Rivalry

[JJ Sefton]

I'm not sure where this Manchester is that you see on derby day, I never notice much at all! Certainly nothing like the feeling I get being in Sheffield for the derby. I think the media makes it harder to put down the other team in Manchester, so people don't get quite as upset about losing the games. For me personally with Wednesday, I never see them play and could hardly name a player of theirs and think they're an awful side anyway. Can't really do that when the other team has David Silva or Wayne Rooney playing for them, losing to a side that cost millions to put together isn't as upsetting. That's always been my view of the Manchester derbies anyway from a first hand perspective. Would us or Wednesday ever let it go if we won 6-1 away?

To some extent the intensity of the rivalry between United and the Pigs stems from both clubs being crap, we've not got much else to look forward to. Its like those two blokes in that old episode of Star Trek with the white and black faces.

 

[Selly]

To some extent the intensity of the rivalry between United and the Pigs stems from both clubs being crap, we've not got much else to look forward to. Its like those two blokes in that old episode of Star Trek with the white and black faces.

Spot on, we hate each othe because, like it or not, we are too similar.

I always felt a little sorry for Leeds, it always struck me that they wanted to have this big rivalry, but when they looked at other teams, everyone else hated someone else more...

 

[Sirius]

Has anyone any experience of Saints V Pompey? Heard thats quite a tasty one.

Pommpey will know all about this rivalry. My son's father in law is an avid Saints supporter and tells me it stems from the Royal Navy v the Merchant fleet.

---------- Post added at 12:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:21 PM ----------

Spot on, we hate each othe because, like it or not, we are too similar.

I always felt a little sorry for Leeds, it always struck me that they wanted to have this big rivalry, but when they looked at other teams, everyone else hated someone else more...

.. Perhaps hate is a bit strong but there is no other team I dislike more than Dirty Leeds;including our cousins in South Barnsley.

 

[travellingblade]

.......... or (asking your Yorkie grandad who might remember) Bradford?

I attended a Bradford P.A. v Bradford City match whilst at University of Bradford (it wasn't called that way back then) during the 1960's.

There was some rivalry, but the crowd was much smaller, and Bradford P.A. were a very poor side, virtually having to apply for re-election season after season.

 

[Kev Gee]

Has anyone been to:-

Bristol Rovers & Bristol City
Hearts V Hibs

 

[Balham]

Pommpey will know all about this rivalry. My son's father in law is an avid Saints supporter and tells me it stems from the Royal Navy v the Merchant fleet.

Pompey fans call Saints "Scummers" - sure it's something to do with strike-breaking. It may have its basis in the Royal v Merchant navies though.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I'm not sure where this Manchester is that you see on derby day, I never notice much at all! Certainly nothing like the feeling I get being in Sheffield for the derby. I think the media makes it harder to put down the other team in Manchester, so people don't get quite as upset about losing the games. For me personally with Wednesday, I never see them play and could hardly name a player of theirs and think they're an awful side anyway. Can't really do that when the other team has David Silva or Wayne Rooney playing for them, losing to a side that cost millions to put together isn't as upsetting. That's always been my view of the Manchester derbies anyway from a first hand perspective. Would us or Wednesday ever let it go if we won 6-1 away?

Somewhere around South Manchester / Stockport where 4 separate pubs were going off simultaneously after the cup game at the Etihad this season (these were people who had watched it on the telly) and the pub in central Manchester that went off the season before last where SOCO's were able to distinguish over 100 different individuals from blood spatters in and around the establishment. Add to this the attacks on turnstiles at both grounds as the away fans are leaving / arriving.

Not saying it's quite the Old Firm derby, but it certainly isn't just 2 over-privileged clubs coming together to have banter over prawn sandwiches. The sizeable number of locals on both sides hate each other. The only difference to Sheffield is the size and spread of the city means that there are strong-holds dominated by one club rather than another (Stockport largely blue, Sale / West manchester red). It's vitriolic and downright nasty when they come together, even when they're not playing each other. Just like us and Wednesdayites - and similarly it's possible to get a small group of blokes who know each other to the point of coming to blows just by reminding them of some small controversy (Denis Law sending United down being City's equivalent of our match-fixing taunt - guaranteed to get a rise in the pub every time). It almost makes up for not being in Sheffield.

 

[SheepdipBlade]

Ey Up Cheshire - I see it's the mid Cheshire Derby this saturday - Northwich away at Nantwich. Lock up your daughters eh??

 

[SotonBlade]

Pompey fans call Saints "Scummers" - sure it's something to do with strike-breaking. It may have its basis in the Royal v Merchant navies though.

And Saints call Pompey Skates

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Ey Up Cheshire - I see it's the mid Cheshire Derby this saturday - Northwich away at Nantwich. Lock up your daughters eh??

Ah - the salt wars!

 

[dannycorker]

Somewhere around South Manchester / Stockport where 4 separate pubs were going off simultaneously after the cup game at the Etihad this season (these were people who had watched it on the telly) and the pub in central Manchester that went off the season before last where SOCO's were able to distinguish over 100 different individuals from blood spatters in and around the establishment. Add to this the attacks on turnstiles at both grounds as the away fans are leaving / arriving.

Not saying it's quite the Old Firm derby, but it certainly isn't just 2 over-privileged clubs coming together to have banter over prawn sandwiches. The sizeable number of locals on both sides hate each other. The only difference to Sheffield is the size and spread of the city means that there are strong-holds dominated by one club rather than another (Stockport largely blue, Sale / West manchester red). It's vitriolic and downright nasty when they come together, even when they're not playing each other. Just like us and Wednesdayites - and similarly it's possible to get a small group of blokes who know each other to the point of coming to blows just by reminding them of some small controversy (Denis Law sending United down being City's equivalent of our match-fixing taunt - guaranteed to get a rise in the pub every time). It almost makes up for not being in Sheffield.

Strange how we seem to have such different match day experiences. I live in Sale but spend a lot of time in central Manchester and have been in pubs for derbies before - certainly never seen anything like you've just described. Maybe somewhere in Sheffield there's people who think the Steel City derby is tame too!

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Strange how we seem to have such different match day experiences. I live in Sale but spend a lot of time in central Manchester and have been in pubs for derbies before - certainly never seen anything like you've just described. Maybe somewhere in Sheffield there's people who think the Steel City derby is tame too!

I once nearly spat my beer out having a conversation with an old City fan in a pub in Fallowfield, who after describing the day of the Munich disaster as a great day, followed it up by saying that the only shame of it was that there were spare seats on the plane. The 10 or 12 people sat at the bar as he said it all nodded their heads in agreement.

I might have my anti-Wednesday prejudice but I can't think I'd ever stoop that low.

A happier moment in the same pub was nipping in for a pint before meeting a mate to go to a game in Burnley, only for a mini-bus load of Blades to turn-up and order "12 bitters, 3 lagers, 1 coke and 14 brandy chasers". On spotting a red and white shirt one of the regulars sat at the bar informed the group that "this is a City pub". He was quietly informed that "Not today it isn't".