Tommy remembers the glory days of the Shed at Stamford Bridge, the Chelsea North Stand and Gate 13, along with his own assessments of opposing players and supporters. The Football Factory is rich in cultural references, from popular music to the songs and chants of the terraces.

Vignettes from a range of minor characters are also included, among them the story of Vince Matthews, a former hooligan who has broken out of the circle of violence to travel the world. Bill Farrell is a calmer voice, but while his more measured reflections present an alternative approach to that of the younger men, he shares their frustrations and feelings of powerlessness. He is seen as a hero by subsequent generations, among them Tommy and various older members of the Chelsea firm, hardcore hooligans such as Dave Harris and Billy Bright. After the war, he married a concentration camp survivor and is trying to cope with her recent death. The language used is hard-hitting but imaginative, as Tommy's frustration and outspoken views on life in modern-day Britain delve into a range of subjects, including class, patriotism, prejudice, poverty, and the political system.Įqually as important to the novel's structure is the presence of pensioner Bill Farrell, a former soldier who fought in the Second World War and was decorated for his bravery. Major battles take place with Chelsea's traditional enemies, among them Tottenham and Millwall, and the book's authenticity has often been commented upon. The principal character/narrator is Tommy Johnson, whose internal monologues allow the reader an inside view of football hooliganism and the adrenaline highs involved. The Football Factory is the controversial debut novel by English author John King, and is based around the adventures of a group of working-class Londoners who follow Chelsea home and away, fighting their rivals on the streets of England's cities.

The football factory novel