I fought both Celtic and Rangers’ firms – they’d swamp us, but one team was worse’

Scottish novelist Irvine Welsh experienced the heat of battle alongside Hibernian’s notorious firm in the 1980s.

The Trainspotting author, 65, is a long-time Hibs fan and witnessed the peak of the club’s Capital City Service (CCS) firm. The hooligan gang emerged in 1984 and were one of Scotland’s most feared and dominant mobs until the mid-1990s.

Their activities have diminished since the decline of football hooliganism in Scotland generally, though they reportedly remain active. And Welsh recalled his experience in facing fans of rival Scottish clubs Rangers and Celtic, though he didn’t rank either as the most formidable that he met.

He explained in the book ‘Terrace Legends’ by Cass Penant and Martin King back in 2005: “Celtic and Rangers would come through to Edinburgh and swamp us in the 70s. They weren’t all dedicated hoolies, though it seemed that way at the time! For hardcore hooligan numbers, probably Aberdeen in the 80s [had the most].

“In general, though, some of the firms I saw in London, for numbers and organisation, were very impressive. Now I think that Cardiff City and Manchester United seem to have the biggest and best mobs.

“You couldn’t really compare Scottish firms (or most English ones) in size, but Aberdeen I would say – and this is largely anecdotal – have the most dedicated hoolies at present.”

He added: “Hearts [were our biggest rivals], though we both now probably hate Rangers and Celtic more as they have so much cash, but we still always like to beat each other.

“Hibs and Rangers have always had a rivalry, but the worst rows are probably still before, during and after the first Edinburgh derbies of the season.”

Notorious Hibs top boy Bobby Lipscombe once recalled a mass brawl with Rangers hooligans in Slateford Road, near Hearts’ ground, in 1994. He explained how around 60 rival fans carrying chains and sticks mounted an attack on Hibs casuals, who had just their fists and boots as weapons.

The violence turned “bloody” and “nasty”, with one Rangers fan being caught and ‘cabbaged’ – meaning to kick someone unconscious.

Lipscombe said: “[His] head hanging all bloody. By the time we had finished with him, he was barely conscious. One of the CCS boys said that he’d had enough. I disagreed and kicked the guy’s head again. He went out cold. He would have done the same to me.

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