When Football Turns Violent: Aston Villa vs West Brom Clashes – Rivals at War Section 5 & C Crew

“Dive into the intense rivalry between Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion, section 5 and villa hardcore and c crew football hooligans, before the days of sky sports, premier league and talksport this is old school football, exploring the 2013 pub clash and the 2015 FA Cup quarter-final pitch invasions. Discover the history, the passion, and the controversy that define this Midlands derby.

#AstonVilla #WestBrom #FootballRivalry #MidlandsDerby #FAcup #PitchInvasion #FootballViolence #VillaPark #TheHawthorns #FootballHistory

Welcome to Everything Casual, bringing you 
original football casual videos from the golden era of the 80s and ‘9s right up to current day. 
Football away day stories and historic clashes between football firms. Subscribe so you don’t 
miss out. We upload videos every week. [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Applause] Nestled in the heart of the West Midlands, 
two football clubs have ignited one of the most intense rivalries in English football 
history. Aston Villa and West Bromich Albian, two clubs four miles apart and a history filled 
with passion, pride and controversy. The roots of this fierce rivalry trace back to 1882 when Villa 
and Albian first clashed in the Staffordshire Cup. Over the years, their encounters have been 
marked by competitive spirit and at times discord. November 25th, 2013 saw tension spill over 
into the Rose Villa Tavern in Birmingham’s Jewelry Quarter. Around 6:00 p.m., two men 
entered the pub filled with Villa supporters, and began throwing missiles, including bottles, 
sparking a violent altercation. Police swiftly intervened, arresting several individuals. Three 
men were later convicted for their involvement, but avoided jail time. The incident was featured 
in an episode of the BBC series Inside Out, highlighting the ongoing issues of football 
related violence in the region. March 7th, 2015, Villa Park hosted an FA Cup 
quarterfinal between Villa and Albian. The match ended with Villa’s 2-nil victory, 
but the real story unfolded in the stands. I West [Applause] from the Black Country I wish [Applause] I [Music] [Applause] I say from the back country [Applause] [Applause] from the black country West Bromich Albian condemn Aston Villa after 
hooliganism disgrace at cup derby. Shameful weekend for football worsens as unprovoked assault 
leaves Watford fan in critical condition after game at Wolves. West Bromich Albian hit out 
at neighbors Aston Villa today over the pitch invasions that marred the FA Cup quarterfinal 
between the sides. As Villa awaited the verdict of the football association’s investigation, Albian 
issued a statement voicing their deep concern that the safety of their players had been threatened 
as home fans ran onto the pitch both during and after Villa’s victory. Goalkeeper Boaz Myill 
and winger Callum McManaman were both taunted by fans in separate incidents. Disturbing echoes of 
hooligan problems of the 70s and 80s were evident. A Watford fan was in a critical condition in 
hospital after being attacked in Wolverampton following his team’s game at Molino. There 
was also trouble outside Villa Park before kickoff with West Midlands police confirming 
investigations into violence at the Witten Arms Pub where 17 men were arrested for various 
public order offenses including assaulting a police officer. The FA was expected to 
issue Villa with a substantial fine rather than a ground closure after three separate pitch 
invasions. West Bromich chairman Jeremy Peace was reportedly unhappy with Villa’s handling of 
the 5:30 p.m. kickoff. A club statement read, “Pitch invasions cannot be tolerated under 
any circumstances. The safety of the club’s players and staff was clearly compromised. Villa 
condemned their supporters actions in a statement late on Saturday night. The club does not condone 
supporters invading the field of play under any circumstances. They have let both themselves and 
their club down West Brom condemned the serious misbehavior of some of their own supporters who 
ripped up plastic seats in the north stand and threw them down onto home fans below. Manager Tony 
Polus stated, “They’ve got CCTV cameras up there, and those supporters should never come into 
another football ground.” After the final whistle, Villa fans stormed the pitch, leading to a 
second invasion during stoppage time. Meanwhile, Albian supporters threw seats from the 
upper tier into the Villa crowd below. 17 individuals were arrested for various offenses, 
including public order offenses and being drunk and disorderly. Aston Villa Football Club was 
fined £200,000 by the FA for failing to control their supporters. The intensity of this rivalry is 
fueled by several factors. Geographical proximity, historical encounters, and the presence 
of football hooligan firms. These elements combined to create a fierce and enduring rivalry 
between the two clubs. 2013 Derby pub clash legal consequences. Aston Villa and West Bromich Albian 
violence. Three men avoid jail after Derby day. Pub clash. Rival groups clashed at the Rose Villa 
Tavern when glasses, bar stools, and punches were all thrown. Three football hooligans avoided 
jail for their part in the clash. Nick Peach, a company director, was handed a 10-month jail 
sentence suspended for 2 years. Albian fan Ashley Saunders received 6 months suspended, while Sam 
Woolly received 6 months suspended. Each received football banning orders and unpaid work penalties. 
