FOOTBALL match bans were imposed yesterday on six fans who admitted their part in disturbances between rival supporters on a train.

The four Hartlepool supporters and two Darlington fans were banned from going to domestic games in England and Wales, or travelling abroad, when they received Football Banning Orders at Teesside Crown Court - orders which will come into effect three days before the start of the World Cup.

They were arrested by British Transport Police on March 11, 2000, as they returned from London where Darlington had played Leyton Orient and Hartlepool faced Barnet, the court heard.

Simon Jack, prosecuting, said they all admitted a charge of using threatening words and behaviour.

Two sets of fans had been travelling back on trains from Kings Cross when trouble began, at one point spilling out on to the platform at York station.

Mr Jack said there was trouble between opposing fans on the train between York and Darlington, and then again on the platform at Darlington railway station.

He said the experience was frightening for other rail users, which included women and children.

Mr Jack said Leslie Gibbon, 33, of Sydenham Road, Liam Philips, 22, of Fernwood Avenue, and Gregory Swinburne, 33, of Cowper Grove, all Hartlepool, had been involved in trouble on the train between York and Darlington, where Gibbon threatened a Chelsea fan and Philips and Swinburne were part of a group which behaved threateningly.

Mark Blackett, 34, of Cedar Road, Darlington, was seen flailing his arms and swearing while trying to break up a group of fighting men at Darlington station, he said.

Mr Jack said Ian Bailey, 24, of Murray Street, Hartlepool, had headbutted someone, but had not caused any injury, and Michael Hawdon, 30, of Mildred Street, Darlington had pushed a police officer at Darlington railway station.

This was the full extent of their involvement in the trouble, said Mr Jack.

Gibbon was given a football banning order for four years and ordered to do 180 hours' community punishment; Philips was banned for three years and given 120 hours' community punishment; Swinburne was given 100 hours' community punishment and banned for three years; Blackett was given 140 hours' and a three-year ban; Bailey was fined £300 and banned for three years; and Hawdon banned for three years and ordered to do 140 hours' community service.