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I.D. is a little-known gem made by the BBC back in 1995, which is concerned with football hooliganism and the psychological effects it has upon the police officers involved in the undercover work.

Filmed mainly in South Yorkshire, this is a typically gritty portrayal of thug culture. John (Reece Dinsdale) is part of a team attempting to infiltrate the hooligan firm of fictional football club Shadwell Town FC, though gradually finds himself developing similarities to the yobs that he was originally just supposed to investigate.

I.D. is violent and uncomfortably accurate in its portrayal of the hard drinking, foul-mouthed sub-culture of English football, and just how manipulative it can be to the everyman's identity. If you must choose only one film concerned with the subject of football hooliganism to, let it be this.

(C) Andy Carrington, 2009.