Ex-West Ham Hooligan Claims ICF Lost Fight To Unexpected Firm

A former West Ham Hooligan recalled how his firm lost a fight with a surprise fanbase after being "run terrible".

Back in the day, West Ham had one of the most feared firms in English football and clashed with supporters all over the country.

The firm was depicted in the hooligan film 'Green Street', with the ICF (Inter City Firm) having most of their issues with London rivals Millwall, Spurs and Chelsea among others.

However, according to Mark Phillips, a former member of the firm, his "most dangerous" experience came up North.

Phillips, who has turned his life around and worked in the West Ham academy for 15 years, recalled a moment he and his ICF pals - including a notorious West Ham hooligan called Carlton Leach - travelled up to Preston for a game.

The ICF crew felt that they would be free to walk around the area as they pleased and around 15 in the group decided to "break away" as it was "only Preston".

Phillips was a member of West Ham's ICF firm. Image: Getty

"Well I can remember one distinctly, Phillips began, speaking on the Dodge Woodall podcast.

"Although we were called the ICF, sometimes we would go to games on coaches, sometimes we would go on cars.

"But we went to a game at Preston on a coach. We were arrogant and lairy, oh we will go and have a drink anywhere, we will do this, we will do what we like.

"We come round this corner, away from the ground there's this boozer. And all ex-football (hooligans)... whatever you want to call us, we exaggerate.

"Anyway, I would say there is 15 of us, something like that, and just the arrogance and ridiculousness of it all, and we ain't looking for it. We are just looking for a beer.

"Then we come round this corner and I don't know, there was at least around 100 Preston, you know what I mean?"

Phillips has had a long spell working for West Ham as a coach. Image: Getty

He continued: "And then they are still coming towards us, not bouncing, but coming, and we ain't bouncing, and anyway they come across the road and we are just standing there - and then more (Preston fans) come round the corner. We got run, run terrible, when you are getting run it is everywhere, every man for himself."

"I'm in the back streets of Preston. Properly like, we are meant to be the top firm in the country! It happens though and you can't say you won everywhere. It is ridiculous and people say 'oh we never lost' but people lose battles all over the place, of course you do."

Phillips was given final warning by West Ham

A former taxi driver, Phillips has enjoyed a long stint in the West Ham academy set-up, helping coach the Under 16's and Under 18's.

In October 2018, he was suspended by the club after he attended a Democratic Football Lads Alliance march in central London and posted defensive tweets about the group online.

West Ham were concerned hat the posts about the group, which has been accused of being racist and islamophobic, may have breached a code of conduct club.

They subsequently launched a probe after suspending the former Arsenal coach and found that there were no grounds to dismiss Phillips.

However, he was given a final warning and although he returned to his role, he was required to attend courses on discriminatory issues and bias.

A statement from West Ham said: "West Ham United can confirm that following suspension and subsequent investigation, academy coach Mark Phillips has been reinstated to his role in accordance with employment law, and has been reminded of his responsibilities".