The film follows how a Jamaican orphan baby, adopted by an elderly white couple in 1950's London, changed from being the most feared hooligan in the country to Britain’s best selling black author. Cass grows up in a time before political correctness and as a young child, is forced to endure racist bullying on a daily basis. One fateful day the pent up years of anger surfaced in an explosive burst of violence and from then on, Cass decides he will never be bullied again. As a boyhood fan of West Ham United, Cass rises through the ranks to become the leader of their hooligan gang, The Intercity Firm (The ICF). After serving the first long-term prison sentence for football related violence, Cass is released and falls in love with Elaine. He tries to change his life, but his violent past eventually catches up with him, culminating with Cass being shot three times at point blank range. He is left with the terrible dilemma; to seek vengeance as the street has taught him, or to renounce his violent past.