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Section 5’s John Ritchie joined us at Awayday Radio for a chat about all things Terrace & Casual. This is what he had to say.

Thanks for joining us, John! How did you get into football and when?

I first got onto the football scene when I was about 15-16 years old. I’ve always been interested in it from when I was young and my dad used to take me up to the Birmingham City games from a small boy.

 

What was your first memory of trouble at a football match?

I witnessed first-hand violence so it’s always been some part of me. My dad was involved in it as well but never really spoke about it, so being at games with him I would witness stuff. First at blues games as I was born in Birmingham so he tried to get me to be a Blues fan. But we moved to Wednesbury near West Brom and I grew up to be a West Brom fan.

 

When did you become a football casual?

I became a football casual aged about 15-16 when we got the 1st youth hooligans at West Brom.

 

Who are your main rivals?

Our main rivals, there’s actually 2, the older lads say Aston Villa but the younger lot would say Wolves as we play them more regularly than Villa. We’ve had a few battles with Wolves but these days on match day the police are all over it which makes it difficult even though we try all night until something happens which is small scale really as the police showed up too quick. We’ve had battles when we’re not playing each other to try and get around the police but can’t talk about these as some of them the police haven’t found out about and some could still get people arrested as they’re quite recent and we don’t want that.

We’ve had big battles with Cardiff, Sheffield United, once with Villa, Wolves and Derby at their place. We came unstuck with Wolves a couple of times, Sheffield United under a subway once with only a few of us and recently with Everton.

 

 

Name is 5 firms you rate and why?

Firms I rate and why in no order:

  1. Leeds as they always bring good numbers wherever they go.
  2. Wolves, they have a good firm, big numbers, well organised and will come for it, not like other firms who are all mouth and dress like lads.
  3. Sheffield United only because we’ve had it with these a few times, home and away, so I will rate them.
  4. Everton, no one seems to mention these but again witnessed first hand they are game as fuck and will have it with you.
  5. Man United, got lads there from all over so they travel with big numbers wherever they go. They brought 100’s to West Brom thinking they could take the piss and have it easy. But that wasn’t the case at all, as they found out from small, little old West Brom! There are bigger and better firms out there like your Stokes, Millwalls, West Hams but I’ve put who I rate and why and that’s because I’ve had encounters with who I’ve rated and that’s why I picked those 5 teams.

 

Name 5 firms you don’t rate and why?

Teams I don’t rate and why:

  1. The villa as we’ve tried consistency over the last few years to organise something but it never happens. Always excuse from them. We’ve tried everything to make it happen, don’t get me wrong, there have been things that have happened late after games what some don’t know about but that’s all really.
  2. This will shock you but for me personally Leicester City. Been a couple of times recently and took big numbers as I know they’ve got a good firm and rated but what I expected and what actually happened let me down that’s all. There were a few little incidents but that was it I expected more but I don’t know the ins and outs like the O.B could of them wrapped up etc.
  3. Coventry (just to piss the twins off).

Their good lads really.

Don’t really know who else to put as I’m only going off personal experiences and being banned for the last 13 years or so I can’t make every game or meet so I don’t want to slag of teams for no reason.

 

What clobber do you wear down the match?

I usually wear the usual Stone Island, Aquascutum and Lacoste.

What was your music scene on your awayday?

The music scene has never really bothered me not as it does with the lads these days, I think half the lads these days prefer the music for the culture than the actual football scene (all the gear no idea).

 

And lastly, tell us what you enjoyed about being a football casual?

What I enjoyed about being a football casual was the crack you had with all the like-minded people and not just the violence the whole day just mucking about and having a laugh and blowing off steam. Also, I’ve made some great mates doing what I’ve been doing and would trust them more than most of my normal mates, we’ve always got each other’s backs. There’s a certain trust there that will never be broken.

Thanks for taking the time to speak with us at Awayday Radio, much appreciated.

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