A LANDLORD told today how his pub resembled a scene from the Wild West as brawling soccer fans brought chaos to York City centre.

Two women customers were hurt and a party of elderly tourists was showered with glass and beer when up to 30 York City and Doncaster Rovers fans clashed at the Golden Lion in Church Street.

"I have been here four years and I have never seen anything like it," said landlord John Raw. "It was like something from the Wild West."

Trouble also erupted elsewhere in the city centre, and pubs were counting the cost today after closing their doors to customers for several hours amid warnings about troublemakers.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, spoke of her concern today about the impact of the trouble on York's reputation for tourists.

"This is potentially very damaging to the tourist industry, even if it was a one-off," she said. "If people have had this sort of experience they not only don't want to come again, but they also tell other people what happened when they went to York."

At the Golden Lion, Mr Raw said a woman suffered pain in her lower back after being pushed down some stairs, and another suffered a cut to her head.

"A group of elderly people sitting by the door - tourists - were showered in glass and beer. They were soaked and not best pleased."

He said the fans fled after police arrived "very quickly" on the scene.

Another pub hit by hooligans was The Punch Bowl, in Blossom Street.

A spokesman for operators Wetherspoons said Doncaster fans inside were called out by "baying" York fans and a punch-up ensued, during which two windows were broken. A man came into the pub after having been "glassed" outside. The pub shut for 90 minutes.

Police said Saturday's trouble could have been a lot worse but for a highly visible police presence before and after the Yorkshire derby game between City and Rovers.

Officers had anticipated trouble, predicting that about 50 Doncaster hooligans would make the trip to York, and extra officers, including mounted police and dog handlers, were drafted in to deal with the trouble.

South Yorkshire Police also doubled its hooligan spotters from two to four for the occasion and sent two public order specialists to film the football crowds.

Sgt Richard Hall said: "A mindless minority decided to cause problems instead of just enjoying the game. A few arrests were made but a lot of trouble was stopped by the high-profile police presence.

"It was a very good high profile police operation which prevented more serious trouble."

He said there had been various incidents of violence throughout the city, both before and after the match. One man was arrested after an object was thrown through a window at the Golden Lion, and several arrests were made elsewhere for public order offences and criminal damage.

He said some of the city's pubs had helped minimise the problem by closing or refusing entry to rowdy groups of supporters.

At 5.45pm, The Bootham Tavern closed for the evening, and The Five Lions in Walmgate shut its doors until 7pm to stop any Doncaster fans causing trouble in the pub.

Craig Holt, landlord of the Five Lions, said they had still continued to serve the people who were already in the pub, but decided to keep their doors closed until the Doncaster fans had left.

Updated: 10:33 Monday, November 17, 2003