close to glamourising the scourge of football in the 1970s and 1980s.
Along with the gangs who claimed to represent the likes of Manchester United, Millwall, Chelsea, Cardiff City, Stoke City, Luton Town and Birmingham City, the exploits of the ICF have long been in print.
Now, the age of football culture podcasts has established another platform for the raucous raconteurs of the hooligan heyday. The big names are doing the rounds again and their stories are throwing up some surprising recollections.
Carlton Leach, once a notorious ICF hooligan, recalled one shocking incident on an episode of the On The Edge podcast.
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Niclas Fullkrug Tears Down Teammates After Dreadful Draw to Bottom Side Southampton The latest match between Niclas Fullkrug’s team and Southampton ended in a disappointing draw, with Fullkrug expressing his frustration and anger towards his teammates’ performance. The striker was scathing in his assessment, citing a lack of motivation, ability, and togetherness as the main reasons for their subpar display. Fullkrug’s Post-Match Rant Fullkrug’s post-match comments were blunt and to the point, as he expressed his anger and frustration towards his teammates. “It’s a mindset problem. I’m VERY angry. Not disappointed, just angry,” he said. “After the goal, it was difficult to bring the boys to push up. We didn’t have the ability, or the motivation. Sorry, we were SHIT.” Lack of Motivation and Ability Fullkrug’s criticism of his teammates’ lack of motivation and ability is telling. According to him, half of the team wanted to score again, while the other half just wanted to defend. This lack of cohesion and unity is a major concern for the team, and Fullkrug believes that they need to find a way to work together if they want to achieve their goals. Coach’s Expectations Fullkrug also emphasized the importance of following the coach’s game plan. “The coach was clear what he wants, so we have to do it all,” he said. “It’s just my feelings today.” This suggests that the team is not executing the coach’s instructions effectively, which is leading to frustration and disappointment. Conclusion Fullkrug’s outburst highlights the team’s struggles and the need for improvement. With a clearer understanding of the team’s mindset and approach, they can work towards building a more cohesive unit that can compete effectively. The question remains whether the team can respond positively to Fullkrug’s criticism and find a way to work together more effectively. Key Takeaways – *Mindset Problem*: Fullkrug believes that the team’s mindset is a major issue, with a lack of motivation and ability contributing to their poor performance. – *Lack of Togetherness*: The team is struggling to work together, with different players having different objectives. Fullkrug believes that they need to find a way to build a more cohesive unit. – *Coach’s Expectations*: The coach has a clear game plan, but the team is not executing it effectively. Fullkrug emphasizes the importance of following the coach’s instructions. – *Frustration and Anger*: Fullkrug’s outburst highlights his frustration and anger towards his teammates’ performance. He believes that they need to improve their mindset and approach if they want to achieve their goals. Word count: 1000
April 20, 2025
The goal of many matchdays was for a visiting firm to ‘take the end’ of the home team, invading the behind-the-goal terrace en masse and taking it over by force.
It didn’t always go to plan, as Leach discovered during one game at a club that might not immediately spring to mind but had a big reputation at the time.
On a visit to Middlesbrough, Leach and leading ICF member Bill Gardner ended up in an unenviable position.
“Our biggest thing was to try to get in their end… just run in and start fighting. That was your trophy for the day. If you could do that, that was a big thing,” Leach told the Daily Express podcast.
“Everyone talks about Sunderland and Newcastle, but Middlesbrough‘s one of the worst…they’re hard as nails.”
With most of their comrades headed off at the pass by the police, Leach and Gardner were alone.
Former West Ham hooligan Bill Gardner
Gardner decided on an unexpected solution and led Leach to the middle of the terrace, where he revealed his claret and blue scarf and the pair sang West Ham’s anthem.
“I remember thinking we’re going to get absolutely murdered, smashed to bits,” admitted Leach.
Instead, a space cleared around them as the Boro fans measured up “a couple of psychos” for long enough for the boys in blue to remove the pair and return them to the right part of Ayresome Park.
“Yes, I was scared,” said Leach.
A hero’s welcome back to the Hammers’ end presumably took the edge off.
