Latest news with #TonyO'Neill
Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ex-Man Utd hooligan names best stadium where 'anything happened'
Former Manchester United hooligan Tony O'Neill, who was once known as 'the general' in the Red Army firm, has revealed his favourite away day in London A notorious ex- Manchester United hooligan has revealed his favourite London away day. Tony O'Neill was once dubbed Britain's toughest hooligan and 'the general' of the Red Army firm. Delving into his experiences on the Webby and O'Neill YouTube channel, part of his 'Fan Culture' series, he explained: "We had tricky situations but London was always the main focus for United. Every time United were playing there, I would always get there, it would be very rare that I would miss London games because anything could happen. "Euston (Station) was always the main focal point and that is why the Red Army in London was hated because when the Red Army travelled you could not control them. "We could trust each other and there were some dangerous places to go, and I always say the night games are dangerous to go - and I had some dangerous night games." Once considered a public menace at football grounds, Tony found himself behind bars three times over football-related brawls, with police branding him 'Target Kilo'. His penchant for violence started in the 1970s and his last offence came in 2001. Since hanging up his hooligan boots, he has penned the titles Red Army General and The Men in Black and taken to lecturing students about choosing a better path in life. Tony spent his youth embroiled in skirmishes with rival supporters across London, clashing with fans from clubs like West Ham, Millwall, Chelsea, and Arsenal. Yet, out of all the confrontations, one particular group remained firmly etched in his mind. Despite fierce rivalries with Arsene Wenger's Arsenal and Chelsea under Roman Abramovich's it was another away day that stood out for him. He explained: " Tottenham was my favourite ground. Going there in 72... unbelievable! It is the best ground for a young lad. But going forward throughout my life, Tottenham was always my favourite ground, anything could happen there, it was just great." Tony later found himself on the payroll providing security at Gary Neville's Hotel Football and has even chatted with the ex-United skipper on his channel numerous times. In reminiscing over earlier times, he also named the notorious Chelsea Headhunters, labelling them a "violent mob". Despite this, to truly illustrate the sheer scale of football hooliganism in the '70s, he pointed out: "They (Chelsea) weren't the only violent mob, virtually every big club in the first division had violent mobs up and down the country - and it was uncontrollable. "And I can't really put into words how uncontrollable it was, every weekend it was happening up and down the country." In 1977, the British government and the Football Association took drastic action to try and stem football violence by making all away matches ticket-only and barring match day ticket sales. However, Tony was skeptical about the effectiveness of these measures, saying: "It has never worked. They haven't got a clue. It is a disease. It is there. It gets passed down generation to generation. Liverpool Man United. It is a disease. The hatred gets passed down. Leeds Man United, gets passed down. That's the way it is. Millwall West Ham, gets passed down. You can't avoid it. It will always be there." Despite admitting that things have evolved over the last couple of decades, he reminisced about his earlier days as a fierce young man, claiming: "That was the society we lived in, the 70s was wild, absolutely wild, there was so much freedom. "People got everywhere and the police and government just could not handle it." After sharing the footage, one Tottenham supporter recalled: "Spurs v United at WHL was always something to look forward to back in the day, United always brought a big and good firm." Another stated nostalgically: "Spurs was always the big London games for United. Spurs v United used to attract bigger crowds than when we played Arsenal."
