Dainton Connell
Encyclopedia
Dainton Connell known as "Denton" or "The Bear", was a noted leader of one of the Arsenal
's hooligan firm
s during the 1980s. Later in his life he served as a bodyguard
, minder and manager to the Pet Shop Boys
, appearing on albums and in music videos by the duo.
, England
. He left school at 16 and became a scaffolder. In 1977, he gained public attention after appearing in a television documentary presented by Janet Street-Porter
about skinheads. During the 1980s, Connell was highly active in an Arsenal FC's hooligan "firm" and is named as a "main face" amongst the ranks of Arsenal hooligans at the time.
Connell was employed as a bodyguard for the Pet Shop Boys' first tour in 1989. For the next eighteen years, he assisted the duo on tours and appeared in music videos, including "So Hard
" and "Jealousy
". He also provided additional vocals on "One and One Make Five" on their 1990 album Very.
In 1997, Connell appeared as one of the subjects of Sam Taylor-Wood
's piece Five Revolutionary Seconds XIII, after meeting whilst she was directing the Pet Shop Boys' residency the Savoy Theatre
. The same year, he was referenced in a flashback scene in the film Fever Pitch
.
in October 2007. His funeral was held at the Mary Magdalene Church in Holloway Road
and was attended by 3,000 people. The Pet Shop Boys also performed a benefit night for Connell's family called Can You Bear It?.
In 2009, a plaque dedicated to Connell near the Emirates Stadium
was removed by Islington Council, despite opposition from fans.
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
's hooligan firm
Hooligan firm
This is a list of notable hooligan firms or football firms, which are groups that have been verified as participating in football hooliganism or other sports-related hooliganism. In countries such as England and Poland, firms are clearly defined, but in South America the situation is less clear cut...
s during the 1980s. Later in his life he served as a bodyguard
Bodyguard
A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
, minder and manager to the Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
, appearing on albums and in music videos by the duo.
Biography
Connell was born in 1961 in BrightonBrighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, England
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...
. He left school at 16 and became a scaffolder. In 1977, he gained public attention after appearing in a television documentary presented by Janet Street-Porter
Janet Street-Porter
Janet Street-Porter is a British media personality, journalist and television presenter. She was editor for two years of The Independent on Sunday. She relinquished the job to become editor-at-large in 2002...
about skinheads. During the 1980s, Connell was highly active in an Arsenal FC's hooligan "firm" and is named as a "main face" amongst the ranks of Arsenal hooligans at the time.
Connell was employed as a bodyguard for the Pet Shop Boys' first tour in 1989. For the next eighteen years, he assisted the duo on tours and appeared in music videos, including "So Hard
So Hard
"So Hard" is a song by the British pop group Pet Shop Boys and was the first single lifted from the 1990 album Behaviour. It peaked at #4 in the UK...
" and "Jealousy
Jealousy (Pet Shop Boys song)
"Jealousy" is a song originally written in 1982 by the Pet Shop Boys, recorded for their 1990 album Behaviour. In 1991, it was released in a slightly remixed form as a single, which appears on both Pet Shop Boys' greatest hits albums...
". He also provided additional vocals on "One and One Make Five" on their 1990 album Very.
In 1997, Connell appeared as one of the subjects of Sam Taylor-Wood
Sam Taylor-Wood
Samantha "Sam" Taylor-Wood OBE , born Samantha Taylor, is an English filmmaker, photographer, and visual artist. Her directorial feature film debut came in 2009 with Nowhere Boy, a film based on the childhood experiences of The Beatles songwriter and singer John Lennon...
's piece Five Revolutionary Seconds XIII, after meeting whilst she was directing the Pet Shop Boys' residency the Savoy Theatre
Savoy Theatre
The Savoy Theatre is a West End theatre located in the Strand in the City of Westminster, London, England. The theatre opened on 10 October 1881 and was built by Richard D'Oyly Carte on the site of the old Savoy Palace as a showcase for the popular series of comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan,...
. The same year, he was referenced in a flashback scene in the film Fever Pitch
Fever Pitch (1997 film)
Fever Pitch is a 1997 film starring Colin Firth based loosely on the book of the same name by Nick Hornby.-Synopsis:Hornby adapted the book for the screen and fictionalized the story, concentrating on Arsenal's First Division championship-winning season in 1988-89 and its effect on the...
.
Death
Connell died aged 46 in a car crash in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in October 2007. His funeral was held at the Mary Magdalene Church in Holloway Road
Holloway Road
Holloway Road is a road in London. It is one of the main shopping streets in North London, and carries the A1 road as it passes through Holloway, in the London Borough of Islington...
and was attended by 3,000 people. The Pet Shop Boys also performed a benefit night for Connell's family called Can You Bear It?.
In 2009, a plaque dedicated to Connell near the Emirates Stadium
Emirates Stadium
Ashburton Grove, currently known as the Emirates Stadium, is a UEFA elite football stadium which is home to Arsenal FC, where they moved from Highbury in 2006. It has an current capacity of 60,361, and there have been rumours of an expansion...
was removed by Islington Council, despite opposition from fans.