Emerging in July 2024, Rise of the Footsoldier is a minuscule anti-migrant group headed by the Leeds-based former football hooligan, Paul Leeming, with help from his close friend, former English Defence League (EDL) activist, Scott Pitts.

The pair were formerly close associates of Alek Yerbury, but split with the fascist activist after he moved away from street protests and launched the National Rebirth Party (NRP). Rise of the Footsoldier takes its name from a football hooligan/crime UK film series, and places its emphasis squarely on street-based activism.

To say Rise of the Footsoldier has had an inauspicious start would be putting it mildly. On 5 October, the group held its first demonstration, in Hull’s Victoria Square, attended by between 12 and 15 far-right activists. These included Matthew Darrington of the fascist outfit Patriotic Alternative (PA) and John Gilling (AKA John Francis), Pitts’ ally and founder of Hull Patriotic Protesters. Also in attendance was a masked far-right activist who went by the name “Captain Britain”, later revealed by HOPE not hate to be the convicted criminal Aidan Heaps.

Undeterred, Leeming and Pitts arranged another demonstration for 23 November in Leeds. Appalling weather contributed to this being a complete wash-out, attended by even fewer than Hull the month before. Present were some notable additions, however, including conspiracist oddball and former For Britain candidate, Leo Robinson, and the YouTuber-turned-migrant hunter, Marti Blagborough.