It was a perfect night for a film premiere. The sun was shining and the temperature resembled times when you get off the aeroplane on holiday and the heat hits you. But this experience was even rarer than a hot evening in Birmingham, walking down a red carpet at a film premiere to go and see a different type of film to anything seen before.

As a big Villa fan all football films interest me. But Cass is not really a football film as people might expect. It is a complex real-life story adapted from Cass Pennant’s autobiography, Cass, which covers many universal issues such as adoption, race, identity, post traumatic stress and redemption. The film covers these issues with ease and it is predominantly about Cass, played by Nonso Anozie (Atonement), searching for his place in the world. Football takes a back seat on row Z.

Cass’ experiences are similar to Danny Brown’s. As a black man watching football in the 1970’s and 80’s was not an easy ride with all the racial abuse and it gave both men a lot of pent up anger.

I met Danny in the Living Room on Broad Street before embarking on the short walk down the street to the red carpet which was laid out in front of the Cineworld cinema. We were joined by director, Luke Massey and Matt Brookes, who plan to make a film out of Danny’s book, Villains. Luke will write the script for the film which will cover similar complex issues to Cass as well as the pure football violence. It will be an education to young people similarly to Cass’ film which the man himself is well aware.

“You’ve got to accept the film is real and if you can accept that its real then you can start accepting the kind of things we’ve got today, like gang culture,” Cass said. “I have survived but others may not be so lucky. The film shows violence is vicious. How can kids today think that they can run our country and run our states?”

The film carries an important message for everyone but especially the young people of today who are terrorising the streets. Everyday there is more news of a new stabbing or an innocent person being gunned down.

Tamer Hassan (Football Factory), who plays Ray in the film who helps Cass by giving him a job, is fully aware of the dangers of today’s violence. Tamer is part of the 'Respect your life - Not a knife' campaign which aims to restrict the number of people carrying knives.

“If I can campaign for it and stop one person carrying a knife then I can save one life and it will be worth it,” he said. “The kid that stabs kills his whole family because they can’t live in that community anymore. It’s different to how it used to be, 16-year-old kids are bashing through people’s doors and shooting them in their beds. There is no respect.”

There is a lot of violence in Cass but it is mainly football violence and different to today’s culture. The film goes where previous films about football violence have not been because it shows how Cass has come to get involved in the violent side of it.

Cass is a black man, called Carol by his birth mother, and adopted by two white people, Doll, who is brilliantly played by Linda Bassett (Calendar Girls) and Cecil, played by Peter Wight (Hot Fuzz). When he was adopted at a young age Cass was placed in a society where black people were unheard of and this gave him a very tough start in life.

“I had to run a gauntlet of hate everyday. A lot of it was ignorance because no-one knew about black people in those days,” Cass said. “To me it wasn’t racism because that was life. It seems bad in the film because it was blatant but the worse racism is the one you feel, not what is said.

“If a lot of people feel uncomfortable watching what is said in the film then that is progress. It shows we have moved on. I found my level playing field was to use my fist.”

Cass’ fist leads him into troubles and traumas which include the part of his life where he was leader of West Ham’s hooligan gang, the Inter City Firm. But he eventually realises that what he is doing is wrong and turns his back on violence. Nonso, who perfectly portrays the quite side of Cass’ character as well as his aggressive side, was shocked by what Cass went through in his life.

“When I read the book I met the producer and director and I read the script and I was blown away,” he said. “Cass’ story automatically feels like it is made up but everything is real so I really wanted to become involved.

“The film says that no matter how bad it gets in your life there is always a better option and whatever happens you can make that choice to make better of your life. With the recent gun and knife crime that is going on at the moment it is the perfect message.”

The premiere was the perfect stage for the perfect message to be delivered. There was a mix of former football hooligans from both Villa and Blues there which shows how far things have come since Cass and Danny’s heydays.

Danny said: “I felt really proud to be a Brummie at the premiere because everyone was mixed together, the Blues lads and the Villa lads and it really set a good example. I think it is important for the younger generation, both black and white, to view this movie and understand the sublime message that the choices they make will shape their life forever.

“What we did we did but it is different now. We did it for the laugh, a good old punch up, people did get hurt, but we didn’t go out to kill people. After seeing the Heysel disaster it didn’t seem the same. It felt a bit pointless after that, it was a real wake up call. You felt personally responsible.”

