#370: Hooliganism's Heyday Wasn't Just Havoc

In partnership with

Whether you're a fan or not, it's doesn't take much to see that sport has a real grip on its place in culture.

Usually, you'll know a sports fan when you see one. They'll usually wrench their neck the moment they notice anything related to their team. They'll refer to the team as "we" without thinking twice about it. They'll loathe their rival team with a righteous intensity that can't be applied to anything else.

Some fans will tattoo their team's crests or logos on their body while others will pass down their fandom to their kids like a birthright, but there's one the thing we all expect true sports fans will do – they will fight.

Sports fans will fight for their team’s honor, no matter the odds. Whether they’re defending a tough loss or basking in the glory of a victory, their passion knows no bounds.

It’s never just a game; it’s a matter of pride.

All of these factors are amplified to the nth degree when you layer them on top of football in England. Add a few pints to the mix and you're probably asking for trouble if you believe that hooligans run rampant on stadium grounds on game day.

The English Disease kicks off in East London, a hotspot for that football lore, where you'll be drawn into the realm of hooliganism that dominated headlines from the 1970s and the 1980s. During this period, the football terraces were more akin to battlegrounds than the neatly packed, family-friendly venues we see today.

Hosted by the pensively insightful Sam Dis, The English Disease unearths the shadowy subculture of football hooliganism, taking you on a gripping journey through a world where sport intertwines with class, politics, and a quest for identity.

Dis covers not just the brawls and the bruises, but the societal fractures that fueled this chaotic culture. The narrative is peppered with a raw yet captivating energy that suggests football hooliganism was never just about the game; it was an outlet, albeit a violent one, for the disenfranchised to voice their discontent.

We get to connect the dots between those turbulent days and the present, exploring how the hooligan spirit has morphed and adapted to modern pressures.

The English Disease isn't just about football; it's about the cracks in society’s veneer and the myths we build to make sense of our past and present. With each episode, you're promised some historical insight with a dash of modern-day relevance, all packaged nicely as a measured narrative.

For anyone interested in the complexities of human behavior, culture, and societal structures, The English Disease is an unmissable listen.

Have a listen and share what you think.

Got a podcast worth sharing? Submit it here and we’ll share it on social so you can share it with your friends and followers. If that post gets high engagement, we’ll included it here in the newsletter!

All your news. None of the bias.

Be the smartest person in the room by reading 1440! Dive into 1440, where 3.5 million readers find their daily, fact-based news fix. We navigate through 100+ sources to deliver a comprehensive roundup from every corner of the internet – politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a quick, 5-minute newsletter. It's completely free and devoid of bias or political influence, ensuring you get the facts straight.

Subscribe to 1440 today.

Explore More Newsletters: Support Podcast Delivery by subscribing to these fine newsletters.