Local derbies.

[Leicesterbaggie]

Watched a programme where Gary Lineker, Allan Shearer and Micah Richatds chose their top ten English derby matches. No mention of Albion v. Wolves or Albion v. Villa yet they chose Brighton v. Crystal Palace as one of their top ten. For a start the two sides are fifty miles apart and secondly, hardly an exciting clash. They also chose Leicester v. Forest which is reasonably local yet also hardly inspiring. The rest I could accept except Chelsea v. Fulham, which maybe close location wise but historically not that important as more often than not they've not been in the same division.

[kettering_baggie]

I don’t really care what they think, Birmingham and the Black Country doesn’t register with those people and anyway, Micah Richards is so thick that it was probably necessary to explain to him what a ‘Derby’ match is, even then he is like no to have grasped the idea.

[WBA1955]

Albion v Villa, Wolves v Villa, Albion v Wolves are amongst the oldest derbies in the world. Are there any older? Albion v Stoke and Coventry are more of a derby than Palace or Brighton.

[Calgarybaggy]

Albion v Villa, Wolves v Villa, Albion v Wolves are amongst the oldest derbies in the world. Are there any older? Albion v Stoke and Coventry are more of a derby than Palace or Brighton.

I agree, Albion v Villa was a huge derby before Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle even existed. In fairness to Linekar, Shearer and Richards though, apparently for some reason Palace v Brighton has developed into a very heated rivalry despite the distance. I think its something to do with Palace being in the south of London with no natural rivals south of the river and the obvious rivalries north of the river usually being in a different division. Plus South London to Brighton is an easy train ride. But then again, I would say its more of a fierce rivalry than an actual local derby because they aren't exactly local.

[Prando]

The Portsmouth/Southampton derby history and fierce rivalry intrigued me. A Pompey season ticket holder, who I worked with some years ago, told me that it related to a time, many years ago, when the Merchant Navy (Portsmouth) were on strike for better employment terms. The Royal Navy (Southampton) were called in to ensure a number of vessels were kept operational. Really don’t know how true it is, but seems plausible.

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

The Portsmouth/Southampton derby history and fierce rivalry intrigued me. A Pompey season ticket holder, who I worked with some years ago, told me that it related to a time, many years ago, when the Merchant Navy (Portsmouth) were on strike for better employment terms. The Royal Navy (Southampton) were called in to ensure a number of vessels were kept operational. Really don’t know how true it is, but seems plausible.

Southampton is merchant navy Pompey is Royal. Portsmouth dockers were brought in to strike break. Caused a lot of bad feeling.

I live between Brighton and Palace. It is a fierce rivalry going back to Mullery Venables era. Compared to Albion Villa Wolves Blues? It's nothing

[boingy]

Watched a programme where Gary Lineker, Allan Shearer and Micah Richatds chose their top ten English derby matches. No mention of Albion v. Wolves or Albion v. Villa yet they chose Brighton v. Crystal Palace as one of their top ten. For a start the two sides are fifty miles apart and secondly, hardly an exciting clash. They also chose Leicester v. Forest which is reasonably local yet also hardly inspiring. The rest I could accept except Chelsea v. Fulham, which maybe close location wise but historically not that important as more often than not they've not been in the same division.

This comes as no surprise at all. Its all about perception, for example we are a YO-YO club but Norwich get no such mention. Evertons tactics V Liverpool were well done, but when we did it we were "parking the bus" and "This isn't football". We are not favourites.

[Prando]

Southampton is merchant navy Pompey is Royal. Portsmouth dockers were brought in to strike break. Caused a lot of bad feeling.

I live between Brighton and Palace. It is a fierce rivalry going back to Mullery Venables era. Compared to Albion Villa Wolves Blues? It's nothing

Thanks for the correction 923 buddy. I should have remembered as my elder son was at Navigation College in Warsash and joined the Merchant Navy (Thus my story)

[Q165]

Thanks for the correction 923 buddy. I should have remembered as my elder son was at Navigation College in Warsash and joined the Merchant Navy (Thus my story)

My son was at Warsash and joined the Merchant Navy

[Prando]

My son was at Warsash and joined the Merchant Navy

My lad (now lives in Canada) was there circa 1992. He was sponsored by P & O and ended up as a Navigation Officer with their subsidiary Princess Cruises. He left the Merchant Navy in the early 2000s