Gangster
By BBC Radio 5 Live
Former boxing champion and proud Evertonian Tony Bellew delves into the brutal world of football hooliganism. At its height in the 1970s and 1980s, it was labelled 'the English Disease,' a time when violence on the terraces was as much a part of the game as a half-time Bovril. Bellew hears from those who lived for the trouble, the men and women whose Saturdays weren't complete without a brutal punch-up.
He speaks to the innocent victims caught up in the mayhem, the families of those who lost their lives at the hands of thugs, and the undercover police officers who risked everything to infiltrate some of England's most notorious firms.
He also explores how government crackdowns, tougher laws, and the introduction of all-seater stadiums helped bring an end to widespread hooliganism.
Presenter: Tony Bellew Series Producer: Emma Forde Producer: Patrick Kiteley Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Development Producer: Holly Clemens Production Co-ordinator: Ellie Dover Assistant Commissioner: Lorraine Okuefuna & Sarah Green Commissioning Editor: Louise Kattenhorn Editor and Executive Producer: Carl Johnston
Latest episode
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Introducing Gangster: The Story of Paul Massey
The rise and fall of underworld boss Paul Massey. A story of murder, drugs and gang wars. -
Paul Massey: 1. Made in Salford
Paul Massey rises from teenage tearaway to being labelled the Mr Big of Salford. -
Paul Massey: 2. Code of Silence
Paul Massey makes a move on the Hacienda and delivers his own brand of street justice. -
Paul Massey: 3. Steak Night
A night out changes Paul Massey's life forever. A rival has to be dealt with. -
Paul Massey: 4. The Serpent
Massey has political ambitions. The police are out to get their man. A gang war erupts. -
Paul Massey: 5. The Assassination
An assassin lays in wait. The violent aftermath leaves an innocent victim badly injured. -
Introducing Gangster: The Story of Curtis Warren
The story of Curtis Warren - one of Britain's biggest and wealthiest drug barons. -
Curtis Warren: 1. Just a Lad from Tocky
Curtis Warren starts to make his mark on the streets of Toxteth -
Curtis Warren: 2. Narcos
Curtis Warren brokers a major cocaine deal with a notorious Colombian cartel -
Curtis Warren: 3. Tigers and Cocaine
Curtis Warren and his associates enter a world of unimaginable wealth and excess