The Heysel disaster happened in 1985 where around 40 football fans were killed in a European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus after Liverpool fans charged at Juventus and a wall collapsed under the pressure. It was a catalyst for many football hooligans to stop and it affected both Danny and Cass.

“I remember watching it on the TV and thinking ‘is this what we have become? We have become monsters,’” Cass said. “It was like being in a world inside another world.”

But the film premiere brought the reality that things have changed for the better and different sets of fans, whatever team and whatever colour, can get along well. The Assistant Chief Constable of West Midlands Police said that it shows how far football violence has come that fans of Villa, Birmingham, West Brom, Wolves and Walsall can all sit together now and get along.

The films portrayal of football violence and what is used to be like in the 70’s and 80’s is in deep contrast to the calming nature of rival fans chatting together on the red carpet at the premiere. Cass is surprised with the coverage as much as anyone, he said: “I thought premieres were something for Tom Cruise not Cass Pennant. What the fuck?”

Cass himself plays a small part in the film as a bouncer but he was involved far more behind the scenes. He was a consultant in the film and Director John S Baird’s right hand man. “Having Cass as a consultant in the film was the most important piece,” John said. “He was involved with everything; I couldn’t have done it without him.”

Producer Stefan Haller also admits that Cass was an integral part in the films production. “We worked very hard to make the connections with his family and the people around him before writing the script, so we already felt we had started making the movie,” Stefan said.

“It’s a very complex story. We needed Cass to make the movie. He had to be there to look after location, wardrobe and choose the extras. If he wasn’t there we wouldn’t have made the movie. A film like this lives and dies by its integrity. You have to capture the moments that are important to him. What comes through is the understanding of who that person is.”

One part of the film which differed from the norm and gave the film a great deal of integrity was that the extras were all real life former hooligans or ex-prisoners. “I’ve used real Villa lads like Danny Brown, I’ve used real football lads and I’ve used the community with Joe Egan in the film too,” said Cass.

Danny plays a prisoner in the film as does Blues fan and former member of their firm, the Zulus, Cuds. “As a black man I can relate to a lot of the things that I went through when I was growing up and joining the firm,” Cuds said. “In those days it was very hard being a black man, it is more acceptable now so fair play to Cass.”
Former boxer Joe Egan plays a barman in the film. He said: “I could never understand football hooliganism but there are other aspects of Cass’ life where you feel sorry for him, the bullying and racial abuse. To see what a young man had to go through who at that time of his life hadn’t got any hatred in him, I feel sorry for Cass.”

The film shows Cass as a young boy, played by Verelle Roberts, scrubbing his skin to try and rub off his colour. He was not accepted by anybody where he lived but he found an identity in football hooliganism and in the Inter City Firm. He was finally wanted and included.

Because of Cass’ unusual upbringing and the complexities of his life, Director John Baird was convinced within reading two chapters of Cass’ autobiography that it could be made into a film.

“I thought his book was just going to be another hooligan book, one dimensional, John said.” “But when I read it I realised it was really different. A lot of the other football films never showed the motivation about who the characters were and why they got involved in that way of life. But with aspects such as a black man leading a group of white guys in to battle, I thought it was really interesting.”

The film informs and educates people about what it was like being a black man living in an all white area, being brought up by two white parents. Most importantly the film shows how if you are involved in violence there is always a point where you can turn your back on it. Cass did that and he has become a better man for it.

There are ups and downs throughout his life with his wife Elaine, played by Nathalie Press (My Summer of Love) and when he receives the first football hooligan related prison sentence. But he didn’t start off a football hooligan, he was a supporter first and foremost and he has gone back to just being a supporter today.

“In the past normal fans joined the hardcore gangs for protection,” Cass said. “Every away game was a fight and a battle. It was a way of life then. But now you can go to football in safety, it is very well controlled by the police.

“This is a powerful film. My story is not exclusive; it is a people’s story. This is different to any other British movie you are ever going to watch.”

The film is a great watch and intricately covers Cass’ life very well with some superb acting from a young cast, my only disappointment was that it did not last longer. This film is not just about football, it is about one person’s complex life and the emotional and physical battles that he has overcome to get where he is today. It will appeal to anyone.

