SINCE David Bowie sung about Panic in Detroit in 1973 I have been fascinated by Detroit.

I have also been fascinated by the international spread of British football culture since being asked to teach a bunch of Penarol fans in Montevideo in 1989 how to properly sing: “You’re going to get your fucking heads in!” I’m a Nacional man but thought it best to keep that quiet.

So when I read about Detroit City’s Northern Guard supporters group gathering before a match outside the stadium’s gates chanting: “Can you hear the (opponents) sing? No! … I can’t hear hear a fucking thing, no, no-oo,” a classic 1970s Brit football chant, I thought I had to find out more about this club. Then I found out about the anti-fascist credentials of the fans and the ideals of the owners and was sold.

In this Red Caste episode, Alex Gordon and I talk with Matt Smyth, a member of the Keyworth Casuals ultra group about his love of Detroit City FC, the history of the club and its vociferous, foul mouthed, leftist supporters.

Some extra reading:

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/s/dont-forget-motor-city
My article in The Morning Star about the club.

https://www.detcityfc.com
The official club website

https://twitter.com/KeyworthCasuals
The Keyworth Casuals twitter account.

https://noonelikes.us
The website of the biggest Detroit City supporters's grouping, The Northern Guard.