The Inter City Firm (ICF): The Notorious West Ham Hooligan Firm

The Inter City Firm (ICF) is one of the most infamous football hooligan groups in England, closely linked with West Ham United. Their activities peaked during the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s, making them one of the most feared and talked-about firms in British football culture. Their name originates from the British InterCity trains, which the firm regularly used to travel to away matches across the country. Unlike many other hooligan groups of the era, the ICF quickly gained a reputation for organization, violence, and unique methods of making their presence felt.

Origins of the Inter City Firm

The ICF was formed during the 1977/78 football season, emerging from existing West Ham supporter groups such as the Mile End Boys and the Essex East London Firm. Over time, these smaller crews merged to create a more unified and powerful hooligan firm under the ICF banner. By the early 1980s, the ICF was considered one of the most dangerous and innovative hooligan groups in England. They were even the focus of the 1985 Thames Television documentary “Hooligan”, which introduced their activities to a wider audience.

Key Figures and Personalities

The ICF produced several well-known figures, many of whom became central to football and criminal culture in the UK:

Cass Pennant – Perhaps the most famous member, Cass Pennant later became an author, writing books such as “Congratulations, You Have Just Met the ICF”. As a Black Londoner, Pennant often highlighted that the ICF was neither racist nor politically extreme, breaking stereotypes associated with hooligan culture.

Bill Gardner – Originally from the Mile End Boys, Gardner became one of the most visible faces of West Ham’s hooligan scene. He was also featured on the cover of Pennant’s book.

Carlton Leach – Known for his violent past and later portrayed in the film “Rise of the Footsoldier”, Leach’s story reflects the darker transition of some hooligans from football violence to the criminal underworld, including drug dealing and extortion.

Many ICF figures became deeply involved in organized crime, most famously linked to the Rettendon murders of 1995, where Pat Tate, Tony Tucker, and Craig Rolfe were executed in Essex.

ICF’s Calling Card

The ICF were innovators in football hooligan tactics. One of their trademarks was leaving behind calling cards after violent clashes. The cards read:
“Congratulations, you have just met the ICF.”

This symbolic gesture spread fear among rival fans and eventually inspired other football firms across the country to copy the idea.

By the late 1980s, the ICF became associated with pirate radio culture. They were linked to the Centreforce station, founded by Andy Swallow, himself a former member of the Essex East London Firm. This crossover between football hooliganism and underground music culture reflected the broader influence of the ICF on London street life.

ICF in Media and Popular Culture

The ICF’s legacy has been cemented through films, books, and documentaries:

“The Firm” (1988) – Directed by Alan Clarke, this film portrayed a fictionalized version of the ICF. Gary Oldman starred as Bex Bissell, the leader of the “Inter City Crew,” with ICF members acting as consultants.

“Green Street” (2005) – Loosely based on the ICF, the film used the fictional “Green Street Elite (GSE)” as a stand-in. The movie gained cult status and brought the firm’s legend to a new generation.

Irvine Welsh’s “Ecstasy” – The group is also referenced in Welsh’s well-known collection of novellas.

The ICF remains one of the most represented firms in British football culture, with their stories continually retold in books, movies, and documentaries.

While their peak years of hooliganism ended in the early 1990s due to heavy policing and stricter football laws, the ICF name did not completely disappear. In 2018, former members regrouped under the Real West Ham Fans Action Group, organizing large-scale protests against the club’s board.

Though modern football culture has changed, the legacy of the ICF endures—part history, part myth, and part warning of the darker side of English football.

The Inter City Firm remains one of the most notorious and influential hooligan groups in England. Their unique mix of organized violence, symbolic gestures like the calling card, and crossover into criminal and cultural life ensured their place in football history.

From Cass Pennant’s books to cult films like Green Street, the ICF story continues to fascinate fans, researchers, and media producers worldwide. Whether viewed as violent criminals or cultural icons, one thing is certain: the ICF changed the landscape of football hooliganism forever.