As an 8 year old boy Carl Spiers witnessed his first football hooliganism at Stockport in 1969. It was a seminal moment in his life and sparked an obsession with violence. For the next 15 years he progressed from onlooker to teenage boot boy to gang leader and eventually became one of Oldham's top 'lads' in the late 70's/early 1980's. This roller-coaster ride took him up and down the country clashing with over sixty rival teams from all four divisions. Along the way Carl suffered many injuries including being stabbed in the chest and inner thigh, having his nose, cheekbones, arm, wrists, fingers and skull broken and his teeth knocked out. He eventually saw the futility of all this mindless violence and by his early twenties he settled down. Nevertheless his experiences stood him in good stead as he went on to become widely recognised as an expert on football hooliganism and wider British youth culture.