Crazy Gang
Encyclopedia
The Crazy Gang is a nickname
used by the English
media to describe Wimbledon F.C.
during the 1980s and the 1990s.
The name, originally that of a well known group of British comedy entertainers
popular in the late 1930s, was used because of the often eccentric and boisterously macho
behaviour of Wimbledon's players, who were in the habit of playing frequent and outrageous practical jokes on each other and on the club's manager, Dave Bassett
. Additionally, their general approach to the game was derided as amateurish and their playing style was often accused of being, at best, basic and unsophisticated in comparison to more glamorous teams; former England
striker Gary Lineker
once commented dismissively: "The best way to watch Wimbledon is on Ceefax
",.
Nevertheless, regardless of all the criticism they were subject to, the team was very successful. The joking behaviour, together with a deep sense of being unjustly derided, undoubtedly bred an intensely close team spirit which was greatly to the club's benefit on the pitch. Moreover, their physical style, with players such as Vinnie Jones
, often intimidated their opponents.
Within only a few years, they had won promotion from the bottom of the Football League to the very highest level, without ever changing their straightforward playing style.
by beating highly talented favourites Liverpool
1-0, with goalkeeper Dave Beasant
saving a penalty during play. At the final whistle, BBC TV commentator John Motson
said the line: "The Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club!". The name then caught on nationally, began to appear frequently in newspaper reports, and was often used in TV coverage of the club.
It is equally difficult to determine precisely when the term fell out of use. However, as Wimbledon became more established in the top strata of English football, their style of play necessarily became more advanced, and their bizarre behaviour was no longer so unexpected. Indeed, it can be said that the nickname lost much of its previous effect at the point it became "official", when the club itself began to use it in its own marketing. This was carried to the extent that the name even appeared for several seasons in the mid 1990s as a small badge on the team's playing shirts. In 2000, the club was finally relegated from the Premier League, by which time the name had simply became rather inappropriate as a description of its players, although the club still continued to use it for some years to promote itself commercially.
, John Fashanu
, Vinnie Jones
and Lawrie Sanchez
are often considered as some of the high profile members of the 'crazy gang', although the club's first ever full-time apprentice Wally Downes
is normally cited as the founder, being an inveterate practical joker.
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
used by the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
media to describe Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
during the 1980s and the 1990s.
The name, originally that of a well known group of British comedy entertainers
The Crazy Gang
The Crazy Gang were a group of British entertainers, formed in the early 1930s. In the mature form the group's six men were Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen, Jimmy Nervo, Teddy Knox, Charlie Naughton and Jimmy Gold...
popular in the late 1930s, was used because of the often eccentric and boisterously macho
Macho
Macho typically refers to machismo. Other uses include:*Macho , a short-lived disco group in the late 1970s*Pique macho, Bolivian dish*Macho Man , a 1978 disco song performed by the Village People...
behaviour of Wimbledon's players, who were in the habit of playing frequent and outrageous practical jokes on each other and on the club's manager, Dave Bassett
Dave Bassett
David Bassett , also frequently known by his nickname of Harry, is an English football manager and a former player....
. Additionally, their general approach to the game was derided as amateurish and their playing style was often accused of being, at best, basic and unsophisticated in comparison to more glamorous teams; former England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
striker Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker
Gary Winston Lineker, OBE , is a former English footballer, who played as a striker. He is a sports broadcaster for the BBC, Al Jazeera Sports and Eredivisie Live...
once commented dismissively: "The best way to watch Wimbledon is on Ceefax
Ceefax
Ceefax is the BBC's teletext information service transmitted via the analogue signal, started in 1974 and will run until April 2012 for Pages from Ceefax, while the actual interactive service will run until 24 October 2012, in-line with the digital switchover.-History:During the late 60s, engineer...
",.
Nevertheless, regardless of all the criticism they were subject to, the team was very successful. The joking behaviour, together with a deep sense of being unjustly derided, undoubtedly bred an intensely close team spirit which was greatly to the club's benefit on the pitch. Moreover, their physical style, with players such as Vinnie Jones
Vinnie Jones
Vincent Peter "Vinnie" Jones is an English film actor and retired Welsh footballer.Born in Hertfordshire, England, Jones represented and captained the Welsh national football team, having qualified via a Welsh grandparent. He also previously played for Chelsea and Leeds United. As a member of the...
, often intimidated their opponents.
Within only a few years, they had won promotion from the bottom of the Football League to the very highest level, without ever changing their straightforward playing style.
History
Although the club had encouraged its players in this behaviour since the early 1980s, the nickname did not really become widespread in use, beyond the players of the club themselves, until 1988 when, against all expectations, Wimbledon won the FA CupFA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
by beating highly talented favourites Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
1-0, with goalkeeper Dave Beasant
Dave Beasant
David John "Dave" Beasant, is a retired English football goalkeeper who began his career in the late 1970s. A well-travelled player, Beasant's former clubs include Wimbledon, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth, Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wigan...
saving a penalty during play. At the final whistle, BBC TV commentator John Motson
John Motson
John Walker Motson OBE ,AKA Motty, is an English football commentator on both television and radio as well a well known moter. He made his name as 'Moty' after he moted out the entire Huddersfield huddersfield cheerleaders team. writer.-Biography:The son of a Methodist minister, Motson was educated...
said the line: "The Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club!". The name then caught on nationally, began to appear frequently in newspaper reports, and was often used in TV coverage of the club.
It is equally difficult to determine precisely when the term fell out of use. However, as Wimbledon became more established in the top strata of English football, their style of play necessarily became more advanced, and their bizarre behaviour was no longer so unexpected. Indeed, it can be said that the nickname lost much of its previous effect at the point it became "official", when the club itself began to use it in its own marketing. This was carried to the extent that the name even appeared for several seasons in the mid 1990s as a small badge on the team's playing shirts. In 2000, the club was finally relegated from the Premier League, by which time the name had simply became rather inappropriate as a description of its players, although the club still continued to use it for some years to promote itself commercially.
Members
The likes of Dennis WiseDennis Wise
Dennis Frank Wise is an English former football manager and player, and former Executive Director at Newcastle United....
, John Fashanu
John Fashanu
John "Fash" Fashanu is a British television presenter and ex-footballer of Nigerian and Guyanese descent. In his former career, he was a centre-forward, who scored 134 league goals in a career lasting 17 years...
, Vinnie Jones
Vinnie Jones
Vincent Peter "Vinnie" Jones is an English film actor and retired Welsh footballer.Born in Hertfordshire, England, Jones represented and captained the Welsh national football team, having qualified via a Welsh grandparent. He also previously played for Chelsea and Leeds United. As a member of the...
and Lawrie Sanchez
Lawrie Sanchez
Lawrence Philip "Lawrie" Sanchez is a former Northern Irish football manager, and a former player. He is currently the manager of League Two side Barnet...
are often considered as some of the high profile members of the 'crazy gang', although the club's first ever full-time apprentice Wally Downes
Wally Downes
Walter John "Wally" Downes is an English former football player and manager, he is currently a first team coach at West Ham UnitedHe is the nephew of former world middleweight boxing champion Terry Downes.-Playing career:...
is normally cited as the founder, being an inveterate practical joker.