CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

MANCHESTER CITY AWAY

Wednesday April 28th. 1971

Many people describe Manchester as the arse hole of England, a description that the North Stand would entirely agree with. An industrial centre from the eighteenth century, it's many factories and ex-work houses are now nothing but dirty brick canyons in run down areas. The terrace houses originally built for the workers, have now been turned into slums, which are rapidly becoming no-go areas. Main Road, the home of Manchester City; is in just such an area. Also built of red brick, it is surrounded by scruffy terrace houses.

At one end of the ground, by the turn styles, a supporters club has been built as part of the main structure. Walking in side you are greeted with a badly light hall, the centrepiece of which, is a number of snooker tables; with a bar over on the far wall. The dirty fitted carpet, and unwashed walls shout out that you are now in the North of England. The main rule of the house is that no away supporters are aloud inside these hallowed portals; but the North Stand, are the exception to the rule, and every year they drink in the club. As with the other main 'Firm' pubs across the country, the Man City Supporters Club is 'Holy Ground'. There is an unwritten law among fighting firms, that you don't break the truce of 'Holy Ground'.

Man. City is unusual in the local end, is not an end, but takes up the standing terrace that runs along one side of the ground, known as the Kipax. Man. City supporters unlike their United neighbours, where it is a miracle if you hear a Manchester accent; are respected for not joining the bandwagon, and supporting United.

Today is a special occasion, Dave from Salford is out of jail and this is his first match back with his North Stand 'family'. As this is a Cup game, a larger number of Midland Chelsea have turned up than normal, and Dave has brought thirty of the local Salford firm with him. Standing outside the Supporters club, they wait for the main North Stand to turn up, already attracting attention, from the local supporters, they are ready for action at a moments notice.

The sun is setting fast through the overcast sky, earlier showers, giving a gloss finish to roads and pavements; adding to the evening's already tense atmosphere, A Manchester accent shouts, "Dave!" heads turn.
Dave looks over towards the rapidly approaching youth with a Man City scarf on. Dave turns back to his Salford crew, and warns, "It's all right I know him."
He walks over to Brian Stone, leader of the main Kipax firm the Mainliners, "Good to see you, I heard you were inside," he says as they shake hands.
"Yeah, I was, got out last week thanks to Sandy, you see any of the others hanging around?"
Brian shakes his head, "No mate, I saw "The General" leading the shed towards the Kipax, but the police were holding them up."
Dave raises his eyebrows, in surprise, "How many of them then?"
"Hard to say really, looked over a thousand thou, took up the whole fucking street;" replies Brian.

"Dave!" shouts one of the Salford boys, "Here's Tommy." Heads turn and Dave looks over to see Tommy Hawkins leading around forty Chelsea from Bradford.
"Hey great to see yeah, you old bastard, so what was it like being banged up in Brixton?" Tommy says as he slaps Dave on the back.
"Fucking shit mate, to many bloody Cockney's;" replies Dave with a laugh.
"Come on I'll buy you a drink in the club," says Brian as he starts to walk to the club entrance.
"No it's all right I'm waiting for Merrill and Wallace, then we're going into the Kipax; I've got a lot of time to make up." Dave says with a menacing tone.

"Dave, Dave!" shouts a female voice, as she runs with open arms towards him.
"Fuck me, I think Sandy's discovered she has female hormones," laughs Wellsy, as he watches her run over to greet Dave.
"Bet he's on a good thing tonight," jokes Wallace, as they walk towards the Supporters Club.
"You know I somehow just can't visualise Sandy making love," says a puzzled Little John.
"I bet she'll be one of those that likes in on top," observes Wallace.
"Yeah, with fucking spurs on, and a whip in her hand." Wellsy chuckles.
"And don't forget he sprained his wrist in his cell," continued Wellsy.
"How'd he do that then?" queries Tiny.
"He was thinking about Sandy," laughs Wellsy.

