This book I read in 1984 and was a collection of six stories of a British youth gang; each story focused on a different member of the gang. One character may have been called Darkie Bates. One of the six stories took place in a disco where the gang member was ‘saved’ by the friend of a girl he had earlier been insulting with terms like “frog-eyes”, when she hit his assailant with a bottle. He ended up going out with her. The author may have been Tony someone but just as likely not. Great book for young adult fiction.
I don’t recognize the book; but there was a 1980s author of YA fiction called Tony Drake, who dealt with issues somewhat similar to those you mention: teenage boys and their friendships; antisocial behaviour, etc. His books include ‘No Time to Say Goodbye’ (probably not the one); ‘Playing It Right’ and several others. Possibly worth exploring.