Meer dan twee decennia woedt er een gewelddadige en bittere vete tussen twee van Glasgow’s meest beruchte misdaadfamilies: de Daniel-groep en de Lyons-groep. De aanleiding voor hun conflict is niet helemaal duidelijk. Sommigen zeggen dat het te maken had met de diefstal van een partij drugs; anderen beweren dat de Lyons zich op het territorium van de Daniels begaven. Wat de oorzaak ook was, het conflict leidde tot een gruwelijke escalatie van gewelddadige vergeldingsaanvallen die een duistere schaduw hebben geworpen over de stad Glasgow.
Het meest spraakmakende incident was de publieke moord op Kevin “Gerbil” Carroll, een handlanger van de Daniel-groep. In 2010 werd hij voor de ogen van geschokte klanten in een Asda-parkeerplaats doorzeefd met kogels.
In deze serie onderzoeken we de duistere onderwereld van Glasgow en de gewelddadige criminele geschiedenis van de stad. De podcast bevat interviews met voormalige gangsters, gewone burgers die verstrikt raakten in deze meedogenloze turf war, en politieagenten die proberen de bendes op te rollen.
Veel van de hoofdrolspelers in het geweld zitten inmiddels achter tralies of zijn dood. Toch heerst de angst dat deze diepgewortelde vete generaties lang kan blijven voortduren.
Former boxing champion and proud Evertonian Tony Bellew delves into the brutal world of football hooliganism. At its height in the 1970s and 1980s, it was labelled ‘the English Disease,’ a time when violence on the terraces was as much a part of the game as a half-time Bovril. Bellew hears from those who lived for the trouble, the men and women whose Saturdays weren’t complete without a brutal punch-up.
He speaks to the innocent victims caught up in the mayhem, the families of those who lost their lives at the hands of thugs, and the undercover police officers who risked everything to infiltrate some of England’s most notorious firms.
He also explores how government crackdowns, tougher laws, and the introduction of all-seater stadiums helped bring an end to widespread hooliganism.
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
After months of undercover work, the police in London start moving in their targets and claim their first victory against the hooligan mobs. But the celebrations are short lived. A new piece of science raises doubts over the evidence gathered as part of the police operations. Trials begin to collapse. The police and prosecutors are rattled and start scrutinising other cases yet to go to court. Dozens of cases are eventually dropped and fans previously jailed, have their convictions quashed. After 17 months working undercover among Arsenal’s firms, David is left holding his breath. Meanwhile, for Jim and Andy, the undercover officers in Birmingham, a chance encounter almost blows their cover and sees them running for their lives.
But with the police and politicians breathing down their necks, hooligans across the country are left looking over their shoulders. Is it time to walk away from the fighting and the firms once and for all?
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
