Luton Town MIGs
Encyclopedia
The MIGs are a football hooligan
firm associated with English football club, Luton Town
, originally formed in the 1970s.
and Queens Park Rangers
.
The events on 13 March 1985 when Millwall
visited Kenilworth Road
to play Luton Town in an FA Cup
quarter final match, whilst not instigated by the MIGs did have an effect on future matches between the two clubs. The hooligan element among Millwall's fans started to riot, and invaded the pitch. The game was halted after just 14 minutes of play and the referee took both teams off for 25 minutes. When he blew the final whistle, the pitch was invaded again. Over 700 seats were ripped out of the stands and the surrounding streets also saw more violence. The violence that ensued resulted in a ban on away fans by Luton Town, which in turn resulted in Luton's expulsion from the League Cup
. The ban on away fans was lifted by Luton in the 1990–91 season.
Luton: Operation Spoonbill
March 1988 saw the arrest of 8 fans during dawn raids on 17 homes by police. The 8 arrested were aged between 24 and 38 and were accused of belonging to a gang called the 'MIGS'. All were charged with Conspiracy to commit acts of disorder. Eventually all 8 had the conspiracy charged dropped, though 5 were charged with lesser public order offences. Operation Spoonbill
In March 2000, on the fifteenth anniversary of the Luton riots, a group calling themselves "MIGs 2000" were blamed for revenge attacks on Millwall fans when the two teams met at Kenilworth Road. Bedfordshire Police
stated that they were aware, weeks before the match, of plans by MIGs 2000, to attack Millwall fans in retribution for the events of 1985. Some members of MIGs 2000 were said to be sons of the original 1970s BOLTS crew members - the first active Luton Town football hooligan firm. They were said to want revenge with the attitude of, "They've trashed our town once they're not doing it again."
The police launched a huge match day operation, bringing in 130 police officers as well as police horses, dogs and a helicopter. Ten people were arrested on the day of the match. Before the match two pubs where Millwall fans were drinking were attacked. About 30 MIG 2000 threw bottles at the Duke of Clarence in Upper George Street at about 1:30pm and tried to force their way into the pub to attack Millwall fans peacefully drinking inside. Glass doors were smashed and the manager ordered his staff out of the bar for their own safety. Police had to deal with a similar incident an hour later outside the Nelson Flagship pub in Dunstable Road when the Luton gang had doubled. Whilst Millwall fans had a fierce reputation, it was the local Luton hooligans who were entirely blamed for the violence and the Millwall fans were praised for their generally good behaviour.
Earlier that season, Luton fans were strongly criticised by the police when during a home game against Cardiff City
they set fire to a Welsh flag
in the wooden main stand which the police said could have sparked a serious disturbance, and caused a tragedy.
In 2001 it was reported that tensions were running high in Luton
, a town with a 30,000 Muslim
community accounting for 20% of the towns population. And on 2 November, Asian
shops and homes were warned by the police to be prepared for possible attacks over the weekend by members of the MIGs, described as being "a gang of white football hooligans who terrorised Luton Asians 10 years ago". A local Luton newspaper reported that the MIGs met in the Nags Head Inn in Dunstable on the previous Monday evening, 29 October, to draw up a "battle plan". The landlady of the pub denied any such meeting had taken place.
Twenty four Luton fans were arrested in September 2002 after violence at a Worthington Cup
match against Watford at Vicarage Road
on 10 September. Ten minutes before the game was due to start, rival fans fought running battles on the pitch after dozens of Luton fans jumped over advertising hoardings and ran onto the pitch. One fan was seen tearing out up a corner flag and brandishing it like a weapon. The kick off was delayed 15 minutes and Riot police eventually restored order by forcing the fans back into their seats and blocking off the area behind the Vicarage Road goal. There had also been violence in Watford
town centre before the match, with what was described as an "orchestrated" and "arranged" fight outside the Moon Under Water pub in Watford. The Football Association
launched an investigation into the days events, and when The Football League also announced that they would be launching an investigation, the two football authorities agreed to launch a joint investigation. Both clubs said they would ban for life any of their fans found to be involved.
Nearly a year later in August 2003, at the start of the 2003–04 season, it was revealed that most MIG members had not attended any Luton Town matches since the match with Watford the previous season, with most of the 24 still awaiting trial. Bedfordshire Police had received money to help stamp out hooliganism, with £200,000 earmarked for an investigation into the fighting at the Watford match in the 2002–03 season and some going toward preventing opposing fans from causing trouble that season with Luton apparently being seen as an easy target, and Luton followers seen as an "easy touch" by other hooligan firms. In December 2003, ten Luton fans and four Watford fans were jailed at Luton Crown Court
for between seven and fifteen months for their part in the fighting on the pitch at Vicarage Road the previous season. and a day later six Luton fans were jailed for between eight and fourteen months their part in the fight at the Moon Under Water pub.
