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Average Customer Rating:

Great book,

Customer Rating:

As a previous reviewer pointed out; this is not a typical hooligan book its a biography of Cass one of the main members of the IFC one of the most famous hooligan gangs of the 70s and 80s. The book covers his childhood, being a black child adopted by a white couple and raised in an all white area, the racism he encountered as a kid and how his foster parents taught him pride in who he was and to stand up to anyone. The book then goes into how he got hooked up with the IFC and hooked on the violence that went with it. The many trials he went through, how he went into bouncing post jail time, how he met his future wife and finaly got his life together meeting up with his natural parents back in Jamacia. Realy interesting read especially his connections with Frank Bruno and Lenny Henry. Honest book, highly recomended.

an interesting story

Customer Rating:

cass pennant has an interesting life story and this book is a good read for that reason alone. unfortunately as with many autobiographies from the criminal world, the author can't resist the temptation to paint himself as the misunderstood good guy, which is quite a difficult task for somebody who openly admits to knives and axes being his weapons of choice. enjoy the story but remember who's writing it.

No hype...

Customer Rating:

Forget the rose-tinted reverse view of the numerous football "offs" where a tiny group of invincible ICF members saw off thousands of opposition lads, and the selective memory of the farcical "You have just met the ICF" football-factory fiction - being present at several of the incidents described in that book I can only say that my recollection differs to such a degree that maybe I came up against a different WHU firm with the same name? What sets this title apart from the usual ICF dross is that it actually gives an insight into the man rather than the self-publicising industry that Cass Pennant has become. This is a well written and well edited biography of Cass the person presented without comment, blame, sensationalism, rancour, or bitterness. - in particular the account of the Sheffield stabbing, his subsequent inprisonment and eventual release, with the devastating psychological effect on Cass is superbly insightful, sympathetically written, and factually presented. There is also an excellent profile of the times and culture of the Club Scene in London, with many glimpses of the dark side of Door Management, plus a honest look at the drug and alcohol induced excesses perpetrated by both customers and security staff at many venues. The final chapter appears to be both an ending and a beginning for Cass Pennant, and the whole book is uncomfortable yet fascinating reading, mainly due the factual presentation and lack of sensationalism. If you are going to buy or read just one book on Cass Pennant then this should be it - highly recommended.

Don't bother with disclaimers

Customer Rating:

Why bother with the disclaimer that books like this are not meant to glamourise football violence? You know it's a pretense. What this book serves up, like the others, are exciting stories of rucks and rows which serve as testosterone cocktails for emasculated office boys grown up in an era of political correctness and close-circuit TVs. Football hooligans caused misery and fear - that's the truth. And then when they "turn their life around" they want credit. Well, listen my friends - here's some news - you're not meant to go on the rampage and terrify innocent folk, you're not meant to get banged up, you're not meant to incite violence. So don't try to earn credit when you start living a normal life. This recent fascination with hard men is sad. There's a lot of insecure men out there if this stuff sells so well.

Cass is a true great

Customer Rating:

I brought this book whilst waiting at the airport and i can safely say it is one of the best books i have ever brought. I think that Cass is slightly different to all the other hooligan books as it contains personal stuff about his life and i have a great repect for that. also the way he helped frank bruno is something else. i would say that this book is for anyone who is a fan of football. all i can say is that the book is gripping and you really understand this guys life