Top Boys: True Stories of Football's Hardest Men (Paperback)

~ Cass Pennant (Author) "Now here's a call for me, the ASC - the Aberdeen Soccer Casuals..." (more)
Key Phrases: West Ham, Old Bill, Man United (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This explosive book is the follow up to Terrace Legends, the groundbreaking book that built bridges between Cass Pennant and Martin King, who came together in a no holds barred discussion of experiences on the terraces. The result was a hard-hitting, unflinchingly honest testament to life with some of the biggest firms in football history. This sequel packs an even harder punch, bringing together the frontline faces, the top boys who ran the legendary firms from all over the country. From genuine hard men who have literally fought for their clubs to other eccentric football fans who have gone to great lengths to support their side, the cross-section of well known faces is very broad, and all of them give honest answers to the sort of questions even a plain clothes football intelligence officer wouldn't dare to ask.

About the Author

Cass Pennant is the author of Congratulations, You Have Just Met the ICF and Rolling with the 6.57 Crew. He is well known as the ex-leader of West Ham's notorious ICF.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: John Blake (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844542769
• ISBN-13: 978-1844542765
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,509,068 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Another hoolie book ..........., July 7, 2007

By	S. Gallick "red until the end" (West Chester, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Top Boys: Meet the Men Behind the Mayhem (Hardcover)

The thing that bothers me about this book is that Cass Pennant, as the author, doesn't really write anything. You've got a two page intro, a bunch of interviews with leaders of 15 to 20 soccer/football firms, and a weak, weak conclusion. The questions that he asks each leader change very little, so it becomes a little repetitious (5 top firms now, top firms of all time, weapons used, activity today, etc). I did like hearing from leaders of some of the smaller clubs in England. Any club, no matter how small, could pull a formidable firm in the 70s and 80s.

If you want a bunch of accounts of "We ran them, they ran us, we took their end, etc", then this book is for you. If you want an actual written, thought-out narrative --i.e. Among the Thugs, Bovver, Scally -- then this isn't what you're looking for. I guess I should have known, as the title says, "True STORIES of Football's Hardest Men." Oh well, my fault.