Daily Mirror
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ex-Man Utd hooligan says one firm 'was different level' after nearly killing him
Former Manchester United hooligan Tony O'Neill has been jailed three times for football offences and he has now spoken about coming up against bricks and blades during one dangerous away day A former hooligan recalled risking his life on a brutal away day where he claimed ambushing fans were armed with bricks and Stanley knives. Tony O'Neill was once regarded as Britain's most notorious football hooligan. Back in the 1970s, he became a key figure in two Manchester United firms, Red Army and later the Casuals, and hewas known as 'the general'. But on April 23, 1974, he travelled to Merseyside when he was just 15 to watch a soon to be relegated United take on Everton at Goodison Park. And speaking on his Webby & O'Neill YouTube channel for his 'Fan Culture' series, he spoke about the chaos that unfolded. His mum initially forbade him from going but eventually he joined up with The Red Army who made their way to Liverpool. He said people had been speaking about the game for weeks. Tony remembered: 'We knew what we was up against. This was going to be war. And I mean war. We were going to take on the scousers.' He said hundreds of United fans packed the trains before arriving at Lime Street Station where trouble immediately broke out. Tony said the group stood their ground before being welcomed by bricks once they started to make their way to the football stadium. 'Bricks came flying over at us while we were on the march,' he said. 'What a solid march, but a frightening walk if you were on your own or in small groups. But not this gang, this gang was massive and it was solid. There was no moving it.' He said this was a victory for the firm but the real violence took place after the match where Everton came out 1-0 winners in what was a night game. 'I was depressed because I knew we were going down,' Tony recalled. 'But we knew what we had to do. The gates open and we have got to be at the front. We knew the rules going there. This has always been the motto, go out there and whatever happens, happens. Take it to them. Don't go hiding, don't be sneaking off, especially in Merseyside.' Fights broke out outside Goodison Park but disputes between United fans took place where some wanted to get on coaches back to Lime Street and others wanted to march back. Tony was one of the ones who walked and he said it was 'absolutely stupid' and the "daftest thing you can do in the dark at Merseyside'. 'You are going taking your life in your hands,' he added. Despite knowing he was going to get ambushed, Tony and the now smaller mob reached the end of Stanley Park, and that's when the real danger commenced. 'That was the nightmare of all nightmares,' he recalled. 'They all were Liverpool fans. They just come screaming down the side street, straight into us. 'Oh my God, I just bottled it. What is going on here? This is a nightmare. They had the street and they were running down it straight into us and people just bottled it straight away. 'There is no disgrace in it whatsoever, you were outnumbered, in the dark, you were ambushed. And they caught us. I just legged it straight down.' He added: 'I didn't look behind me to see what is going on because this is now your life and you also know you are getting robbed, you are getting slashed, you are getting beat up, you are getting done in, there is no mercy here. They were out to get you and they were everywhere. I just kept running and didn't look back. It is every man for himself.' Asked to elaborate on Stanley knives being present, he added: 'Everyone was up for a fight, that's what was happening up and down the country. But these took it to a different level and that was what you were fearful of.' Running for his life, Tony said bricks rained down on him, and at one point his shoe fell off, forcing him to kneel down while his two pals sprinted away. He described being 'so relieved' to get back to Lime Station unharmed, calling it the longest run of his life. 'I got away with my life, and I mean got away with my life,' he said. Speaking about the atmosphere on the train back, he said: 'We were all made up. This is the blueprint of how we are going to go to Liverpool or Everton in the future. We knew we could take it to them - it just needed a little more organising.' Tony, now the author of Red Army General and The Men in Black, then said within 18 months to two years, Manchester United became the main firm in the country. The former hardman now lives a very different life, and in 2017, he started working at Gary Neville's and Ryan Giggs' Hotel Football. He was handpicked by Neville to work security and speaking about his role, he once said: 'I've stopped going to games. Me and my wife Debbie do the rooftop at Hotel Football on a match day. 'The whole idea is to make it about the supporters' clubs. The Hotel is a four-star, but the intention of the hotel was to be where the fans could mix. 'The whole idea was to make it accessible, near Old Trafford, for the fans. I get the supporters clubs in. I get the right people in. People love to mix and see proper United fans.'
