Julia | On July 5, 2012

Today’s feature: 85p “Rise of the Footsoldier – In My Game, The Choice is a Jail or a Grave” by Carlton Leach

‘The first thing that caught my eye was the geezer with the gold tooth – the second was that he was holding a shooter – and the third that he was pointing it at me.’ Carlton Leach is a gangland legend – the mere mention of his name strikes fear into his enemies; yet to his friends he is as loyal and caring as they come. If trouble comes calling, Carlton isn’t afraid to let his fists do the talking and woe betide anyone who crosses him, or those close to him. At last, in Rise of the Footsoldier, Carlton gives the full account of his life including how his story has been made into a hugely successful film. Born and raised in East London, Carlton was a key member of the notorious Essex Boys gang and the West Ham InterCity Firm, one of the most violent hooligan gangs to trouble the football terraces during the eighties. He’s been shot at, stabbed, glassed – he’s even had an axe in his head. Yet the event that really brought turmoil into his life was the murder of his best friend in the infamous Range Rover murders. Carlton vowed that he would find those responsible and make them pay. There isn’t much that Carlton hasn’t seen or experienced in his life and his tales of violence, gang wars and close calls with death will have you on the edge of your seat. He knows how close he has come to dying and has therefore shut the door on a gangland life. He may have changed but, as he himself says, ‘I’ll always need to exercise the Carlton Leach brand of justice. It’s in me – ‘