Hooligans: 3. Riots and Reputations

Gangster

BBC

True Crime, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.8 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 21 March 2025

⏱️ 24 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the aftermath of the Heysel tragedy, Margaret Thatcher declared war on the hooligans. It was a watershed moment for English football. Tough new laws were called for - and the incident led to English clubs being banned from Europe for 5 years. But there was more trouble on the horizon. The mobs had found a loophole. Friendlies. And in August 1986, that led to a full blown riot on a ferry in the middle of the North Sea.

Some of those onboard the ferry that night tell their side of the story. When the law caught up with those involved, it came down hard.

Presenter: Tony Bellew Series Producer: Emma Forde Producer: Patrick Kiteley Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Development Producer: Holly Clemens Production Co-ordinator: Ellie Dover Assistant Commissioner: Lorraine Okuefuna & Sarah Green Commissioning Editor: Louise Kattenhorn Editor and Executive Producer: Carl Johnston

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:04.8	You're about to listen to Gangster Presents, Hooligans.
0:08.1	Episodes will be released weekly wherever you get your podcasts, but if you're in the UK,
0:12.3	you can listen to the full series right now, first on BBC Sounds.
0:17.7	A quick warning, this podcast contains strong language, descriptions of violence and some
0:22.5	content you may find upsetting. From BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Live, I'm Tony Bellew and this
0:30.1	is Gangster Presents, Hooligans. Episode 3, riots and reputations.
0:36.6	It's all mayhem here in Brussels, violence and ugliness and already injuries, some of which look very serious.
0:44.0	I watched last night. I watched what people say. I felt exactly the same.
0:47.6	Smoke bombs have scattered through the air here, riot police with shields and visors.
0:52.7	It isn't that we're numb, we're worse than numb.
0:55.5	We witness that agony.
0:57.5	Still at least a couple of hundred people on the pitch.
1:00.5	Still one or two bodies being tended by ambulance men.
1:03.7	Everything but everything must be done.
1:06.2	Because I felt like love was boiling too.
1:11.6	I was only three years old when Heisel happened,
1:14.6	but I now cast a massive shadow over my city, Liverpool.
1:18.6	One that should never be forgotten.
1:20.6	The day after the tragedy, John Keith,
1:22.6	who was working for the Daily Express, travelled back from Belgium.
1:26.6	I got home on the Thursday, Nackard from Brussels, and my wife said, oh, there's been a message
	...

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