JASPER THOMPSON – HUDDERSFIELD

I first got into football when I was a small boy.  I went to the games with my Dad, Uncles and their friends. In the seventies and eighties, a hardcore group of 50 lads went to the games from my hometown Heckmondwike. They travelled to away games together with the infamous Chilly Bus Crew. They loved a good drink, a laugh and a good punch up. I witnessed first-hand violence so it’s always been some part of me. My Dad and the lads were involved, so being with them at games I would witness stuff. It was a buzz and a privilege to be with the old heads.

First trouble seen at Huddersfield was against Portsmouth, I was nine years old at the time. Running battles in our end, but Pompey had to get out in the end. I also witnessed running battles at Leeds Road against Leeds, Sheffield United, Man City, Sunderland, Newcastle and Chelsea. The eighties were mental times.

I got into the casual scene in the early eighties. I noticed all the lads in all the gear and thought I want a piece of that. My Mum would get all my clobber and trainers when she could until I started working. The best-dressed firms I saw in the early eighties Leeds, Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth.

Our biggest rivals are Leeds and Bradford for obvious reasons for being close together. My second team as a kid is Glasgow Rangers, so I hate Celtic and everything they stand for. With Leeds and Bradford, I rate them. Both top firms on their day.

It’s hard to name the biggest battle with either of them because there was so many of them over the years. Some very chaotic days home and away.

As for the big battles Barnsley, Sheffield United, Rotherham, Man City, Stoke, Birmingham, Sunderland, the list is endless. Also had some top battles with England away. Poland, Italy, Luxembourg, Euro-2000 and Germany. You wouldn’t be just fighting them, you would be having running battles with the local immigrant gangs also.

We have come unstuck over the years. Every firm at some stage has been run and done, although some books written would suggest otherwise. We have come unstuck against the better-known firms and also against the lower league clubs. Scunthorpe and Telford United just to name two. We came unstuck against those two in the early nineties. It seemed the whole town turned out for us. Don’t underestimate anyone.

The five firms I rate in no particular order. Man City, Stoke, Birmingham, Sunderland, Portsmouth. At Maine Road, Victoria Ground, St Andrews, Roker Park and Fratton Park were horrible places to go. And over the years they have brought some cracking firms to us. Birmingham in 1994 at ours was a mad one. Running battles before, during and after the game. Stoke would always turn up outside our main pub, the Crescent early doors. Sunderland took the piss before the game outside the Crescent in 1995. They were 250 handed and had about 20 of us on our toes. We had a go but the numbers we faces were too much in the end. With Pompey, it kicked off on the pitch after the game in 1996. The last big battle with Man City was at home in 2000, for a Friday night match. They brought a massive firm and we had a massive firm waiting. Fights broke out going to the stadium, during and after the match. A few Plymouth lads came over that night for a nosey and were very impressed.

I still wear Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, Victorinox, Paul & Shark when it comes to coats, I like Peter Storm, Berghaus, Fila and K-Way. Everybody seems to be wearing Stone Island and that now.

Travelling to away games we would listen to Madness, The Jam, The Smiths, Stone Roses, Happy Mondays and New Order.

My favourite songs, anything to do with Depeche Mode. Other songs I like are the Sash, The cry was no surrender and my favourite Penny Arcade. I am a proud Englishman and Loyalist.

In 2010 without warning, I got hospitalized. I got diagnosed with (FND) Functional Neurological Disorder. The rehabilitation is hard, I was in a wheelchair for 4 years. Now I get about with a walking stick, but I get functional walking problems, tremors and weakness, spasms. I also get speech, hearing and memory problems. I’ve also got anxiety, depression and mental health issues. Mt partner Janine suggested I wrote about my experiences when in and out of the hospital. Martin King and Mark Worrall made the book possible. Thanks lads. If this book can help anyone with a condition or mental health issues, I will be a happy man.

I love the casual life. The clothes, the punch ups, travelling across the country and in Europe. And of course the camaraderie and the laughs with the lads. It was a pleasure to stand side by side with them. And I have met hundreds of life long friends from different firms. Respect lads.

God Save The Queen.