FC BRUGES AWAY

Wednesday March 24th. 1971, Bruges FC 2 - 0 Chelsea

2,000 years ago Bruges was a Gallic-Roman settlement, which became the most important fortified town on the Flemish coast. The name comes from the Old Norse "Bryggia" meaning 'Landing Stage', but in the eleventh century the coast line silted up, leaving Bruges land locked. In the middles ages Bruges became an important trade centre, with Flemish cloth being exported to the whole of Europe. After a series of revolts, political unrest, war, and epidemics; cloth was replaced by luxury goods, and banking. Then in the sixteenth century Bruges lost it's prestige to Antwerp, and a split from the Netherlands in 1584 led to further decline. By the mid nineteenth century Bruges was the poorest city in Belgium, but found a rebirth as an arts and tourist centre. Bruges's picturesque architecture, which along with it's network of canals; make it one of the most beautiful towns in Europe.

Getting bored with looking out of the coach window, Sandy looks over to Colin and Tiny. "Where the fuck did you get those coats from?" she asks with a half smile.
"You look like the bleeding James gang on the Northfield's bank job;" cuts in Parkhead.
Colin looks down at the white full length coat he had bought in Ostend with pride, "This is fucking style pal, something you have yet to learn about."
Tiny stands up and walks into the aisle of the coach, and poses mockingly as thou he was a catwalk model. "We're starting the latest Mod fashion pal."
"Hold on!" shouts Little John, "Didn't the Mods die out in the '60's?"
"No!" storms Colin, "They evolved into the Skinheads, and we are the next step in evolution."
Wallace looks at Tiny with a frown, "Ain't they Butchers coats?"
"Yeah, spot on!" replies Tiny, "So what do yeah think?" he quickly twirl again, but gives the game away by the smile on his face.
"I think we're gonna set a new fashion," says Lenny as he stands up and takes down a paper carrier bag, from the overhead luggage rack; pulling out a brand new white butchers coat.
"Oh what the fuck!" sighs Jim, as he too reaches for a carrier bag, "I knew we should of bought a pair of sparkling spurs too," he says mockingly.
"I like them, where about's in Ostend did you get them?" inquires Sandy.
Oh fuck me!" gasps Tommy.
"Later dear, you want this lot watching yeah," replies Sandy with a sarcastic smile.
"Say Yeah! Say Yeah!!" laughs Little John.

Sandy flashes him a look that could kill, and grabs Jims coat before he has the chance to put it on. "So where did you lot get the money to splash out on these then?'
Colin smiles and looks at Jim, "Didn't you know, they have ghosts in Ostend?"
Jim puts his hands up with an innocent look, "Hey is it my fault some dickhead felt his wages in his coat pocket?"
"You're gonna get well busted one of these days;" says Sandy shaking her head.
"No, he's far to good for that," replies Lenny; "Cunt goes into a shop, and straight through the 'Staff Only' door, 30 seconds latter he strolls out cool as a cucumber."

"Well at lest I didn't show myself up on a push bike in Ostend pal," replies Jim with a smile.
Wallace looks at Merrill and laughs, "I don't know what was more funny, you driving on the wrong side of the road; waving your arms at that Mercedes to get over, or getting stuck in the tram lines and falling off in front of it."
"Fucking foreigners should drive on the proper side of the road," replies Merrill with a broad grin.
"You're the foreigner here pal," says Wallace; "typical fucking English, think everyone should do it your way."
"I'm surprised you didn't wear your skirt to the game, you sweaty wanker!" retorts Merrill with an even broader grin.
"He's scared it would blow up and show the world he has nothing up there," screams Tiny.
As Wallace is about to reply, he just catches sight of a car in front of the coach, suddenly swerve towards the barrier; but just corrects it before any contact. "Shit! Did you see that? He must be fucking English!"

"He nearly did a John, and smashed into the barrier," laughs Steve.
"Oh for fuck sake," sighs Little John; "ain't I ever going to live that down?"
Steve laughing his head off, looks at Little John, and says "No!"
Debbie sitting in the seat in front, stands up, turns around and kneels on the seat, looking at Little John she says; "I didn't know you could drive?"
"That's the point," sniggers Wallace; "He can't"
Waiting for the laughter to die down, Debbie looks at Stevie and says; "So what happened then?"
Steve still smiling replies, "I think that would be better coming from John!"
Debbie looks at Little John, frowns and then says, "Well!"

Little John who has now seen the funny side, starts to laugh and says; "Well It was like this. We were all in the Weatherby, drunk out of our fucking skulls, when Ken Tanner gives me his car keys and says; "As you can't drive you can have me car keys, so I won't drive home drunk." "So I takes them and puts then in me pocket, and forgets about them."
"Ken that's that Shed boy who hangs around with you lot in the Weatherby ain't he?" inquires Debbie.
"Yeah," says Wallace; "With any luck he'll be joining us on the North Stand, but like Wellsy; he don't like leaving the Shed behind."
"Fucking good fighter though;" quips Lenny.
"So anyway," continues Little John, "I'm getting fucking plastered and I decide to get a bit of fresh air; so I goes out side. Thinking that I'll have a fag, I put me hands in me pockets looking for me them; when I pull out these fucking car keys." "What the fuck are these? I think." So as I'm leaning up against a car, I decide to see if they fit."
"And did they? Says a fascinated Debbie.
"'Cause they did!" chuckles Steve; "it was Ken car."

