Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Football, Chelsea, West Ham United, Millwall, England
Ben McCrum
A former Chelsea hooligan had no doubts about when choosing which of West Ham and Millwall was a scarier club to visit.
While England is perhaps best known for being home to some of the best clubs in the world in the Premier League, it's fair to say that it is also known for the hooliganism present with some clubs in the country.
For years, fans have often debated which club across England has the most intimidating hooligans within the fanbase, with several teams in London typically coming out on top of the discussion.
But now, a former Chelsea hooligan has set the record straight and revealed which of West Ham and Millwall had the most intimidating fans.
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With both clubs having deep roots in East London, the rivalry between Millwall and West Ham United is one of the longest-standing in English football, dating back to the 19th century.
As such, some fans from the two clubs were often involved in brutal fights, with this kind of hooliganism reaching its height in the 1970s and 80s.
And it was during this time that notorious Chelsea hooligan Pat Dolan, known to some as 'Fat Pat,' visited both grounds, and he believes that West Ham was a much scarier place to visit, despite The Den's intimidating reputation.
Speaking about his encounters with West Ham hooligans, Dolan told The Mirror: "West Ham’s the scariest ground I’ve ever been to.
"In 1980/81 we put leaflets out in the Shed to get everybody to go together for the game at West Ham the following week. A mob of us got off at Upton Park and walked down to the ground.
"As we got outside the back of the South Bank we could hear, ‘Hello, hello Chelsea aggro’ followed by an even louder, ‘Hello, hello West Ham aggro’ as we were queuing to get in."
He added: "A mob of West Ham steamed into us and we were run into the ground, many jumping the turnstiles without paying.
"Inside, it was mental. A few West Ham were on the pitch down by the corner flag. Nearly everyone there had the green or blue flight jackets on so no-one really knew who was who."