British writer Cass Pennant is the founder of independent filmmaking and marketing company Urban Edge Films. He has established himself both on television and in the film industry, and is the author and co-author of some of the UK's best-sellers. His former street life and the history of football hooliganism has inspired many readers. Pennant also regularly visits prisons and schools, where he talks with prisoners and students, and urges them to avoid hooliganism and street violence.
Childhood
Pennant's mother emigrated from Jamaica during pregnancy, and he was born in Doncaster, Yorkshire. At the age of six weeks, she left him. The boy was placed in the orphanage of Dr. Barnardo. He was raised by an elderly white family in Slade Green, Kent. There he was the only black man in the district, and where, he claims, he was intimidated from day one year after year and constantly beaten: “Not only other children, but the whole city. Imagine being hated in childhood. Strangers in cars shout at you. ”
Cass Pennant was baptized under the name Carol. A common masculine name in some parts of the West Indies, but an unusual name for England. (Is the Irish equivalent of the name Charles). His biological mother was also the cause of bullying, especially at school.
After he saw boxer Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali's real name) defeating Henry Cooper, he chose a new name for himself - Cass, in honor of the black boxer with whom he wanted to associate himself.
Inter City Firm (ICF)
Cass, 195 cm tall, was a member and leader of the hooligan football group Inter City Firm (ICF), associated with the West Football United English football club in the 1970s. The history of Cass Pennant is remarkable given the level of racism that prevailed in Britain in the 1970s, 80s, and early 90s. Kass managed to climb to the top and become one of the ICF generals, despite being black. He began to arrange fights and riots in support of his team. He was eventually sentenced to four years in prison in 1980. He was the first to receive a long term for football hooliganism.
After prison
After the second imprisonment, the former football hooligan was engaged in legal work: he owned a taxi, a house painter and a decorator. He also worked as a bouncer on the doors of London’s toughest clubs. Subsequently, he began to manage a security company providing services for London nightclubs. While working in one of these nightclubs, he was shot three times. After he was nearly killed, Cass decides that the work related to violence no longer suits him.
Writer career
In 2002, he wrote his autobiography Cass Pennant. The book tells of his childhood; how he saved boxing world champion Frank Bruno from a knife attack; how he was shot three times in the chest, and he continued to fight; about his leadership at the notorious West Ham Intercity Firm.
The book received quite high marks from critics. “This is much more than the recollections of the fighting in the football stands, the breakaways in pubs and the details of the battles throughout the United Kingdom following the Hammers,” - Jim Lafayette.
In the same year, Cass Pennant appeared on Channel 4 in the documentary film Football Fighting Club about football hooliganism in the 1970s. He has been a consultant to television programs such as Real Football Factories. He also played a cameo role as a police officer in the 2005 drama film about football hooliganism, Green Street Hooligans.
In 2006, he wrote The Best Guys: The True Stories of Football's Most Powerful Men.
Cass Pennant is also a co-author of books such as:
- “Rolling with the crew 6.57: the true story of the legendary football fans of Pompey”, 2004;
- Terrace Legends, 2005;
- Good afternoon, gentlemen, 2006;
- “30 years of pain: the history of the English army of hooligans”, 2006;
- “Want some aggro?”, 2007;
- “The Story of Zulu by Patterson, one of Britain’s most deadly people.” 2013.
In 2006, the documentary "Cass" directed by Liam Galvin was shot about him. The film was nominated for the Best Documentary Film at the British City Film Festival Award. In 2008, his autobiography Cass, which details his turbulent youth, became the basis of the British film of the same name directed by John S. Byrd, where Nonso Anosi played the role of Pennant .
In 2010, Cass starred in the movie Bitch Killer. He also wrote a preface to the Manchester United football hooligan, “Unwanted Things,” by Colin Blanc. He published a short article about Manchester United rivalry with West Ham.