This week Awayday radio spoke to Mark Ling, a member of Derby’s notorious firm the DLF -Derby lunatic fringe.
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Hiya Mark, Right firstly how did you get into football and when?
I first got into football around the late 70s. Me and my best mate we’re around 15/16.
Coming from a mixed Derby / Forest town, we chose to follow Derby.
What was your first memory of trouble at a football match?
First trouble seen at Derby was against Man United, I was 15 the days of donkey jackets and silk scarves.
These big blokes were kicking the hell out of each other and I’m talking big numbers.
It was highly intimidating but the buzz stuck.
When did you become a football casual?
We started out as skinheads as most did from the early days, later towards the very early 80s swopping our attire for tracksuits and Pringle jumpers etc.
Manchester and Liverpool paid the first visits looking smart and casual, it seemed a natural progression to follow suit.
Who are your main rivals?
Our biggest rivals are Forest, Leicester.
For obvious reasons being so close together.
What was your biggest battle with them?
It’s hard to name the biggest battle with either because there where so many over the years.
I probably shouldn’t say it because of the rivalry, but I rate them both.
They always showed at ours mobbed up. Some very good chaotic days.
Who else did you have a big battle with?
As for other big battles, where do I start, Chelsea, Leeds, Man United, Hartlepool, Lincoln, the list is endless really.
Who have you come unstuck against?
We came badly unstuck at Middlesbrough, turned into a total ambush scenario, we’d been on a roll until then.
It put us back firmly on the ground.
Name us 5 firms you rate and the one’s you don’t rate?
I’ve never really rated or put mobs into the top or very poor categories, because truth be known you can come unstuck or be surprised anywhere, even at home.
What clobber do you wear down the match?
I used to wear Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, Adidas trainers etc but nearly 60 now so more likely to wear Fred Perry and Ben Sherman reminiscent from the skinhead days.
Still like all the clobber, still got it, still wear it.
What was your music scene on your awayday?
The music scene for our awaydays was most definitely Madness specials etc later echo and the bunny men and the smiths.
And lastly, tell us what you enjoyed about being a football casual?
Being a casual was being part of the family, a way of life.
We forged life long friends, you could call them brothers in arms.
Most of us old rivals are now friends and respect each other for what we had, experienced and did.
Thanks for speaking to us at awayday radio Mark, much appreciated.
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