By Scott Cooper
October 21 2002

26 Fans from both Stoke City and Wolverhampton Wanderers were arrested on Saturday Night has trouble, which was believed to be planned errupted between the two sets of fans in Stoke Centre and in the Brittania Stadium. The Stoke Evening Senital Reported The Following:

Dozens of fans were arrested and knives and fireworks seized as trouble flared at Stoke City's televised home match with Wolves last night.

Riot police with dogs and horses managed to contain three attempted pitch invasions by home fans as they watched their side lose 2-0 to their West Midlands rivals at the Britannia Stadium.

The weapons, high-powered rockets and other fireworks were snatched during a police search of a coach carrying Wolves fans as they made their way to the ground.

During the match, missiles were hurled from the terraces onto more than 100 officers as they battled to keep order.

Disturbances had started in Stafford hours before the tea-time kick-off and at least 18 fans from both sides were in custody as the match got under way.

The figure later rose to 26.

Afterwards officers said they had made "a significant number" of arrests of fans from both clubs.

They were detained before, during and after the match either in the ground or the immediate vicinity.

To head off further trouble, officers kept home fans in the South Stand car park until the Wolverhampton coaches and cars had left.

A police spokesman said: "There were three attempts to invade the pitch by Stoke fans.

"Officers in protective clothing succeeded in containing the incidents assisted by teams of horses and dog handlers.

"They were attacked by missiles thrown from the terraces but fortunately nobody was injured," added the police spokesman.

Trouble had been expected during the clash and police leave was cancelled as a huge security operation was mounted.

Leaders of rival supporters are understood to have used mobile phones to arrange clashes and so-called hooligan internet websites had been warning of fights at the match in the days leading up to the kick-off.