A gang of more than 50 rival football supporters used mobile telephones to set up a mass street brawl.

One witness to the battle, at North Shields ferry landing on March 18 2000, said the chaos was similar to a battle scene from "Braveheart".

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Sunderland football supporters travelled north across the Tyne by ferry.

They were met by waiting rival Newcastle supporters where weapons, fists and feet were used to conquer the other side.

Many people were injured and one man suffered a fractured skull and two years on is still not yet fully recovered.

Prosecutor Michael Graham told the court 35 men were arrested by police. Mobile phone records revealed that the brawl had been set up by gang leaders using text messages and calls.

The men appeared at Newcastle and Teesside Crown Courts and were all initially charged with conspiracy to cause violent disorder.

The following pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Newcastle Crown Court.

David Breeds, 29, of Devonshire Street, Monkwearmouth, was jailed for six months.

Stephen Goodfellow, 31, of Rotherford Square, Redhouse, Sunderland, Malcolm Clare, 39, of Seton Avenue, South Shields, Sean Rogers, 29, of General Graham Street, Sunderland, Jonathan Carpenter, 30, of Warwick Avenue, Wardley, Manchester, were jailed for four months.

The following men were spared jail but ordered to carry out 100 hours community punishment after pleading guilty to violent disorder: Mark Higgins, 29, of Wear Street South, Hylton, Sunderland, Mark Smith, 34, of Boswell Court, Kingston upon Thames, Ian Rainbow, 28, of King George Road, South Shields, Robert Stephenson, 34, of Vernon Close, South Shields. Douglas Donkin, 36, of Vine Street, South Shields. Steven Thirlwell, 26, of Newbury Street, Fulwell, Sunderland. Kevin Weir, 22, of Melrose Crescent, Seaham. Kenneth Chapel, 21, of Torvel Crescent, Fulwell, Sunderland. Stephen McGeorge, 32, of Folingsby Lane, Washington.

Nicholas Atkinson, 24, of Lyndon Drive, East Boldon, was ordered to pay £1,000 fine as he was not suitable for community punishment.

The following men pleaded guilty to affray: Christopher Mullins, 26, of Greenside Lane, Droylsden, Manchester, (50 hours community punishment); Andrew Robson, 29, of Sunderland Road, East Boldon, (100 hours community punishment).

James Owens, 26, of Riverdale, Castletown, Sunderland and David Brooke 27, of Laws Street, Fulwell, Sunderland, both admitted affray and will be sentenced in three weeks.

The case against Anthony Coghlan, 26, of Stainton Grove, Sunderland, accused of conspiracy to cause violent disorder, was allowed to lie on file.

Eleven were tried at Teesside Crown Court in November last year and found guilty of conspiracy to cause violent disorder.

Jason Jameson, 31, of Whickham Street, Sunderland, and Graham Russell, 32, of Eleanor Street, Cullercoats were jailed for four years.

Christopher Batty, 29, of Alston Crescent, Sunderland, and Paul Clements, 23, of Blagdon Avenue, South Shields were jailed for five months.

James Burwood, 22, of Trevor Terrace, North Shields, was jailed for 12 months.

Steven Jary, 25, of Glagedale Court, South Shields, Christopher Tapken, 24, of Park Crescent East, North Shields, Mark Wilson, 28, of Wartin Avenue, Seaham and Christopher Miller, 27, of Ashbrooke Terrace, East Boldon, were jailed for four months.

Daren Leng, 31, of Grosvenor Gardens, Manchester, was jailed for six months. John Sharp, 38, of Elwin Close, Seaton Sluice, was jailed for 18 months.

Robert Reed, 22, of Fountains Crescent, Hebburn and Stephen Bamborough, 33, of Cranberry Road, Hylton Castle, Sunderland were found not guilty after the five week trial.

No evidence was offered against Keith Russell, 33, of Kenton Road, North Shields, after legal submissions were made on his behalf.

The jury failed to reach a verdict in the case of Paul Bine, 37, of Minton Lane, North Shields.