Section 5, also known as Albion Youth when referring to its younger members, is a football hooligan firm associated with West Bromwich Albion F.C. The Championship club has had several hooligan firms since the 1960s—including the Clubhouse and the Smethwick Mob—but Section 5 remains the largest and most infamous, with its activity peaking in the 1980s and 1990s. Section 5 stood out from many other English hooligan firms of the time for its mixed racial heritage. During the peak years of football hooliganism, when racism and ethnic homogeneity were widespread among firms and terraces alike, Section 5 was unusual for bringing together fans of different backgrounds under one banner. The firm became notorious for violent clashes with rival supporters, especially Wolverhampton Wanderers, Birmingham City, and Aston Villa. These Black Country and West Midlands derbies remain some of the fiercest in English football, and Section 5’s reputation was built on these hostile encounters.
Notorious Clashes
Over the decades, Section 5 has been involved in numerous high-profile incidents of football violence:
Amsterdam (2002) – Ahead of England’s clash with the Netherlands, West Brom and Wolves supporters fought in the town centre. CCTV captured Wolves fans throwing bottles into a pub before Albion hooligans stormed out and attacked them.
Battle of Bramall Lane – When Sheffield United vs West Brom was abandoned due to United being reduced to six players, violence flared both inside and outside the ground.
Cardiff (2004) – Section 5 clashed with Cardiff City’s Soul Crew in a huge street battle as Albion fans were escorted to the ground.
Aston Villa (2004) – One of the firm’s most infamous incidents, when up to 80 fans fought with baseball bats, bricks, bottles, and iron bars outside the Uplands pub in Handsworth. The organised brawl left eight injured, and 60 hooligans were later convicted, receiving bans and prison sentences.
Black Country Derby (2011) – A volatile Premier League clash saw a smoke bomb thrown, missiles exchanged, and violent pub fights after a 1–1 draw with Wolves. Seven supporters were jailed.
QPR (2012) – Forty West Brom fans clashed with an equal number of QPR-linked hooligans at a pub near The Hawthorns, with weapons and bottles used. Nine were later charged.
Aston Villa (2013) – Violence erupted before a Premier League match at The Hawthorns, featured in the BBC’s Inside Out.
Birmingham New Street (2015) – Around 30 fans from West Brom, Villa, and Wolves fought in a massive brawl on a train platform, using belts as weapons.
O2 Academy Birmingham (2016) – West Brom supporters clashed with Birmingham City fans at a music gig, showing that rivalries extended beyond football grounds.
Origins of the Name “Section 5”
There are two main theories behind the firm’s name:
The Hawthorns Terracing – Many Albion supporters believe “Section 5” referred to the central part of the old Birmingham Road End stand, where chanting and atmosphere often began. It was here that many of the firm stood, with others based in the Smethwick End.
The Law – Another explanation is that it came from Section 5 of the Public Order Act, legislation often used to crack down on football hooliganism and disorderly behaviour.
In 2009, former Section 5 members published “Sons of Albion: The Inside Story of the Section 5 Squad”, a book that detailed more than 30 years of West Brom’s hooligan culture, including the Clubhouse and Smethwick Mob. It offered a first-hand account of the evolution of Albion’s hooligan firms and the experiences of those involved. While police crackdowns, banning orders, and heavy sentencing reduced their visibility, Section 5 remains a part of West Bromwich Albion’s hooligan identity. Today, active members not banned from attending matches often gather in the Smethwick End at The Hawthorns, continuing the group’s legacy in the terraces.
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