Hi Matt
Was interested to read what you posted. Never heard of any soccer or other sports violence in North America but, as you say, sometimes you can barely avoid it over here (I once spent a couple of hours with an ex girlfriend in an Indian restaurant to avoid some hooligans in Sheffield... luckily the food was good, it was the nearest escape location, luckily we both like curry!!). Fotball violence seems to be worst in some parts of Italy and South America (was a Columbian player shot dead after the world cup?). Like you say the game is secondary to the violence for these people and a lot of them never go to the game but meet up locally to fight (there was a good programme with an undercover reporter which covered it well, sorry can't remember the name).
Last year I went to a bar where fans drink before the game. In the toilets there were flyers saying that "the other fans no longer respected us, lets teach them a lesson...meet up at....etc." These guys are serious, I think at Senshido they would nearly all class as EDI's.
Without being paranoid I would tend to avoid certain towns when games are being played and certain bars near the grounds. Avoid team colours and avoid wearing your team shirt overtly. If confronted you must assume that one of his friends will jump in at any moment. Football is our national game IMHO and we ought to get more families going.
By the way is PFS Vunak? Who do you train with in London?
Is the Rock (Cafe?) still going in Notts?
All the best
Bear
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