"Crazy Gang The Crazy Gang is a nickname used by the English media to describe Wimbledon F.C. during the 1980s and 90s. The name, originally that of a well known group of British comedy entertainers popular in the late 1930s, was used because of the often cheeky and boisterously macho behaviour of Wimbledon's players, who were in the habit of playing frequent and outrageous practical jokes on each other and on the club's manager Dave Bassett (later Bobby Gould and still later Joe Kinnear). Their general approach to the game was often derided by others in the sport as unprofessional"
"also often referred to in the media as the Wombles from the mid-1970s onwards. Following the FA Cup victory in 1988, the term Crazy Gang also started to be applied; originally to the players, though over time to the club as a whole. The club introduced a character mascot in 2000, a Womble named Wandle the Womble. However, following the relocation of the club in 2003, the owners of the Wombles brand refused to renew the licensing agreement in protest at the move. Three years later, a deal was agreed that saw a similar character named Haydon the Womble appear"
"the name even appeared for several seasons during the mid-1990s as a small badge on the team's playing shirts, opposite the club crest. In 2000, the club was relegated from the Premier League after 14 years in the top flight, by which time the name had become rather inappropriate as a description of its latest generation of players, although the club still continued to use it for some years to promote itself commercially. The likes of Dennis Wise, Mick Harford, John Fashanu, Vinnie Jones and Lawrie Sanchez are often considered to be some of the high-profile members of the Crazy"
"The Crazy Gang The Crazy Gang were a group of British entertainers, formed in the early 1930s. In the mature form the group's six men were Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen, Jimmy Nervo, Teddy Knox, Charlie Naughton and Jimmy Gold. The group achieved considerable domestic popularity and were a favourite of the Royal Family, especially King George VI. Although George Black is often credited with the formation of the Crazy Gang, the start was more complicated. In 1931 three double acts (Nervo and Knox, Naughton and Gold and Billy Caryll and Hilda Mundy) were tentatively booked at the London Palladium. This"
"City (Hull City Psychos), Leeds United (Leeds Service Crew), Middlesbrough (Middlesbrough Frontline), Millwall (Millwall Bushwackers), Newcastle United (Gremlins), Nottingham Forest (Forest Executive Crew), Manchester United (Red Army), Portsmouth (6.57 Crew), Queen's Park Rangers (Bushbabies), Tottenham Hotspur (Yid Army), Sheffield United (Blades Business Crew), Shrewsbury Town (English Border Front), Stoke City (Naughty Forty), West Ham United (Inter City Firm) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (Subway Army). In 1974, when Manchester United were relegated to the Second Division, the Red Army hooligan firm caused mayhem at grounds up and down the country, and in the same year a Bolton Wanderers fan stabbed a young"
"performed at the Chichester Festival Theatre and later at the West End's Prince of Wales Theatre. Notes Bibliography The Crazy Gang The Crazy Gang were a group of British entertainers, formed in the early 1930s. In the mature form the group's six men were Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen, Jimmy Nervo, Teddy Knox, Charlie Naughton and Jimmy Gold. The group achieved considerable domestic popularity and were a favourite of the Royal Family, especially King George VI. Although George Black is often credited with the formation of the Crazy Gang, the start was more complicated. In 1931 three double acts (Nervo and"
"notable upset in FA Cup Final history. Dave Beasant also became the first goalkeeper to receive the FA Cup as captain. After the final whistle John Motson who was commentating for the BBC delivered his famous line: ""The Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club."" Wimbledon were unable to compete in the 1988–89 European Cup Winners' Cup, due to the ongoing ban on English teams from European competitions, following the actions of a group of Liverpool supporters in the 1985 European Cup Final Heysel disaster. At the time of the final, it was hoped that the ban would be rescinded,"
"themselves. Football hooliganism in England dates back to the 1880s, when individuals referred to as ""roughs"" caused trouble at football matches. Local derby matches would usually have the worst trouble, but in an era when fans did not often travel, roughs would sometimes attack the referees and the visiting team's players. During the 1970s, organised hooligan firms started to emerge, associating themselves with clubs such as Arsenal (The Herd), Aston Villa (Villa Hardcore), Birmingham City (Birmingham Zulus), Blackpool (The Muckers), Burnley (Suicide Squad), Derby County (Derby Lunatic Fringe), Charlton Athletic, (B Mob), Chelsea (Chelsea Headhunters), Everton (County Road Cutters), Hull"
"to go straight back down in 1986–87, but after losing the first game of the season away at Manchester City, Wimbledon won the next four games to perch atop the league table on 1 September. Wimbledon eventually finished sixth, before Dave Bassett moved on to Watford. His successor was Bristol Rovers manager Bobby Gould. Dubbed ""The Crazy Gang"" because of the eccentric behaviour of its players, fans and chairman, Sam Hammam, the club's greatest moment came in 1988 when, very much against expectation, the team won the FA Cup, beating overwhelming favourites Liverpool 1–0 with a goal from Lawrie Sanchez."
