Ex-Man City hooligan picks England's 'toughest' firm but it is not bitter rivals

A notorious former hooligan who has twice been barred from football matches has revealed the most dangerous firms he encountered while supporting Manchester City.

Despite confessing his "hatred" for Manchester United, Anthony Phythian surprisingly identified smaller clubs when questioned about the "toughest" supporters. Anthony, who infamously invaded Ewood Park wearing a boiler suit in 2007, explained: "Do you know what, it was never teams you think, like the big clubs, it was always teams like Barnsley or tough towns like Middlesbrough.

"Middlesbrough would bring 50 lads and they weren't a big firm but f***ing hell, just every one of them was just f***ing at it. Just a close knit firm."

He continued: "Just small teams like that, Huddersfield as well. Smaller teams like that and smaller Yorkshire clubs as well. Barnsley, Rotherham, just rough little towns."

Anthony was raised in Miles Platting, Manchester, where he would brawl in the streets and at school - with football disputes frequently sparking violence.

He eventually transformed into a hooligan and revealed to YouTube channel how he always felt anxious before confrontations, insisting you would be a "psychopath" if you didn't.

When questioned about the "tastiest" fixture for a City hooligan, his response was hardly shocking this time.

"It has always been United for us," he declared. "Always. The rivalry runs deep, do you know what I mean? There was a real hatred. Well, there is still a real hatred."

Despite not supporting the Red Devils in their opening Premier League match against Arsenal at Old Trafford today (August 17), Anthony said he has friends who back his rival team.

Offering a unique glimpse into his past as a football hooligan, he revealed: "Yeah, the mad thing is, any time when we are not playing, I spoke to lads, United's firm, who would speak to each other on the phone and arrange where we are going and where we are going to meet.

"We would go and have a pint with each other and we would shake hands and everything else and then the day of the game they are f***ing bottling each other.

"It is mad when you say it like that, but, that was it. That is what we were all there for."

Now a family man with two daughters and a son, Anthony has left his days of terrace brawls behind him.

Instead, he embarked on a professional boxing career at the age of 37, retiring with a record of four victories and three losses.

Reflecting on his past during a previous podcast with Dodge Woodall, he said: "My eldest, my lad, knows a lot of my past and now I try to advise him where not to go wrong as I did.

"To be the person I am today and be able to have the relationship I have with my kids is amazing. I thank God every day and know I am totally blessed with this second chance in life."