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Cass
Pennant is not a gangster or a boxer, but he's had more drama than the
entire cast of Eastenders. Violence out of necessity became a
way of life for him. His prowess as a street fighter earned him respect
and acceptance. He's rucked with the most vicious thugs and mixed with
dangerous villains from London's East End gangs.
In
the late 1970s, one particular gang rose to national prominence: West
Ham's InterCity Firm, otherwise known as the ICF. Pennant swiftly became
one of the most feared generals and fought numerous battles in towns
and football grounds throughout the country.
Inevitably
his notoriety made him a target for the authorities and, as a consequence,
he was sentenced to three years in prison.
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The
severity of the punishment was unprecedented at the time, but served
no deterrent for, a decade on, he returned to prison nearly charged
with murder. This time, upon release, Pennant turned his attention to
making money. With his reputation for violence known throughout London,
the violent world of night club security and personal protection offered
the best opportunities. Using the organisational skills he learned on
the football terraces, he was soon running one of the largest door firms
the capital had ever seen.
Employing
many well-known street-fighters, he specialised in supplying door teams
to the roughest clubs South and East of the River. The strategy was
risky, although the rewards were high, until one fateful night in South
London Pennant's luck finally ran out.
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A routine refusal
of admission on the door escalated dramatically when a gun was drawn
and Pennant was shot three times. Close to death, his immense willpower
pulled him through and he was then faced with a terrible dilemma.
His code, the unwritten way of his life, demanded he seek retribution.
He had a reputation to maintain but he also had a chance to change
his life.
He took the hard
option and decided not to seek vengeance. Instead, he began to pursue
his life-long dreams of becoming a published author. Although the
road was hard, his perseverance paid off when Blake Publishing commissioned
his autobiography and he has subsequently had a further six books
published. He has also become an acknowledged authority on the culture
of football hooliganism and has advised on numerous TV and film projects,
including Guy Ritchie's acclaimed "Snatch" and Bravo TV's "The Real
Football Factories".
Cass is presently in talks for a film based on his best selling biography "Cass" and even pops up in an unusual cameo role in the the movie "Green Street - Hooligans" starring Elijah Wood.
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