Warring football hooligans from Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic clashed in Croydon town centre on Saturday.

Witnesses in Croydon's High Street saw Eagles and Addicks supporters brawling before the Selhurst Park game and at the match later on Saturday afternoon.

Two men were arrested at the ground, before the game ended in a 1-0 defeat for Palace.

In a separate incident a 24-year-old man had his nose broken when violence erupted on a train carrying fans to the match.

British Transport Police say around 30 people, who they believe were mostly Palace fans, were throwing cans and bottles around at Sydenham station at around 2.20pm on Saturday.

They then got onto the train where they smashed up more bottles.

The 24-year-old, who was not part of the group, was punched and his nose broken. His brother and father were also punched but were not seriously injured.

Fans of the two clubs have a long history of rivalry based largely on the fact they are both south London clubs.

But it turned bitter in 1989 when the clubs took part in the first ground share in the football league. Palace let Charlton move to Selhurst after The Valley was shut down.

Matters were made worse in May 2005 when Charlton supporters cheered with delight as a 2-2 draw at their ground consigned Palace to relegation from the Premiership.

More recently, the rivalry was intensified by the departure of former Palace manager Iain Dowie who moved from Selhurst Park to Charlton in May last year.

Palace chairman Simon Jordan took Dowie to the High Court and succesfully sued him for breaching his contract with the club.

He claimed that the former Northern Ireland international made "fraudulent misrepresentations" when he left the club on May 22 last year under a compromise agreement.

At the time of his resignation Dowie told Jordan he wanted to be nearer his family. The Eagles supremo was incensed when he later took a job a mere 12 miles from the team he had previously managed.

Speaking about the hooligans at Saturday's game Councillor Steve O'Connell said: "I am aware there were some arrests at the match itself but I have not heard that there was any disorder in the town centre itself."

The BTP are appealing for witnesses to the assault on the train. Call 0800 405 040 if you have any details or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.