Notorious: The Bloody History Of The Gooch Close Gang

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In the late 1980s, Moss Side, Manchester, birthed the notorious Gooch Close Gang, a criminal faction synonymous with drug dealing and violence in the Alexandra Park Estate. This article meticulously documents the gang’s inception, clashes with rivals like the Doddington Gang, and the rise of the Young Gooch faction. Led by Colin Joyce and Lee Amos, the gang faced police pressure, culminating in a dramatic trial that marked their downfall. As the echoes of the Gooch Close Gang resonate through Moss Side, their story stands as a testament to an era of extreme gang warfare in Manchester.

Emerging from the Moss Side area in Manchester during the late 1980s, they earned the ominous name of the “Gooch Close Gang”, The Gooch Gang or simply “The Gooch”.

Infamous for their activities in the Alexandra Park Estate and beyond, the gang carved a name for themselves, leaving an indelible mark on the M16 postcode.

The 1980s saw Moss Side plagued by crime and drug activities, prompting the emergence of two distinct gangs: the Gooch on the west side and the Pepperhill Mob on the east side.

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Gooch Close Street was renamed Westerling Way (by the Council) to distance it from the gang’s association.

The area of Moss Side can still be found easily, and many of the locations mentioned in this article can easily be found on Google Maps.

The inception of the Gooch Close Gang

The Gooch Close Gang (GCOG),emerged as a prominent street gang on the west side of the Alexandra Park Estate in South Manchester’s Moss Side area, falling within the M16 Postcode.

Active not only in their home territory but also in nearby areas such as Hulme, Fallowfield, Old Trafford, Whalley Range, and Chorlton, the gang traces its roots back to the late 1980s.

The gang derived its name from Gooch Close, a small street at the core of their territory where, during their early years, they engaged in activities like hanging out and drug sales.

The Alexandra Park Estate (which was described as “the drug-dealing supermarket for northwest England” by the Manchester Evening News) underwent renovations and upgrades in the mid-1990s, prompting a redesign of Gooch Close to reduce crime. It was then renamed Westerling Way to distance it from the gang’s association.

In the 1980s, Moss Side became synonymous with drug dealing and criminal activities, particularly in and around the Moss Side Precinct on Moss Lane.

The escalating police pressure and conflicts with rivals forced dealers into the nearby Alexandra Park Estate, leading to the emergence of two distinct gangs – the well-established “Pepperhill Mob” on the east side and the emerging “Gooch” on the west side.

By the 1990s the gang’s criminal activities had expanded to include:

• Drug trafficking
• Weapon trafficking
• Robbery
• Kidnapping
• Prostitution 
• Extortion
• Racketeering
• Murder
• Money laundering

Most notable of these would have been dealing, as The Gooch Gang had dozens of different “runners” who were usually older children or teens in their ranks.

Using children and teens to transport, sell and house drugs proved very effective and has done so for many gangs in the country, as children are less likely to be stopped and searched, as well as prosecuted.

Gooch vs. Doddington: the war that divided the estate

Initially, both gangs coexisted peacefully until tensions escalated with the Pepperhill Mob, which engaged in a feud with the rival Cheetham Hill Gang. The Pepperhill Mob declared a prohibition on dealings between anyone from Moss Side and the Cheetham Hill Gang.

This directive angered the Gooch, who had familial ties to the Cheetham Hill Gang and occasionally conducted business with them. This conflict sparked a deadly war that divided the Alexandra Park Estate in half.

As the intensity of the war grew, the Pepperhill Pub closed down, and the younger members of the Pepperhill Mob regrouped around Doddington Close, ultimately forming the notorious “Doddington Gang.” This marked a pivotal moment in the turbulent chronicles of the Gooch and their adversaries.

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A clash of interests between the Pepperhill Mob and the Cheetham Hill Gang catalyzed a deadly war, dividing the Alexandra Park Estate into two warring factions – the Gooch and the Doddington Gang.

Shootings, attacks, and territorial disputes transformed the estate into a warzone in the early 1990s, leaving destruction in its wake.

