Skull thuggery

Stephen Breen | Sunday, 16 July 2006 Source: Sunday Life

A notorious football hooligan who is banned from all English stadiums attended his first match in six years last week - at Windsor Park.

Ex-Chelsea 'Headhunter' Jason Marriner was at Linfield's Champions' League qualifier against Gorica after being invited to Ulster by loyalist terrorists.

Marriner - who was jailed for six years in 2000 for hooliganism - travelled to Belfast to celebrate the Twelfth.

We tracked down the 39-year-old on the Shankill Road where he urged feuding loyalists to put aside their differences.

Marriner has links with loyalist godfathers including Johnny 'Mad Dog' Adair, who describes the London thug as a "proud loyalist".

He refused to confirm he'd been invited by loyalists, claiming he was in Belfast to promote his book, It's Only A Game.

Said Marriner: "I am proud to be a loyalist because we all come under the one flag. I love coming to Northern Ireland for the Twelfth.

"I am not going to take sides in any feud between loyalists and I'm not going to say if I support one organisation or the other.

"I would like to see loyalists united, but I don't live here and I'm not going to tell people what they should or shouldn't do.

"I do know Johnny Adair but I have met many loyalists over the years because we share the same views and associations through Rangers and Chelsea.

"I am no longer involved in football-related violence but I have many supporters here who want to hear about my experiences."

Marriner warned Celtic fans in Ulster to "expect trouble" when the Hoops take on Chelsea in a friendly at Stamford Bridge on August 9. He said: "I know there are many Celtic fans in Ulster but they should realise their team's game against Chelsea is a recipe for disaster.

"I've heard there will be around 15,000 Celtic fans going to the game, including many from Northern Ireland.

"There is serious potential for trouble because the Chelsea fans will not be happy with seeing Irish tricolours all over the place."

But Martin McManus of the William Orr Celtic Supporters Club said there would be no trouble from local Celts fans, adding: "Wherever Celtic fans go they are impeccably behaved. They didn't win the FIFA fair play award for nothing.

"If there is going to be any trouble in London, it will come from people like Marriner."

Marriner (38), from Stevenage, was exposed on TV as a member of the notorious Chelsea Headhunters in 1999.

His ban from attending matches does not extend to Northern Ireland except when England are playing at Windsor Park, as he's barred from following his national team.

He has also been involved in protests against Bloody Sunday marches in London.