FOOTBALL hooligans from Doncaster are planning to create havoc at tomorrow's Yorkshire derby match with York City.

Extra police officers, including mounted officers and dog handlers, will be on duty in the city centre and around the ground for the game.

Specialist North Yorkshire Police officers trained in dealing with public order incidents will also be deployed.

South Yorkshire Police is doubling its number of hooligan "spotters" from two to four.

The force is also sending two public order trained evidence gatherers, who film football crowds.

Pc Paul Maloney, York police football liaison officer, said about 50 Doncaster hooligans were expected to be among the thousands travelling to the all-ticket match.

Pc Maloney said: "We are expecting some problems both inside and outside the ground. The matches that Doncaster have played so far this season indicates that and so appropriate police resources will be deployed."

Pc Maloney said there was no intelligence suggesting York City's hooligans were planning any trouble. But he said: "Our hooligan element have caused problems this season at several matches, but when they have been travelling away rather than here in York."

PC Andy Baker, South Yorkshire Police football intelligence officer, said: "The intelligence started rolling in on this weeks ago. Our hooligan element are looking at this game as a really big one."

Pc Baker said intelligence suggested Leeds supporters would also be in York looking for a fight.

British Transport Police Sergeant Mark Seales said there would be a heavy police presence at York station. "It will be policed firmly," he said.

North Yorkshire police declined to say how many extra police would be involved.

Chief superintendent John Lacy, York and Selby area commander, said people living near Bootham Crescent had received leaflets telling them of the heavy police presence. "This is a high category match," he said.

Updated: 10:40 Friday, November 14, 2003