Rise of the Young Gooch: YGC & Mossway

As the 1990s unfolded, a new generation known as “Young Gooch Close” (YGC) or “Mossway” emerged.

The tragic shooting of Orville Bell in 1997 fueled a feud that would define the gang landscape for years to come. He was only 18 when he was murdered as he sat in his sports car. Even more saddening was the fact that his nephew, Jermaine Bell was also killed a few years before when gunmen burst into his flat in Hulme, Manchester and shot him in the head.

After leaving the 10th-floor flat his two friends called for help, but the killers were never identified. That killing sparked a bloody feud between rival gang factions and police now fear that a new wave of violence will sweep across the city.

2000s Era: Gooch Gang offshoots & Police Pressure

The 2000s witnessed the proliferation of younger offshoots aligning themselves with either the Gooch or Doddington. Gangs like the Fallowfield Mad Dogs, Rusholme Crip Gang, and Old Trafford Crips staked their claim. However, a significant blow came in 2009 when police pressure led to the imprisonment of key Gooch members, reshaping the gang landscape, which we will come to later.

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Part of the “Gooch/Crips” Alliance, the Gooch Close Gang collaborated with gangs like the Fallowfield Mad Dogs and Rusholme Crip Gang. However, rivalries with the Moss Side Bloods, Longsight Crew, Haydock Close Crew, and Hulme remained constant. The intricate web of alliances and rivalries defined the gang’s dynamic.

Most notable though, was the emergence of two members, Colin Joyce and Lee Amos. These were the two main driving forces behind the gang’s power and success. Being responsible for multiple shootings and criminal operations, the pair became the focus of police investigations.

Leaders, enforcers & members (post-2000s)

Gang warfare erupted in the city in 2007 after the pair were released early on licence from jail for firearms offences. After this, both Amos and Joyce went straight back to their criminal activities, whilst still under watch from the Police.

There is police footage of Joyce being recorded by the police after he was released, where he smiles at the camera and waves. Although the man in the video looks friendly, his cruel and vicious acts would go on to shock Moss Side to its core.

Colin Joyce

Lee Amos

It’s important to note that these men also were responsible for a lot of the Gooch Close Gang’s tactics and behaviour, even allowing members of the gang to modify their trousers, by sewing larger pockets so they could fit firearms in them.

This was a clear indicator to the Serious and Organised Crime Division of Manchester CID of the type of individuals they were dealing with.

Notable Lieutenants & Foot Soldiers

• Narada Williams (Gang hitman).
• Richardo (Rick-Dog) Williams (Gang hitman).
• Hassan Shah (Handled firearms & sold illegal drugs).
• Aaron Alexander (Footsoldier).
• Kayael Wint (Footsoldier).
• Gonoo Hussain (Footsoldier).
• Tyler Mullings (Footsoldier).

The murder of Steven Amos

In 2002 Steven Amos was killed by the Longsight Crew (LSC), which was a faction of the Doddington Gang. Due to this, Joyce and Amos began a campaign of violence against those responsible.

Later in 2007 a father named Ucal Chin, who was trying to move away from gang-related activity and turn his life around, was identified as being associated with the Doddington Gang, and he became an immediate target.

On Friday the 15th of June just before 7 PM Chin was driving a red Renold Megan, towards Manchester’s city centre, alongside Anson Road.

After passing through the junction at Dickinson Road, a silver Audi S8 pulled up alongside him and fired 7 rounds into his vehicle, with 4 of them hitting Chin. He later died in hospital in front of his mother and sister.

Subsequent investigation

After this, a huge police investigation led by DCI Janet Hudson aimed to solve the murder. But with no witnesses or forensic evidence, they only had ballistics to go on, after recovering the bullets from Chin and his car.

Quickly, experts used a well-known bullet comparison technique to find out which gun the bullets had been fired from, as every gun will leave distance “rifling” marks on the bullet as it leaves the barrel. After this, a complete match was found.

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The gun was a Baikal Makarov pistol (see below), one that the Gooch Close Gang were very familiar with, having used it in various other criminal activities.

During this, Manchester CID started to use the already sprawling network of CCTV cameras to gather vital evidence for the case they were building. 40 years ago these devices would not have been present, however, now, they were everywhere.

