Cass Pennant
Encyclopedia
Carol "Cass" Pennant is an English writer and former football hooligan
.
, South Yorkshire
. Six weeks old, he was abandoned and was placed into a Dr. Barnardo's Home
. As a black
baby, Pennant was fostered by an elderly white family in Slade Green
, Kent
where he was the only black person, and where he states he was "bullied from day one" year after year, and beaten persistently - "Not just from rivals or other kids, the whole town. Imagine as a kid, you're picked out; people in vehicles shouting out at you, total strangers."
Pennant had been christened Carol (a common boy's name in parts of the West Indies, but unusual as a boy's name in England) by his biological mother, which was also a source of bullying for him, particularly at school. After he saw the boxer Cassius Clay
beat Henry Cooper
he adopted the name Cass.
The 6'4 Pennant was a member, and leader, of the Inter City Firm
(ICF) associated with the English football club, West Ham United
in the 1970s. He was eventually sentenced to four years in prison and was the first football hooligan to be arrested for what he was doing. After a second time in prison he started running a night club security
firm in London
. When he refused someone entry to a nightclub in South London, he was shot three times. The paramedics who came to see to him did not believe he was going to make it, and were thus surprised when he woke up after a couple of days. Pennant began writing his autobiography, the first time he was in prison on books that were given to him in English classes but they were seized from him. The second time he went to prison he started again but this time smuggled the books out and that was the beginning of Cass, which was published in 2002.
In 2002, Pennant appeared on the Channel 4
documentary, Football's Fight Club about football hooliganism in the 1970s. He has been a consultant on television programmes such as The Real Football Factories
and The Real Football Factories International
. He also worked as a consultant and played a cameo role as a riot police officer in the 2005 drama film about football hooliganism, Green Street
In 2006 he had a documentary made about him 'Cass Pennant - Enough Said' (Gangster Videos) directed by Liam Galvin and in 2008 a film was made based on Pennant's life story, "Cass"
starring Nonso Anozie
as Pennant, and directed by Jon S. Baird. In 2010, he played a leading role in the movie Killer Bitch
.
Football hooliganism
Football hooliganism, sometimes referred to by the British media as the English Disease, is unruly and destructive behaviour—such as brawls, vandalism and intimidation—by association football club fans...
.
Background
Pennant's mother emigrated from Jamaica while pregnant and he was born in DoncasterDoncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
. Six weeks old, he was abandoned and was placed into a Dr. Barnardo's Home
Barnardo's
Barnardo's is a British charity founded by Thomas John Barnardo in 1866, to care for vulnerable children and young people. As of 2010, it spends over £190 million each year on more than 400 local services aimed at helping these same groups...
. As a black
Black British
Black British is a term used to describe British people of Black African descent, especially those of Afro-Caribbean background. The term has been used from the 1950s to refer to Black people from former British colonies in the West Indies and Africa, who are residents of the United Kingdom and...
baby, Pennant was fostered by an elderly white family in Slade Green
Slade Green
Slade Green is a place in south- east London closer to the edge of London located in the London Borough of Bexley. It is a suburban development situated east-southeast of Charing Cross and lying south of the River Thames slightly to the west of the River Darenth and River Cray.-History and...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
where he was the only black person, and where he states he was "bullied from day one" year after year, and beaten persistently - "Not just from rivals or other kids, the whole town. Imagine as a kid, you're picked out; people in vehicles shouting out at you, total strangers."
Pennant had been christened Carol (a common boy's name in parts of the West Indies, but unusual as a boy's name in England) by his biological mother, which was also a source of bullying for him, particularly at school. After he saw the boxer Cassius Clay
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
beat Henry Cooper
Henry Cooper (boxer)
Sir Henry Cooper OBE KSG was an English heavyweight boxer known for the effectiveness of his left hook, "Enry's 'Ammer", and his knockdown of the young Muhammad Ali...
he adopted the name Cass.
The 6'4 Pennant was a member, and leader, of the Inter City Firm
Inter City Firm
The Inter City Firm is an English football hooligan firm mainly active in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, associated with West Ham United. The name came from the use of InterCity trains used to travel to away games...
(ICF) associated with the English football club, West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in the 1970s. He was eventually sentenced to four years in prison and was the first football hooligan to be arrested for what he was doing. After a second time in prison he started running a night club security
Bouncer (doorman)
A bouncer is an informal term for a type of security guard employed at venues such as bars, nightclubs or concerts to provide security, check legal age, and refuse entry to a venue based on criteria such as intoxication, aggressive behavior, or attractiveness...
firm in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. When he refused someone entry to a nightclub in South London, he was shot three times. The paramedics who came to see to him did not believe he was going to make it, and were thus surprised when he woke up after a couple of days. Pennant began writing his autobiography, the first time he was in prison on books that were given to him in English classes but they were seized from him. The second time he went to prison he started again but this time smuggled the books out and that was the beginning of Cass, which was published in 2002.
In 2002, Pennant appeared on the Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
documentary, Football's Fight Club about football hooliganism in the 1970s. He has been a consultant on television programmes such as The Real Football Factories
The Real Football Factories
The Real Football Factories is a documentary series shown on the Bravo TV channel in the UK and created by Zig Zag Productions. The show looks at the in-depth life of football hooligans and hooligan firms. Interviews are conducted with past and present hooligans.The presenter of the show, Danny...
and The Real Football Factories International
The Real Football Factories International
The Real Football Factories International is a documentary style program about football hooliganism across the world. The Real Football Factories was the first series, where presenter and actor Danny Dyer travelled the UK, meeting some of the more notorious football firms. In this spin-off series,...
. He also worked as a consultant and played a cameo role as a riot police officer in the 2005 drama film about football hooliganism, Green Street
Green Street
Green Street is a 2005 British/American independent drama film about football hooliganism in England. It was directed by Lexi Alexander and stars Elijah Wood and Charlie Hunnam. In the United States and Australia, the film is called Green Street Hooligans, while in the United Kingdom it has the...
In 2006 he had a documentary made about him 'Cass Pennant - Enough Said' (Gangster Videos) directed by Liam Galvin and in 2008 a film was made based on Pennant's life story, "Cass"
Cass (film)
Cass is a 2008 British crime drama film. It stars Nonso Anozie as Cass Pennant and is directed by Jon S. Baird-Plot:Cass is based on the true story of the life of Cass Pennant, adapted from his book. The film tells of how he was adopted by an elderly white couple in 1958 and brought up in Slade...
starring Nonso Anozie
Nonso Anozie
Nonso Anozie is a British actor who has appeared in several stage plays and four films to date.In the summer of 2002 he became the youngest person in history to play William Shakespeare's "King Lear" and won the Ian Charleson Award in 2005 for his performance as Othello.Anozie was hired in 2006 to...
as Pennant, and directed by Jon S. Baird. In 2010, he played a leading role in the movie Killer Bitch
Killer Bitch
Killer Bitch is a 2010 British action-gangster film written and directed by Liam Galvin.The film became notorious in the UK in August 2009, shortly after shooting started, when tabloid newspapers the News of the World and The People carried stories implying that the movie's star, Katie Price's...
.