Far right hooligan groups are attempting to spread hateful messages at Liverpool and Everton home matches.
Stickers and messages from groups with the names 'Casuals United' and 'The Pie and Mash Squad' have been appearing in and around Anfield and Goodison Park in recent weeks.
These are the names of different incarnations of a far-right football hooligan protest group, linked to the English Defence League.
There are fears the group is attempting to spread its message and recruit members around football matches in Liverpool.
Now fans, the clubs and local politicians have all condemned these attempts to create division and spread hate in the city.
Who are Casuals United and The Pie and Mash Squad?
According to the anti-racism campaign group Hope not Hate, Casuals United was founded in May 2009 as a national umbrella network of some 50 football hooligan gangs, known as ‘casuals’.
It has previously affiliated to the far-right English Defence League and according to Hope not Hate has recruited for the United Defence Leagues (which includes the Scottish and Welsh Defence League groups).
Hope not Hate explains: "Their leader, Joe Turner (AKA Jeff Marsh), founder of the Welsh Defence League, is a convicted football hooligan who has been jailed numerous times for violent offences, including a two-year prison sentence in 1989 for stabbing two Manchester United fans."
Casuals United was disbanded in 2014 but some members have continued with the group under the new name of The Pie and Mash Squad.
The name is believed to have been given in reference to the cockney rhyming slang of 'pie and mash' which means 'fash' - short for fascist.
It's not the first time far-right fans groups have attempted to spread their message in Liverpool in a bid to recruit local fans.
In 2018 we reported how the so-called Democratic Football Lads Alliance were handing out leaflets outside Goodison Park.
"There's no place for the far right in our city"
The stickers have been spotted on sign posts near Anfield and Everton, on road signs and in and around the actual stadium grounds.
Concerned fan Katie Marsh shared images of the stickers with the ECHO and said: "There's a lot of fascist activity at Liverpool and Everton grounds lately - stickers, posters, it is quite worrying
"A lot of people have been seeing these stickers everywhere around Stanley Park and both grounds."
After spotting the messages, Katie wrote to Everton about them.
The club said it regularly checks for such stickers inside the ground and will tell its staff to be vigilant for such items and remove them.
A Blues spokesman said: "A spokesperson for Everton Football Club said: “The issue of stickers promoting far-right groups placed in locations around our stadium in recent weeks has been brought to the attention of our Stadium Operations and Security teams.
"Everton strongly condemns any incitement of hatred and any such behaviour has no place within or around our stadium, our Club, our community or our game.
“Our ‘All Together Now’ campaign celebrates diversity and promotes inclusivity. The Club has a zero-tolerance policy on all forms of discrimination.
“‘All Together Now’ unifies Everton and Everton in the Community’s collaborative work regarding equality and diversity to ensure all fans - and anyone visiting Goodison Park or its community facilities - feels safe at all times.”
Dan Carden is the MP for the Liverpool Walton constituency that includes both club's stadiums.
He said: "There's no place for the far right in our city.
"Liverpool is proudly shaped by migrants.
"Like many, my family came across the Irish Sea to live here in the 19th Century.
"We're home to Britain's oldest black community, the first Chinese community in Europe, and England's first mosque.
"Our football culture in Liverpool is built on the spirit of solidarity. We've always rejected division and stood together in times of adversity.
"Every time far right groups have tried to cause trouble in Liverpool, we've sent them packing. So our message for those trying to bring hate into our city is don't bother. They're the ones who don't belong here."
That message was echoed by Joe Blott, chair of the Liverpool supporters' union Spirit of Shankly.
He said: "Our union stands against racism and fascism at all times, in football and outside of football.
"In recent years we have seen groups, old and new, seek to try and divide us under the guise of names like the Football Lads Alliance, or those who have sought to march through our city.
"As Liverpool fans, but more importantly citizens, we are very proud of the response from the people of Liverpool - to be open and welcoming, not ignorant and insular.
"We have seen the positive work done with all in our community.
"Our foodbank initaitive works closely with the Muslim community across the city. This should be the message from football - bringing together all, regardless of race or religion."
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said he will be raising the issue with the clubs and with Merseyside Police.
He said: "We must unite against any form of fascism in our city.
"These people are not welcome in Liverpool and I will raise this with the police."