Some of the cameras around the area where Chin was murdered captured his car and another car (a silver Audi) was following it.

Horrifyingly, the murder of Chin was caught on tape, as the CCTV footage showed the silver Audi pulling up alongside it.

By combing through tons of footage and using witness accounts, the police were able to piece together exactly which route the car took as it sped away from the crime scene.

Using the Police National Computer (PNC), the police were able to search for the vehicle only using a partial number plate which they got from CCTV images.

After investigating, police found out it had been bought only 5 days before the murder of Ucal Chin by members of the Gooch Close Gang before then being most likely dumped in a scrap yard.

After the murder, Amos and other members of the Gooch Close Gang went on the run, even though they were being monitored by police. 6 weeks later, they struck again, this time at a funeral.

Frobisher Close funeral shooting

A full 6 weeks after Chin had been murdered, his body was finally laid to rest. With some members of the LSC and Doddington Gang attending the funeral of Chin, they became an easy target as Joyce and Amos knew they were there. With aroun 90 people gathering in this location, the subsequent shootout that followed was brutal.

A small car pulled up alongside the funeral, and shots began to ring out as people screamed and ran for cover. In the chaos, Tyrone Gilbert, 24 was shot in the side of the body and fled, where he later died on the pavement.

There were many children there as well, which only proved the Gooch Close Gang’s disregard for harm to the public.

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Again, CCTV evidence was gathered and used to astatine how the gang moved into position and which routes they took. The information was vital for their conviction later on.

A Honda Legend and a Blue Audi S4 were seen fleeing the scene, add after they were recovered, much forensic and ballistic evidence was recovered, as the gang for whatever reason did not fully dispose of or destroy the vehicle.

Later on, a black balaclava was found snagged on a fence near the abandoned Honda Legend.

Not only that but thankfully, the fibres from the Honda Legend matched the fibres from the Balaclava. With Campbell linked to the car that was used in the shooting of Gilbert, it was only a matter of time before police started to close in.

It was revealed during the investigation that the gun used to kill Tyrone Gilbert was not, in fact, a Baikal Makarov pistol, but instead a Colt Revolver. The Manchester CID already knew the gang possessed immense firepower, as a Scorpion Sub-Machine Gun was linked to a shooting associated with the gang years earlier, however, the Revolver made it harder to gather evidence as there were no shell casings.

The Police also released that a Smith and Wesson 357 Revolver was also used in the attack.

Downfall: the Gooch Close Gang

Being on the run didn’t seem to make any difference to the gang, but the Police were slowly closing in, with every detail about the gang members being investigated.

During these investigations, a small log book was found in a run-down garage in Stockport. The book contained the registration of the second vehicle that had been involved in the shooting, the blue Audi.

Detectives realised that Amos and Joyce were linked to the car because they used the letters “P” and “C” – which were nicknames, with Joyce’s being “Piggy” and Amo’s being “Cabbo” – also included was the initial P, with the word “Evo” and then “Diff” underneath it.

With this evidence, Detectives from Manchester CID moved in to arrest each member of the Gooch Close Gang one by one.

Another interesting aspect of this story is the fact that during this time, a Manchester CID detective reported that his officers had been removing posters around the Droysden area which read that anyone divulging information to the police which would lead to the gang leader’s arrest would not live long enough to spend the £50,000 reward offered to the public.

Interviews

During interviews Colling Joyce did not comment on all questions, with Amos going even further and remaining completely silent throughout the three days, only staring blankly at a piece of paper on the interview room table.

When asked to discuss the murder of his brother, Amos became uncomfortable, however, he did not give in to the questioning.

Witness testimonies

Many members of the gang had been exploited by them, or residents who had had their houses or apartments used as safe houses or drug/weapon trafficking hubs.

Because of this many different people did not want to be involved in criminal activities anymore.

In a scene straight out of a movie, one of the gang members who had already been in jail for a year managed to call one of the witnesses for the Crown’s prosecution and ask them not to give evidence.

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Incredibly, the recipient managed to record the conversation, where Narada Willaims, who was one of the gang’s hitmen, asked the witness to say they lied, arguing they would go to prison for this when revealed.

