Former football hooligans regroup in far-Right Casuals United

They see themselves as the vanguard in a battle for the soul of Britain against extremist Islamist forces — the “enemy within” bent on imposing Sharia. Casuals United announced their arrival on Saturday when a small army of shirt-sleeved, middle-aged men with beer bellies clashed in a flurry of punches and kicks with young Asians in Birmingham city centre.

The group, which is closely affiliated with the far-right English Defence League, insists that it is a peaceful movement representing ordinary working people angered by the sight of Muslims hurling insults at British soldiers on homecoming parades. But if the chants of “England, England” and the aggressive posturing appear familiar, it is because they are.

The members of Casuals United are largely former football hooligans drawn from the terraces and, according to their critics, are essentially the BNP and National Front repackaged. The groupings have attracted the support of BNP activists including Chris Renton, who created the English Defence League website.

Jeff Marsh, the leader of Casuals United, told The Times that the organisation was a “mixed-race group of English people, from businessmen and women, to football hooligans”. He said: “I came up with the idea to unite football fans to forget their petty rivalries and come together in a national movement. There are a lot of people in their forties and fifties who used to be hooligans but went on to settle down. A lot of young football fans want to get involved.”

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Mr Marsh, who holds a degree in criminal justice, claims to have support among serving soldiers and points to the activities of army wives on the website Armchair Warriors. “Their men can’t be seen to be supporting us directly,” he said.

The new beast on the far Right came to prominence when its members clashed with anti-fascist protesters in Birmingham on Saturday. Police made 30 arrests and are still studying closed-circuit television footage.

According to the anti-fascist group Searchlight, Casuals United was created after the trouble in March when Islamists demonstrated against troops returning from Afghanistan to Luton. Two months later, members of Casuals United marched through the town and last month they picketed an Islamic roadshow in North London.

Mr Marsh, 44, whose book The Trouble with Taffies is an account of football violence in South Wales, confirmed that the Luton parade had been the catalyst. He said that a generation of former football hooligans were stirred to action by the sight of Muslim extremists abusing the men of the Royal Anglian Regiment.

After the group was outnumbered by United Against Fascism in Birmingham on Saturday, Mr Marsh pledged that it would return to the city on August 30. The group is also planning a protest in Manchester in October.

The Casuals make full use of modern communications, using social networking websites, notably Facebook, where there are about 40 branches, many of which declare allegiance to various football clubs. The Arsenal branch sums up the group’s manifesto, saying that it was formed to “protest peacefully against the Government allowing Islamic Hatemongers to live in our country while raising money for terror abroad, cursing our soldiers and trying to force Sharia law on us”. continues here

Lest we forget

Birmingham braced for Anti-Muslim protest rally

Hundreds expected as police mount ‘substantial policing operation’

AN ANTI-Muslim protest group which will demonstrate in Birmingham this weekend has been described as a “mob of far right hooligans” with alleged links to the BNP.
The claim was made against the English Defence League by the anti-fascist group Unite Against Fascism ahead of their planned anti-Muslim protest in Birmingham city centre on Saturday 8 August.
Supporters of UAF will hold a counter-protest at the same time against the group they have described as “racist”.
West Midlands Police have organised a major policing operation to stop the rival groups from clashing.
The protest in Birmingham is one of three jointly organised by EDL and a second group called ‘Casuals United’.
A message on EDL’s Facebook page said their aim was to “protest peacefully against militant Islam”. It added: “We only exist due to the government and police allowing our British culture to be threatened.”
They also denied they were racist – a claim which has angered supporters of Unite Against Fascism.
UAF claim a similar protest held in Birmingham last month saw protesters chanting anti-Muslim slogans and singing racist songs. They also say an increase of Nazi and BNP graffiti in the city had a direct link to the protest.
Supporters of both groups also clashed with police in Luton earlier this year in a rally against supposed Muslim extremists who chanted slogans and held placards during a homecoming parade by the 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment in March.
Nine people were arrested and Asian businesses were attacked during that rally.
UAF Midlands organiser Sadia told Socialist Worker, “Lots of local people are determined to show these thugs that their vicious racism is not wanted. We are expecting a good turnout from local trade unions and the Muslim community.”
Superintendent Matt Ward from West Midlands Police said he was unsure how many EDL protesters would be in Birmingham after the group refused a request to meet with police ahead of the rally. continues here

Anti-Muslim Protest Birmingham

Now its not long before the protest begins and still I cannot support this initiative and I know now that others also refuse to indorse this event, I have been contacted personally by EDL individuals and although we have come to some agreement regarding each other ,still the presence of Zionism prohibits further involvement from this side. However, we wish the EDL well and all those nationalists attending the event tomorrow, I know to from other sources that the police have prepared well for this protest including non-uniform officers and kitted teams.

It is a shame that officially true nationalism oppose the conceivers, which as I stated myself to the contactee, in no way insinuates lack of support for some of the aims of the group, I believe as do other nationalists of my acquaintance, that this protest assists other forces, yet we will, should need present, support in whichever way our own people. I know that some of us will unofficially travel tomorrow, as myself and others did at the last protest however, this will be an unofficial showing, unsanctioned and a personal choice.

In any event good luck to all and be careful, others travel to commit violence and this protest has a different aspect from the last one, please maintain personal security, travel in groups, be prepared and good hunting.