TASERS, batons and police dogs were deployed to control drunken troublemakers at Chester FC’s first match since the club was reformed.
Police arrested two people before Saturday’s pre-season friendly away game, then crowd trouble among the Chester fans broke out during the 2-0 defeat to Colwyn Bay FC.
The club has now vowed to ban anyone found guilty of an offence from future games.
Chris Pilsbury, Chester FC chairman, said: “I think it is really sad that this had happened, The fact that the Chester fans were booing at those responsible for the trouble says it all.
“As far as I am concerned the troublemakers are not Chester fans and I would just like to say to tell them to stay away from any further Chester matches.
“The trouble has soured what should have been a really good carnival event. It’s our first match back since what happened last year and now 15 or so people have drunk too much alcohol and acted irresponsibly.
“I thought everybody was coming to Colwyn Bay for a good day out and I think 99.9 per cent of people did have a good day out.”
More than 1,600 people turned out for the game at Llanelian Road, as new Chester manager Neil Young returned to his former club.
Trouble flared 15 minutes into the second half of the game after fighting started between Chester fans behind a goal.
Roger Skinner, Colwyn Bay FC president, said: "A great spectacle has been spoilt.
The police have had to use batons and tazers. Police dogs were brought in to control the troublemakers, and a police helicopter was also deployed.
"What happened is really sad because the majority of people inside the ground were well behaved.
"Apparently the people causing the problems had been drinking quite a lot and I believe there were some Chester supporters fighting among themselves.”
Superintendent Rob Kirman, of North Wales Police, said trouble started in Colwyn Bay town centre before the game.
“In view of the trouble in the town centre and the likelihood of a great number of people attending the game, a secure police operation had to be put in hand and I'm sure that this prevented even worse and more widespread problems,” he said.
"I have to tell you that the vast majority of the Chester supporters, and there were hundreds of them, were entirely well behaved and a credit to their club, along with all of the Colwyn Bay fans and the club itself.
“It was simply a number of young men who has been drinking excessively who are to blame for these incidents."