The Inter City Firm ( ICF) is an English football hooligan firm associated with West Ham United, which was mainly active in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. The name came from the use of InterCity trains to travel to away games. [1] They were the subject of a 1985 Thames Television documentary, Hooligan. [2] [3] History [ edit ] Jason Allday (22 July 2014). JUNIOR: Villains, Hooligans and Scoundrels A testament to the social icons in our lives and the friends I keep. AuthorHouse. pp.6–. ISBN 978-1-4969-2687-6.

The ICF were the basis of Alan Clarke's 1988 film, The Firm. Gary Oldman plays Bex Bissell, the leader of the ICC - Inter City Crew. Members of the ICF were used as consultants on the film. [1] The 2005 film Green Street (and its sequels) are also based on the ICF, but instead the initials GSE ('Green Street Elite') were used. The ICF make an appearance in Irvine Welsh's novellas Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance. Pennant, Cass (2003). Congratulations, You Have Just Met the I. C. F. John Blake Publishing. p.61. ISBN 9781904034858.Following a renewed interest by the public in the 21st century in football hooliganism of the 1970s and 1980s, Gardner featured prominently on the cover of fellow I.C.F. member Cass Pennant's 2003 book " Congratulations, You Have Just Met the I. C. F." [10] In 2005 Gardner published his autobiography " Good Afternoon, Gentlemen, the Name's Bill Gardner" detailing his involvement in hooliganism. [11] The book was co-written with Cass Pennant. [11] Pennant, Cass (2003). Congratulations, You Have Just Met the I. C. F. John Blake Publishing Ltd. ISBN 9781904034858. Jonas Nyrup; Tom Carstensen (2011). Hooligan: de danske broderskaber; respekten, æren, rusen. Lindhardt og Ringhof. pp.142–. ISBN 978-87-11-41781-2. Born in Hornchurch, Essex, [1] Gardner came to prominence in the 1970s as a supporter of West Ham United and as a member of the Mile End Boys and not firm, the I.C.F. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

The film shows an incident involving Gardner and the I.C.F. fighting supporters of Manchester United, the Red Army, on the terraces at Old Trafford where he starts a fight by throwing a hot Bovril drink over an opposing fan. [14] This mirrors a real life incident where Gardner himself had hot tea thrown over him by Manchester United fans. [15]Gardner, Bill; Pennant, Cass (2006). Good Afternoon, Gentlemen, the Name's Bill Gardner. Blake Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84454-261-1.

Gardner was arrested by the Metropolitan police in 1987 as part of Operation Fulltime. [3] [7] [8] The aim of this police operation was to bring football hooligans to justice. [9]The ICF pioneered calling cards that were left on victims. [5] They read "Congratulations, you have just met the ICF". [6] Calling cards would also become popular at other football clubs. Pennant, Cass (2003). Congratulations, You Have Just Met the I. C. F. John Blake Publishing. p.53. ISBN 9781904034858.

The firm formed out of a number of other West Ham groups, including the Mile End Boys and Essex East London Firm. ICF formed in the 1977/78 season. [4] Pennant, Cass (2003). Congratulations You Have Just Met the ICF. Blake Publishing. ISBN 978-1-904034-85-8. Gardner was portrayed by Stuart Moore in the 2007 film Rise of the Footsoldier which details the life of another member of the I.C.F., Carlton Leach. [12] [13]

a b Gardner, Bill (2006). Good Afternoon, Gentlemen, the Name's Bill Gardner. John Blake Publishing Ltd. p.1. ISBN 9781844542611.