Today, Millwall has largely cleaned up its act. The Bushwackers exist in name only, a memory for aging men in pubs. But mention to any Millwall fan over the age of fifty, and you will see a glint in their eye. He remains the ultimate symbol of the terrace warrior: unpredictable, utterly lethal, and impossible to define.

Into this concrete jungle walked a young Spanish immigrant. Accounts vary on his exact origins—some say he came from the Basque country, others suggest Andalusia. What is known is that he arrived in London in the late 1970s or early 80s, a young man with dark features, jet-black hair, and a quiet demeanour that belied a ferocious capacity for violence.

The usual English leaders were loud, drunk, and easy for police to spot. Spanish Joe was the opposite. He was quiet, sober during matches, and possessed an almost military understanding of spatial awareness. He knew how to use the labyrinthine streets around The Den to ambush coaches. He knew that striking before the match, not after, was the key to catching rivals off guard.