Red Army (football)

Red Army (football)

articleissues
unreferenced=February 2008
expand=May 2008
cleanup=May 2008The Red Army is a hooligan firm who follow English football club Manchester United.

Background

The Red army was the name given to Manchester United away support during the 1970s. They were known to travel in their thousands and rain havoc on every town and city which Manchester United played in during the decade. Most notoriously the 1974-75 season when United were relegated to the second division of the English league. The Red Army were featured in the 1985 documentary 'Hooligan' which was based around West Ham United's trip to Old Trafford in the FA Cup Sixth Round and shows the Red Army fighting with the Inter City Firm around Manchester. They were recently featured in North America in a program called "Football Factories". An episode of the BBC drama, "Life on Mars" centered around football hooliganism by Manchester United fans in the 1970s.

Tony O'Neill, a former member of the firm has released two books about the firm, "Red Army General" in 2004 concentrating on the 1970s and early 1980s, and "The Men in Black" in 2006 which told the history from the mid-1980s until the present day. The name "Men in Black" comes from many of the members of the Red Army dressing in all black to football matches since the 1990s. The wearing of black was not a conscious decision by the United firm but came about from the dress code required around Manchester's pubs and clubs at the time. The story goes that after a clash with West Ham in London it was reported by a witness connected to the ICF that "these men in black just appeared from everywhere", the name has stuck ever since.

In 2005 United's Red Army were involved in a full scale brawl with Everton's County Road Cutter Firm, following Everton and Manchester United's FA Cup match at Goodison Park the fight saw nearly fifty arrests, numerous injuries and was one of the most prominent rival firm clashes seen in England since the early 1990s.

The "Men in Black" tag has carried on into the present day with many of Manchester United's away following being seen wearing dark clothing to matches. However like most "hooligan firms" in the modern era, this has become more of a fashion statement rather than an intent to be involved in potential hooligan activity.

Further reading

* O'Neill, Tony (2004). "Red Army General", Milo Books, ISBN 1903854326
* O'Neill, Tony (2006). "The Men in Black, Milo Books, ISBN 1903854520
* Hough, Ian (2007). The Perry Boys, Milo Books, ISBN 9781903854655
* Blaney, Colin (2004). Grafters, Milo Books, ISBN 1903854288


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