The Football Factory

The Football Factory is English novelist John King’s debut novel, which was published in 1997. The novel tells the story of Tommy Johnson and his group of friends, who follow the football team Chelsea, fighting rival hooligans.

The book provides a working-class perspective on Britain through Tommy’s thoughts on and frustrations about a range of subjects including poverty, class, politics, and prejudice. The book also examines the connections between football hooliganism and the media, the political class, and the community.  

The Football Factory has been translated into a number of other languages and was followed by two other novels – Headhunters and England Away - making up The Football Factory Trilogy.

In 2004, the book was adapted into a film by director Nick Love. Shot in documentary style, t...