THE GUV'NORS

AUTHOR:      Mickey Francis
PUBLISHER:   Milo Books
ADDRESS:     unknown
DATE:        13/11/99
ISBN NUMBER: 095308471X
PRICE:       £6.99

Has anyone read the book 'The Guv'nors'? A daft question really judging by the amount of copies it has meant to have sold. I have to admit I didn't know it existed until a fellow Blue told me he had just bought it and started reading it. He lent it to me and I ended up reading it in three days can you believe.

Whilst I for one cannot stand football violence (I find the best defence is 100 yards in about 12 seconds if the need arises!), also I do not wish it to become headline news again, but it is a subject that is of interest to fans purely from a 'I'm glad it's not me' point of view. Unfortunately, as we have experienced life outside the Premier League the nobheads have come out in force against us and has made you a bit wary again at away matches. In the Premier League I believe it is very safe around the grounds and in them so next year should be ok!

A fascinating read to say the least. It really spans the era from 1973(ish) to 1993(ish) and is a very good/graphic insight into the mind of the 'hooligans' who followed City. They enjoyed it and fought with those who wanted to fight, but does anyone who watched City in this period really know it was on this scale? I certainly didn't and probably (in hindsight) glad I didn't, otherwise I may not have gone to watch the lads as much. After reading it you actually come to the point that most of these guys did have certain standards, did stick to 'rules' and acknowledged that genuine fans who went to the matches in this period were generally quite safe, although granted there were exceptions if you happened to be caught up in it.

From 77-85 I missed three City matches home and away and most of the games described in the book I can recall and relate to. Although at the time you were aware of potential trouble at grounds, home and away, I was not aware to what extent it had grown. I was one of those who wore colours, parked near the ground, left at the end and did not hang about. Ignorance is bliss they say.

There are some cracking stories, brilliant quotes that make you laugh and ones that make you shudder. All in all, a great read.