Images from the Premiere


(Big mouth Linda) Lorraine Stanley


Big Joe Egan


Cameron Jerome


Cass Pennant and Danny Brown


Cass The Movie World Premiere - London


Cast Member


Director Jon S. Baird & The Film Cast


Fan


Fan


Fans


Film Consultant Mr Cass Pennant


Gary Johnston


Raymond Walters


Release Date August 1st 2008


Ruth Delaney


Scott Welch (Snatch The Movie) & Steve Pettit


Tamer Hussain


Tamer Hassan & Danny Jnr


Tamer Hassan & Jayne Grimes


Tamer Hassan & Richard Grimes


Tamer Hassan & Richard Grimes

---

CASS THE MOVIE
OUT ON GENERAL CINEMA RELEASE AUGUST 1st:


www.cassmovie.co.uk

Birmingham

The City of Birmingham had an Exclusive Screening of Cass the movie on 16th July. Due to the circumstances of the film being screened at the Empire Cinema Northfield (Bandit Country) we thought it was in the best interest of the City and all concerned that only one club attended the screening “you know how it is every village green has its idiot, Mr C and myself wasn’t going to baby sit grown men” Blues won the toss and had the tickets.

From what I was told by Joe Egan it was an eventful evening a good turn out with all the high dignities from the City in attendance. Cass the Movie, in one scene a West Ham lad said “sorry Cass I was only telling the Mrs how we took the Aston Villa Holte End” sounds, rained around the cinema “Zulu Zulu Zulu” their song and dance would have been a good rap if only they knew that the original script read “POP AT THE HOLTE END” Cass told me that the director thought the sentence “WE TOOK THE HOLTE END” would be more unproblematic and understood easier by the watching viewers, nothing personal or cynical.

The cinema erupted with laughter when Mr C and myself appeared in the Wormwood Scrubs prison scene when some one shouted out “is that It Mr C? Your part in Family Fortunes was bigger” A trouble free night and everyone went home raving on about an excellent movie.

Sheffield

The Exclusive Screening of Cass the Movie in Sheffield on 21st July was my chance to view the movie for the first time in full. After picking up my God-Daughter Ashlee from Doncaster we headed towards Sheffield Centertainment Centre. Immediately on arrival at the cinema reception we are told by one of the supervisors that the Sheffield United, BBC aka Blades Business Crew are in the upstairs bar, “I think she must of clock the AVFC gold chain around my neck” all their boys were assembled and kitted out in the latest football clobber “No silly Stone Island crap!”

I was well impressed. I was introduced to commander-in-chief Steve Cowens. It’s typical how all the top boys in firms have something about them, Mr Cowens was no different. We chatted and reflected on years gone by, someone mentioned about a mad row that took place with United and Villa at a service station some years ago. I commented that I’ve never clashed with any united firm over the years and that Villa and United didn’t have any real history.

Throughout our friendly conversation South Yorkshire Police Force had officers watching us and patrolling the outside area of the cinema. Whilst some would argue that hostility within the hooligan fraternity runs deep and violence can erupt at any point. I would differ to disagree “So what did officer Dibble think me and the BBC lads were going to do? Kill each other with popcorns and candy floss” then again their operation wasn’t that pointless as they got a few hours over time in. It was nice to see that my old sparring partner Big Joe Egan could make it along with Tamer Hassan. Tamer, who played the headcase Millwall fan in football factory, commented on the Villains book and gave it the thumbs up.

After we watched the movie we all ended up back in the bar with Big Joe Egan taking centre stage doing what he dose best entertaining people. We have it all to do again next week at the Premier of Cass the movie in London and Birmingham with all the high flyers from Football, TV and Music in attendance. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Steve Cowens and the rest of the Blades Business Crew lads, for their warm welcome and kind hospitality.


Sheffield United Blades Business Crew top lad Steve Cowens


Football Factory Tamer Hassan meets the Real Football Factory Danny Brown


Ashlee is the envy of all her mates, after meeting Tamer Hassan

My film review on Cass the Movie

This movie is catalogued as the first of its kind, a new breed, so different to the usual football hooligan movies.

Violently gripping and emotionally touching. It’s a personal story of one man's life.