The main North Stand firm, walk over to Dave and Tommy, watched by nervous local supporters, waiting to go in the ground.
"Right I'm for a quick drink, come on Dave," says Merrill, shaking hand.
"Thank for trying to raise the money for me trail," replies Dave,
"Think nothing of pal," he pauses looking at Wallace, "Well we don't have to bother about that now do we, besides I wasn't sure we could raise enough for that leach Mr. Fucking Gardner."
"Hold on we can't all go in, there's far too many of us;" Colin says as he looks at the growing numbers of the North Stand.
"Shit," says Wallace, "Dave, Tommy, Steve, & Little John, you come with us, the rest of Yeah wait here."
"Oh cheers pal!" says an indignant Merrill.
"Well I took it for granted you'd be joining us," laughs Wallace.

As they approached the club entrance Brian, runs out to meet them, clearly agitated, at the site of so many Chelsea. "Can't stop," he yells, "the Shed are in the Kipax!" he runs off closely followed by around a hundred City supporters.
Wallace turns and looks at Merrill, "Shit, it must be bad, if that lot are leaving already!"
"Yeah let's get round there then," he replies.
Tommy walks over and watching the departing City supporters, says; "What's going on?"
"Looks like "The General" and the Shed have taken the Kipax." Wallace replies.
"Right, Tommy, Dave, get your boys, and follow us," Wallace commands looking around to the rest of the North Stand; "Line up along the back wall," he looks around making sure everyone is listening, "No one moves in till we suss out what's going on."

Just over a hundred Chelsea North Stand, start to walk around the corner of the ground to the Kipax entrance. Where they see a group of police moving through the turnstiles, "Shit looks like all hell as broken out!" gasps Little John as he sees the police pushing people out of the way, as they go towards the turnstiles.
"Hey there's The General!" shouts Colin," pointing towards two policemen that have just released him, and are now going back through the turnstiles.
Chants of 'Chelsea, Chelsea' echo through the evening air from the Kipax. Tiny starts laughing, "Hey look he's paying to go back in."

"Hello, what's going on?" says a raised voice from behind Merrill, who turns to see Bo running up to him. "Hello mate, I think World War Three has just broken out in there, stay close, this is going to get brutal."
Bo nods and looks around to see the increased numbers of the North Stand. "They all Chelsea?" he says in surprise. "Yes," answers Merrill, "That's the North Stand's Foreign Legion, all the Midland and Northern boys that can't make the games in London.
"Shit!" exclaims Bo, "I had no idea there were so many."
Merrill laughs as they reach the turn styles. Bo looks at Merrill, noticing the black shirt and Black trench coat, "So where's your trade mark camouflage jacket then?"
Merrill shrugs his shoulders and says, "It was getting too well know, I was getting a tug from the filth, just for wearing it."

Merrill moves into the narrow corridor that houses one of the turnstiles, the noise of fighting greets him as he pushes past the turnstile gate, and walks into the packed passageway. "Fucking Cockney Bastards," says a Manchester accent.
Merrill looking over sees a youth leaning up against the wall, his face covered in blood. He casually walks over to him, and says, "You alright pal?"
The supporter freezes in terror as he hears the Cockney accent.
"Talking like that can damage your health," says Tiny, softly to the youth, then swings his elbow round and lands a blow squarely on the youth's nose, who falls pole axed to the floor.
It is then that Merrill notices the small United badge on his lapel.

"Fuck me!" says Wallace, can't Yeah wait till we get upstairs?"
Tiny looks round and says, "No one calls me a Cockney bastard."
"Hello Captain," says a man with close-cropped blonde hair and a German accent. Merrill spins round with surprise, "Stefan!" They embrace like long lost brothers.
"Here," queries Wallace, "he called you Captain?"
"Yes," answers Merrill, with his arm around Stefan's shoulders. "This is Sergeant Pottel, one of my men from the Congo."
Wallace looks at the German in amassment, "Fuck! You were in the Congo together?"
"Yes," says Merrill, but latter, we have other fish to fry now."

