AS the new football season gets under way, British Transport Police and train companies have pledged to step up efforts to ensure fans and other passengers have trouble free journeys on match days.

Each season, more and more people are attending football matches with many choosing the train as the preferred method of getting to and from games.

This coupled with already increased passenger numbers across the network, means that trains at weekends are extremely busy with a mix of holiday makers, shoppers, commuters and football fans – all of whom want to get to and from their destinations safely and securely.

Asst Chf Con StephenThomas said: “The vast majority of travelling fans cause no problems at all.

"Sadly, however, some supporters do go too far, overstepping the mark by becoming offensive and even violent.

"Thankfully, these incidents are relatively rare and carried out by a minority of travelling fans, but when they do happen they can be extremely frightening and intimidating for other passengers.

“This season, we are making renewed efforts working with the rail industry to identify the small number of disorderly and racist individuals who give clubs and football generally a bad name.

"If they are very drunk, they will find themselves refused travel; if they are disorderly, they will be removed from trains; if they are anti-social and commit crime, they will be arrested and we will seek banning orders against them.”