A subject not often talked about, this. We all know the big rivalries around the country, but rarely talk about the lesser ones. Specifically, I'm talking about rivalries between clubs where neither side view the other as their biggest rivals, but there is definitely needle there - like ourselves vs Portsmouth. It is odd that some people almost refuse to acknowledge the existence of these rivalries (I think it is a "you're not as important to us as you we are to you" kind of thing) but it seems strange when it is often trotted out that rivalries are the lifeblood of football.
So anyway, here are some good ones, starting with our own:
Albion v Portsmouth - anyone who supported the clubs in the 80s and early 90s will realise this was very real and trouble followed it everywhere. They beat us 5-1 after we led at half time, then in the pouring rain made us listen to Solent's radio coverage of the goals while their thugs lobbed bricks into our end. The 1-1 at their place that ultimately led to neither side going up when both had the chance on the final day in 1985. The 2-3 the following season at the Goldstone, the 2-1 win for us (scoring twice in the last few mins) when we were basically already down but meant they didn't go up. And then later the 1-0 flukey win for us in the cup, the season after they got to the semi. People in West Sussex know who their club's real enemies are supposed to be, but don't tell them Albion v Portsmouth doesn't matter.
Aston Villa v West Brom - Villa are West Brom's closest club, and the Hawthorns is only a mile further from Villa Park than St Andrews, so perhaps it's no surprise these two have form for mutual loathing. I think it was a rivalry long before Birmingham and Wolves were on the scene and obviously these days with Birmingham not quite at the races, and a recent play-off series won by Villa on pens, this rivalry is clearly quite stoked up.
Preston v Blackburn - separated by only 10 miles, these two are natural rivals in many ways. As it is, Blackburn look a similar distance to the east where Burnley provoke their ire (Accrington is in between) and Preston look 17 miles west to Blackpool, but again nobody in this region is pretending this rivalry doesn't matter, especially with both clubs main rivals in different divisions. Preston resent the "plastics" buying the league when they were in division 3, Blackburn doesn't like Preston's uppity ideas of itself owing to it's county town status.
There must be loads of them. Which is the best one of these:
Derby v Leicester
Chelsea v Leeds
Chelsea v West Ham
Leeds v Derby
Here is a guide, although you have to dispute some of them. For example, do Man City really view Liverpool as more of a rival than United these days?
https://www.givemesport.com/1500300...lated&utm_medium=web-view&utm_campaign=manual
So anyway, here are some good ones, starting with our own:
Albion v Portsmouth - anyone who supported the clubs in the 80s and early 90s will realise this was very real and trouble followed it everywhere. They beat us 5-1 after we led at half time, then in the pouring rain made us listen to Solent's radio coverage of the goals while their thugs lobbed bricks into our end. The 1-1 at their place that ultimately led to neither side going up when both had the chance on the final day in 1985. The 2-3 the following season at the Goldstone, the 2-1 win for us (scoring twice in the last few mins) when we were basically already down but meant they didn't go up. And then later the 1-0 flukey win for us in the cup, the season after they got to the semi. People in West Sussex know who their club's real enemies are supposed to be, but don't tell them Albion v Portsmouth doesn't matter.
Aston Villa v West Brom - Villa are West Brom's closest club, and the Hawthorns is only a mile further from Villa Park than St Andrews, so perhaps it's no surprise these two have form for mutual loathing. I think it was a rivalry long before Birmingham and Wolves were on the scene and obviously these days with Birmingham not quite at the races, and a recent play-off series won by Villa on pens, this rivalry is clearly quite stoked up.
Preston v Blackburn - separated by only 10 miles, these two are natural rivals in many ways. As it is, Blackburn look a similar distance to the east where Burnley provoke their ire (Accrington is in between) and Preston look 17 miles west to Blackpool, but again nobody in this region is pretending this rivalry doesn't matter, especially with both clubs main rivals in different divisions. Preston resent the "plastics" buying the league when they were in division 3, Blackburn doesn't like Preston's uppity ideas of itself owing to it's county town status.
There must be loads of them. Which is the best one of these:
Derby v Leicester
Chelsea v Leeds
Chelsea v West Ham
Leeds v Derby
Here is a guide, although you have to dispute some of them. For example, do Man City really view Liverpool as more of a rival than United these days?
https://www.givemesport.com/1500300...lated&utm_medium=web-view&utm_campaign=manual