The recorder of Birmingham, Melbourne, Inman QC, remarked, “It was to be hoped that slowly the 
blight of football violence in this city was being eradicated.” The incident at Roseville Tavern 
was caught on film. It was very ugly. One set of supporters deliberately targeted the pub throwing 
punches and glasses, leading to retaliation from inside. Defense statements highlighted the 
offender’s remorse. Fergle bloomer peach. At his age he should know better than this and he fully 
accepts that. John Evans Saunders. It was naive and stupid behavior. He has learned his lesson 
and won’t be involved in any type of behavior like this again. Samantha Foresight Woolly. He 
feels deep regret and shame for his actions. The 2016 incident. Blues and baggies. Fans waited 
to ambush villa supporters in pubs. White Tower license hearings revealed 75 officers and police 
dogs were needed to control thugs at the Derby game. West Midland’s police stated at least 35 
risk supporters were waiting for Aston Villa fans on the route back to Dudon train station. Bottles 
and glasses were thrown at officers with officers using force to restore order. Licensing officials 
noted a degree of pre-planning, stating, “There was just no control. They were organized. There 
was a degree of pre-planning. They were there for a reason, and that reason was to take part 
in serious disorder.” The results of an online poll. 90% of West Brom fans hate Aston Villa, but 
Villa fans aren’t keen on the baggies either. It will come as no surprise to Aston Villa fans as to 
which Premier League team hates them the most, but the identity of their next biggest rivals might. 
A massive 90% of West Brom fans said that they hated Aston Villa as part of a national survey 
to see which Premier League teams each club’s fans hate. Now, let’s listen to what wellrespected 
faces from both firms had to say about each other. First up is John Richie, a wellrespected lad from 
West Brom section 5. The following are all his own words courtesy of Away Day Radio. Our main 
rivals, there’s actually two. The older lads say Aston Villa, but the younger lot would say Wolves 
as we play them more regularly than Villa. We’ve had a few battles with wolves, but these days on 
match day, the police are all over it, which makes it difficult, even though we try all night until 
something happens, which is small scale really, as the police showed up too quick. We’ve had 
battles when we’re not playing each other to try and get around the police, but can’t talk about 
these as some of them the police haven’t found out about and some could still get people arrested as 
they’re quite recent and we don’t want that. We’ve had big battles with Cardiff, Sheffield United, 
once with Villa, Wolves, and Derby at their place. Sheffield United under a subway once with only 
a few of us and recently with Everton. The firms that I don’t rate are as follows. Teams I don’t 
rate and why the Villa as we’ve tried consistency over the last few years to organize something but 
it never happens. Always excuse from them. We’ve tried everything to make it happen. Don’t get me 
wrong, there have been things that have happened late after games what some don’t know about. But 
that’s all really. That was from the point of view from West Brom section 5 and John Richie. If any 
other Albian lads want to chip in with a comment, then please do so in the comment section 
because I could only find something to put out there from one West Brom lad. But as you 
will hear shortly, a few Villa boys have given their opinion on section 5. So, let’s hear what 
some of the top faces at Aston Villa have to say about West Brom. The following are direct quotes 
from them. The Wolf Subway Army were very good, but Albian were piss poor. I got to know Mutley 
at the detention center and he was old school and he was their main lad in my opinion. They just 
couldn’t hold it when we played them. They were wank. That’s why I went in the Brummy Road as it 
wasn’t a problem but got nicked in the process. I was surprised when I heard about the Uplands, but 
apparently they have got a good set of lads these days and don’t run away like they did in the old 
days. Account of the Villa versus West Brom game from a known Villa face. Pre-match meetup around 
80 to 100. Villa lads met in the Shakespeare pub in town. Tactics. Villa’s firm noticed Albian 
in the Witten Arms pub across from the station. Albian were in the bar with a few standing 
outside. Clash. Villa’s train load charged across the road. Albian panicked, ran inside and 
bolted the doors. They were [ __ ] themselves and wouldn’t come out. Police presence, light 
police presence, not enough to control Villa. They pushed Albian back and took control. Match. 