A report by the BBC
in April 2005 "found Luton to be largely free from football hooliganism - high or low-level."
In October 2007, Luton and Nottingham Forest
hooligans clashed after a League One
game in which two Forest hooligans required hospital treatment after violent clashes, one for a head injury. Police arrested five Luton hooligans for public order offences and one Forest hooligan for throwing a missile. In addition to the trouble at the game, ten Luton hooligans were banned from football matches in England and Wales
for up to five years.
Ex-MIG, Tommy Robinson, has written two books about his experiences with the firm, Mig Down which charts his own personal 25 year career in football violence, and Mig Crew about the firm itself.
Badger, one of the main ringleaders and former members of Luton Town's first active firm of the early 1970s & 1980s the 'BOLTS-Crew', with over 25 years involvement in serious football violence and related crime is affectionately known now as the (John 3-34) Christian Evangelist & Pastor & Children's TV Presenter, Daniele Luciano Moskal. His life-changing testimony from a notorious football hooligan, ex-paratrooper and martial arts expert who was banned from many football grounds in the early 1970s and 1980s was filmed in 2001 by the award-winning Christian UK TANDEM TV COMPANY, based in Hertfordshire, and can be viewed at the popular youtube.com social network site.
Football hooliganism
Football hooliganism, sometimes referred to by the British media as the English Disease, is unruly and destructive behaviour—such as brawls, vandalism and intimidation—by association football club fans...
firm associated with English football club, Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
, originally formed in the 1970s.
Background
The MIGs were the new baby hooligan wing formed after most of the original 'BOLTS' crew - Luton Town's first active football firm of the 1970s received banning orders or prison sentences. They have had rivalries with firms from WatfordWatford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
and Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
.
The events on 13 March 1985 when Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
visited Kenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road Stadium is a football stadium in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. It has been home to Luton Town Football Club since 1905, when financial complications forced the club to leave its previous location at Dunstable Road...
to play Luton Town in an FA Cup
FA 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...
quarter final match, whilst not instigated by the MIGs did have an effect on future matches between the two clubs. The hooligan element among Millwall's fans started to riot, and invaded the pitch. The game was halted after just 14 minutes of play and the referee took both teams off for 25 minutes. When he blew the final whistle, the pitch was invaded again. Over 700 seats were ripped out of the stands and the surrounding streets also saw more violence. The violence that ensued resulted in a ban on away fans by Luton Town, which in turn resulted in Luton's expulsion from the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. The ban on away fans was lifted by Luton in the 1990–91 season.
Luton: Operation Spoonbill
March 1988 saw the arrest of 8 fans during dawn raids on 17 homes by police. The 8 arrested were aged between 24 and 38 and were accused of belonging to a gang called the 'MIGS'. All were charged with Conspiracy to commit acts of disorder. Eventually all 8 had the conspiracy charged dropped, though 5 were charged with lesser public order offences. Operation Spoonbill
In March 2000, on the fifteenth anniversary of the Luton riots, a group calling themselves "MIGs 2000" were blamed for revenge attacks on Millwall fans when the two teams met at Kenilworth Road. Bedfordshire Police
Bedfordshire Police
Bedfordshire Police, is the territorial police force responsible for policing the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire in England, which includes the unitary authorities of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton. Its headquarters are in Kempston. The county had an estimated population of 602,500 in...
stated that they were aware, weeks before the match, of plans by MIGs 2000, to attack Millwall fans in retribution for the events of 1985. Some members of MIGs 2000 were said to be sons of the original 1970s BOLTS crew members - the first active Luton Town football hooligan firm. They were said to want revenge with the attitude of, "They've trashed our town once they're not doing it again."
The police launched a huge match day operation, bringing in 130 police officers as well as police horses, dogs and a helicopter. Ten people were arrested on the day of the match. Before the match two pubs where Millwall fans were drinking were attacked. About 30 MIG 2000 threw bottles at the Duke of Clarence in Upper George Street at about 1:30pm and tried to force their way into the pub to attack Millwall fans peacefully drinking inside. Glass doors were smashed and the manager ordered his staff out of the bar for their own safety. Police had to deal with a similar incident an hour later outside the Nelson Flagship pub in Dunstable Road when the Luton gang had doubled. Whilst Millwall fans had a fierce reputation, it was the local Luton hooligans who were entirely blamed for the violence and the Millwall fans were praised for their generally good behaviour.
Earlier that season, Luton fans were strongly criticised by the police when during a home game against Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
they set fire to a Welsh flag
Flag of Wales
The Flag of Wales consists of a red dragon passant on a green and white field. As with many heraldic charges, the exact representation of the dragon is not standardised and many renderings exist....
in the wooden main stand which the police said could have sparked a serious disturbance, and caused a tragedy.
