The football season is once again with us and it promises to be a memorable one for Albion as they mix it in the First Division.

After tremendous success in recent seasons, players and fans are right to feel proud of their club and what it has achieved.

But the spectre of hooliganism is never far away and last season the number of Albion supporters arrested at matches increased by more than 50 per cent.

It is of course true that the vast majority of fans are law-abiding and despise the match-day brawling that has shamed the nation's game.

But it would be wrong to be complacent and the club and police are making plans to ensure that they are not caught off guard.

Using cameras to pick out offenders at home games and vetting applicants for tickets for away matches show the club is moving with the times and means business.

But let us hope that the measures pay off and the lunatic fringe are prevented from tarnishing what should be a season to remember - for all the right reasons.