Rise of the Footsoldier is based on the shocking true story of one man';;s rise to power as one of the most feared and respected criminals in the country. This films follows the inexorable rise of Carlton Leach from one of the most feared generals of the football terraces to becoming a member of a notorious gang of criminals who rampaged their way through London and Essex in the late eighties and early nineties. Everyone knew him, everyone feared him. In a place where violence is business and crime a way of life, Carlton Leach was a legend. But in the battle to be on top, every victory has its price.