"You know that there are a lot of people here with United badges on?" says Stefan,
"Yes, says Wellsy, who has just walked through the turnstile, "They asked to come with us against City, but we told them to fuck off, we only run with Millwall."
Little John walks through the turnstile and over to the others, "Hello, who's this then?" pointing to Stefan,
"He's with us," answers Merrill, "an old friend, come on let's get up the stairs."
They start to walk up the stairs, and Ian moves over to be with Stefan, "So, got any dirt on Alan then?" he says with a smile.
Stefan looks at him as they climb the stairs, and chuckles, "You are Wallace then?" he asks.
Ian frowns as he looks at Stefan, "Yes why?"
Stefan laughs out loud, "Relax, I've heard all about you; So did Alan ever tell you about zee Cuban slag's, in Anglo?" Ian shakes his head, but smiles in anticipation of a juicy tit bit; "No, so what happened?"

"Well," Stefan continues as they climb the stairs, "We found a patrol of our Afrikaans, with their private parts cut off and shoved in their mouths." He pauses as they reach the terrace and move along the back wall, "We find one of them that has been shot, and vas left for dead. He tells us that they'd been ambushed by a patrol of Cuban bitches. So Alan shoots him and we go looking for them."
Wallace with a horrified look says, "Alan shot one of your own men?"
Stefan looks back surprised at the remark, "Yes of course, we travel light on horse back, and have no provision for caring for non walking wounded, and every one knows that rule before they start."

Ian stands there unable to comprehend what he is hearing.
"Anyway we find them, ambush them, and take six prisoner,"
"But you just told me that you don't take prisoners," says a puzzled Wallace.
"Yeah," Pottel continues, "But Alan hands them over to our Afrikaans so they could have some fun with them. Then after they've raped them, and brutalised them, he goes over and head shots each one of them."
"Shit!" says Ian with a horrified look on his face.
"Ha," says Stefan, I thought you knew what he was like?"

Wellsy enjoying the view from the back of the Kipax, starts to sing,
"BELL BUMS LEE,"
Then everyone joins in,
"LEE BUMS BELL,
BELL AND LEE, BUM SUMERBEE,
WITH A KNICK KNACK, PADDY WHACK,
GIVE A DOG A BONE,
WHY DON'T CITY, FUCK OFF HOME."

"Look there's The General," Colin interrupts pointing over to the right. Everyone turns to look at the right hand side of the covered terrace, where "The General" is in full flow with his Stockwell, and Southfield's boys.
"Come on let's get stuck in.," shouts Lenny Brown.
"No!" wait," commands Merrill, observing the whole of the Kipax, "Look," he points over to the left, at Brian and five hundred of his Kipax firm that are charging towards the Shed. "Take them from behind as they go past."
The North Stand wait and watch as the Mainline charge across the terrace and past them lower down the Kipax, and race towards The Shed in the thick of battle.
As the last ones run by, Merrill shouts; "NOW!"

Over one hundred and fifty of the North Stand charges down the terrace, taking the Mainline firm from behind. Bo swings an arm around a City supporter's neck sending him crashing down the terrace. Parkhead grabbing another he swings him around with his left hand, and lands a right hook on the chin, the youth falls back losing his balance and rolls down the terrace. Colin jumps on the back of another City supporter, but lands on his feet as they both fall; lashing out with his right foot, he sends him flying.