"Do you mind," says Little John sarcastically; "I'm telling this fucking story.
"You tell him pal," laughs Tiny.
Waiting for the laughter to die down, Little John continues. "So 'Fuck me' I thought as the key fitted, I opened the door, result! Then as it was fucking freezing I decide to sit inside, Then I thought, "fuck it', I'll turn the heater on. Then as the engine comes to life I decided to have a driving lesion."
"But you were drunk!" says Debbie.
"Yeah I know that, I was totally fucking rat arsed; you think I would try driving when I was sober?" Little John shakes his head with a smile. "So I pull out on to the Kings Road, and just as luck would have it, right in front of a fucking filth van."
"What a Black Maria?" says Debbie.
Little John looks over to Merrill with a blank expression. "She with you?"
Merrill collapses with laughter, as Debbie fails to sees the funny side.
"So I'm looking in the rear view mirror at the filth, when I feel this bump. And fuck me I'd taken out the bollards by the World's End. Well 'cause of the impact I loose control, and try to get it back, when fuck me, I take out the next set of bollards."
"Oh my Gawd!" gasps Debbie, while everyone is rolling with laughter.

"So what happened then, did the law nick yeah?" queries Debbie.
"Oh no, I'm still fighting for control, and think "fuck this for a game of soldiers' and fall asleep at the wheel. Well the car goes smashing into the barriers that are in front of the shops, writing the car off. Anyway I wake up and the filth are looking down at me in the gutter."
"How the fuck did you get there?" asks Debbie.
"Well I fell out of the car when they opened the fucking door, didn't I." Little John continues with a smile. "So they take me down to Fulham nick, and throw me in a cell for a couple of hours to sober up. So I'm thinking, right I'll cop up for stealing the car so Ken will be covered by insurance, sorted."
"What did Ken say?" laughs Debbie.
"Well would you believe it, old Ken's in the station admitting he gave me the keys, so they wouldn't charge me with theft; and shouting at the top of his voice that he's gonna kill me. Then the next day I'm in court charged with 21 counts including stealing the car, & assaulting the police."
"Assaulting the police?" queries Sandy who is standing leaning on the seat behind.
"Yeah apparently I hit the copper and they kicked the fuck out of me in the van. So let's see." Little John pauses a moment, remembers where he's up to, and then continues. "Criminal damage, failing to stop, driving without a licence and insurance. Well the filth thinking that this is payback time come out with I'm the leader of the North Stand, and summons Steve as witness."
Debbie eyes open wide in surprise.

"So I get up in the witness box, and they ask me is he the leader of the North Stand? Cuts in Steve, pointing at Little John. "So I say, you got to be kidding, you seriously think I'd take orders from that little squirt."
Debbie nearly falls of the seat laughing.
"So!" Little John continues, "The beak asks me why I crashed the car? So I tells him I was drunk, and fell asleep at the wheel. Well the beck goes ape shit, asking the filth why I ain't charged with drunken driving? So the fucking copper says I was so drunk they put me in a cell, to sober up. Well the beck shakes his head in disbelief and fines me one pound on each charge."
"Wow gasps Debbie, "that was a relief, so what happened to Ken.
At this everyone knowing what's coming, breaks out in more fits of laughter; as Debbie looks about wondering why.
"Well Ken goes into the dock," Little John says laughing his head of. "And the beck fines him a hundred and fifty quid for letting me drive drunk."
"But Ken didn't even know you were in the car, let alone driving it;" says a concerned Debbie.
"Yeah!" shouts Steve. "Classic ain't it; and collapses with laughter.

"Ha ha, that reminds me of Merrill at Ipswich;" laughs Wallace.
Debbie turns and looks across at Wallace, who is sitting opposite her with Veronica; "Why, what happened there?"
Merrill frowns and shakes his head, with a smile.
"Well," he says; "he gets nicked for hitting a group of Shed boys at the station."
Debbie turns her head and looks at Merrill in surprise; "What did you do that for?"
Before Merrill can answer, Wallace cuts in; "We were on the platform when this group of Shed boys charge in from the booking hall. Alan gets pushed up against the train that was standing in at the platform. Well he turns around and has a go at them, 'cause there are ordinary passengers getting pushed all over the place. Well one of the Shed boys tells him to fuck off, so Alan decks him."
"You hit a Chelsea supporter?" gasps Debbie.
"Yeah, fucking right I did;" replies Wallace.
"The best bit was that there's a plain cloths copper on the platform, and he grabs Alan; so he turns and punches him in the face. But he ain't alone and three of them cart him off to the nick."
"And you let them do it?" queries Debbie.
"Had no choice in the matter, at that point a load of uniformed police steam the platform with truncheons swinging." Continues Wallace. "So I go to court with him as a witness, and tell the beak what happened, and that he didn't know the guy was a copper. But the beak was having none of it; and give him the option of six months or one hundred and fifty quid."
"Oh my Gawd!" gasps Debbie as she looks at Merrill.
"Anyway this idiot looks at the beak and says, 'Fucking result, I'll take the fine, do you take cheques up here.' Says Wallace laughing his head off. "So the beak bangs his gavel and says "and that's an extra fifty pounds for contempt of court."

