'I was at the centre of police Operation Red Card to tackle the Birmingham Zulu Warriors'

In the 1980s, they were the feared firm who spread terror at football grounds across the land, their presence heralded by a sinister tribal chant.

Such was the reputation of Birmingham City’s Zulu Warriors that, close to Christmas, 1986, West Midlands Police cranked up their efforts to tame the terrace terrors.

They had been involved in some of the game’s worst hooligan battles, their shouts of “Zulu, Zulu” signalling impending aggro on streets and in stadiums.

The police focus on the Zulus was part of a crackdown on the cancer of hooliganism given the apt working title Operation Red Card - and Mike Layton, who rose to the rank of chief superintendent, was at the heart of it. He said: “I had already dealt with some of the individuals, but this was about dismantling a whole criminal structure where violence and intimidation was the norm.”

In his fascinating book, Birmingham’s Front Line, Mike has interviewed officers who will never forget their ’86 brushes with the feared firm. Their chilling stories appear under the headline “Zulus Go Too Far”.

They certainly did. Mike Cresswell told Mike: “At the time, I was working with the Operations Support Unit as a Pc. On one particular Saturday evening, we were out on a public order van patrol in the city centre, finishing at 2am. There would’ve been a sergeant and about eight Pcs on the van.

“During the afternoon, Birmingham city had been playing Aston Villa and there were large numbers of Zulus in town. At about 9pm we were sent to Cannon Street where an Aston Villa sponsored Mini Metro car was turned over onto its side.

“As we got there, we heard on the radio that the group responsible had made their way down towards John Bright Street and attacked a police officer who was patrolling on his own. He shouted for assistance and we dashed there.

“On arrival we saw a group running off, but, as we were facing them, I suddenly heard a huge roar of ‘Zulu, Zulu’ behind me. We turned around to see another group of at least 100 stretched out across the road, chanting.

“We charged at them and I remember drawing my truncheon. Initially, they stood their ground, but as we ran into them and arrested five of the ringleaders they began to disperse as more officers arrived.

“Officers and prisoners were everywhere struggling on the floor. It was mayhem. We piled the prisoners in the van, which put about 15 of us inside as we made our way to custody. None of them were handcuffed and when we searched the van after we had deposited them in the cells we found a number of knives hidden under the seats. The level of violence they displayed really bothered me at the time.”

Steve Burrows said: “It was Saturday afternoon and I remember we were really short of staff. I was a sergeant on a shift at Steelhouse Lane police station and I was having my break with three female officers in the station when we got a call to say that there was a big problem with Birmingham City supporters who had come up through Digbeth and turned a police panda car over.

“We rushed out and the four of us drove to Stephenson Place, by the ramp up onto the shopping centre, just in time to see up to 200 supporters advancing towards us, chanting ‘Zulu, Zulu’.

“There was a crowd of shoppers watching with interest on the balcony above as the four of us fronted the group and forced them to stop. One of the ringleaders, who really fancied himself, tried to attack me.

“I put him into a ‘half Nelson’ and held him on the ground as a sea of boots surrounded me. I was absolutely livid with him and there was no way I was going to let him go as I yelled as loud as I could for the others to clear off.

“After what seemed an age, a large number of officers arrived and dispersed the group while I secured my prisoner, who was dealt with for threatening behaviour. From the balcony, we received a round of applause from the shoppers.”

Mike Layton recalls the single incident that united every Birmingham bobby in the quest to dismantle The Zulus. He said: “On Saturday, January 10, 1987, off-duty Pc Harry Doyle went into Boogies nightclub in John Bright Street, Birmingham city centre, for a late night drink. I knew Harry who was a well-built individual and not easily intimidated.

“This was, however, the preserve of Birmingham City football fans, as well as some of the hardcore Zulu Warriors. He was eventually confronted by a number of individuals, including two prominent Zulus.

“Harry was punched and knocked to the floor and one of his attackers then pushed a glass in his face, causing injuries that required 32 stitches and left scars from his left eye down to his jaw.

“Some said at the time Harry was working undercover, but I can categorically state this was not the case. The incident did, however, act as one of the catalysts for police action. The Zulu Warriors had simply gone too far and I was tasked with leading a team that included a number of undercover officers who would be used to infiltrate their activities.”

* Birmingham’s Front Line, published by Amberley Publishing, is available on Amazon.