page_title: Capital City Service
section_title: Club in crisis
hierarchical_section_title: Capital City Service / Club in crisis
caption_attribution_description: English: Police presence amongst the CCS at the segregation fence during Mercer Derby game against Hearts
context_page_description: The Capital City Service is a Scottish football hooligan firm associated with Hibernian F.C. and active from 1984 when the casual hooligan subculture took off in Scotland. Their roots were in the previous incarnations of hooligan groups attached to the club and also the wider Edinburgh and surrounding area's gang culture. They are more commonly known in the media and amongst the public as the Hibs Casuals, although within the hooligan network they may also be referred to as Hibs Boys.
  Hooliganism was established at matches with many clubs in Scottish football before the advent of the casuals and violence from Hibernian supporters was recognised as likely to occur by other teams' hooligan supporters. The CCS went on to be regarded by some rivals and observers as the dominant hooligan gang in the Scottish scene from the latter part of the 1980s until the mid-1990s and also from outside Scotland as one of the best from north of the border.
  During the latter part of the 1990s a split in their ranks caused by the formation of a nationwide hooligan firm made up of casuals from different teams and a general decline in football hooliganism in Scotland saw activity of the gang diminish.
context_section_description: After mismanagement during the late 1980s, Hibernian were on the brink of financial ruin in 1990 and in June of that year, Wallace Mercer, the chairman of Edinburgh derby rivals Hearts, proposed a merger of the two clubs. The Hibs fans believed that the proposal was little more than a hostile takeover and they formed the Hands off Hibs group to campaign for the continued existence of the club.
  Although the CCS were never accepted by the club as real fans and despite the antipathy often shown towards them from other Hibs supporters, the gang were also opposed to this threat to the club's future. The CCS launched a graffiti campaign aimed directly at the Hearts chairman as well as issuing threats via the media and in letters and telephone calls to Tynecastle. One group of Hibs casuals went to Mercer’s Edinburgh suburban home with the intention to confront him directly but upon realising he wasn't there they painted slogans on his house such as ‘Mercer is dead’ and ‘Long Live Hibs’. Police with dogs were soon guarding his home as windows at his business properties were also smashed and bullets were being sent to him in the post. The Hands off Hibs committee quickly disassociated themselves from the vandalism and threatening behaviour.
  The ‘Mercer’ derby
  The first match to be played between the clubs after the failed takeover bid was at Easter Road the following September and in anticipation of trouble the police cancelled weekend leave and drafted in extra officers from outside Edinburgh. This decision was vindicated as this emotionally charged game was played in what was described as a volatile atmosphere. On the section of the east terracing next to the Dunbar end there were outbreaks of disorder throughout the first half, including incursions onto the playing field that caused the game to be halted and players’ leaving the pitch until order was restored. During the interval there was more trouble on the terracing and fans again encroached onto the touchlines which delayed the start of the second half of the match. The police entered the Hearts dressing room during half-time and made a plea with them not to score any more goals as there was a real threat of a full pitch invasion by Hibs fans. Police later revealed that half of the arrests made at the game were of Hibs casuals.
caption: Police presence amongst the CCS during 15 September 1990 Hearts game
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