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Tulip Care 101: Expert tips to make your blooms last longer
Spring starts on March 20, which means it's tulip time. If you're eager to pick up a bundle of tulips from your local flower shop, Trader Joe's, or you're ordering a multi-colored tulip bouquet in advance of Mother's Day, you're probably curious about how to make these pretty flowers last as long as possible. Tulips are known for their 'phototropism,' which means they will continue to grow and bend towards the light, even after being cut, explains gardening expert Tony O'Neill of Simplify Gardening. For a natural look, O'Neill recommends using a tall vase to support their stems and prevent drooping, allowing them to follow their natural growth pattern. Tulips should last between five to 12 days in a vase, if you're properly caring for them, says O'Neill. Tulip care goes beyond vase preparation, too—it's also about where and how you display them in your home. For example, avoid placing your tulips near a fruit bowl with ripening fruits, as the ethylene gas emitted can cause flowers to wilt faster. Additionally, changing the vase's location daily to balance light exposure can help maintain their structure and color. Consider pairing tulips with complementary flowers and greenery to enhance their visual appeal. Flowers like hyacinths, daffodils, or even simple baby's breath can add texture and fullness to your arrangement, making your tulips stand out even more. But what else can you do to help your tulips thrive? Does placing a penny in the bottom of the vase really work? How about an Aspirin tablet? Ahead, floral experts share their best tulip 101 tips. The first step to get an extended life from your tulips is finding ones that have a long bloom period ahead of them. 'You'll want to grab the bunch that has stiffer leaves making sure the flowers are tight but that have their color developed,' says Carmela de Castro, owner of Orchid Republic Floral Boutique, a Los Angeles-based florist. She finds that double tulips tend to last quite a bit longer than regular tulips. Double tulips are ones that have a more fluffy, pom appearance. When you're shopping for tulips, O'Neill recommends looking for ones that have stems that are green and firm, which means they're fresh. Also, check for any signs of bruising or discoloration on the petals, as these can indicate early signs of wilting. If possible, smell the flowers; a subtle fragrance is a good sign of freshness. Once you've hauled home your cut tulips, remove the outer leaves or any leaves that are brown or floppy. Give the stems a good trim of at least 1/2 inch or or more, depending on the vase you'll be using, de Castro says. 'I like to use a vase that is a bit taller with a smaller opening to provide the tulips with some support as they'll continue to grow,' she says. 'For this reason I like to cut the tulips on the shorter side when first placing them into the vase allowing them to grow into the vase.' When you're cutting your tulips, cut the stems diagonally, suggests O'Neill. This increases the surface area for water absorption, he explains. Pro tip: Cut the stems under running water if possible to prevent any air bubbles that can block water absorption. Make sure that any vase you put your cut tulips in is thoroughly clean to avoid any type of bacterial growth, which could shorten your flowers' lifespan, O'Neill says. Fresh, cool water works best. It's also beneficial to add a floral preservative to the water if available. These preservatives typically contain a mix of sugar for nourishment, acidifiers to maintain the right pH, and biocides to inhibit bacterial growth. If you don't have a commercial preservative, a teaspoon of sugar and a few drops of lemon juice can serve as a DIY alternative. Or, you can stock up on some flower food packets to have on hand. Tulips thrive in indirect light and cooler spots away from direct sunlight, heaters, or drafts, and consistent conditions help prolong their freshness, says Juan Palacio, the CEO of BloomsyBox, a floral subscription company. You may have heard that doing things like adding a splash of Sprite to a vase of water or placing a penny at the bottom of the vase will extend the lives of your tulips. But the experts we consulted say these are mostly just old wives' tales. 'Sprite, pennies, Aspirin — I find all these methods don't provide all that much of a benefit,' says de Castro. 'In fact, it contributes to dirty or murky water which in turn will contribute to stem rot or mushy stems.' With that in mind, here's some of the common hacks for extending tulip's lives and why they probably don't work. The idea here is that the copper in the penny acts as a natural fungicide, says O'Neill. 'However, most pennies are no longer made from copper, and there's little scientific evidence to support this practice,' he says. Aspirin can lower the pH level of the water, which some believe can help water uptake, O'Neill says. 'While it may have a minor effect on longevity, keeping the water clean and fresh is more effective,' he says. Adding Sprite or another clear soda is thought to provide sugar as food for the tulips, while the acidity inhibits bacterial growth, O'Neill explains. 'While there's some truth to this, too much sugar can actually encourage bacterial growth,' he says. If you do add Sprite, mix it with water in a 1:3 ratio, and still change the water regularly. Rather, the best thing you can do is provide your tulips with clean, cold water, filled halfway in the vase, de Castro says. Tulips are heavy drinkers, so you'll want to refill with clean cold water every couple days. If stems have softened at all, trim off to allow the tulips to take up the water it needs to stay fresher longer. With these expert tips, you can ensure your tulips brighten up your space for as long as possible, adding a touch of spring beauty to your home.
