Before door licensing, the men on the doors of Liverpool and Manchester clubs were some of the hardest in Britain. This first part of Britain's Deadliest Doormen puts ten of them head to head, Liverpool against Manchester, and picks a winner in each.
Gary Spiers v Dessie Noonan
Gary Spiers crossed from New Zealand to become one of the finest all-round fighters and toughest bouncers England has known, using his hands, head, elbows and feet. Dessie Noonan was one of the most feared men ever to walk the streets of Manchester, a bear of a man. Spiers was the better all-round fighter, but on deadliness the verdict goes to Noonan.
Andrew John v Mickey Francis
Andrew John, 6 foot 4, represented the UK karate team and was feared on the doors and the streets. Stephen "the Devil" French says in his book that John was the only man he ever feared. He was murdered before his time. Mickey Francis was one of the most respected doormen and fighters in Manchester. Both had bulletproof reputations. The verdict: Andrew John.
Alfie Lewis v Graeme Boardman
Alfie "the Animal" Lewis was a world kickboxing champion who could fight in the street as well as the ring. He killed a man in self-defence and was later jailed over drug dealing at the Liverpool nightclub Cream. Graeme Boardman, whose best friend Paul "One Punch" Doyle called him psychotic, used weapons as well as his hands and would take on whole mobs. On the strength of the stories about him, the verdict goes to Boardman.
Stephen French v Chris Bacon
Stephen French, the Devil, was a world champion kickboxer who struck fear into Liverpool's underworld. Chris Bacon was an Olympic judo man, a pro boxer, a champion unlicensed fighter and a cage fighter. The verdict: Chris Bacon, as deadly in the ring as on the street.
Brian Schumacher v Billy Isaac
Brian Schumacher captained the England boxing squad and was a big part of the Liverpool door scene in the 1980s and 1990s, and he served a long sentence for taking a life. Billy Isaac was an unbeaten heavyweight boxer known as a fearless man on the doors in London. On reputation, the verdict goes to Isaac.