POLICE officers working to combat football violence today slammed a book written by one of the area's most notorious self-confesses hooligans.

Andrew 'Pot' Porter, 39, of Parliament Street, Burnley, was a founding member of the notorious Burnley Suicide Squad 'firm'.

The publishers of Mr Porter's book, Suicide Squad, claim they take every care not to glamourise violence, but the police sergeant running Burnley's anti-hooligan team, Operation Fixture, said the book was a 'sad' attempt to cash in on the crimes he had committed.

Today Mr Porter claimed he did not set out to glamourise the violence, and said if people were offended by it, they should not read the book.

He said: "The book isn't about violence, it's about my life.

"I am proud of what I have done. Nobody will change the fact that I have done it. If people aren't bothered with it don't read it!

"I am not bothered what people think about the book. I can't change my life and I am proud of what I have done. I have put Burnley on the map, but other people won't see it that way. I am proud of being from Burnley."

Mr Porter is now banned from watching Burnley play at Turf Moor, and is halfway through a three-year ban from watching England matches.

In Burnley, there are 72 football banning orders in place, and about 3,000 nationwide.

Burnley police have two officers employed to enforce the orders, and the police claim courts are also beginning to take a zero-tolerance attitude towards football violence.

During 2002 and 2003, two people in Burnley - an elderly woman out shopping and a young football fan from Nottingham - died during hooligan-related violence.

Sergeant Colin Hudson, head of Burnley's Operation Fixture, said he had not read the book, but added: "I understand that by publishing this book Mr Porter is attempting to glorify his 'alleged' exploits for personal gain.

"However I would imagine that, like several other recent publications about football hooliganism, it simply relates a series of cowardly actions carried out in the anonymity of a crowd of like-minded individuals.

"In 2002 and 2003 the tragic deaths of two people in Burnley centre, one an elderly lady out shopping, were directly linked to known Burnley football hooligans who are now serving long custodial sentences.

"The fact that Mr Porter can seek to profit from glorifying similar mindless activity is, in my opinion, a sad condemnation of him and others who would seek to engage in behaviour of this nature."

Peter Walsh, of publisher Milo Books, said: "What Andrew has done very honestly is say what he has done and what has happened in his life. I think if you read about a lot of the lads who end up in prison and violence, it isn't glamorous."

A Burnley FC spokesman said: "The club has a strict policy regarding violent and anti-social behaviour. This means we will not tolerate, or accept, this occurring at Turf Moor. Anyone found guilty of this or any football-related offence will get a life ban, as per club policy."