Subway Army
Encyclopedia
The Subway Army were a Hooligan firm
associated with Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
(Wolves) during the 1970s and 1980s. The firm rose to fame during the 1970s by ambushing rival fans in subways leading to Wolves home ground, Molineux
, a tactic which earned them their Subway Army tag. The firm eventually disbanded and were replaced with the Bridge Boys.
The Subway Army have been known to clash with supporters of rival clubs including West Bromwich Albion
, Walsall
, Aston Villa
and Birmingham City
, although they have also fought with the fans of other clubs, including Millwall
.
On 15 August 1987, the opening day of the Fourth Division
season
, Wolves visited Scarborough
for the North Yorkshire
club's very first game as a Football League side. The match, which ended in a 2-2 draw, was marred by the violent behaviour of some Wolves fans. One spectator even fell through a roof at the Scarborough stadium
in the chaos.Two days later, the Football Association told the club that all of its away matches that season would be all-ticket. In June 1988, 18 men were jailed after being convicted of taking part in the violence.
In August 2000, Wolves were listed as one of the most violent football clubs in England and Wales
.
On 31 October 2001, members of the Subway Army were in the Feathers pub, near Molineux, in Wolverhampton
before a home game against Millwall, when a group of up to 250 Millwall Bushwackers
burst through the police lines at Wolverhampton railway station
. They attacked the Feathers pub, and two Wolves fans were slashed in the face with stanley knives
. The groups were split up before the rest of the Wolves hooligans could get there.
On 5 April 2002, in the return fixture, the Subway Army arrived in Paddington
trying to get revenge. However, they were spotted by two police officers, and their coach was escorted to The Den
. A policing operation of over 300 police officers prevented the Millwall and Wolves groups from clashing. Police were though pelted with bricks, bottles and fireworks by Millwall fans attempting to get to the Wolves fans.
On 21 April 2002, Wolves were playing away at Sheffield Wednesday
- a game which ended in a 2-2 draw and resulted in Wolves missing out on the second automatic promotion place in Division one, which went to their local rivals West Bromwich Albion instead. Before the game, members of the Sheffield United
hooligan firm, the Blades Business Crew attempted to ambush Wolves fans at the railway station. 14 people were arrested. During the game about 500 Wolves fans who had got into a section of home seating at Hillsborough
were moved into an empty corner of the stadium. After the match the trouble continued with the three rival groups of fans roaming Sheffield
city centre looking for trouble. Two police officers and a steward were injured during clashes.
Albion fans found themselves on the receiving end of further violence from Wolves hooligans on 20 February 2011, when a smoke bomb was thrown into an area of The Hawthorns occupied by Albion fans after a late West Brom equalizer. Albion fans retaliated and coins were thrown between the two sets of fans.
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...
associated with Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
(Wolves) during the 1970s and 1980s. The firm rose to fame during the 1970s by ambushing rival fans in subways leading to Wolves home ground, Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
, a tactic which earned them their Subway Army tag. The firm eventually disbanded and were replaced with the Bridge Boys.
Background
Many of the firm were arrested in dawn raids, under the code names "Operation Growth" or "Get Rid Of Wolves Troublesome Hooligans".The Subway Army have been known to clash with supporters of rival clubs including West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
and Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, although they have also fought with the fans of other clubs, including 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...
.
On 15 August 1987, the opening day of the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
season
1987-88 in English football
The 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season....
, Wolves visited Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
for the North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
club's very first game as a Football League side. The match, which ended in a 2-2 draw, was marred by the violent behaviour of some Wolves fans. One spectator even fell through a roof at the Scarborough stadium
McCain Stadium
The McCain Stadium was a football stadium located on Seamer Road in Scarborough, England. It was the home of Scarborough FC, a defunct football club who last played in the English Conference North before they were dissolved on 20 June 2007 with debts of £2.5 million.The ground was first opened...
in the chaos.Two days later, the Football Association told the club that all of its away matches that season would be all-ticket. In June 1988, 18 men were jailed after being convicted of taking part in the violence.
In August 2000, Wolves were listed as one of the most violent football clubs in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
.
On 31 October 2001, members of the Subway Army were in the Feathers pub, near Molineux, in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
before a home game against Millwall, when a group of up to 250 Millwall Bushwackers
Millwall Bushwackers
The Millwall Bushwackers are a hooligan firm associated with Millwall F.C..-Background:The original firm associated with Millwall was known as F-Troop....
burst through the police lines at Wolverhampton railway station
Wolverhampton railway station
Wolverhampton railway station in Wolverhampton, West Midlands is on the West Coast Main Line. It is served by London Midland, CrossCountry, Virgin Trains and Arriva Trains Wales.-History:...
. They attacked the Feathers pub, and two Wolves fans were slashed in the face with stanley knives
Utility knife
A utility knife is a knife used for general or utility purposes. The utility knife was originally a fixed blade knife with a cutting edge suitable for general work such as cutting hides and cordage, scraping hides, butchering animals, cleaning fish, and other tasks.Today, the term "utility knife"...
. The groups were split up before the rest of the Wolves hooligans could get there.
On 5 April 2002, in the return fixture, the Subway Army arrived in Paddington
Paddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
trying to get revenge. However, they were spotted by two police officers, and their coach was escorted to The Den
New Den Stadium
The Den , is a football stadium and the home of Millwall FC. It is situated in South Bermondsey, South East London, almost directly adjacent to the railway line between London Bridge and New Cross Gate, plus the SELCHP incinerator. It is under a quarter of a mile away from original Den...
. A policing operation of over 300 police officers prevented the Millwall and Wolves groups from clashing. Police were though pelted with bricks, bottles and fireworks by Millwall fans attempting to get to the Wolves fans.
On 21 April 2002, Wolves were playing away at Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
- a game which ended in a 2-2 draw and resulted in Wolves missing out on the second automatic promotion place in Division one, which went to their local rivals West Bromwich Albion instead. Before the game, members of the Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
hooligan firm, the Blades Business Crew attempted to ambush Wolves fans at the railway station. 14 people were arrested. During the game about 500 Wolves fans who had got into a section of home seating at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
were moved into an empty corner of the stadium. After the match the trouble continued with the three rival groups of fans roaming Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
city centre looking for trouble. Two police officers and a steward were injured during clashes.
Albion fans found themselves on the receiving end of further violence from Wolves hooligans on 20 February 2011, when a smoke bomb was thrown into an area of The Hawthorns occupied by Albion fans after a late West Brom equalizer. Albion fans retaliated and coins were thrown between the two sets of fans.
See also
- CasualsCasualsThe casual subculture is a subsection of association football culture that is typified by football hooliganism and the wearing of expensive European designer clothing. The subculture originated in the United Kingdom in the early 1980s when many hooligans started wearing designer labels and...
- 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....
Further reading
- Shaw, Gilly; Martin King (2005). Gilly: Running with a Pack of Wolves , Head-Hunter Books, ISBN 0954854217