The Kipax mobs now realising that they are surrounded start to move down the terrace and back across to the left-hand side. Merrill feels a hand grab him from behind, and turns, but seeing it is a just one of a dozen policemen, freezes, and lets him grab his arm and lead him up the terrace to the exit.
Stefan seeing him go, shouts "Hold on Captain."
"No," shouts Ian grabbing his arm to stop him, "he's just being lead out, there's too much fighting for them to nick anybody right now. Besides we've learnt that when you get nicked, and you can't get away; you stay clam, 'cause a lot of times they'll let you go when they get you outside the ground. It's only the idiots that fight back, and then when they get you in court they fucking invent the evidence as they go along. Plus the fact that if you give them a hard time, they kick the fuck out of you in the van, and then say you fell over, when questioned about the bruises. No mate, its common sense, go quietly, and you get away with murder."
Stefan looks up the terrace, and shrugs his shoulders, "OK then, but I don't like it," he says as he grabs a Kipax youth by the collar of his bomber jacket, with both hands, and head butts him. The youth is knocked clean out.

Tommy, seeing Maggie surrounded by City supporters, runs over and grabs one by the hair, he swings him round, and smashing his head into one of the metal crash barriers. Steve grabs another City supporter, by the neck and punches him in the face. He then drags him over to a crash barrier forcing him over the top of it, and pummels punches onto his head. Another City supporter runs up behind Steve, and punches him in the back, Bo turning round sees him and sends a rabbit punch crashing into the back off his neck, dropping him like a brick to the ground.

One of the newly arrived police seeing Dave, runs over and grabs him by the arm, and starts to lead him out. Sandy walks over to the policeman, and with an angelic expression and says, "Excuse me Sir,"
He stops in his tracks, looking confused, and asks, "Yes what do you want?"
Sandy's expression changes to one of the possessed, and shouts; "Your Balls!" With this she brings up her knee, sharply into his groin.
Both Sandy and Dave run and vanish into the mass of Chelsea.

As more police swam onto the Kipax, they slowly form a line, down the terrace, and start to expel the Chelsea supporters, who are released as soon as they are marched out of the ground. They then run around the corner and pay to get back in.
"Looks like the filth are gaining control;" says Wellsy, as he looks around, at the milling crowd.
"Shit man, this is fucking wicked, there are thousands of Chelsea in here," gasps Tommy.
"But we can't get at city now!" sighs an annoyed Tiny, seeing the four deep police line stopping them from getting at the City supporters.
"OK everyone over by the wall, shouts Wallace, pointing to the low wall that marks the start of the empty terrace still under construction behind the goal; " let the shed do their thing."
"Bollocks!" exclaims Colin, "we can have the filth from behind."
"And then get taken from behind ourselves?" says Merrill, pointing to the police running around the side of the pitch, to get into the Kipax.

One hundred minutes latter the despondent Mainline, and other city firms, are lusting for revenge; not only for loosing the cup-tie, but for the humiliation of having the Kipax taken. Pouring out of the ground like a pack of hungry wolfs, they try and get past the police lines, but "The General" outsmarts them and leads the Shed, into Main Road itself, and takes them on a D-tour around the block, in order to come back to the ground, taking City in the rear, five thousand jubilant Chelsea supporters start singing.
"WE'RE GONNA WIN THE CUP,
WE GONNA WIN THE CUP,
AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US;
WE'RE GONNA WIN THE CUP."
As they disappear into the damp evening, their feet splashing in the rainwater.

As the crowds stream out of the stadium, the North Stand leave the ground but are stopped from joining the massing ranks of the Shed by a police cordon.
Looking back Wallace sizes up the situation, "I don't like the look of this."
"Too fucking right pal!" says a nervous Parkhead; "we get cut off here, we've had."
Wallace looks over to Merrell and shouts, "Well, which way?"
Merrell points to a side street, "Up here, and make it quick."
"OK, everybody make your own way to Piccadilly, either by bus or taxi," shouts Wallace.
"What's going on then," asks Stefan, as he moves over to Merrill.
"Well we were going to ambush the Mainline mob, in Piccadilly, but all the City firms are together in one group," answers Merrell pointing to a police cordon by the corner of the ground, with thousands of City supporters behind it. "And we're split up into small groups; and if they come across us walking back to the station, even we wouldn't stand a fucking chance."
Wellsy is the first to turn the corner, and sees two buses, pulling up at a bus stop fifty Yards down the road. "Quick," he yells, looking back; "there's two buses."

