paul brittle

Aston Villa are one of the biggest and best-supported football clubs in Britain, the giant from England's second city with a long and distinguished history, culminating in an unforgettable European Cup victory in 1982. The story of their terrace army, however, has never been told - until now.

Like all major clubs, Villa have had their hooligans and hardmen, and have been involved in some of the fiercest battles of the past four decades. Villains traces their gangs from the 1960's up to the present day. Through first-person testimony, it reveals for the first time the antics of the Steamers, who achieved nationwide infamy, led by a band of colourful and fearless characters such as Pete the Greek, who famously once headbutted a police horse and took on the Millwall leader in a one-on-one brawl.

Eventually they were superseded by the C Crew, a multi-racial gang who brought together youths from different areas of Birmingham during the 2-Tone era. This was the heyday of hooliganism, and the Villa Park faithful clashed with the toughest and most violent mobs around, often led into battle by co-authors Paul Brittle and "Black" Danny Brown, who was jailed in 1981 for one of the most infamous football-related attacks.

They went on riotous trips to Europe, fought at service stations and in nightclubs, and conducted bitter rivalries against foes from across the Midlands and beyond. The story is brought up to date with tales of the Villa Youth and accounts of the notorious Battle of McDonalds Island against their Birmingham City rivals the Zulus.