In 2001 it was reported that tensions were running high in Luton
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
, a town with a 30,000 Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
community accounting for 20% of the towns population. And on 2 November, Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
shops and homes were warned by the police to be prepared for possible attacks over the weekend by members of the MIGs, described as being "a gang of white football hooligans who terrorised Luton Asians 10 years ago". A local Luton newspaper reported that the MIGs met in the Nags Head Inn in Dunstable on the previous Monday evening, 29 October, to draw up a "battle plan". The landlady of the pub denied any such meeting had taken place.
Twenty four Luton fans were arrested in September 2002 after violence at a Worthington Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
match against Watford at Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road, a stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants, the Saracens rugby union club. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 17,477.-History:...
on 10 September. Ten minutes before the game was due to start, rival fans fought running battles on the pitch after dozens of Luton fans jumped over advertising hoardings and ran onto the pitch. One fan was seen tearing out up a corner flag and brandishing it like a weapon. The kick off was delayed 15 minutes and Riot police eventually restored order by forcing the fans back into their seats and blocking off the area behind the Vicarage Road goal. There had also been violence in Watford
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
town centre before the match, with what was described as an "orchestrated" and "arranged" fight outside the Moon Under Water pub in Watford. The Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
launched an investigation into the days events, and when The Football League also announced that they would be launching an investigation, the two football authorities agreed to launch a joint investigation. Both clubs said they would ban for life any of their fans found to be involved.
Nearly a year later in August 2003, at the start of the 2003–04 season, it was revealed that most MIG members had not attended any Luton Town matches since the match with Watford the previous season, with most of the 24 still awaiting trial. Bedfordshire Police had received money to help stamp out hooliganism, with £200,000 earmarked for an investigation into the fighting at the Watford match in the 2002–03 season and some going toward preventing opposing fans from causing trouble that season with Luton apparently being seen as an easy target, and Luton followers seen as an "easy touch" by other hooligan firms. In December 2003, ten Luton fans and four Watford fans were jailed at Luton Crown Court
Crown Court
The Crown Court of England and Wales is, together with the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal, one of the constituent parts of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
for between seven and fifteen months for their part in the fighting on the pitch at Vicarage Road the previous season. and a day later six Luton fans were jailed for between eight and fourteen months their part in the fight at the Moon Under Water pub.
A report by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in April 2005 "found Luton to be largely free from football hooliganism - high or low-level."
In October 2007, Luton and Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
hooligans clashed after a League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
game in which two Forest hooligans required hospital treatment after violent clashes, one for a head injury. Police arrested five Luton hooligans for public order offences and one Forest hooligan for throwing a missile. In addition to the trouble at the game, ten Luton hooligans were banned from football matches in England and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
for up to five years.
Ex-MIG, Tommy Robinson, has written two books about his experiences with the firm, Mig Down which charts his own personal 25 year career in football violence, and Mig Crew about the firm itself.
Badger, one of the main ringleaders and former members of Luton Town's first active firm of the early 1970s & 1980s the 'BOLTS-Crew', with over 25 years involvement in serious football violence and related crime is affectionately known now as the (John 3-34) Christian Evangelist & Pastor & Children's TV Presenter, Daniele Luciano Moskal. His life-changing testimony from a notorious football hooligan, ex-paratrooper and martial arts expert who was banned from many football grounds in the early 1970s and 1980s was filmed in 2001 by the award-winning Christian UK TANDEM TV COMPANY, based in Hertfordshire, and can be viewed at the popular youtube.com social network site.
See also
- 6.57 Crew6.57 CrewThe 6.57 Crew is a football hooligan firm linked to the English Npower Championship team, Portsmouth F.C.. The name, 6.57 Crew is taken from the time that the Portsmouth to London Waterloo train left Portsmouth and Southsea station...
- Chelsea HeadhuntersChelsea HeadhuntersThe Chelsea Headhunters are an English football hooligan firm linked to the London football club Chelsea.-Background:The Headhunters have rivalries with counterparts who follow other London teams, such as Arsenal, Millwall, Queens Park Rangers, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham.There was widespread...
- Football hooliganismFootball hooliganismFootball hooliganism, sometimes referred to by the British media as the English Disease, is unruly and destructive behaviour—such as brawls, vandalism and intimidation—by association football club fans...
- Inter City FirmInter City FirmThe Inter City Firm is an English football hooligan firm mainly active in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, associated with West Ham United. The name came from the use of InterCity trains used to travel to away games...
- List of hooligan firms
- The MuckersThe MuckersThe Muckers are a football hooligan firm linked to the football club Blackpool F.C. They take their name from the word mucker, a colloquialism meaning good friend....
- BOLTS Crew