NME: From The Bender Squad to The Gremlins; Inside Newcastle's Football Hooligan Firm

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Mennim’s disinterest in the game itself meant he often used to go ‘scouting’ for the older lads looking for away supporters outside the ground. Mann, of Brunton Avenue, Fawdon, Newcastle, is well-known among Toon fans for his collection of Magpies memorabilia in the Adelphi. His display has led to him being dubbed a "superfan". But behind it all he was just a yob. Hutchison was jailed for three years last August for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy after offering to take him to watch a football match. In March 2007, Hird was part of a gang that accosted a group of Middlesbrough fans who arrived in Newcastle city centre. Just last month, police were called to Rafferty's bar, on Pink Lane, after receiving a call some men wouldn’t leave. Short was there with another known risk supporter and he hurled abuse at officers when they arrived.

Mennim is one of around 40 hooligans past and present who tell their stories in a new book charting the history of football violence in Newcastle over the last 45 years. The statement added: “Police believe this was organised violence between Newcastle United and Stoke City risk supporters.But having maintained a silence for decades members declined the first invitations, and it is only now that they felt the time was right to speak. Young is known to have a tattoo on his left leg which has both The Stone Island badge and the words ‘Newcastle Gremlins’ on it. At the final whistle, fighting broke out at the front of the segregation lines between the rival sets of supporters and there was a surge of Newcastle fans from the middle tier of the seating area as a number tried to run forward and get to the trouble. Now he has been found guilty of inciting two teenage boys to engage in sexual activity on the internet, abusing his position for his own gratification. Mennim claims he sent the messages because Ms Moreland had stolen money from him, leaving him “penniless” and “without enough for a pint of milk”.

In March 2002, the Gremlins fought with hooligans from Sunderland’s Seaburn Casuals in a pre-arranged clash near the North Shields Ferry terminal, in what was described as “some of the worst football related fighting ever witnessed in the United Kingdom”. The leaders of the Gremlins and Casuals were both jailed for four years for conspiracy, with 28 others jailed for various terms, based on evidence gained after police examined the messages sent by mobile phone between the gang members on the day. The majority of people involved in football violence are skilled working class, but then so are most of the people who go to football matches.

I have lost a lot. I do regret losing my daughter, I have not seen her since she was three and she’s 25 now. All she knows about me is that I’m a football hooligan.” Kane was a likeable lad. I’d see him at Newcastle games,” said the Gateshead man who asked not to be named.

Ringleaders of the two gangs -known as the Newcastle Gremlins and the Seaburn Casuals - were jailed for up to four years.Two rival groups of soccer yobs clashed in a bloody battle which police compared to scenes from the film Braveheart. It was not possible for us to establish to the necessary standard that all those arrested actually participated in the violence or were present encouraging it."

On September 13, 2008, he was among a group, many of whom are known louts, gathered by Newcastle’s Union Rooms pub after United played Hull City. Watson and his associates had travelled to Teesside despite not planning to attend the match and the Cleveland Police chief inspector who led the operation on the day said this showed he was involved in planned organised violence. By the age of 12 Mennim was determined to get into the famous firm of the day, The Bender Squad, who were known to get drunk before matches then look for fights. A 140-strong mob made the trip to York to celebrate the Gremlins’ 25th anniversary last year on Saturday, September 4.

Legend

Nine Newcastle United supporters have been jailed for their part in storming a Burnley fan pub after an away game. Many dispersed after, but 39 were arrested on the night, many of them from the south side who retreated on the ferry to South Shields where police were waiting. Staff at Newcastle’s Three Bulls Head pub took cover as the thugs began to punch bystanders and the violence spread to the street. Dressed in his casual clobber, the 34-year-old yob built up a close network of drinking friends who call themselves the Gremlins and wreak havoc on match days. The two sides fought savagely on the quayside for five to 10 minutes in front of horrified residents and pub customers.