Debbie looks at Merrill and starts laughing.
"That's nothing," says Merrill; "You should have seen him last night, in the bar; while you girls were eating in the hotel."
Veronica looks at Wallace with a frown, "Oh yeah I did hear about this?"
" Ah, didn't he tell yeah?" laughs Tiny.
A broad smiles snakes across Wallace's face, as he looks at Veronica.
"Well," says Merrill; "we're in this bar and as always with sweaty socks, they can't hold their drink, and he gets into an argument. So this fucking huge bouncer comes over and grabs him.
"And was he fucking huge or what?" laughs Colin.
"So Ian looks at him and says 'OK pal, continues Merrill. "Well the bouncer lets him go, and he walks to the bar and picks up an empty Coke bottle. Then he walks back to the bouncer who is now walking towards the door, and smashes the Coke bottle down on the back of his head."
"Oh my God!" screams Veronica as her hands fly up to her cheeks in horror; what happened then?"
"This fucking bouncer just stands there, and slowly turns around, putting his hand up to his head and then looks at it." Laughs Merrill.
"Yeah, it was like a bird had shit on his head instead a fucking Coke bottle," shouts Little John who is cracking up with laughter.
Wallace looks at Veronica, and shrugs his shoulders in mock innocence.
"Well, so what happened," exclaims Sandy.
"He did a fucking runner, shouts Parkhead
Wallace looks back and throws Parkhead a look, "So what would you do the cunt was seven foot tall, and four foot wide, for fucks sake. Anyway you can't talk, what about that brothel last night?"

"Brothel?" screams Debbie and Sandy in two-part harmony.
Parkhead throws them both a blank expression, shrugs his shoulders and says. "So?" Then after thinking for a moment he continues. "You want a good meal, made by professions; you go to a restaurant and pay for it. And by the same token, if you want a good shag, you go to a fucking brothel, don't 'cha?"
The girls look over to Veronica and shake their head.
"Yeah, but if they won't let you in,' defends Parkhead. "You don't go outside, grab the nearest dustbin, and chuck in through the bleeding window, don'tcha?"
The girl's jaws drop open in disbelief, as everyone else roars with laughter.
"Fuck em," laughs Parkhead; "bastards fucking deserved it."
As the laughter dies down, Lenny glances out of the coach window, and shouts. "Fuck me, look!"
All eyes turn to the front of the coach, and see four more coaches sitting in the fast approaching side road.
"How many is that now?" says Jim.
"I've lost count," replies Wallace; "Got to be over twenty by now thou."
Merrill turns to look at Wallace with a smile and says; "Someone somewhere has just organised us into a fucking army."

The coach pulls in and stops at a large roundabout, as over twenty other double deck coaches slowly manoeuvre and park. The free space around the roundabout quickly fills up, as other coaches park at the side of the road. Hundreds of Chelsea supports slowly disembark, and move onto the large grass area in the middle of the roundabout. Chants of 'Chelsea, Chelsea' start to echo off the picturesque buildings on the edge of the town. The North Stand gather together at the side of the roundabout by their coach, their numbers swelled by the 'Foreign Legion' to over a hundred. They stand and watch as police start moving the front members of the Shed towards the main street that leads to the ground. Shoppers stop in their tracks and watch in wonder as over a thousand members of the Shed start to move towards the ground. Sirens shriek as police cars drive after a small group that starts to run down the main street.

Tiny looks around at the mass of Chelsea supporters, then looks back to the North Stand, "Fuck me!" he gasps; "This is going to be fucking ace."
"Be careful, and stick together," shouts Wallace holding both hands up.
Merrill walks over to Tommy, "keep yours and Dave's lot together, I don't like this."
Tommy looks at Merrill with a frown. "You're fucking joking pal, this is brilliant, look at them all." He points to the last group of Shed boys as they move away from the roundabout and walk towards the main street.
"We're in a strange country," says Merrill, "we don't know the streets, we don't know the filth, we don't know the ground; and far more important, we don't know their supporters."
"Don't worry about them, "says a beaming Tommy; "We've got a fucking army here."
Tommy looking around and soaking up the electric atmosphere, thinks for a moment; then turns to Parkhead. "He's got a point,' then looking at Merrill, continues; "So what we gonna do, form the rear guard and play it by ear?'
"Yeah, and watch for the sides streets!" warns Merrill, as he walks of to join Wallace and Little John; who are still watching the last of the Shed move into the main street.
"So what'd reckon?" says Little John, as Merrill joins them.
"Move in behind the Shed, and play it by ear," says Wallace.
Merrill nods, as he walks over to Tiny and Colin, "Right lets go, and stay together."

The North Stand move in behind the last remnants of the Shed, and as they move into the main street, they can feel the change in the locals. For the initial sense of wonderment is fast turning into fear, as they see the vase number of supports as they sing their way towards the ground."
"These shops look like they fell of a Christmas card," says Debbie as she catches up with Merrill.
He looks at the shops then back at Debbie, smiling he says, "Yeah, they do, but don't get sucked up by the atmosphere, we can be attacked at any moment."
"You worry far to much," replies a Debbie with a smile.
Merrill shakes his head, "remember what it said in the papers, these are the hardest supporters in Europe, and they kicked the shit out of Sheffield when they were here."

As they approach the ground Veronica, pulls her ticket out of her bag and says to Wallace. "I'd better make my way to the stand."
"How'd yeah know which one it is?" queries Wallace.
"Some of us can read and speak French you know," she replies in an indignant tone.
Merrill sniggers as he over hears her.
Veronica snaps a look of hatred towards Merrill, "Of cause some people haven't even learnt their own language yet."
"How'd you put up with that fucking arrogant bitch?" thinks Merrill out loud.
Wallace laughs as he gives Merrill a friendly slap on the back, "Cause she shags me stupid!"
"Hey we're in this end," says Stevie as he walks back from talking to a policeman.
Wallace looks at his ticket, and then at Steve, "This is the hundred and ten franc end?"
"Yeah and wanna know something?" Steve says with a knowing smile.
"What's that?" query Tiny and Lenny in unison.
Steve's face turns into a carbon copy of a Cheshire cat, as he says. "This is their end."