As over a hundred Chelsea supporters run down the dimly light street, giving off ghost like reflections from the puddles of rainwater. The conductor seeing their headlong rush towards him panics, and rings the bell to start the bus. "Quick!" shouts Little John, the fucking things going." He reaches the rear open platform and jumps on; stretching up he rings the bell twice.
The bus skids to a stop, sending the conductor, flying forward. "Oi, what the hell do you think you're doing?" he yells at Little John as he rings the bus off again.

"Shit how many got on?" says Wallace as he climbs the stairs, to the upper deck.
"About a dozen, by the looks of those left behind," says Tiny, as he looks into the darkness out of the upstairs back window, seeing the group of North Stand trying to get on the other bus.
"OK let's have a head count," says Merrill, as he stands at the front of the bus, "Right, Wallace, Tiny, Little John, Colin, Lenny, Tommy," he pauses a moment and smiles; "Might of known Dave and Sandy would be together."
"Don't forget me!" shouts Steve, from the back;
"And me!" shouts "Parkhead".
"OK, don't have a baby," he says grinning.
"There's Maggie, downstairs, Bo, and your German geezer," continues, Tiny.
"I'm here," says Jim Crow, as he leads the others up the stairs.

"Shit only fifteen!" exclaims Wallace.
"No problem says Tiny, "We all bit through our own umbilical cords, and the mainline are still sucking their mummies tits."
The others laugh, but know that if they get caught on their own, they'll be in trouble.
"Hey Jim shouts from the back of the bus; "The other bus has turned off!" Fourteen heads turn as one, to see the rear of the other bus disappear from view.

"Fuck that, do they know where to meet?" says Lenny,
"Yes," answers Colin; "but if we don't all meet up together it could get dodgy."
Maggie walks up to Merrill and sits on his lap, "Did all of Tommy, and Dave's boys catch the other bus?"
"Fuck knows," replies Colin, he looks back to Tommy; "Did you see them?"
Tommy shrugs his shoulders, and says "I saw a few get on the other bus, but most of them were left behind."
"No problem," cuts in Dave; "They'll join up with the Shed."
"I don't like all this confusion!" snarls Parkhead, "This ain't like us."
"Well at lest we won't have the filth waiting for us." Laughs Tiny; "that little problem seems to have been eradicated."
Merrell looks over to Wallace, and smiles.
"What you smiling at?" says Debbie.
"He must be getting a hard on with you sitting on him;" jokes Wallace.

The conductor climbs the stairs, and stands at the back nervously looking at the North Stand. "You want us to pay then?" says Colin.
"Where are you lot going, or is that a silly question," says the conductor, looking nervously around the upper deck.
"Relax pal," says Wallace, "We ain't here to cause trouble, just call us when we get to Piccadilly."
The conductor looking relieved find now finds his voice, "Well as long as you don't cause any trouble you can ride for free," then as an after thought, he says; "Lest I can do for you lot beating City?"

Wellsy looks back to him and says, "Oh no, not fucking Manure?"
The conductor stops smiling, as Stefan asks, what the fuck is Manure?"
"Ha!" says Merrill, "Man United, Man U., Manure, get it?"
Stefan laughs, turning to Wellsy, "One of yours I suppose?"
Wellsy smiles back, then looks to the conductor; "Well at least you're the first fucker I've met that supports them and actually lives in this dump."
"Where the fuck did you come from?" exclaims Colin.
"Getting me breath back down stairs after running for this fucking bus," replies Wellsy.
The conductor looks out of the window, and says with relief, "Hey this is your stop!"
Merrill looks out of the window into the dark and damp night, then turns to the conductor, "Where the fuck are we?"
The conductor pointing to the front of the bus says, "Piccadilly is three blocks that way."
"OK, let's go" shouts Wellsy, as he gets up from his seat.

