It was amazing your reporter who covered the Lewes vs Newport County football match (The Argus, April 23), didn't mention the extraordinary conditions this match was played under.

I arrived with my young son at Lewes Station at about 2.30pm to find it surrounded by police in riot gear.

During the match, the tension was high, which concerned those families who regularly bring their children to Lewes.

Newport County had brought several hundred supporters, some of who were drunk and unruly but who didn't warrant such a large police presence. The officers were polite but the atmosphere was intimidatory.

It transpired the police believed the match could attract hardcore elements from West Ham, who were playing Brighton at Withdean.

If this was known in advance, it would have been better to prevent the Newport fans coming at all, given this is a family club.

It was a sad indictment on football that such a friendly ground as the Dripping Pan should host such troubles.

Afterwards, police moved into Lewes town centre to prevent any trouble from happening there.

-Paul Redfern, Brighton