"four seasons after being in the Fourth Division. Wimbledon's ""Crazy Gang""—so-called because of the boisterous, eccentric behaviour of the players—won the FA Cup in 1988, beating that season's League champions Liverpool, and thereby became one of only three clubs to have won both the FA Cup and its amateur counterpart. In 1991, following the publication of the Taylor Report recommending all-seater grounds for top-flight clubs, Wimbledon left Plough Lane to groundshare with nearby Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park—an originally temporary arrangement that ended up lasting over a decade. The team remained in the First Division and its successor the FA"
"Baby Squad The Baby Squad is a football hooligan firm linked to the English Premier League team, Leicester City. The Baby Squad have had a number of fights with the Chelsea Headhunters who follow Chelsea. In August 2000, Leicester were listed as the second most violent football club in England and Wales. In November 2001, the Baby Squad were ambushed by hooligans from Luton Town, called the MiGs, at Leicester railway station before police split up the two groups. In February 2008, eleven men were arrested after up to 100 hooligans were involved in running battles between fans from Leicester"
"with each other at games, most often groups from the neighbouring districts of Barking and Dagenham. The Inter City Firm were one of the first ""casuals"", so called because they avoided police supervision by not wearing football-related clothing and travelled to away matches on regular InterCity trains, rather than on the cheap and more tightly policed ""football special"" charter trains. The group were an infamous West Ham-aligned gang. As the firm's moniker ""inter city"" suggests violent activities were not confined to local derbies – the hooligans were content to cause trouble at any game, though nearby teams often bore the"
"The stations would alternate between showing a live game and a highlights programme. No games from Rounds 1 or 2 were shown. Occasional highlights of replays would be shown on either the BBC or ITV. These matches were. 1987–88 FA Cup The 1987–88 FA Cup was the 108th season of the world's oldest knockout football competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short. The competition was won by Wimbledon F.C.'s Crazy Gang who defeated league champions Liverpool through a headed goal by Lawrie Sanchez, thus denying Liverpool the double. They would be one of three clubs other"
"with the even younger group known as the 'Under 5's'. Hull City Psychos The Hull City Psychos are a football hooligan firm linked to the English Championship club, Hull City. The firm dates back to the 1960s and peaked during the 1990s. The City Psychos evolved from the original Hull skinhead gangs and the Kempton Fusiliers who were named after the east side railway stand at Boothferry Park. They were well known as tough representatives of Kingston upon Hull, a big tough working class port city. It was not unusual for the City Psychos to number over half Hull City’s"
"1987–88 FA Cup The 1987–88 FA Cup was the 108th season of the world's oldest knockout football competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short. The competition was won by Wimbledon F.C.'s Crazy Gang who defeated league champions Liverpool through a headed goal by Lawrie Sanchez, thus denying Liverpool the double. They would be one of three clubs other than Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool to win the trophy in the following 20 years (the others being Everton and Tottenham Hotspur) before Portsmouth's victory in the 2008 final. This was Wimbledon's only FA Cup title during"
"Aston Villa Hardcore Aston Villa Hardcore (often shortened to Villa Hardcore or known as Villa Youth when referring to the younger element of the group) is a football hooligan firm associated with the Football League Championship club Aston Villa, based in Birmingham, England. The firm have been active since 1993, following on from previous Aston Villa hooligan firms the Steamers, C-Crew and Villa Youth. The name ""Hardcore"" reportedly arising from a Metropolitan Police offer announcing on his radio: ""Here come Villa's hardcore"" following the firm's emergence from a train station before an away match against West Ham United. The Hardcore"
"the ""English Disease"". From the 1970s, many organised hooligan firms sprang up, with most Football League clubs having at least one known organised hooligan element. Hooliganism was often as its worst when local rivals played each other. Supporters of teams including Arsenal, Chelsea, Leeds United, Millwall, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, West Ham United, Leicester City and Bristol City were among those most frequently linked to hooliganism. Racism became a major factor in hooliganism around the same time, as black players became a regular feature in English league teams from the 1970s. Black players were frequently targeted with monkey chants, and had"
