6:03am Monday 26th March 2007
By David Roberts
BOTTLES and bricks were thrown at mounted police as they battled to contain football hooligans attempting to attack rival fans after a derby day clash.
On several occasions, police horses charged through Darlington supporters following yesterday's match with Hartlepool, the first time the sides had met at the Quakers' 96.6TFM Arena.
There were ugly scenes as fans made their way home following the Quakers' 3-0 defeat.
Both police and the football club have played down the incidents, which marred the match and its immediate aftermath.
However, on one occasion, police horses had to be taken into the stadium during the match to restore order after a man wearing a St John Ambulance jacket tried to reach Hartlepool fans.
Glasses and other missiles were thrown at police as they tried to bring the crowds under control after the match.
The town's famous brick train was covered in graffiti and police deployed the force helicopter to keep watch on the crowds.
In one of Durham Constabulary's largest operations in recent years, 14 arrests were made across the town.
Police are hailing the operation a success, while fans' groups and residents have condemned the actions of a minority of supporters who caused trouble.
"There's no excuse for this sort of behaviour," said Tony Taylor, of Darlington Supporters Trust.
"We don't want to have anything to do with these people who go to matches and cause trouble.
"We've made some great strides in the last 30-odd years, the atmosphere was, in the main, very good today. You always get a minority who spoil it."
Police said two people were arrested outside the ground for breaching football banning orders and a third was arrested for a public order offence.
One fan from each side was arrested for pitch incursions.
After the match, a further nine arrests were made for minor public order offences.
Darlington Football Club has said anyone found causing trouble will be barred from the ground for life.
Last night, a spokesman for the club said: "There was a minor incident involving one fan who was arrested by police.
"As a result there was a minor surge forward of fans but police quickly restored order."
Chief Inspector Helen McMillan said: "The planning of the operation for the match was a major exercise and we are grateful for the help of our colleagues from British Transport Police and the mounted branch of Cleveland Police."
Jan Mazurk, of Neasham Road Residents' Group, which campaigned against the construction of the stadium, said: "This was only a medium crowd, they have the capacity for 25,000. We'll keep monitoring this and I'll be taking it up with Darlington Borough Council about the cost of this."
Pauline McSweenie, from Hartlepool Supporters Association, said: "We came on the supporters' buses. No Darlington fans were allowed anywhere near us and we felt totally safe."
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