As the North stand are herded towards the gate at the side of the stand, Bruges supporters stop and watch. Several of them shout what appear to be insults. Several police move forward and stop the lead elements and check their tickets, then an officer is called over; who talks to several other policemen, who move aside and let the North Stand march through the gate. The atmosphere is getting tense with more abuse shouted at them from the local supporters.
"Fucking hell!" says Sandy; "this is getting dodgy."
"Telling me!" Debbie says in reply.
Sandy motions to Debbie and points to a group of Bruges supporters standing just inside the gate who are pointing at Merrill, "I don't think that SS Eagle on his jacket sleeve is going down to well."
"Fuck 'em!" snaps Merrill who over hears her, "Just keep walking."
"I don't like this," says Debbie as she moves closer to Merrill.
"What's up with you," he says as he looks at her, "not nervous are we?"
"Too bloody right I am!" she snaps.

Then as they turn the corner they see the pitch for the first time. Bruges is a small ground not unlike many second and third ground in England. The far terrace is uncovered and already filling up with the Shed. Along the side are narrow small stands, but the home end is a steep covered terrace that is full of chanting Bruges supporters. At the front of which is a narrow walk way along the front, with a small wall separating it from the pitch. As the North Stand move down the side of the Home Stand, they turn the corner and stop as they look up at the pack and hostile terrace.
"Fucking Hell! Exclaims Jim who is the first to turn the corner, he stops and looks up at the terrace as those Bruges supporters near him surge forward.
The nearest one kicks out, but Jim side-steps it.
Colin rushes forward and stops at the metal crush barrier at the bottom of the terrace, "Come on you cunt!" he screams at the supporter who lashed at with the kick.
Wallace grabs Colin's arm, and pulls him back, "Not yet!" he warns.
"What's up pal, lost your bottle?" Colin snaps back.
Wallace shaking his head replies, "Calm down, and let's suss this thing out."
"This is what I like," shouts Tiny, "Soak up the fear, and get the adrenaline flowing."
Yes!" Merrill shouts, "This is better than any fucking drug, look at them, and soak it up."

Little John walks over to Merrill, pointing at the rear of the terrace, "Look over there at the end, there's a gap at the back."
Merrill looks over to Wallace who nods back in agreement, "Right along the front and then up to the back."
"And ignore these cunts at the front," screams Wallace.
Steve turns to the rest of the North Stand, waves his right arm forward and shouts, "Right come on you lot, let's go." Then seeing Tommy, walks over to him, "This is fucking intimidating, make sure your lads stick together."
Tommy nods and turns to his Bolton boys, "Come on you lot, and don't start anything down here."
The Bruges supporters surge forward down the terrace once again, but are stopped by crush barriers. Coins are thrown as the North stand move along the front of the terrace. The Chanting is so loud that you can't hear yourself think.

The lead elements of the North Stand turn and start to walk up the gangway that leads to the top of the terrace.
Drums start to beat out a rhythm, as heads turn to watch the group of Chelsea supporters move up the terrace. Bottles are thrown and start to arc there way over the heads of the Bruges supporters, and fall around the gangway. A chant in English of "We hate Chelsea, We Hate Chelsea;" rolls across the terrace and echoes ricochet of the low roof. Then trumpets start a fanfare in time to the drumbeat, and a chant of "Kill The English, Kill The English." Sung to the rhythm.

Lenny looks around him in apprehension as he climbs the stairs, ducking a bottle; he sees the ashen face of Jim. "Stared?" he asks with a half smile.
"Fucking right," answers Jim; "This is a bloody war zone."
"Yeah wicked ain't it!" laughs Colin as he walks past them; "This is going to be something else."
"Look!" says Tiny; "there ain't one of these fuckers under twenty five, and there's no women or kids!"
Colin smiles back, as he soaks up the tension; "This is going to be better than the Park Lane Massacre!"
Merrill hears the talking and looks back, "Come on, kept moving, all the way up to the back."
"And don't let any of these fuckers get behind yeah either!" shouts Wallace, who dodges out of the way a punch thrown by a Bruges supporter at the side of the gangway. Spinning around he lashes out at the supporter, who falls onto the gangway.
Little John who is behind Wallace sees the supporter fall to the steps, "Cunt!" he screams as he kicks him in the head whilst he trys to get up.
"Take your lot to the left when we get to the top," Merrill shouts to Tommy, "and get the Salford boys to go to the right, make sure none of these cunts gets behind us, or we're all dead."
Tommy looks back to the Salford boys, "Up there, take the right hand side, and let no one get behind yeah." He looks around at the hostile crowd, then turning to his Bolton boys points to the left; "Right let's go, and remember no one gets past us."

Merrill reaches the wall at the back of the terrace and watches as the North Stand fan out along the wall. The Bruges supporters are jumping up and down in waves, as they surge forward and back; resembling the surf as it laps a beach. The last of the North Stand move into the tightly packed group, Wallace stands lapping up the tension, looking left and right, then happy that everyone is in place; he screams,
"WE'RE THE NORTH STAND."
And over one hundred English voices roar in unison…
"WE'RE THE NORTH STAND
STAMFORD BRIDGE"
As they sing a group of Bruges supporters charge up the gangway, into the middle of the North Stand. Wallace is the first to respond, kicking a supporter who falls back into the on rushing crowd. Parkhead running forward punching left and right, doesn't see the hand wielding an iron bar that crashes into his right shoulder. Stumbling his knee hits the concrete terrace. Steve grabs him and pulls him up; they smile briefly then turn and punch out at the advancing hordes. Tiny and Colin fight their way forward down the terrace, and are surrounded, hitting out at anything that moves, punches reign down on them. Wallace sees their plight, and moves towards them, Sandy joins him, as they punch and kick their way to Tiny and Colin.
"You cunts," he screams; I told you to stay at the back."
"But I'm enjoining myself!" laughs Colin as he hits another supporter.
"Come on, let's get back to the top, we're getting cut off here;" warns Sandy.
They fight their way back up the terrace, when Dave shouts across to Sandy to join him.