Stepping onto the damp pavement, Colin huddles over to stand under the bus shelter, putting his hand out; he watches the rain splash on his hand.
"What do you expect, it's fucking Manchester!" mutters Wellsy, as he too ducks under the shelter.
"Right let's get down to Piccadilly," says Merrill as he starts to walk along the pavement.
"Hadn't we better wait for the others?" queries Colin;
"How do we know they'll get off here," answers Wallace, still under the bus shelter.
"Aren't we going to wait for the others," says Bo, as he walks after Merrell.
"No they'll follow, we need to get to Piccadilly before the City do," replies Merrell.

At this moment the silence is broken by a deafening roar coming from around the corner, everyone stops and looks back. At that moment a mob of around one hundred supporters comes running into view.
"They're fucking Cockneys!" shouts one of them.
"Get the bastards!" shouts another.
They run towards the bus shelter, where half a dozen of the North Stand are still sheltering.

"Oh shit," cry's Wallace as he turns to face the mob, "Come on then," he screams at the top of his voice at the mob.
Wellsy breaks shelter and runs towards them, followed by the others from the shelter. Those at the front of the mob stop dead in their tracks, surprised that so few have the bottle to charge so many. Little John runs over and throws a punch at one of those standing at the front, he turns and runs; "Wanker!" shouts Little John.
Wallace runs up and kicks another, as the front-runners of the mob start to move back.

Merrill seeing the mob surrounding the bus stop shouts, "Come on, help them out," and starts to run back to the bus shelter.
Bo and Stefan, run after him, followed by Tommy, Dave, Jim Crow, Sandy, and Maggie. On seeing this second group of Chelsea supporters running towards them, those at the rear of the mob panic and start to run. Merrill raises his elbow and on the run, smashes it into the first face that runs past him. Stefan grabs another, and holds him from behind in a bear hug. Sandy runs up and kicks him in the crutch. Salford follows her and punches the youth in the face with a right upper cut.

"They're on the run!" shouts Wellsy,
"Quick after them," shouts Little John, but Wallace turns and grabs his arm shouting.
"No stay here." Steve shouts, "Look Alan's going after them."
Wallace looks up and shouts "Alan!" But at that moment his heart stops, as over a thousand City supporters stream around the corner.
"Fucking hell!" yells Steve, as he backs up to the bus shelter.
"Get back to the wall," shouts Wallace.
Wellsy, Little John, Colin, Lenny, Tommy from Bradford and "Parkhead"; back up to the wall of the office building at the bus stop.

"This lot didn't put up much of a fight," says Stefan to Merrill, as they run after the first mob.
"Watch out for them stopping and turning," says Merrill; " just run straight into them if they do."
Bo looks around as he runs and sees, Bo, Jim, Sandy and Maggie, running with him.
"They're going into that pub," says Stefan.
"Right after them, we've got 'em," shouts Merrill.
The first of the mob charge through the door of the pub, but those following start to pile up behind them; fighting amongst themselves as they try to push their way into the pub.

Stefan and Merrill charge into those still trying to get through the door, closely followed by the rest. Bo hits one of them, but is knocked of balance as they turn to run down the road. Sandy sticks her foot out, and trips one over as he runs past. Jim runs into those nearer the door, hitting anyone that gets in his way.
"Leave those that run, get those in the pub," shouts Merrill as he grabs one of the mob and runs him into the pub wall headfirst.
Most of those outside now start to run towards Piccadilly.
"Look!" shouts Maggie as she pulls a scarf from one of the mob; "They're fucking Manure!"

