A COURT heard yesterday how six Sunderland FC fans took part in an organised pitched battle with rival supporters following an end-of-season match.

Six Sunderland fans and one Birmingham City supporter appeared at Durham Crown Court on the first day of a two-week trial into violent clashes between opposing fans outside the Stadium of Light.

The court heard how, following the last match of the 1998/9 season in which Sunderland gained promotion as champions, hundreds of rival hooligans fought on the Millennium Way bridge close to the ground.

Sunderland fans John Fagan, 31, of Laurens Court, Washington, Stephen Traynor, 38, of Victoria Terrace, Oxclose, Washington, Sean Elliott, 30, of Wiltshire Road, Sunderland, Paul Chambers, 32, of Hedworth Lane, Boldon Colliery, and Mark Wilson,28, of Watling Avenue, Seaham, deny violent disorder.

Peter Thomas, 50, of Riverdale, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to the same charge and will be sentenced after the trial. Birmingham City supporter Paul Napier, 39, from Northfields, West Midlands, denied the charge.

Julie Clemiston, prosecuting, told the jury: "It was a happy occasion. Sunderland had won promotion and been crowned champions and there was a carnival atmosphere.

"Unfortunately, outside the ground the atmosphere was rather different. The crown says that a group of rival supporters met in a pre-arranged battle.

"They did not go to the match - they were there for a fight."

She described how a group of about 50 "so-called Sunderland supporters" went to the stadium at the final whistle and started chanting and behaving aggressively.

As Birmingham fans filed out of the ground, a police officer allegedly heard Mr Elliott tell a rival fan to meet them on the bridge.

Miss Clemiston said a large group of Birmingham fans let out a roar and charged towards the bridge where home supporters waited.

Police tried to separate the factions, but a large number of the fans managed to fight each other.

Most of the defendants were arrested at the time although Mr Elliott was arrested the following day.

The trial continues.