"of English Football at the same time, forming 40% of the First Division that season. Fulham were founded in 1879 and are London's oldest club still playing professionally. Royal Arsenal were London's first team to turn professional in 1891. They became Woolwich Arsenal in 1893, and then became just Arsenal in 1913. They are London's most successful team with 43 honours. Arsenal are only the second English club (after Preston North End of 1888–89), and the only London club to go an entire League season unbeaten, in the 2003–04 season. Arsenal have won The FA Cup a record 13 times;"
"Naughty Forty Naughty Forty (Naughty 40 or N40) is a football hooligan firm linked to the English team Stoke City F.C. At their height, the firm had over 700 members and were among the more violent football hooligan firms in England. In January 1998, dozens of hooligans invaded the pitch at the club's new Britannia Stadium at the end of a 7–0 Division One defeat by Birmingham City and several seats were thrown onto the pitch. This was one of several traumatic events in one of the worst seasons in the club's history, as they were relegated from Division One"
"moved to Highbury in 1913 and dropping the ""Woolwich"" from their name). In the 1989–90 season, eight of London’s eleven professional clubs were in the top tier of English Football at the same time, forming 40% of the First Division that season. Historically, London clubs have not accumulated as many trophies as those from North West England, such as the 52 top-league English championships won by Liverpool, Manchester United, Everton and Manchester City; however, in the thirteen consecutive seasons since 2005–06, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham have consistently finished in the top six of the league table (92% top six finishes,"
"club Grebbestads IF, where he scored 5 goals in 10 games. He returned to Plough Lane following his loan spell and helped the club gain promotion to the Football League First Division in 1986. In his first season in the First Division, Wise scored four goals in 27 starts as the club defied the critics and finished the season in sixth place. He was a member of the infamous Wimbledon ""Crazy Gang"" that reached the FA Cup final in 1988. On 12 March 1988, he provided the free-kick from which Brian Gayle headed in the clinching goal against Watford to"
"Hull City Psychos The Hull City Psychos are a football hooligan firm linked to the English Championship club, Hull City. The firm dates back to the 1960s and peaked during the 1990s. The City Psychos evolved from the original Hull skinhead gangs and the Kempton Fusiliers who were named after the east side railway stand at Boothferry Park. They were well known as tough representatives of Kingston upon Hull, a big tough working class port city. It was not unusual for the City Psychos to number over half Hull City’s away support during the years in the lower leagues at"
"to get a grant for a brand new clubhouse. In 2001, Thornhill played Hunslet, in 2003 it was Keighley and then in 2006, Thornhill struck again by beating a professional club. The victims being Workington Town at Rams Stadium. The reward for this was a trip to France to play Catalan Dragons. Around this time the club gained a noticeable following from a group of supporters who called themselves ""The Crazy Gang"". This was followed by a National Conference Grand Final at Mount Pleasant against Oulton, unfortunately losing the game. The game hit the head lines for all the wrong"
"Soul Crew The Cardiff City Soul Crew (Commonly known as the Soul Crew) are a football hooligan firm, associated with the Welsh football club Cardiff City. From its formation in 1983 until around 2010 the Soul Crew were one of the biggest and most active football firms in the United Kingdom. The Soul Crew name was adopted by hooligan followers of Cardiff City in the 1982/83 season, and was suggested by a fan by the name of Nicky Parsons, who was later made an outcast due to being a white supremacist / racist. It comes from the small number of"
"Premier League, their first top-level football championship. They are one of only six clubs to have won the Premier League since its inception in 1992. A number of newspapers described Leicester's title win as the greatest sporting shock ever, considering at the start of the season they were favourites to face relegation. Multiple bookmakers had never paid out at such long odds for any sport. As a result, the team was dubbed ""The Unbelievables"", a spin-off harking back to Arsenal's undefeated team ""The Invincibles"". The club's previous highest ever finish was second place in the top flight, in 1928–29, then"
