SOCCER thugs from West Ham United hired a coach and travelled 115 miles to spark a mass brawl with rival fans - before a game their team were not even playing in, police say.
In a well-planned attack, the 50 hooligans drove to AFC Bournemouth's home game against Cardiff City on Tuesday.
They headed for the Queens Park pub, where arch-rival Cardiff fans were drinking, and launched into a rendition of I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles, West Ham's trademark song.
The subsequent brawl spilled outside and, after a wall was demolished in the ensuing violence, the thugs used bricks as weapons to hit one another.
A dozen police officers who were on patrol outside the Queens Park pub managed to control the trouble and made four arrests.
One Cardiff fan, aged in his mid-20s, suffered a broken jaw after being struck by a brick and needed hospital treatment.
A second Bluebirds fan was also rushed to hospital with facial injuries.
Inspector Martin Webster, of Bournemouth police, said the trouble had been well organised.
Police have arrested two men from London and two from the Bournemouth area for public order offences. They are aged between 19 and 30.
Meanwhile, Hammers fans were in more trouble last night after fighting broke out at the Carling Cup match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Blues' striker Mateja Kezman was struck by a coin, apparently thrown by an away supporter.
First published: October 28
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