With the case now mounting against many members of The Gooch Gang, the trial was scheduled, but not in Manchester.

The trial of the decade

The trial was held at Liverpool Crown Court for there to be less of a chance of witness interfering and corruption. With the trial now in full swing, a heavily secure and armed prison convoy transported Amos and Joyce to Liverpool, where the jury awaited them.

Evidently, the recorded phone call between Williams and the witness was used, and this further indicated the gang’s guilt.

During the trial, the defendant shouted abuse at witnesses and court staff, whilst around 100 courtroom attendees.

It did not take the jury long to deliver their verdict, and when the guilty for murder verdicts were read out, DC Rod Carter recalls seeing Collin Joyce mouth the words “Are you happy now?” to him in a chilling moment.

Joyce was convicted of both murders, however, the jury failed to deliver a verdict on whether Amos was responsible for the murder of Ucal Chin.

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Aeeron Campbell, Narada Williams and Richardo (Rick-Dog) Williams were found guilty of the murder & attempted murder of Tyrone Gilbert, as well as drug and gun offences. The other gang members were convicted of different firearm and drug crimes.

The total reached for Amos and Joyce’s Lieutenants reached 146 years, with Amos getting a minimum of 35 years, whilst Joyce got 39 years.

A strong message?

Greater Manchester County Police used ageing software to estimate what Joyce and Amos might look like in 40 years, with billboards and posters being plastered all over Manchester.

This was a clear indicator that the police intended to notify anyone that similar offences would meet the same end, as indeed they would.

The Aftermath: Smaller, Wiser, and Still Relevant

Post-2009, the Gooch transformed, focusing on survival and money-making ventures rather than all-out gang warfare. While smaller and less active, the Gooch, along with their allies, remain a presence in the history of South Manchester’s underground.

For 16 months after the sentences there was not a single shooting on the streets of Manchester, and this only proved that the police investigation and trial had been a complete success, thanks to the Police, the Prosecution and of course the vital witnesses.

Manchester still remains one of the most violent cities in England, and it’s got the name “Gunchester” for a good reason. With recent new police initiatives crime is, particular gun crime is going down, but there ie still much work to be done.

Our thoughts and condolences go out t any of the families affected by major violence crime and gang activities in Manchester during this horrific period. Thank you for reading.

Associated rappers of the Gooch Close Gang included:

• Skizz 
• Vapz
• K.I.M.E

The Gooch Close Gang was also associated with these music videos:

• K.I.M.E – “From The Estate” (2018) 
• Skizz – “Loading” (2022) 
• YGC x FMD – “The ManDem” (circa 2007-2009) 
• “Jailing Manchester’s Gooch Gang” (2010) 

With the ever-growing presence of Greater Manchester Police’s anti-gang initiatives and campaigns, it became hard for the Gooch Gang to retain its power. So would this be the end?

Conclusion: The Gooch Close Gang

As the echoes of the Gooch Close Gang resonate through the streets of Moss Side, their chronicle stands as a testament to an era of extreme gang warfare within Manchester which is still ongoing. From the early days of Gooch Close to the challenges of the 2000s, the Gooch Close Gang’s story is one of resilience, alliances, and the ever-present shadows of rivalry and bloodshed.

Whatever you think of The Gooch Close Gang please remember this: “They were psychopaths who shot people for fun” – Manchester CID Detective.

If you want to learn more about gangs in Manchester and the violent, inside story of the Manchester gangs, a great book I recommend you read is (Ad ➔) Gang War by Peter Walsh.

References

• The murder of Jermaine Bell [Scottish Daily Record & Sunday]
• The murder of Ucal Chin [ManchesterEveningNews.CO.UK]
• Cheetham Hill Gang [Wikipedia.ORG]
• Moss Side area [Wikipedia.ORG]
• Hulme [Wikipedia.ORG]
• Fallowfield [Wikipedia.ORG]
• Old Trafford [Wikipedia.ORG]
• Whalley Range [Wikipedia.ORG]
• Chorlton [Wikipedia.ORG]

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