Millwall and West Ham meet for the first time in 14 years on Saturday, resuming a fixture that has prompted Metropolitan police to be granted special powers to prevent violence. Rather than a geographical rivalry, the intense animosity stems from deep community tribalism and a troubled history of hooliganism. The matchday atmosphere is expected to be ferocious, with authorities hoping the focus remains on the football rather than violence away from the pitch.

The rivalry originated when both clubs were formed by competing shipbuilding firms on the Isle of Dogs in east London, and has been marked by serious incidents including the death of a Millwall fan in 1976 and a stabbing outside West Ham's ground in 2009. The fixture is rarely played—only 18 league meetings since the Second World War—yet this will be the 100th competitive meeting overall, contributing to its mythical status and heightened intensity. West Ham have been allocated 1,774 tickets for Saturday, and whilst Metropolitan police will deploy a dedicated walkway and other measures to separate supporters, the mood is still expected to be tense.