How Man United hooligans ransacked Europe as Red Army, Wide Awake Firm and Intercity Jibbers

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Lacoste trackies were a favourite, as were Lois jeans and anything cashmere. Smart cameras and jewellery were always easy to sell on too.

And if money was short there were always wallets to be dipped or tills to be lifted. From the late 70s onwards Colin Blaney and Manchester United hooligan crew the Wide Awake Firm embarked on an astonishing 20 year crimewave across Europe. 'Jibbing' - sneaking on without paying - on trains, buses, ferries and even flights as they followed United on their travels across the continent, Blaney and the firm, which later morphed into the Intercity Jibbers, had just one one rule; 'If you pay you fail'. READ MORE: Gangland enforcer Billy 'Bullet Man' Isaac...

violent cases, famous friends - and a final tragic twist READ MORE: How Stockport hardman Jason Coghlan went from UK's most wanted to helping Brits on Costa del Crime They were, according to Blaney's book Grafters, which chronicled his life of crime and hooliganism, 'Europe's most prolific sneak thieves'.

But after a stint in a German prison in the 90s and a battle with drink and drugs, he would turn his back on the violence and wrong-doing, channelling his energies into photography and writing, before his death from cancer in 2019.