Villa won 3-1. Seeing promotion to division 1. Spirits were high. Postmatch. Returning to 
Witten station, Albian boarded the train, but were outnumbered. Villa stormed them, smashing 
windows and pushing Albian back into carriages. One Albian lad tried fending off Villa with a 
large triangular sheet of glass from a window. Train stopped at Aston. Albian were at sixes and 
sevens, battered, and chased off the platform. Another Villa lad called Ddub took revenge on 
an Albian lad who had bloodied him earlier that season, but we will go into that later. We 
completely dominated Albian that day, both on the pitch and off it. Police eventually blocked 
New Street Station platform, but the violence had already been decisive. It was so one-sided it was 
untrue. But I do rate West Brom’s current firm, Albian Section 5, different to the old Albian 
firm very active, wellorganized, and respected when up against Villa. He said the famous battle, 
the Uplands pub fight in Hanssworth, August 2004, was a major battle with dozens arrested from both 
sides. Albian arrived toolled up, Villa Hardcore and some steamers confronted them. The battle was 
largely captured on camera. The villa hardcore leader showed bravery and galvanized others to 
stand firm. Albian was heavily armed. One was described wielding a metal bar, clashing directly 
with villads. A villad tried protecting himself, raising his arm as the bar cracked into it. 
He resorted to using only his belt in defense. Clarky, a villa lad, admits West Brom were 
the most impressive West Midlands firm Villa faced in their Premier League era. Section five, 
impressive, with heads from the steamers and the sea crew all agreeing, much tougher than the older 
Albian mob, who were mocked earlier in the book. Danny Brown aka Black Danny said, “Wolverampton 
wanderers were highly respected by me, especially the old subway army, seen as even tougher than 
Birmingham Zulus.” Quinta, described as a true warrior, feared and respected, remembered from 
clashes and even in prison, and recalls a Nutsford service station battle. My first row with Wolves 
Villa Park 1978 first game of the season at Witten Station. Wolves were waiting for trains and we 
confronted them. Villa spotted key Wolves figures like Peter Asbury, David Owen, Brian Desmond, 
Amy Smith, the Kennedys. And this is what another Villa lad said about West Brom. Again, all his 
own words. This lot are a different proposition to their old firm. Certainly very active and 
have acquitted themselves well when we have come up against them. They are best known for the 
battle at the Uplands pub in Hansworth in August 2004. A major off which led to several dozen from 
both sides being arrested. Albian arrived at the pub toled up and when we came out to meet them 
the brawl that followed was largely captured on camera. Whilst the majority at the Uplands battle 
were lads from a firm called the Villa Hardcore, some of ours, albeit not many, were involved, 
and one of the steamers, along with some very good lads, held the line for a long time until the 
hardcore leader arrived on the scene. The younger lads know him better than they do our lads, and it 
seemed to galvanize the rest of them, even though Albian were the ones carrying weapons. One of the 
main lads involved in that freakus faced an Albian lad wielding a metal bar. In trying to protect his 
head, he raised his arm and apparently you could hear the crack as the bar met his arm. Faced with 
that, all he could use was his belt. He wanted the lad to drop the bar and have a straightener 
with him, but he wouldn’t oblige. Of all the West Midlands firms we have come up against in 
the Prem, Albian have been the most impressive. We have spoken with heads from the steamers and 
the sea crew. It is difficult finding anyone who rated the older Albian lot. Maybe there are some 
who think otherwise. And I’m not saying we haven’t had lads who have coped a kicking there, but in 
general they were poor. This is what Paul Brittle had to say about an old school encounter with West 
Brom. After our exploits a season earlier at their place, we decided to try again and carry on what 
was almost an annual villa ritual of going into the Birmingham Road. 40 of us got into the 
Brummy Road end and made our way up to the back corner about 20 minutes before kickoff. The 
scream went up [ __ ] villa and we went straight into them. All the usual suspects were there. 
Andy, Jimmy, Ryan, Leslie, Corby, Lofty, Joyce, etc. Albian backed right off and I spotted a lot 
of them. Couldn’t even see us through the crowd. So, didn’t know there was only 40 of us. The old 
Bill were on us almost straight away and got us all down to the front with Albian all coming 
back around us. Now, the police were there, but they couldn’t move us before the OB came. We were 
thrown out and had to pay again into the seats on the side where there was a mob of Albian next to 
us all game with police in between us. However, all this hasn’t really covered what actually 
happened in the famous battle in the uplands pub in Hansworth. So, let’s take a look into it. 
