It was that film that basically forged their repuation or infamy if you prefer. It was unfortunate timing as the club had been doing a lot in the community etc and they seemed destined for better things before the doc which many prople regarded as a BBC stich up. Basically MFC thought the doc was going to be about all the other good things they were doing at the time but it purely focused on the hooligan element and was spun accordingly.
It was after that appeared on TV that the leaflets went around the Park Lane rallying the troops for the Boxing Day 1977 game.
I don't think they have ever shaken it off and some of their fans seem to believe they have to live up to the media perception. In fact they have had 18 bods arrested in the last week alone!
IMHO Milwall, pound for pound/man for man remain top of the hooligan food chain. Just lucky that their support, in terms of numbers, is woeful.
As the discussion has moved onto Millwall, it's given me the opportunity to revisit a couple of posts I made before our FA cup game last year.
I'm originally from the Millwall area and used to bunk into the old Den on occasion. My aunt is 80 years old, has a Millwall tattoo across her back and was banned from the ground a couple of years ago for assault. Never had any 'Wall mates though, everyone I knew supported Spurs, Woolwich or Manure.
I was at this game (1977 at The Den) and as you'll see from my previous post, was a local derby for me! Went on my tod and was wearing steel toed boots that were my workwear (on the parks and gardens for Southwark Council). Being a local, i knew the best route to the ground avoiding any confrontation. Had my laces confiscated at the turnstiles and consequently had to spend the rest of the day clenching my toes to keep my boots on!