How West Ham v Millwall once required 645 police officers and cost £171,243 | OneFootball

Find out the policing details of the historic clash between rivals West Ham and Millwall.

After West Ham were relegated to the Championship, attention quickly turned to the impending fixture release, with one particular rivalry coming back into focus.

The Hammers are playing in the second tier for the first time in 14 years, and things are going rather well with the club challenging towards the top of the table despite a rocky start.

West Ham's first clash with Millwall is now on the horizon, with the London clubs set to lock horns on Saturday afternoon at The Den.

The pair have staged some feisty encounters in the past, and now intriguing details have been revealed regarding the cost and policing of one past fixture.

The details of 2003 clash between West Ham and Millwall

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It had been a decade since the Irons and the Lions had met when the pair collided at Upton Park in September 2003, and it was a game that required extensive policing.

Given it had been so long since the London clubs' last clash, it was eagerly anticipated by both sets of supporters and the wider football world due to the history between the two clubs.

According to The Standard, 645 police were deployed to East London for the derby, while the policing cost was a staggering £171,243, making it a mammoth operation by major-events standards at the time.

To put things into perspective, the contest required more police than several notable events that year, including Notting Hill Carnival, Vladimir Putin's visit and the Spider-Man protest.

As for the game itself, it ended one apiece, with David Connolly's first-half strike cancelled out by Tim Cahill's 73rd-minute equaliser and little trouble between rival supporters.

What steps have been taken for Saturday's meeting?

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It has been 14 years since the last meeting between Millwall and West Ham, which ended in a 2-1 victory for the Hammers.

While there is not expected to be as much trouble as in historic encounters, the match has been moved to the early kick-off slot of 12.30pm to prevent trouble and for live televised coverage.

Millwall contacted the EFL to ask if controversial West Ham shareholder David Sullivan would be in attendance for the game, and it has now been confirmed that the 77-year-old will not be in attendance.

Specific policing details have not been revealed ahead of the sell-out contest, but there is expected to be police segregation between the two sets of fans, while separating supporters before and after kick-off is also a likely approach.

What to expect from the fixture

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Both sets of players will be informed of the importance of the fixture in the build-up and the importance of coming away without defeat.

With the Lions at home, it sets up an intriguing clash, as although the Hammers have enjoyed a better start to the season, Alex Neil's side are capable of taking major scalps on their day.

When it comes to quality, West Ham understandably possess the stronger squad, and Millwall will have to find a way to keep Jarrod Bowen quiet if they are to claim at least a point.

Much will depend on how Nuno Espírito Santo's men handle the unique atmosphere, as while they have played in London derbies, they will not compare to the cauldron of the Den.