It deserves attention, if not your full respect. 8/10

---

Cass Pennant and the big Villa man Danny Brown making movies

Where do l begin with my connection with those other bastards in claret and blue? The history is there isn’t it for us with our claim in the Congratulations You Have Just Met The ICF memoirs that insist it all started on the impressive Holte End back end of punk years, that was a good year for the Fred Perry and those green MA jackets they claim was '77. Personally I have more of a memory of 79-80 season when you Villa fans brought some almighty firm down to our place in the FA Cup. Had it off with your lot at the back of the Southbank all through the match and I lay convinced that is where Danny Brown and myself got acquainted, as I recall by those that later became major names telling me that they had problems nailing a big black lad (Danny Brown) “bigger than you Cass”.

Same year more of the same, semi-final of the FA Cup Villa Park maybe different faces but little bits of this and that around Villa Park with the scouses, us and you lot to make more than an interesting day out. Other than that for me personally I don't ever recall that there is a real history of rivalry between our fans as such as with the other Midland clubs and I think the claret and blue thing and similar kits back then had some effect. You were always looked at as a major firm form the Midlands depending on what year it would be split between Blues or Villa, though we never used the term Blues it was Brum and Brummies.

Most of us would edge to your rivals because we did get a history going with them where we didn't get it all our own way like when we went to other Midland teams, hence we were bang up for doing a number back in '84 on them that had Sgt major Ron Saunders calling for the birch to be re-introduced. So why the split in opinions down south as to who we rated most and to me that's your Holte End, you had a right traveling firm and a half when you tumbled the divisions and the old second division carnage days plenty took note but no real history of taking a big London club end, and that's works both ways as I can't recall the main London clubs laying a claim to the Holte End proper. Its that reason alone that we made a bit of a song and dance about what was no-more than a mosquito bite by our younger and up-and-coming lads that later gave rise to The ICF who went into the Holte End and made a bit of terrace folk-lore history.

So with all said and done who would have thought our terrace ventures would first become books and now major movies. It is an important social history that was pretty much unrecorded at the time and has a relevance today, which for all it critics it has if you take it that the subject of what it was like going to football back in the day now has become part of degree studies and course work in Universities global and across wide-ranging subjects such as Sociology, Law, Media and journalism even The Arts.

This is how it is today and something that has occurred this decade and what could never happen back in the day not even on the England fan scene even has brought many of us foes and rivals together. To emphasize the fact you guys gave me the time of day to put your own Villa chapter in my book Top Boys to address the balance of the known fact I had a major Zulu's chapter in the same book.

Again its my book work that linked me to your man Danny Brown when I chose that top fellow and boxer Joe Egan to become my first ever book as a publisher. Unknown to me Joe and Danny were close mates. The book it self is an excellent read (Big Joe Egan, The Toughest White Man on the Planet) where you can understand why they are such good friends. Joe introduced me to Danny and we have become good friends now rather than foes. Unknown to most I was his first call for advice on getting Villains the book published.

So now is where the ramblings above come to fit in the making of this new movie CASS which is not really a football firm film but a story based on my life where of course yer football going days mattered. The director made me the film consultant and extras advisor we thought it would be great to have a real rogues gallery of football faces in the main prison scenes where I and played by Nonso Anoso (Atonement). In the film I get sent down for my part in a riot with our Geordie friends.

It was great fun putting a list of the dirty dozen together as film cons and also screws to get everyone in as it was also a buzz seeing lads with earned reputations plus a rivalry so serious with each other but could put there differences aside for a day and are all sitting on the film bus together having free breakfast. Look at the end of the day the link is myself, the boys were not getting paid a great deal it was a genuine favour for me as a mate and is something that will remain with me, as the boys traveled in from all over the country, putting aside any differences. When you see the pictures on this site and the full scene in the movie, it’s a great film cameo.

It all worked because the boys didn’t do it for fame or glory, they’re for real and take the likes of Bill Gardner and your own man Danny Brown add the rest of the lads and you’ve got a 1000 years worth of bird shared between them. The unwritten story and thread right through the movie is we used real people actor’s, armed robbers, hoolies, footballers, boxers throughout in the background and in full supporting roles. It’s going to be one of those “I know him” calls when the movie comes out this summer. So now you know we are having the craic making movies today, you guys have a link to this forth-coming venture via this site.

Respect and Regards

Cass Pennant

www.casspennant.com is a full info movie link to further film details