Little John kicks out at the first City supporter that runs over to the wall, Wellsy grabs another swinging him around into the wall, letting him go, he turns but is kicked in the leg. Wallace jumps on the back of the one that throw the kick, they both fall to the floor. Wallace rolls over and gets up as Lenny kicks the City supporter full in the face, as he is getting up. Now having them completely surrounded, the City mob press home their attack. "Parkhead" is the first one to go down, attacked by three supporters, one of which grabs him from behind and holds him while the other two start kicking and punching him. Wellsy sees them and moves over, bringing his elbow down on the nearest head, with a crack, "Shit!" he shouts as hits his funny bone.

Wallace seeing "Parkhead" on the pavement, pushes over to him, bending down to pick him up, a kick lands on his right thigh, he turns and punches his assailant in the face. Turning back he picks up "Parkhead", and pulls him over to the wall. Wellsy grabs another City supporter, by the neck, and starts to rain punches onto his nose, letting him go he falls to the pavement. Little John grabs another around the neck, and runs him into the bus stop, letting him drop; he turns and receives a punch on his left cheek. He staggers back a step, and then races forward to the City supporter who turns and runs.

Merrill is the first one to make the pub door, kicking it open, he runs in, and seeing a flowerpot on a wall stand; he picks it up and throws it into the mass of people in the bar. Stefan and Jim follow him in, the people sitting near the door, panic and get up and rush further inside. Stefan picks up one of the vacant stools and moves in, using it as a club. Jim picks up another two, looking over to Merrill he shouts, "Alan! Here." Merrill turns to see a stool flying towards him, putting his right arm up he catches it and brings it down on the nearest head.

"Leave them, and get in the pub," shouts Sandy to Bo, as those of the mob still outside start to run towards Piccadilly.
"What about them," he shouts, as he points over to the people pouring out of the other door.
"Leave 'em they don't want to know," she runs inside and joins in the mayhem.
Most of the people in the pub have now run out, and the fighting is centred on those pushing their way to the other door. Merrill brings his stool down on the back of one of the Manure, who goes crashing to the floor.

Bo and Stefan are standing over three bodies by the bar, "Hey, this is better than Afrika," he chuckles to Bo. "Oh, I see, you mean it makes a change from killing Blacks?" Stefan throws Bo a curious look, "Hey I get paid to fight, I don't gives a fuck, if they're Black or White, as long as their money's Green."
"Hey you two," says Maggie, as she walks over to them; "Your supposed to be on the same side, you want to start that shit, don't do it with us."
They both at Maggie then look back to each other and raise their eyebrows.

Little John is quickly surrounded by City supporters, who punch and kick him to the ground. Wallace runs forward to help Little John, and comes face to face with Brian Stone, then without hesitation he grabs him by both ears and rams his head into his up thrusting knee. Stone collapses like a brick, knocked clean out. The other members of the Mainline, seeing their leader motionless on the ground, start to run. Wallace then grabs Little John, and they both back away to the bus shelter, where the others are still fighting.

At this moment police sirens cut through the damp night air, those City supporters around the bus shelter start to join those already running. Wellsy, and Colin charge forward, shouting, "Chelsea!" Colin catches one fleeing Mainliner around the neck, and kicks his feet from under him. Wellsy knees him in the face as he goes down. Steve covered in blood, runs forward, followed by Tommy, and "Parkhead"; but the Mainline have joined the rest of the fleeing mob.

"Hold on," shouts Wallace, as he grabs Steve, "Stay here, or we'll get split up again!"
The others turn around, and start to take stock, Steve, Lenny, and "Parkhead", are cut and bruised. Wallace is standing looking at his blood-covered cloths; Wellsy walks over and says, "You cut?"
Wallace starts laughing, "Hey look none of this is mine," he says with relief; then looking around and taking stock he says, "Where's Merrill and the others?"

"Parkhead" staggers over holding his right side, and says, "I don't know last time I saw him, he was running in that direction."
"WHAT!" Wallace shouts in disgust, "he fucking run?"

