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

🧾️ Download transcript

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

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Did you know that you can listen to many of your favourite podcasts first on BBC Sounds?
0:06.6	Like Desert Island Discs, where you can hear castaways like Cher, Gareth Southgate and Nick Cave,
0:12.7	and enjoy longer versions of the music they've picked.
0:15.7	Good things come to those who don't wait.
0:18.7	Listen to your favourite podcasts first on BBC Sounds.
0:23.9	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. You're about to listen to Gangster Presents
0:29.7	Hooligans. Episodes will be released weekly wherever you get your podcasts, but if you're in the
0:34.8	UK, you can listen to the full series right now, first, on BBC Sounds.
0:40.6	A quick warning, this podcast contains strong language, descriptions of violence and some content
0:45.8	you may find upsetting.
0:47.7	From BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Live, I'm Tony Bellew, and this is Gang Gangster Presents Hooligans. Episode 3, riots and
0:58.2	reputations. It's all mayhem here in Brussels, violence and ugliness and already injuries,
1:05.1	some of which look very serious. I watched last night. I watched what people say. I felt
1:09.2	exactly the same. Smoke bombs have scattered through the air here, riot police with shields and visors.
1:15.6	It isn't that we're numb, we're worse than numb. We witness that agony.
1:20.4	Still at least a couple of hundred people on the pitch. Still one or two bodies being tended by ambulance men.
1:26.6	Everything but everything must be done.
1:29.0	Because I felt my love was boiling too.
1:34.4	I was only three years old when Heisel happened,
1:37.6	but I now cast a massive shadow over my city, Liverpool.
1:41.4	One that should never be forgotten.
1:43.7	The day after the tragedy, John Keith, who was working for the Daily Express, Liverpool. One that should never be forgotten. The day after the tragedy, John Keith,
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.