Chelsea Millwall Riot!
Chelseasupportern, John King`s bok, Football Factory blir film. Texten på engelska är hämtad från, "Matthew Hardings Blue & White Army".
Chelsea Millwall Riot!
By The Reporter
Date: 23/5/2003
Riot police were called to Bermondsey yesterday, as about 40 of Chelsea's top boys took on around 80 of Millwall's elite front-line troops. The fight, close to The New Den, was eventually broken up by the police, but not before a member of one of Chelsea's younger firms was seriously injured.
While the Millwall crew had their young spotters out searching for the main Chelsea mob, a select few from West London's finest had slipped into the heart of enemy territory unnoticed, after travelling to South East London in small groups before eventually joining forces close to the ground.
After several hours of 'cat and mouse' with both their opponents and the local police, the two firms met on a small piece of waste ground between the myriad of railway arches that surround the Millwall stadium.
After the briefest of standoffs, the two sides began fighting, with neither wishing to concede any ground. While some individuals fought toe to toe, some of the combatants found themselves overwhelmed and were taking heavy beatings.
As the battle intensified, a Millwall 'snatch squad' picked out one particular Chelsea supporter who'd bravely steamed in single handed and managed to separate him from the rest of his comrades. As the fighting raged, the unlucky Blue was dragged away to behind the Millwall front line and was severely beaten before losing consciousness after receiving serious head injuries.
As the rest of the Chelsea gallantly held their line, the police arrived to try to restore order. Protected by their riot helmets and wielding their batons, they got straight in amongst it as they tried to separate the two sides. Realising that the police had turned up, most of the fighting began to stop as people turned their attention to escaping from the long arm.
As both sets of supporters began to withdraw, the police suddenly found their resources stretched and those at the edge of their own lines began to come under pressure from both sets of supporters as some of the retreating foot soldiers began to skirmish with them. However, the police had the final say, as order - to that particular little part of London at least - was eventually restored.
As if you hadn't already guessed, the above 'battle' was a scene from a film that is being made of the cult classic book "Football Factory" that was written by Chelsea supporter John King. Filmed within a Hasselbaink blast over the bar's distance away from the New Den (nah - it was closer than that!), the two firms were comprised of both genuine Chelsea and Millwall supporters (with a few other odds and sods thrown in) who'd sportingly agreed to turn up to take part in the day's events.
After at least 11 hours filming and many attempts to get the action looking right, there were the inevitable minor injuries to some. However, although at times some of the acting looked like it might turn into the real thing, as soon as the order "Cut!" was shouted, all involved just stood up, laughed about it and shook hands with their opposite numbers and prepared to do it all again.
At the end of the day's filming, all those who took part then went back to the location base to find iced bottles and cans of lager waiting for them. As the now weary actors enjoyed their drink, all were agreed that it had been a brilliant day.
As the 'main actors', those who had the leading roles in the film were privileged enough to be allowed to see some of the footage that had been shot and, by all accounts, what they saw looked very real. Perhaps that is little wonder considering that most of those who took part had some experience or other of what might commonly be described as 'terrace culture'.
As I said previously, it was a top day and all involved are now walking at least two inches off the ground, safe in the knowledge that they will have played their part in what will surely become the movie about football culture that will set the standard.
Those 'in the know' say that, while the filming is nearly complete, the long task of cutting and editing has still to come and the producers hope that it will be ready for release in the late summer of 2004. Stay tuned to this channel for more news on "Football Factory".
