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

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He was seen at the Star Inn, in Newcastle city centre, before travelling with other hooligans to the Belle Vue pub, in Gateshead. Full details of a carefully co-ordinated clash have emerged in the case of one of the men linked to the brawl, which terrified families in Wrekenton, Gateshead. And when members of the notorious Newcastle Gremlins firm clashed with Stoke City supporters in December, Watson was linked to the trouble throughout the day.

The 30-strong gang included 11 people who have had bans. Minutes later, police were alerted to two minibuses containing Stoke fans and the trouble unfolded. He was also spotted by police celebrating the Gremlins’ 25th anniversary during a day in York with some of the gang’s most notorious members. As a generalisation people get involved in this sort of activity because they enjoy it. It is something they look forward to. They enjoy the fighting, the organisation behind it and everything that is involved with these gangs. It is obviously also about respect, upholding the reputation of your city and club. At Kapke’s hearing, PC Steve Graham, of Northumbria Police’s football intelligence unit, presented a dossier telling how a group of United’s so-called “risk supporters” gathered as early as noon in Newcastle city centre.

Legend

It cost more than £1 million to bring the thugs to court, including legal fees for the individual prosecutions and the costs of Operation Crusade. By 4pm, the number of Toon thugs at the Belle Vue had reduced, with Kapke and associates Noel Renton, Lee Mattinson and Gary Hewitson seen milling around the doorway before leaving. Mr Hyland said "Such incidents provide huge logistical problems for both the police and prosecutors.

NME, From the Bender Squad to the Gremlins, attempts to cover every major event in the world of Newcastle football violence over the last five decades. 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. He was also part of a group that travelled away to Middlesbrough in November. Spotters identified 120 Toon fans, including 60 hooligans, on a train on their way to Teesside. Stoke fans were inside a minibus by the Seven Stars and as a flashpoint neared, Watson was seen walking down the street. Two rival groups of soccer yobs clashed in a bloody battle which police compared to scenes from the film Braveheart.For crime news in your area direct to your inbox every day, go here to sign up to our free newsletter Read More Related Articles Suttle spent more than two hours drinking with around 25 notorious football yobs in Darlington’s Hogan’s Pub. Many of Mennim’s ‘comrades’ from the 80s and 90s gave up the violence when they settled down and had families. Often decisions are made that knifes won't be used but other weapons are acceptable. But just because there is some co-operation to arrange the fights doesn't stop things like ambushes.