Wallace turns to make sure she makes it, when he feels a punch in the back. The impact sends a shiver down his spine; he knows instinctively this is no ordinary punch. He spins around to see a Bruges supporter holding a Stanley Knife. He grabs the bottom of his sheepskin jacket, and pulls it around. A second shiver blasts down his back as he sees it is cut open from collar to bottom. Looking back to the supporter, he sees the blade of the knife reigning down on him again. But before he can react Merrill's left elbow slams into the right temple of the supporter, who instantly falls to the concrete. Merrill's face contorts with anger, as his Cuban heeled right boot crashes into the supporter's cheek. A shallow crack echoes above the turmoil. The body rolls forward, and turns over revealing a cheekbone sticking out at an angle from his face; a flap of skin waves grotesquely in the wind from cheek to lip, blood suddenly gushing from the hole.
Wallace's face contorts at the sight, "Jesus Christ!" he gasps; as he looks again at the remains of his sheepskin jacket, "You just save my fucking life!" he gasps.
"No time for all that shit now!" comes Merrill's shouted reply, he turns to look again at Wallace; a grin beaming from his face, "Don't yeah just love this?"
Wallace looks in astonishment as Merrill moves down the terrace hitting out at anything that moves.
Colin runs over and grabs Wallace's arm, "You alright pal?" he gasps as he looks at the slashed sheepskin jacket.
Wallace nods and looks down at the unconscious Bruges supporter.
"Fuck him, he was tying to kill yeah!" snaps Colin, who turns to the North Stand. "This is war," he shouts, as he pulls a switchblade from his pocket. Raising his arm high he presses the steel button, the blade flashes open with a click; "Draw Sabres," he cries and follows Merrill into the crowd of Bruges supporters trying to move up the terrace.

"Look! He comes the police," shouts Jim blood streaming from nose and mouth.
Steve runs over to join him, and sees Wallace, looking at the sheepskin jacket and says, "Time we were out of here."
Wallace looks around the terrace, and sees people being trampled under foot, then he notices Debbie standing petrified against the back wall, fear has over taken her ability to move. He looks back at Steve and says, "Get everyone down the other end."
Little John grabs a Bruges supporter by the arm and swings him around smashing him into the back wall of the terrace; the supporter falls to the concrete unconscious.
"Get Debbie, we're going down the other end!" Steve screams at him.
Little john looks down the terrace, he sees that a large gap has opened up around the North Stand, but as the Bruges supporters rally and press home another attack he can see that they are out numbered twenty to one. Turning to Debbie he grabs her arm and screams, "Come on, we're getting out of here."

Tiny, Merrill and Colin lead the charge down the terrace, hitting, punching and pushing Bruges supporters out of the way, to clear a path. At the bottom Merrill stops at the small wall, and turns to see the North Stand streaming down the terrace, and doesn't notice a Bruges supporter as he lunges forward and body checks him. The unexpected momentum pushes him backwards over the wall. Sandy reaches the wall and helps Debbie over, when a Bruges supporter grabs the shoulder strap of her bag, instantly her knee comes up and connects with his groin. He falls bent double to his knees, when Lenny comes up behind him, and kicks him in the rear, sending his head crashing into the wall.
Tommy reaches the wall carrying a trumpet, he turns and in a flash swings it around with both hands and smashes it into the face of another Bruges supporter. Making sure that the 'Foreign Legion' are over the wall, he leaps over just as a policeman tries to grab him. Laughing like a Hyena he runs after the North Stand as they march around the side of the pitch to the other end.

"Jesus H Christ, that was as good as the Park Lane Massacre in sixty seven," says Little John standing behind the goal at the opposite end.
"Those bastards all had fucking knives!" exclaims Steve.
"Yeah but we sure showed them what were made of pal," beams Little John.
"Ha, you can say that again, look up there," replies Steve pointing to the Bruges end.
They watch in silence as stretcher after stretcher barer moves down the terrace and along the front behind the low wall.
"I make that twenty one of the cunts!" beams Tiny as he nudges Little John's arm.
"Perfect timing as well," Little John replies as he points towards the pitch; "look here comes the team."

The roar is deafening as the final is blown, the Bruges supporters around the ground start jumping up and down in unison. Coins and bottles arc their way through the air and land amongst the large group of Chelsea supporters standing in the shocked silence of defeat behind the goal.
The General is the first to respond, looking around at the dejected faces, he shouts; "Show these bastards we are Chelsea." He moves through the crowd shaking Chelsea supporters out of their silence, "Sing!" he screams. A faint echo of 'Chelsea' starts to rise above the roar of the Bruges supporters.
The Bruges supporters answer with a chant of 'We hate the English'.
"Lets have these cunts by the fence!" cries Colin, pointing to the high iron fence that runs from the pitch to the rear of the narrow terrace, which separates the Chelsea supporters from the locals.
"No!" shouts Merrill, "I think the General's going to take the Shed onto the pitch."
Colin looks over to the massed ranks of the Shed, as the General stands on the low wall by the pitch. "Come on then lets beat him to it."
Merrill shakes his head, as he looks around the terrace, "No, there's far to many, to go solo."
"He's right," says Wallace; "if we all run as one, we can take this place."
Colin shrugs he shoulders, and says "Fair enough."
"But dump the knives," shouts Wallace; "Anyone gets caught with one he'll end up doing years over here."

