Ex-Man Utd hooligan feared London firm would kill him after 'most sickening beating'

Former Manchester United hooligan Tony O'Neill once fled a London stadium at half-time in 1974 after fearing he would die before he got the chance to celebrate his birthday the following day

One of the UK's most infamous former football hooligans, once made a hasty exit from an away game at Millwall in 1974 – fearing for his life on the eve of his 16th birthday.

Tony O'Neill, who has served three prison sentences for football-related offences and was once dubbed 'the general' of the Red Army firm, was in the crowd when he saw "the most sickening beating" he had ever witnessed. He managed to slip away from the stadium after being identified as a Manchester United supporter.

At just 15 years old, he recalls hitching a ride to London in his school blazer for the eagerly awaited match.

His cherished Manchester United were competing in the old Second Division, and the season's opening game was against Millwall at Old Trafford. He described it as "one of the biggest letdowns I have had as a young lad looking for excitement".

He had anticipated "expected riots", but only a small number of Millwall fans turned up. He ended up feeling sorry for them after they received a "brutal beating" outside the ground, where they were subjected to what he considered an "unnecessary" amount of blows.

The return fixture took place just weeks later, on September 16, 1974. Tony discussed the experience on his Webby and O'Neill YouTube channel as part of his 'Fan Culture' series.

He confessed that he was "fearful" about the away trip, primarily because it was scheduled for a Monday night, a time when fewer of the more aggressive fans would typically travel.

Upon reaching London, he waited at Euston for his fellow Manchester United supporters to arrive, and he recalled: "People come off that train like I had never seen before... quiet as a mouse. Normally you get a football special turning up to Euston and people are in full voice all ready for the game, chanting, shouting, screaming, all up for the day's action."

He noted the train was far from capacity and continued: "It was a frightening feeling and I mean frightening. I am 15 and thinking, 'This is bad.' Like I say, we were all worried."

Nevertheless, upon disembarking at New Cross, the football supporters were "shocked" to encounter an ominous silence.

They then endured an "eerie" journey to The Old Den where once again they faced no hostility from the local fans.

Yet there was disorder at the turnstiles, resulting in United supporters being scattered across various sections of the stadium.

Describing the events moments before kick-off, Tony explained how a contingent of Man Utd fans positioned behind one goal began their chants.

He remembered: "They were in the middle of the terracing and me as a young lad, 15 years of age, I know this is a big mistake. In the middle of the terracing, a few hundred of you, you're going to get swamped. You're going to get it."

Tony reported the chanting was short-lived as masses of Millwall supporters began charging from every direction to reach the isolated group of United fans who quickly attempted to disperse. And Tony recalled: "I witnessed the most sickening, at that time, the most sickening beating... I couldn't believe it. I was helpless. I was really sick.

"I seen stretchers and I seen one geezer, could have been a kid I don't know, I haven't got a clue, but I seen one kid carried out on a stretcher. But I just saw people being swung about, not loads, just a few people getting a beating. And I was sickened by it, stood there on the flood lights on my own."

Shortly before the interval, Tony began to feel increasingly paranoid, sensing that Millwall supporters around him were starting to identify him as someone from Manchester, despite his silence throughout the first half.

Making his way to the concourse, he positioned himself near a group of police officers, knowing a crucial decision lay ahead. He explained: "I was stood by these coppers because I was fearful and thought I'm going to die."

The youngster, who was celebrating his 16th birthday the following day, bided his time until supporters returned to the terraces before vaulting over a turnstile to escape the stadium. His personal safety took absolute precedence, and he refused to contemplate returning to the stands.

"People don't understand," he explained. "You open your mouth, a northerner, a Manc, you're dead, you're finished. I know it, everyone knows it."

Tony ultimately reached safety, but instead of catching his planned train back to Manchester via Euston, he found himself in a pub with two United supporters who were London residents, ultimately spending the night in the capital.

He explained that numerous myths have circulated regarding what transpired between the two clubs during the 1974/1975 campaign, but he emphasised that no group travelled to the opposition's ground to wreak havoc.

Providing insight into the genuine atmosphere of that era, Tony, now a writer who began his role at Gary Neville's Hotel Football in 2017, remarked: "The reality of Millwall is a very very frightening place on a Monday night. I experienced it and I wouldn't like to experience it again.

"It's a very dangerous place. The area itself, the Millwall fans, are renowned for coming from that area, living in that area, and very few people look forward to going to Millwall.

"It didn't matter who you were, you were going to get a good hiding. But the fact is you come to Old Trafford you were going to get a good hiding and everyone knew it. And if you went to Newcastle you would get a good hiding if you turned up.

"That was football – that was football in the early 70s. That's the way it was until the introduction of tickets."