THE exploits of football hooligans associated with Swindon Town has been retold in a new book.

Hooligans 2, which goes on sale today has taken co-authors Nick Lowles and Andy Nicholls two years to research and put together.

It has information on more than 100 clubs, including Scottish and non-League teams from incidents of the last 30 years or more.

"I was a little surprised with the so-called smaller clubs that the intensity and rivalry is so big," said Andy, pictured below, a former hooligan of 30 years.

"With Swindon I noticed that local derbies are fiercely contested, particularly with Oxford.

"These are always likely to be flash point games for any football club.

"I want this book to act as an eye-opener rather than glorify violence.

"I hope it will be used for educational reasons as it could relate to many subjects such as social studies, criminology and psychology.

"It is not just football memoirs, the publication deals with the true reality of hooliganism."

The book deals with specific flashpoints which have occurred over the years involving certain so-called football fans.

A passage from the book relating to a Swindon match reads: "A home game against Wrexham in March 1978 saw the away goalkeeper pelted with darts, stones and a golf ball.

"The referee reported Swindon over the incident which ended with keeper Eddie Niedzwiecki being hit on the head with a lump of concrete.

"Swindon also clashed with Bristol City fans. Missiles were thrown at police at one game, causing the match to be halted."

A home match with Oxford in September 1998 also saw 19 fans arrested and in August 2000, in the first game of the season at Reading, a section of Swindon fans booed through the minute's silence in memory of former Reading player and manager Maurice Evans.

The book said: "The referee had to call time on the tribute early because of the unpleasant reaction of some of the away support and there were clashes after the match."

In years gone by Andy was classified as a Category C thug - the worst kind.

The 45-year-old from Chester amassed more than 20 arrests for football-related offences and has been deported from Belgium, Iceland and Sweden.

He has a lifetime ban from Everton football club for brawling.

Andy is now a changed man with a family and he hopes that people will learn from his mistakes.