Eight Bradford men have been jailed for their part in clashes with visiting football fans in Bradford city centre.

They were also banned from all football matches for periods ranging from six to seven years, as the police and Crown Prosecution Service sought a new crackdown on football-related violence.

The city's magistrates Court heard how punches and kicks were exchanged when Bradford City fans clashed with Aberdeen supporters in Ivegate on July 26. The match was part of City's Centenary Tournament.

Sentencing some of those involved yesterday district judge David Thomas said the incident - which lasted only 37 seconds - blighted the city which had suffered from riots in July 2001.

He said: "Bradford has had its share of problems in the last few years and, while this was not like the events of 2001, incidents of this nature bring discredit on the city.

"This was a serious city centre incident, fortunately nipped in the bud by the prompt action of the police." The citizens of Bradford were entitled to walk the streets in safety without having to face such incidents perpetrated by "supposed football supporters" who were really "hooligans", he added.

Malcolm Christy, prosecuting, said all the defendants were in a group walking uphill and some Aberdeen fans came downhill towards them.

During the brief confrontation that followed, fighting broke out and advertising boards were thrown through the air before police officers moved in to separate the two groups.

Pleading guilty to violent disorder were: David Horsfall, 35, of Lynfield Drive, Chellow Grange, who was jailed for five months and banned for seven years; Craig Blessington, 31, of Bolton Hall Road, Wrose, jailed for four months and banned for six years; Anthony Tempest-Mitchell, 37, of Old Road, Horton Bank Top, jailed for four months and banned for six years; Joseph Bryan, 22, of Larch Hill, Odsal, jailed for three months and banned for six years; James Garrett, 28, of Weetwood Road, Brown Royd, jailed for three months and banned for six years; Timothy Clarke, Lower George Street, Wibsey, jailed for three months and banned for six years; Richard Lee, 24, of New Works Road, Low Moor, jailed for three months and banned for six years; Neil Sibson, 34, of Hollin Park, Oakwood, jailed for three months and banned for seven years, plus a further two months consecutive for unrelated driving offences.

Also pleading guilty to violent disorder were: Christopher Marshall, 34, of Thirkhill Court, West Bowling, 160-hour community punishment order and banned for three years; John Softley, 39, of Chapel Row, Allerton, 12-month community rehabilitation order and 80-hour community punishment order and banned for three years.

Christopher Carr, 24, of Prune Park Lane, Allerton, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was released on bail until November 27, for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Paul Widdowson, 30, of Kings Road, Wrose, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour and was given a 160-hour community punishment order and was banned for three years.

Philip Sharpe, 36, of Coppice View, Idle, had a charge of using threatening behaviour discontinued by the prosecution.