"not proud of his past, having moved on from the violence of football hooliganism. Naughty Forty Naughty Forty (Naughty 40 or N40) is a football hooligan firm linked to the English team Stoke City F.C. At their height, the firm had over 700 members and were among the more violent football hooligan firms in England. In January 1998, dozens of hooligans invaded the pitch at the club's new Britannia Stadium at the end of a 7–0 Division One defeat by Birmingham City and several seats were thrown onto the pitch. This was one of several traumatic events in one of"
"Barclays Premier League is the most-watched football league in the world. Its biggest clubs include Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City. In 2016, Leicester City, who were 5,000-1 outsiders at the start of the season, became champions. By some measures it was the greatest sporting upset ever: multiple bookmakers had never paid out at such long odds for any sport. As is the case throughout the UK, football in England is renowned for the intense rivalries between clubs and the passion of the supporters, which includes a tradition of football chants, such as, ""You're Not Singing"
"in a room during transfer negotiations and only let him out when he agreed to sign for Wimbledon. Earle played an important part in the South London club's success during the nineties, and in particular, the club's 'Crazy Gang' mentality which fostered team spirit and intimidated opposing players. He played alongside cult figures such as Aidan Newhouse, John Fashanu, Vinnie Jones, Lawrie Sanchez, Jason Euell, Dean Holdsworth, Marcus Gayle, Andy Clarke and Efan Ekoku. Earle was known for his late runs into the box and his ability at finishing and agility at heading the ball. His first season at the"
"one point above the Third Division's relegation zone. On 4 May 1977, former Portsmouth and England international player Jimmy Dickinson became the new Portsmouth manager, replacing Ian St. John. Consequently, they were relegated at the end of the new 1977–78 Third Division season, finishing in bottom place. During this period and throughout the later 1980s, Portsmouth was one of a number of football clubs with a reputation for hooliganism. The most notorious gang was called the 6:57 Crew, a self-proclaimed ""casual firm"" of football hooligans whose name came from the fact that many supporters would catch the 6:57 train from"
"all-star travel team, London Brawling, whose name is inspired by the song ""London Calling"" by UK punk rock band The Clash. Official travel team/league colours are pink and black. The London Rollergirls' B team, or reserves team, is called the London Brawl Saints, who debuted in June 2009. The London Rollergirls' C team is called Batter C Power, inspired by the London landmark the Battersea Power Station, and debuted in autumn 2011. In summer of 2008, three permanent home league teams were formed: The Steam Rollers, The Suffra Jets, and the Ultraviolent Femmes. A fourth team, Harbour Grudges, had their"
"ten-year banning order. Porter had written a book - ""Suicide Squad: The Inside Story of a Football Firm"" - about his experiences as a football hooligan. Suicide Squad (hooligan firm) The Suicide Squad was a football hooligan firm linked to the English team, Burnley F.C. The self-imposed title is derived from previous behaviour at away games where the single minded involvement in violence against overwhelming odds could be described as suicidal. The name became synonymous with the group during the early 1980s and many of the original members, now in their fifties are well known to the police and have"
"; Mil – Millwall ; QPR – Queens Park Rangers ; Tot – Tottenham Hotspur ; Wes – West Ham United London XI London XI was a football team created to take part in the 1955–58 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The competition began in 1955, and the first tournament took three years to complete. The entrants were the major football team of each city which held a Trade Fair. Like many cities taking part, London had several strong teams; however, rules stated that there could only be a single team from each city. It was decided to create a team especially"
"pre-arranged locations including pubs rather than at the matches themselves. English clubs who have made the headlines for the worst and most frequent cases of hooliganism include Birmingham City (whose multi racial hooligan element gained the nickname ""Zulus"" from fans of rival teams in the 1970s when football hooligans were almost always white British), Chelsea (whose then chairman Ken Bates installed an electric fence at the club's stadium in the mid 1980s to combat hooligans, but was refused permission to switch it on during matches), Leeds United (who were banned from European competitions following a riot after the 1975 European"