Frank Portinari, a former Tottenham Hotspur hooligan, has named Arsenal as the 'most underrated' firm he encountered, recalling a violent incident that left him unconscious inside a White Hart Lane toilet. Portinari, who followed Spurs in the 1970s and 1980s, spoke about his days battling on the terraces in a podcast interview.
During a North London derby, Portinari pretended to be an Arsenal fan to gain access to the away section. After being questioned by a police officer, he went to the toilet, where he was set upon by rival supporters. 'I went to the toilet and of course these Arsenal fellas saw me do it and I woke up in a cubicle,' he said. He was taken to North Middlesex University Hospital but left after a two-hour wait without treatment.
Despite the incident, Portinari acknowledged Arsenal's reputation. 'In the late 60s, early 70s, I don't think people give them credit, Arsenal had a naughty mob of fellas,' he said. However, he noted that Tottenham later eclipsed them, before Arsenal had their day again in the 1980s and 1990s.
When asked about the most consistent firm, Portinari singled out West Ham. 'I am honest enough to say, probably West Ham ... they did seem to always be organised,' he said. He also described the most severe violence he ever witnessed as occurring at Millwall away on Boxing Day in 1977.
