Bermudian Shawn Goater was a given a stark reminder of the state of football hooliganism in England on the same weekend violence on the field was breaking out in his home country.

As First Division players here were taking their frustrations out on other players, rival fans at the Manchester City and Millwall match on Saturday set upon each other in what one senior police officer called a planned incident of hooliganism.

Such incidents between rival fans have marred the English game for many years, and although vast improvements have been made, this was the second time this season that fighting has broken out between the two sets of fans, following ugly scenes in last September's match at Millwall's ground.

This time the scenes were not as frightening for the players. Last time violence erupted following a late Manchester City equaliser in the 1-1 draw.

The violence that day left the City players fearing for their lives as fighting continued after the game and the City team bus had to be escorted onto the motorway.

"Their fans were ripping up the seats and throwing them like frisbees at the City supporters,'' said Goater of Saturday's incidents.

"I heard from one of the stewards that a a kid got hit in the head.'' Some 200 police officers were drafted in in anticipation of trouble at the match. It was the biggest police presence at City's ground this season.

"It's without doubt that a significant number of individuals that travelled to the match did so with the intention to cause as much violence and disruption as possible,'' said Chief Superintendent Bill King.

"The potential for very serious injury and disorder was immense and escalated at the end of the match.'' Mounted police and dog handlers worked with officers in riot gear to separate the 2,500 Millwall fans and nearly 1,000 City supporters prior to kick-off. In the ground supporters battled with police.

Nine policemen were injured and 11 people arrested in clashes before, during and after the game which City won 3-0 to stay in contention for promotion in the Second Division. Five fans were charged with public order offences.

After the match fans smashed shop windows in the city centre because they were frustrated at being kept away from each other, according to police.

The corresponding fixture at Millwall's ground was marred by a series of pitch invasions and police battled with around 200 fans outside the ground after the match.

Though Millwall were found guilty of not controlling their fans, the English Football Association did not take any action against them, only warning them about future conduct.

"There must be a lot more rivalry between the two clubs from the past than I thought,'' said Goater.

"It seemed they came down here and wanted to let our fans know `this is what Millwall is about'. It takes away from what happened on the pitch. We played well on the day and deserved the three points.

"As long as they don't enter the field of play then you're okay. What they are doing is off the field and you just hope they don't get on the field.'' Goater played about 65 minutes of the match before going off with a hip injury. His replacement, Paul Dickov, broke the deadlock soon after as City went on to score two more goals.

"When that goal came the team really settled down,'' said Goater. "We went on to score the second which was a true reflection of how the game was going.

Maybe the third was a bit more flattering but at that stage we were flowing with confidence.'' City remain in the hunt for promotion back to the First Division. This weekend they face a tough away match when they travel to Bournemouth who beat Kyle Lightbourne's team, Stoke City, 4-0 last weekend to remain unbeaten at home.

"We need an exceptional run between now and the end of the season, and the confidence that we can do it,'' Goater says.

"We've got a monster game against Bournemouth and they are due to lose at home. We need to go there and look to take three points. They have a game or two in hand so it's important that we get the three points.

"I think they are one of the better footballing teams in the division. They proved it when they came down to our place and I'm sure the boys are aware of that as well.'' Despite a recent scoring slump Goater says the confidence has returned to his game. He remains on 12 goals for the season but still thinks he can again pass the 20-goal mark for the season.

"In the last two or three games some of the attempts I've had at goal have seen the goalkeepers making world saves,'' said the striker.

"I feel if I went three or four games with two or three goals I would easily reach 20 goals. I've been pleased with my performances.'' Bermudians caught up in soccer thuggery here and abroad