Shortlisted for the Philip Abrams Memorial Book
Prize 2001 'No one likes us, we dont care' is the anthem
of the most notorious fans in British football. But
little is known about the actual people who generated
and continue to maintain this most infamous of
working-class subcultures. In addition to the voices of
the fans themselves, this book provides a rich and
original account of the historical background, social
sources, expressive culture and ritual practices of
Millwallism, a far more complex, meaningful and
anthropologically compelling phenomenon than the media
stereotypes suggest. The author argues that Millwall
functions in the popular consciousness as a powerful
symbol: specific understandings of football hooliganism,
working-class masculinity, and violent neo-fascism are
triggered by its use in the media and in everyday social
interaction. There are, it follows, few social groups as
heavily mythologized as Millwall fans. Further, the
generation and maintenance of this myth has significance
far beyond the club itself, and is rooted in the
meanings attached to working-class identities and
modernity, masculinity and the body. This book will be
essential reading for anyone interested in Millwall, the
issues of football hooliganism or working-class
masculinity, sociology, anthropology, or sports
studies.
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