As the General leads the signing, he sees a Shed Boy waving a flagpole with a large Union Flag. He jumps down from the wall and moves through the crowd, takes the flag, and moves back to the wall. Standing once again on the wall, he waves the flag and shouts, "On the pitch, everyone on the pitch." Jumping down onto the pitch he takes a few steps forward and turns to the Shed boys. "Come on, get on the pitch!"
Wallace smiles, as he watches the General; turning to Merrill he says, "Today we join the Shed."
Merrill nods in reply, then turns to the North Stand boys and shouts; "Follow the General, all on the pitch."
The North Stand move to the front of the terrace and climb over the small wall, and run onto the pitch.

The General marches at the front of the Shed, holding the flagpole and watching the union flag as it waves in the wind. He then looks over to the side of the pitch, and taunts the Bruges crowd, as over three thousand Chelsea supporters stream onto the pitch.
"Look at that!" says, Dave as he points to the Bruges end, "They're just standing there waiting for us."
Sandy nods in reply as she looks around at the massed ranks of the Shed slowly march towards the centre circle. The Bruges supporters along the side of the pitch are also standing their ground, when some of them jump the low wall and run onto the pitch, stopping only to throw bottles, before returning to the wall. The General sees them and starts to run towards them, followed by the Stockwell, and Southfields boys, but come to a halt as they see police run along the side of the pitch and start to herd the Bruges supporters, back over the wall.

Returning to the centre circle, the General gathers the massed ranks of the Shed into a tightly packed group. He then looks over to Mickey Green and shouts at him; Mickey immediately starts to scream out at the top of his voice.
"ZIGGER ZAGGER, ZIGGER ZAGGER."
The shed reply as one voice,
"OI, OI, OI"
"Christ this is something else," says Jim as he stands at the back of the Shed taking in the expectant atmosphere.
"So what'd we do," asks Colin.
"We stay at the rear, and look for weak points when they charge their end," replies Merrill.
"Fuck that," replies Tiny; "lets charge their end ourselves."
Wallace runs over and stands in front of Tiny, "No! We're the fire brigade, we plug the gaps, so you stand and wait."
"Bollocks, you're always spoiling my fun!" he replies.
Wallace throws him an angry look, but Tiny just laughs out loud, and says, "relax you Sweaty Sock, I'm winding you up."

Hold up!" shouts Little John, "The Generals charging their end."
The North Stand watch as the Shed stream towards the far end, with the General at their front; holding the Union Flag aloft as he runs. As he nears the low wall in front of the terraced home end, bottles start to rain down again. Some Chelsea supporters fall to the grass, as the bottles start to find their target. Bruges supporters at the left side of the terrace start to jump the wall, and run onto the pitch and rush towards the rear of the Shed.
"Look!" Merrill shouts a warning, "They're trying to encircle the Shed.
"Well let's have 'em then!" screams Parkhead whose face is still covered in blood.
"Look!" shouts Little John, "Here comes their filth, anyone still got a knife better get rid of them."
"Like fuck," replies an indignant Lenny.
"You get caught with a knife they'll throw away the key after what we did before the game," warns Steve.
Lenny thinks for a moment, and reluctantly takes his switchblade out, "But we only just bought these in Ostend." He says indignently. as he throws it on the grass.
Merrill turns to the North Stand, "Stay together what ever happens."
He looks at Wallace and nods, and then Ian raises his right arm, and throws it forward; screaming "Charge!"

The North Stand stream towards the Bruges supporters who are now nearing the side of the Shed. Heads turn, as they hear the cries of the North Stand. Taken by surprise some turn and run back to the side terrace, those that stand their ground are engulfed in the speed of the charge. Tiny runs past the first of the Bruges supporters and picks up a bottle from the grass; turning he brings it down on the nearest head. Tommy ducks another bottle as it flies past him, stopping he picks it up, turning to his Bolton boys, he shouts, "use their bottles against them."
The sound of braking glass punctuates the turmoil, and soon the Bruges supporter's stream back to the safety of the side terrace.

The Shed are stopped short of the low wall by the hail of bottles, and the Bruges supporters start to sense this is there moment. Ones and twos leap the low wall and run towards the Shed, but are turned back by the superior numbers. Small numbers of police reach the rear of the Shed boys, but are quickly set upon, and beat a hasty retreat. It is at this point that one of the Stockwell boys proudly walks around the back of the Shed with a police dog on a lead.
"Look at that crazy bastard," laughs Debbie.
Jim looks over and smiles, "he's taking the fucking thing for a walk."
"There's a copper," shouts Wallace, pointing to a policeman kneeling on the grass clearly dazzled after being beaten up. Wallace races towards him, and kicks him in the head. Turning back he looks down policeman who is writhing in agony, bending over Wallace pulls a gun from the officers belt, and stands looking at it. He runs back over to Merrill, and shows off his trophy.
"Don't be a cunt, they'll give you fucking life over here, for using that." Merrill warns.
"Oh well, fuck it; easy come, easy go" he says as he unloads the pistol and throws the bullets away. He looks at the gun one last time, then throws it back towards the centre circle.

