Pennant, Cass (2003). Congratulations, You Have Just Met the I. C. F. John Blake Publishing. p.61. ISBN 9781904034858. Pennant, Cass (2003). Congratulations, You Have Just Met the I. C. F. John Blake Publishing Ltd. ISBN 9781904034858.

The ICF pioneered calling cards that were left on victims. [5] They read "Congratulations, you have just met the ICF". [6] Calling cards would also become popular at other football clubs. a b Gardner, Bill (2006). Good Afternoon, Gentlemen, the Name's Bill Gardner. John Blake Publishing Ltd. p.1. ISBN 9781844542611. For Bill, fighting people off was just a way of protecting his friends and has never landed him with a criminal record.Bill Gardner (born 29 January 1954) [1] is an English football supporter, former football hooligan and co-author of books on football hooliganism. The ICF were the basis of Alan Clarke's 1988 film, The Firm. Gary Oldman plays Bex Bissell, the leader of the ICC - Inter City Crew. Members of the ICF were used as consultants on the film. [1] The 2005 film Green Street (and its sequels) are also based on the ICF, but instead the initials GSE ('Green Street Elite') were used. The ICF make an appearance in Irvine Welsh's novellas Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance. Gardner, Bill; Pennant, Cass (2006). Good Afternoon, Gentlemen, the Name's Bill Gardner. Blake Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84454-261-1. Following a renewed interest by the public in the 21st century in football hooliganism of the 1970s and 1980s, Gardner featured prominently on the cover of fellow I.C.F. member Cass Pennant's 2003 book " Congratulations, You Have Just Met the I. C. F." [10] In 2005 Gardner published his autobiography " Good Afternoon, Gentlemen, the Name's Bill Gardner" detailing his involvement in hooliganism. [11] The book was co-written with Cass Pennant. [11] Born in Hornchurch, Essex, [1] Gardner came to prominence in the 1970s as a supporter of West Ham United and as a member of the Mile End Boys and not firm, the I.C.F. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Gardner was portrayed by Stuart Moore in the 2007 film Rise of the Footsoldier which details the life of another member of the I.C.F., Carlton Leach. [12] [13]

The ICF again came to prominence in 2018 when former members re-grouped as the Real West Ham Fans Action Group, organising protests against the club board. [7] [8] In popular culture [ edit ] In the very late 1980s, the ICF was regularly linked to the UK pirate radio station Centreforce through its founder Andy Swallow. Swallow was a one-time member of the Essex East London Firm also.