"Oi you lot stay here!" shouts the pub landlord; "I've called the police." Merrill looks round from the door, to the landlord who is standing behind the bar; then looks over to Stefan, and nods. Stefan grabs the landlord's shirt with his left hand, and picks up an empty Watney's Brown Ale bottle, with the other, bringing it down on his head.
"Oi," shouts Bo, "that's going too far,"
Merrill throwing him a menacing look, answers, "No it ain't, he's fucking Manure, look around you."
Bo looks across to the wall next to the bar, and seeing the Manchester United Team photo's says, "There's no need for that thou."
Stefan picks up another empty bottle of Brown Ale, turning to Bo he says, "You don't like it kaffa, what you going to do about it."

Bo backs off, he's face contorted with anger, he turns, looking over to Merrill, who has also grabbed a bottle. Bo looks around at Jim and Sandy, who too have bottles, and are looking straight into Bo's eyes. Merrill walks over to Bo and they stand face-to-face, "No one questions what we do, if you don't like it; leave."
Bo stares back at Merrill, shakes his head slowly, knowing he's on his own he turns and walks out of the pub in disgust.

Maggie walks over to Stefan "You bastard!" she shouts.
Stefan looks over to Merrill, who shakes his head. "Let's hope you don't have weaklings with you next time we meet Captain," he says as he walks over and shakes Merrill's hand.
They embrace; "I don't know if there will be a next time, I'm thinking of staying in London," says Merrill.
Stefan gives a shocked look and says, "I'm off to Mozambique next week, Alf Wiederzen Captain."
"Stefan!" Merrill calls after him as he walks to the door, "Don't touch Bo, he's OK really, just not used to the things we do. Besides his old man's a big knob in Africa, and we may work for him one day."
Stefan looks back, smiles and says, "No problems Captain."

"Hey there's the station!" says Wellsy, more in relief than surprise.
"Good let's get up there and have a drink," answers Wallace, as they turn the corner, and sees the ramp that leads up to Piccadilly Station.
"I could do with a drink after that," says Little John, "Fuck the drink," replies Tommy, I could do with a kip, I fucking hope the trains in."
The eight of them walk up the ramp, now lined with police, who smile and make jokes at the site of eight Chelsea supporters covered in blood and bruises.

Walking into the packed station, they push their way into the bar; no one says a word as they look at the blood covered North Stand.
"The General" walks over to Wallace, and says, "What the fuck happened to you lot?"
Wallace looks up and says, "We just took on the whole of the Kipax mob, on our own,"
"The General" shakes his head, in disbelief, "Your fucking mad you lot." Then looking around adds, "So where's Merrill then," Wallace looks around at all the silently starring faces, and replies; "Last time we saw him he was running away." "The General's" face turns to one of shock, "You're fucking kidding, I thought you two were joined at the hip.

"What the fuck happened to you?" says Merrill with a smile, as he walks into the bar, and sees Wallace.
"You cunt!" screams Wallace, "You fucking ran and left us."
Merrill's face is now the one that turns to one of shock, "What the fuck are on about?" he demands.
Wallace looks up in disbelief, "When that mob came round the corner you fucking ran, look at me," he says handing out his blood stained arms; "you fucking left us!"

Merrill turns round to Jim, Sandy, and Maggie, frowns in disbelief, and then turns back to Wallace; "We chased that mob of United into a pub, and smashed the fucking thing up. I never knew you weren't with us, till we emptied it." He pauses and looks round at all the starring faces. "There were two fucking mobs," he continues, "Manure must have been running from the Mainline, there must have been over a five hundred of them."
On hearing this news, Wallace's mouth drops, "Shit I had no idea, when that second mob came round the corner, we stood and fought."

Wellsy walks over to Merrill and Wallace, putting his arms around both he says "Easy mistake in the heat of battle."
Wallace looks Merrill in the eye, "But you owe me a drink for this," pointing to a cut above his eye.
"Shit man, I had no idea there was a second mob." Says a shocked Merrell.
Wallace shakes his head and smiles at Merrill, and says, "Forget it, we have bigger things to worry about."