John O'Kane delivers a gripping tale of a life dedicated to football violence and gives an unparalled insight into the reality of being a career hooligan. With 33 criminal convictions against him, plus a further 33 cases either dropped or with a not guilty verdict, O'Kane has been remanded nine times including one charge of attempted murder when he was aged just 18. He became rapidly embroiled in a life of violence and was in and out of prison just as many times as he was in and out of a hospital bed.His was a life dedicated to the gang he founded, the Celtic Soccer Crew. O'Kane describes the extraordinary struggle of a gang of football hooligans to survive, despite discovering an unexpected enemy: the indomitable Celtic support - a support that guarded its reputation and good name with a passion O'Kane hadn't reckoned with, even as a Celtic supporter himself. But out on the streets and causing mayhem, the Celtic Soccer Crew, including, incredibly, their girlfriends, showed they were not taking grief from anyone.

John O'Kane delivers a gripping tale of a life dedicated to football violence and giving an insight into the reality of being a career hooligan.

This (large-print edition) book is the memoir of Kieran James, and details his experiences as co-founder of West Perth Football Club's unofficial cheer squad from 1984 to 1986. The book details "traditional", "hot" support for West Perth Football Club among teenaged supporters from middle-class and working-class backgrounds. The book shows how, because of neo-liberal ideologies and the corporatization of football, the new national league (the "expanded VFL" / AFL) relegated the WAFL to a second-tier league in 1987. This move took place over the heads of ordinary football supporters and two WAFL club presidents. Moves to bring the game closer to the people in 1984, such as holding the best-and-fairest award count night at Perth Entertainment Centre, should be seen in this light. This book will allow supporters to relive great teams, great players, and great matches from a wonderful era in WA football 1984-86 before West Coast Eagles joined the expanded VFL.

In Football and Accelerated Culture, Steve Redhead offers a new and challenging theorisation of global football culture, exploring the relationship between sport and culture in a rapidly shifting world. Incorporating cutting-edge concepts, from accelerated culture and claustropolitanism to non-postmodernity, he reflects on the demise of working class football cultures and the rapid media globalisation of ‘the people’s game’. Drawing on international empirical research and a unique and ground-breaking study of football hooligan memoirs, the book delves into a wide array of disciplines, examining fascinating topics such as the relationship between music and football; hooligans and ultras; the rise of social media and anti-modern football movements; and ultra-realist criminology. Football and Accelerated Culture offers a new way of thinking about sporting cultures that expands the boundaries of physical cultural studies. As such, it is important reading for anybody with an interest in the culture of sport and leisure, social theory, communication studies, criminology or socio-legal studies.

This book is the memoir of Kieran James, and details his experiences as co-founder of West Perth Football Club's unofficial cheer squad from 1984 to 1986. The book details "traditional", "hot" support for West Perth Football Club among teenaged supporters from middle-class and working-class backgrounds. The book shows how, because of neo-liberal ideologies and the corporatization of football, the new national league (the "expanded VFL" / AFL) relegated the WAFL to a second-tier league in 1987. This move took place over the heads of ordinary football supporters and two WAFL club presidents. Moves to bring the game closer to the people in 1984, such as holding the best-and-fairest award count night at Perth Entertainment Centre, should be seen in this light. This book will allow supporters to relive great teams, great players, and great matches from a wonderful era in WA football 1984-86 before West Coast Eagles joined the expanded VFL.

Society played a part in the death of my baby brother. The demand for perfection and what was deemed acceptable by our everyday standards helped mold a fragile frame in a young man's mind. The security and resolution I needed was never to be found within the realms of the everyday working world. I learned to reconcile with what you may unfairly call the "ills of society". I found not only resolve, but also harmony within the world, a world that all members of our populace are exposed to in their lives and is part of a culture, even if you chose to ignore it, is one we all live in. I'm not only lucky enough, but also privileged to have been welcomed and accepted in this world, and here their stories will show that this syndicate are of the same making of us all. For me and my brothers none of our heroes wore capes.

Presenting five books in the popular and exhaustive trivia series. This one’s for the sports buff in the family! Doug Lennox, the world champion of trivia, is back to score touchdowns, hit homers, win the golden boot, and knock in holes-in-one every time with a colossal compendium of Q&A athletics that has all anyone could possibly want to know from archery and cycling to skiing and wrestling and everything in between. Why does the winner of the Indianapolis 500 drink milk in victory lane? Who was the first player ever to perform a slam dunk in a basketball game? Why are golfers’ shortened pants called "plus-fours"? When was the Stanley Cup not awarded? Why does the letter k signify a strikeout on a baseball score sheet? Where is the world’s oldest tennis court? What’s more, Doug goes for gold with a wealth of Winter and Summer Olympics lore and legend that will amaze and captivate armchair fans and fervent competitors alike. Includes Now You Know Golf Now You Know Hockey Now You Know Soccer Now You Know Football Now You Know Baseball