A millionaire company director, an ex-soldier who served in Iraq, and an ambulance driver were among 
60 thugs who have been sentenced for violence that erupted after a Midlands football derby. 
Company boss Darren Bro, aged 41 from Aldridge, was sentenced to 15 months in jail and was 
banned from football matches for 7 years for his part in a brawl following a West Bromich 
Albian and Aston Villa match in the year 2004. Eight supporters were injured in the clash on 
August 22nd as a crowd of up to 80 people fought running battles outside the Uplands pub in Oxhill 
Road, Hansworth. The violence spilled across the road and into neighboring streets where young 
families were enjoying the afternoon sun. Those involved in the array came from all walks of life. 
And yesterday, the last of the 60 charged with violent disorder was sentenced at Birmingham 
Crown Court. Of those charged, 23 were Albian fans and 37 were Villa supporters. Although one, 
20-year-old Jaime Teal was a known Wals hooligan. Marco Connor, aged 31, was sentenced to 22 months 
in jail and received a 7-year ban. Soldier Darren Williams, aged 34, went to Iraq soon after 
the fight, but was later handed a 12-month sentence suspended for 2 years and a 5-year ban. 
The fighting broke out 2 hours after the final whistle of the 1-1 draw at the Uplands Pub, which 
is less than a mile from the Hawthorne’s ground. Most of the defendants had no previous convictions 
for hooliganism, but ring leader Simon Hamlet pleaded guilty to the more serious charge of 
conspiracy to commit violent disorder and was jailed for 3 years after admitting organizing 
the fight. West Midland’s police detective Constable Martin Woodall said the sentences 
sent out a powerful antiviolence message. DC Wood said this was a lengthy investigation that 
resulted in 58 people being banned from football matches for a considerable period of time. The 
message should be clear. If you go to football matches intent on causing trouble, you will be 
arrested, put before the courts, and banned from watching the game. It should be made clear that 
while these people may claim to be football fans, they are in fact criminals. A spokesman for West 
Bromich Albian expressed the club’s unreserved condemnation of what took place. The Baggie’s 
matchday operations manager Kevin Jennings said, “We are pleased that the leading police officers 
involved in this case have highlighted the role the club played in apprehending the offenders.” 
At the start of the season, the club provided the police with extra funds to enable the force 
to have evidence gatherers, officers with video cameras in operation on match days. This 
proved crucial during this incident, he added, following the jail terms handed out by the courts 
in this case. We’re hoping hooligans will think twice before causing trouble. A judge had imposed 
reporting restrictions on the cases until all the sentences were imposed. Are the courts right to 
get tough with football hooligans? Give us your opinion in the comment section. Those sentenced at 
Birmingham Crown Court, Paul Alder, 36, 20 months jail and 7-year football ban. Keith Amos, 42, 
19 months jail and 7-year football ban. Steven Bailey, 41, 9-month jail and 7-year ban. Matthew 
Bolton, 23, 21 months jail and 7-year ban. Matthew Brittle, 21, 18 months jail and 7-year ban. Darren 
Bro, 42, 15month jail and 7-year ban. David Brown, 32, 240 hours community order, 6-month curfew and 
5-year ban. Ian Campbell, 24, 19 months jail and 7-year ban. Darren Clark, 25, 6 months jail and 
7-year ban. Joey Clark, 42, from West Bromich, 7 months jail and 7-year ban. Carl Clearary, 32, 
30month jail and 7-year ban. Mark Clement, 41, 20 month jail and 7-year ban. Carl Court, 44, 
community order and 5-year ban. John Crowley, 49, 20 months jail and 7-year ban. Michael Cuddy, 
28, 22 months jail and 7-year ban. John Nui, 40, 20 months jail and 7-year ban. Marco Connor, 
32, 22 months jail and 7-year ban. Aean Payne, 40, 20 monthth jail and 7-year ban. Neil Pitum, 
37, 240 hours community order, £2,000 fine and 5-year ban. Jason Ramsay, 38, 22 months jail 
and 7-year ban. Robert Simpson, 35, 21-month jail and 7-year ban. Those are just a few names. 
To me, they seem harsh sentences, especially when there are nonses walking around that seem to 
walk free. Very wrong to me, but that’s for a different video. Anyway, if any lads want to 
set the record straight on events in this video, please do let us know in the comment section. 
Until next time, God bless. Thank you for taking the time to watch this video. If you subscribe, 
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