Interview with Danny Brown (Black Danny).
Please note this interview may contact some strong and abusive language.
Danny Brown is a cult hero on the terrace's at Villa park. His life was dominated by those violent saturday afternoons, running with the famous C-Crew and following Aston Villa F.C. Here the interview all the Villa fans wanted to read..
Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule Danny, but for those who don’t know could you please tell us who you are?
My name is Danny Brown AKA Black Danny, age 46 I have been a Villa supporter for the last 35 years. I was a founder member of the notorious Aston Villa firm the C-Crew back in the late 70s. I am the author of a best seller book called 'Villains'.
You lived through the times when the hooligan scene was massive down the Villa, What was it really like back in them days?
To be honest it was a very violent and brutal time to be a football fan. Many will remember the images of football fans running riot in the grounds and chaos around the streets of the grounds. Some of the things that went on back then would be classed now as a riot. I cannot believe how over hyped the football violence is today. Then every game there was an incident.
A lot of people say hooligans are not real football fans, but you don’t agree with this do you?
No I don’t, because my definition of being a fan is based on loyalty, history and passion not social behavior or someone in Malaysia with a Manchester United top on.
Football today fights against Racism, in your book you talk about a few incidents when you first started, being one of the first black men on the scene, now a lot of people would fight back and others would just walk away. What made you fight back?
Everyman’s psychological make up is different; mine requested that I fought back. Others would have walked away.
And what advice would you have to youngsters these days involved with football and have problems with racism?
I don’t want to be a mentor for anyone, nor would I encourage any youngster to do want I did even through racism does still exist in today’s game, In its supple way. I thank God these youngsters haven’t got to go through what I went through.
At the beginning of each season, all football fans look forward to see the fixture list when it is released, what fixture(s) stood out for you?
The obvious really, Birmingham City and all the Midland Clubs.
Have you noticed many changes at Villa Park over the years?
Yeah. Things have changed massively to the extent it’s a different place, with modern stands and building going up left right and centre. If you look at the rate of development Villa Park is almost unrecognizable from the ground I was introduced to in the early 70’s. In some way it’s a shame, but you can’t expect fans to watch premiership football in an undeveloped ground in these modern times.
As you are no longer involved in the hooligan scene, did you regret anything you did and would you consider doing it again in future?
There are certain things you do in your life that you regret doing, being a football hooligan isn't the best career move I’ve ever made, but not something I regret. ‘Would I consider doing it again?’ now what kind of question is that!.
Would you like to tell us a little bit about your book ‘Villains'?
The book is written by myself and ex C-Crew member Paul Brittle. Aston Villa F.C. is one of the biggest and best-supported football clubs in Britain, the giant from England’s second city with a long and distinguished history in the game, culminating in an unforgettable European Cup victory in 1982. The story of their terrace army, however, has never been told-until now. Like all major clubs, Villa have had their hooligan and hard men, who have been involved in some the fiercest terrace battles of the past four decades. Villains traces their gangs from the 1960s up to the past day. Villains gives a sharp insight into the lives and minds of five match day boys whose love of Aston Villa eventually led to very severe consequences for them all. Honest funny and brutal, this book is essential reading and it’s not just about football violence. We may even educate the people out there how great a football club Aston Villa really is!
You talk a lot about friendship in the book, how many people have you stayed in touch with and have they all gone clean?
The C-Crew didn’t just meet on a Saturday afternoon we were and still are a big family base in the core of Aston Villa Football Club. Like I said in the book everyman should know his own limitations and not try and be something they are not!. Yes we are well and truly retired from the scene but life long friends.
I believe these’s some hidden symbolism messages in the book, can you tell me more about that?
(Laughs) you’ll have to read the book carefully I’m no Dan Brown, but I do love the one liners.
Now you make the point in your book that your book is based on the truth, as you read the book you talk about when you gave the hiding’s and also when you received them. All football hooligan books like to big themselves up. So why should people believe what any book actually says?
Most football hooligan books will always take the viewpoint of the team they are writing about. However how many hooligan books have you read where the author has written where the team he is writing about as come off second best and took a few hiding's along the way???? I rest my case!
Danny, May we ask what you now do with your life? And do you still go to Villa Park to watch matches?
I work in security, personal protection and debt collecting. I still attend as many Villa matches as possible. I think the buzz of being a football fan never leaves you totally.
The final question, I have read your book and I must say I loved it. It was a Christmas present and from Christmas day onwards I just couldn't put it down. I was talking about it down the pub and at work with friends. Are there any plans for anymore books to be published in the future?
We are working on four new exciting chapters for the paperback, which will be out in the summer time this year. These will be in keeping with the original hardback that they will be different and something in there for everybody. For instance a lot of people enjoyed the humour in the hardback and reading about the history of Villa.
Once again avillafan.com would like to thank Danny Brown for taking time out of his work to answer our questions and wish him the best of luck in the future. Discuss this interviews over at the Aston Villa Forums
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