"Hey look the Shed are over the wall," shouts Little John.
"And here comes the charge," warns Steve, as he points to the large group of Bruges supporters running across the terrace towards the Chelsea supporters already on the terrace.
"Now's the moment, let's take them in the rear," cry's Little John, and raising his arm he shouts, "Charge"
The North Stand stream towards the right side of the terrace, but as they near the low wall, run into a hail of bottles.
"Pick them up and throw them at the roof' commands Merrill, pointing to the low roof that covers the terrace.
Sandy runs over to him and opens the bag she has been carrying since they left Ostend, "this is the moment I've been waiting for.' She gasps as she takes out a number of small bottles.
"What the fuck are those?" Merrill asks in amassment.
"These mate are Sulphuric Acid!" she replies with a smile, bringing her right arm back and throwing the first bottle at the roof. They stand and watch as the small bottle smashes against the roof, sending its contents pouring down onto the Bruges supporters.
"Fucking ace!" shouts a jubilant Tiny as he watches the Bruges supporters screaming as the acid falls on them.
Wallace moves over to them and points to the centre of the terrace, "Look the Shed are on the terrace." Heads turn and watch as the Shed fight it's way up centre of the terrace.

Jumping the wall Merrill, and Wallace attacked the Bruges supporters trying to work their way around from the side terrace, as they are joined by the rest of the North Stand, the Bruges supporters are beaten back and start to run down the outside of the terrace and retreat through the main gate.
"Come on," Screams a jubilant Tiny; "we've got them on the run."
"No!" shouts Merrill; "back to their end, or we'll get sandwiched between the two."
Tiny stops in his tracks, looking at the departing Bruges supporters. "Fuck it! Just when we had them on the run."
"We still have to do their main mob yet pal," Colin reminds him.
Tiny turns and runs back towards the terrace, looking back he shouts. "Well don't just stand there, let's do the fuckers!"
Colin shakes his head and smiles, as he runs after Tiny, turning the corner and looking up at the terrace, he sees the Shed have nearly cleared it, but one pocket of resistance remains. A group of around twenty Bruges supporters are standing their ground. Tommy and his Bolton boys are attacking the rear of the group, while Dave's Salford boys are fighting the left side; neither is giving ground.

As Merrill and Wallace run towards the fighting they see a Bruges supporter standing apart from the main group, swinging a hollow metal pole, rescued from a broken crush barrier.
"Fuck me!" cries Wallace; "look at that cunt in the white, no one can put him down.
I'm not surprised, "retorts Lenny; "the cunts got to be six foot six, and I've already been hit by the bloody pole, and believe me it fucking hurts."
Merrill looks towards the man in white, just in time to see Jim run up from behind, and jump on his back. The man in white brings his left arm up and grabs Jim's shirt, and sharply leans forward throws Jim over his body in an arc. He lands on the concrete terrace in a motionless heap.
"Right you lot," commands Merrill, "take him from the front, and keep his attention."
Wallace and Lenny look at each other with raised eyebrows, "It's always fucking us!" sighs Lenny.
Eight of the North Stand charge the man in white in a frontal attack, but fail to get near, as they duck and dive out of the way of the metal pole.

Merrill stands and watches the man in white as he takes on all comers, then walking up six steps he moves behind the man in white; then running down the terrace, he jumps in the air swinging both feet out in front of him. The drop kick lands on the back of the head of the man in white, who falls forward to the concrete. The pole goes crashing down the terrace, and is caught by Sandy, who picks it up and runs towards the man in white just as he starts to pick himself up.
"No you fucking don't cunt!" she screams as she brings the pole down on his head.
"Fuck you!" shouts Merrill, as he just rolls out of the way of the pole.

The General comes running over, chasing a group of Bruges supporters down the terrace. "Nice of you lot to have turned up;" he shouts mockingly.
Wallace throws a glance at the General, "and that's the thanks we get for watching you're back."
"Well don't just lay there Merrill," the General taunts; "we've got them on the run."
"Ignore it," laughs Wellsy as he runs over; "he's winding you up."
"I should fucking hope so.' Merrill replies holding his hand put to be pulled up.
Wellsy pulls him up and smiling says, "well you can't blame the guy; he comes over here and sees you having lay down on the job."
Merrill sees the funny side, and replies; "Once a Shed boy, always a Shed boy?"
Wellsy throws his head back in laughter, "You learn"

With the Bruges supporters now in full flight, The Shed march across the near empty terrace picking off the stragglers.
"WE ARE THE SHED,
WE ARE THE SHAD,
WE ARE, WE ARE,
WE'RE ARE THE SHED."
The chant echoes across the home end, as the Shed disappear around the corner towards the main gate.
Lenny holding his ribs looks around, and suddenly shouts, "Look out!"
Too late a lone Bruges supporter runs across to Parkhead, and bringing a knife down, plunges it into his back.
"Fucking hell!" screams Parkhead, as his left hand grabs his side.
The supporter runs down the terrace and disappears into the Shed boys.
Debbie runs over and lifts up Parkhead's jeans jacket, then pulls his Fred Perry tennis shirt up to revel a short cut above his kidneys. "You're lucky," she says; "It's only a scratch, you're jacket took most of the impact."
A relieved Parkhead lets go of his jacket, to reveal a blood stained Celtic scarf, "Fucking Cunt's ruined my scarf!" he yells in anger.

