Films, TV series, books and fashion: What was called "The English Disease" in the 1980s has developed into a cultural industry. Yet the culture of hooliganism continues to resonate. Some hooliganism does take place, but on a very limited scale and usually some way away from the stadium environment." Supporter violence inside stadia is very rare. All stadia in the top two divisions, and many in the lower divisions, are all-seated. "Football stadia today are safe and welcoming places, offering good quality facilities to supporters," reads the English Football Association's summary of measures to prevent football violence. Hooliganism is a dying problem in English football if you examine official figures. ![]() Yet an Ecuadorian signed from Mexican football learned of West Ham through a film that tells a tale of extreme violence with tragic consequences. "Green Street," or "Green Street Hooligans," to use its American release title, is a film about a West Ham hooligan, named after the street on which the club's current home Upton Park sits.įor a club trying to promote an image of an executive-friendly hub at the heart of London's business community, being associated with an ultra-violent cult movie is not helpful. A corporate junket has gone wildly off-message. "He means 'Green Street,'" the translator says eventually. Valencia smiles, and the translator begins to look nervous. Two journalists ask the question at the same time. "And I know the supporters were very passionate." "I knew about West Ham mainly from watching films," he says through a translator. New striker Enner Valencia, fresh from scoring against Liverpool in a 3-1 victory, has a huddle of reporters around him, and he gives his reasons for choosing to become a Hammer. As is customary at such events, first-team players are wheeled out to speak to the media. It's September 2014 and West Ham United are holding a press launch for Club London, a corporate hospitality programme for the move into the Olympic Stadium in summer 2016. ![]() Hooliganism in England: The enduring cultural legacy of football violence You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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