Football rivalries

[Betfair Bozo]

Edited to include them. You go to either place and the average local absolutely despises the other.

Indeed. Football provides a platform but the enmity goes way back.

 

[Normski1989]

My girlfriend is from Portsmouth, and she used be a ST holder there. The word 'Southampton' is like a swear word to a lot of people in Portsmouth. They haven't played each other for a while because of Portsmouth's drop through the divisions, but the hatred still lingers.

 

[Normski1989]

On that note, it wasn't long ago that Emirates wanted to repaint the Spinnaker tower red... it caused uproar simply because it was Southamptons colour. People still moan that they made the logo red on the Spinnaker tower website.

 

[spence]

Actually, they certainly are proper supporters I'm afraid. It's not that they like Millwall, but historically have bigger fish to fry. Millwall are a yoyo 2nd/3rd division club, West Ham 1st/2nd, so they don't meet all that often.

And yes I get all that, but it's only because Millwall's sole contribution to football culture has been widespread disorder. Your best rivalries are played in front of sold out crowds, something Millwall and West Ham can never do because of the number of absolute nobs in the crowd.

We didn't play Palace much until recently. The hatred will always be there.

To me if you hardly play each other like West Ham and Millwall then to me that is far worse. Everyone comes out from the woodwork for it.

 

[Taybha]

Chester v Wrexham are non family friendly encounters .

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Personally I think the rivalries where it is city v city or town v town can be that bit nastier than the derby games in the same place.

While I am sure that a derby in the same city can still get very naughty, you would likely have blokes you know personally in the opposition. People you went to school with or even family members. You could find yourself working next to someone on a Monday that you clumped on a Saturday. Also have the knowledge you could have people turn up at your house or place of work - which I know for a fact has happened not even that long ago following Villa v Birmingham matches. At the end of the day you are cut from the same cloth and that has to make a bit of a difference. When it is two cities it is strictly us against them mentality. No quarter given.

For that reason I would go with United v Liverpool. With credible mentions to Pompey v Saints and Newcastle v Sunderland.

Yep. All of that. Word for word.

Mention for United v Leeds, too. They REALLY dislike each other.

 

[albionfan37]

Blackpool v preston

 

[Simster]

We didn't play Palace much until recently. The hatred will always be there.

To me if you hardly play each other like West Ham and Millwall then to me that is far worse. Everyone comes out from the woodwork for it.

True. The thing is, Millwall's support have a large number of nutters among them. How many people are going to bother going to the first game at London stadium between these two? Loads just won't go because of the grief, hassle and safety issues. I'm not sure that a half empty ground for whatever reason really makes for a brilliant rivalry.

Anyway, we probably won't agree so we may as well leave it there. Oxford and Swindon is a good one. Much smaller, but the dislike stems from two similar sized clubs from two very different towns in different counties and in close proximity. Obviously always trouble for that one but it's felt by older folk as well as 20 something muppets up for a ruck - your average old boy Swindon fan dislikes Oxford because of the pompousness they feel and the belittling of their own blue collar town. Just because he doesn't want to slap the old boy opposite in yellow, doesn't mean their rivalry isn't as keenly felt.

 

[Billy the Fish]

Actually, they certainly are proper supporters I'm afraid. It's not that they like Millwall, but historically have bigger fish to fry. Millwall are a yoyo 2nd/3rd division club, West Ham 1st/2nd, so they don't meet all that often.

And yes I get all that, but it's only because Millwall's sole contribution to football culture has been widespread disorder. Your best rivalries are played in front of sold out crowds, something Millwall and West Ham can never do because of the number of absolute nobs in the crowd.

The West Ham v Millwall is to do with the dockers isn't it?

A quick google search throws up this - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/west-ham/6105500/West-Ham-v-Millwall-a-history-of-how-the-rivalry-started.html

 

[Simster]

Blackpool v preston

Definitely NOT this. I was on a PNE board a month ago where some of their fans were wondering whether it follows that Blackpool are even their #1 rival. Blackburn is their closest rival club, for example and a lot of them can't stand Rovers more than Blackpool.

Blackburn v Burnley is an excellent shout though.

The West Ham v Millwall is to do with the dockers isn't it?

A quick google search throws up this - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/west-ham/6105500/West-Ham-v-Millwall-a-history-of-how-the-rivalry-started.html

Yes mate, but some of this is almost said retrospectively. How many of West Ham's support come from docker generations. Some for sure, but not a majority.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Chester and Wrexham is a feisty one too.

The one I miss is Barnet v Enfield.

 

[Billy the Fish]

Yes mate, but some of this is almost said retrospectively. How many of West Ham's support come from docker generations. Some for sure, but not a majority.

Good point, I guess where rivalries have their roots in old industrial disputes the teams need to be playing each other to carry it on.

Liverpool v Manchester started when they built the canal but obviously they've had plenty of other things to keep it going since.

My friend supports Spurs and still won't acknowledge Arsenal as a north London club!

 

[worthingseagull]

Newcastle & Sunderland

 

[Notters]

You keep mentioning the Bristol derby but I don't think that's even as big as Brighton v Palace.

Probably Newcastle & Sunderland to answer your question.

 

[SUA Seagull]

Norwich vs Ipswich for the pride of East Anglia?

 

[withdeanwombat]

Taunton v Bridgwater. There's always trouble over there.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

in your opinion, what is the feistiest rivalry in english/welsh football? (let's put our rivalry with the nigels aside for this one)

i'm ignoring scotland because we don't have the sectarian shite down here as a general rule. I'd also be interested to know whether people think city rivalries are felt more than rivalries across comparable towns.

The bristol derby always seems a bit spicy. There appears to be some genuine hatred there, more so than the sheffield derby which is obviously a massive one given the enormous attendances it has generated down the years. As for town v town, i reckon southampton v portsmouth takes some beating. Perhaps swindon v oxford comes close.

you and me
regards
DR

 

[Peter Grummit]

In terms of bragging rights over your workmates and neighbours in probably the most footie mad city in the country, then it has to be Everton v Liverpool.

In terms of inter-town hatred then I agree Burnley v Blackburn and Pompey Saints are hard to beat.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Millwall v West Ham - meh. Not a proper rivalry, people only notice it because of crowd trouble. Here are my reasons: West Ham are 4 or 5 times bigger so it's lopsided, their games are never played to full houses because of crowd trouble, and most West Ham fans in an average office barely give a toss about Millwall. West Ham consider Spurs every bit as big a game as Millwall anyway, and Chelsea not far behind.

I would agree with you regarding Cardiff and Swansea. Like many town v town rivalries, there are forces aside from football at work there.

regards
DR

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

all the usual suspects being thrown in the mix here i'll throw Stoke city AND Port vale in the mix
regards
DR