John King’s novel, recently made into a cult movie by British director Nick Love, is about more than just football and hooliganism. Following the lives of several characters, including Tommy Johnson, a seasoned Chelsea FC hooligan, the book explores working class culture and the disillusionment of British society in the early 90’s.  In his late 20’s, Tommy, a warehouse worker from West London, has been supporting Chelsea and England since a teenager, and lives for the weekend and “getting stuck in” for both club and country.  Violence, excessive drink, drugs and casual relationships are the main facets of Tommy’s life.  Football violence is the backdrop, and Tommy’s release from his otherwise mundane and meaningless life is to belong to the “Chelsea Headhunters,” travel to football matches and fight with opposing supporters.  Other characters include a WW2 veteran who struggles to understand the society he has fought to create, a travelling England supporter who blames immigration for his unemployment, and a barmaid who goes to great lengths to prove she is not a racist.  King glorifies none of the themes, instead presenting them on paper and leaving us to make up our own minds.