As the Shed charge for the open streets, police force shut the main gates, trapping them in the stadium. The General and Wellsy organise the Stockwell and Southfield's boys into human battering rams, as the repeatedly charge the gate. Wellsy sees that one of the gates is giving way at the top hinge, and spurs on the Shed. Then suddenly with an eerie sound of braking wood, the gate gives way and slowly falls into the street. The police panic and run, as the Shed charge out of the ground, and onto the main street.
The North Stand round the corner of the home end, as the gate falls, and Tiny starts jumping up and down; "Fucking Ace, They're smashed the gates down."
"Well let's join the fucking party then!" screams Colin.
The two of them run wildly through the gates followed by Lenny, Jim and Parkhead.
Little John turns to Merrill, "Well? Let's join them then!"
Merrill looks at Wallace who nods in excitement, "OK it's party time!" he yells, as they run through the gate.

Frightened shoppers run for cover as the Chelsea supporters now run riot, shop windows are smashed, and cars are over turned. Sirens screams as police reinforcements race to the main street. As the bulk of the Shed move up the main street, the North Stand stream out of the ground.
"Hey there's a bar over there!" shouts Little John, who runs over and disappears inside. The North Stand walk over and stand outside the pub, then look up the main street at the damage.
"Shit this is a fucking war zone," says Tiny.
"Time for a drink," replies Sandy.
"Well just don't go throwing any more fucking acid," says Wallace, as he walks inside.
"Used it all in the ground," Sandy replies with a smile.

As they walk inside, Little John is in a heated argument with the owner, who seeing more Chelsea supporters shouts in English; "No English in here, get out."
Wallace picks up a chair over his head and smashes it against the wall, "I ain't fucking English you bastard!"
"Bet he didn't say that when we fucking liberated these sorry cunts from the Krauts!" says Steve.
"He saw your SS jacket," laughs Little John as he leaps the bar, and helps himself to a bottle of whisky; after a few quick swigs, he throws it at the mirror at the back of the bar.
"Hey look!' says Merrill; "They've got a pool table." He walks over and picks up a red ball, looking at it, then tightens his grip and then punches a local who is about to hit him with a pool cue.
Sandy picks up a small round table and throws it through the front window, shouting; "That'll teach these bastards to beat us two nil."

Little John on seeing the pool table runs across the bar, and leaps on to it, standing in the middle he jumps up and down, signing, "We all come from London, do da do da." When there is a loud crack, Little John stops in his tracks as the sound of braking wood echo's across the bar. Then with a loud crashing sound the pool table splits across the middle and collapses. Little John lands in a heap in the middle of what remains of the pool table.
Everyone starts to laughs at him, as he lies on the floor, but they are interrupted by Debbie shouting from the front door, "Watch out here comes the filth."
Tommy alone with his Bolton boys, and Dave's Salford boys, who can't get in the packed pub, pick up the tables and chairs outside the bar and start to throw them at the advancing police.

Tiny and Colin run out with a hand full of beer bottles and start to throw them at the police. Steve gives Little John a helping hand to his feet, and they run outside; followed by the rest of the North Stand, and throw more bottles at the police.
"Come on," shouts Little John; "Let's make a run for the coaches."
"Hold on," shouts Colin walking back into the bar, and over to Wurlitzer Juke Box; "I've always wanted a one of these."
Oh do me a fucking favour pal!" Replies an astonished Tiny.
Colin turns and looks at Tiny, a broad grin worms it's way across his face. "Well come on then, don't just stand there." He leans forward and putting both hands on the side of the Wurlitzer, starts to push.
Tiny shakes his head as he grabs the other side, and pulls. There is a squeak as the wheels of the Juke Box start to moves; "Lovely!" Exclaims Colin.
"Never knew they were so easy to move," says Tiny as he backs into a chair and falls backwards onto the floor.
The Juke Box comes to an abrupt stop, Colin frowns as he pushes with all his might, but the Wurlitzer, refuses to move.
Tiny regains his feet, and glances to the door, "fuck me!" He exclaims as he see the police outside the front door.
"I'd rather not if I can help it, I prefer girls, but only the kind that bleed." Says Colin with a smile, and continues to push in vein, as the Juke Box refuses to move.
Tiny starts to laughs as he points to the floor.
"Now is not the time to be fucking around," shouts Colin, "now bloody well push."
Tiny again glances to the front door, then back to Colin, "Be an idea if you unplugged the fucking thing first."
Colin looks down at the floor, and sees the think black plastic lead; he's eyes follow it till it reaches a large white plug, anchored firmly into a wall socket. "Oh Bollocks!" He screams, as he at last realises it's time they weren't there.
He kicks out with his right foot, smashing the large glass front panel, "Quick, leg it out the back."

As they run off, the police enter the pub, and see Merrill and Wallace sitting on the bar drinking bottles of Stella.
"Time we weren't here too," says Wallace, who looking around sees the door at the back of the bar; "Come on, this way."
"Hold on," shouts Merrill, as he picks up bottles of Scotch, and throws them on the floor in front of the police.
Wallace stops at the back door, looks back and shouts, "Come on, it's clear out here."
Merrill pulls a small book of matches out of his pocket; tearing one off he strikes it. Then holds it over the other match heads, which burst into flame. Looking up at the police, who have stopped in their tracks and are staring at him with expectant eyes; he smiles and then throws the book of burning matches across to the large pool of Scotch on the floor. The police turn as one and run for the front door, as the flaming book of matches hit the Scotch, there is a soft whoosh, followed by a dull bang, as the Scotch ignites. As flames dance into the air, Merrill runs for the back door, and with Wallace they disappear into a back ally.

The damage after the 'Battle of Bruges' was so bad that the tour company that organised the trip were banned from operating in Belgium for a year.