Ep 4. The Midlands
- June 1, 2006
In The Real Football Factories season 1 episode 4 titled The Midlands, the show dives deeper into the fan culture and history of football teams in the Midlands region of England. Host Danny Dyer explores the different factions of fans and the rivalries between them, giving viewers a sneak peek into their world.
The episode begins with Dyer visiting the city of Birmingham, where he meets with fans from both Birmingham City and Aston Villa. He learns about the history of the two teams and the passionate fan bases that support them. Dyer also delves into the tensions between the two sets of fans, which have been known to result in violence during matches.
Dyer then travels to Wolverhampton to meet with supporters of Wolverhampton Wanderers, also known as Wolves. He delves into the long-standing rivalry between Wolves and West Bromwich Albion, known as the Black Country derby. Dyer speaks to fans of both teams and witnesses the intense atmosphere of a derby match.
The episode then moves on to Nottingham, where Dyer meets with fans of two football teams that have a long-standing rivalry–Nottingham Forest and Notts County. He learns about the history of the two teams and the shared grounds where they played in the past. Dyer also explores the violent clashes between the two sets of fans, which have resulted in the loss of lives in the past.
The episode concludes with Dyer visiting Stoke-on-Trent, home to two football teams–Stoke City and Port Vale. He meets with fans of both teams and learns about the deep-rooted rivalries between them, which have led to heated clashes both on and off the pitch. Dyer also gets insight into the working-class history of Stoke and how the football teams are a source of pride for the local community.
Throughout the episode, Dyer shares stories of violent clashes between different factions of football fans, highlighting the darker side of fan culture. However, he also brings to light the passion and sense of community shared by fans of different teams. The Real Football Factories season 1 episode 4 provides a unique look at the world of football fandom in the Midlands, giving viewers a better understanding of the culture and history of the region.
