Derbies & Rivalries
Top Derbies in the 2021-22 English Football Season
With the usual disclaimer that actual dates might change a bit for television or Cup ties, especially in the Premier League, here are the top derbies in English football's top two tiers for the 2021-22 season. Be sure to click the links and read Groundhopper Guides' introduction to these rivalries. Premier League Derbies, 2021-22 Season…
Getting to Know the Luton Town vs Watford Rivalry
The rivalry between Watford and Luton Town, sometimes known as the Beds-Herts Derby, goes back over 100 years and is one of the more bitter derbies in English football. Chances are, though, you don't know much about it. The two teams will not meet in the 2021-22 season after Watford was promoted to the Premier…
Get to Know the South Wales Derby, Cardiff City vs Swansea City
Some derbies are really just very simple: two big clubs in one area, with no other real competition for supporters' affections. Such is the case with the South Wales Derby, Swansea City vs Cardiff City. There are other teams in Wales that choose to play in the English leagues rather than the much smaller Welsh…
Getting to Know the North London Derby, Arsenal vs Tottenham
There is no doubt that the North London Derby, Arsenal vs Tottenham, is one of the most famous and fierce derbies in English football. And considering the size of each team’s fanbase, it’s probably one of the most famous derbies in the world. So let’s take a look at the North London Derby: its origins,…
Getting to Know the Manchester Derby
The Manchester Derby, Man City vs Man United, has become one of the most high-profile derbies in English football. But it hasn’t always been that way, and as great as Manchester City are these days, it’s only recently that they established any kind of parity with Manchester United. Meanwhile, the red half of Manchester doesn’t…
The East Midlands Derby, Nottingham Forest vs Derby County
As with many English football derbies, proximity is the main reason for the dislike between Derby County and Nottingham Forest, who share the East Midlands Derby. (Above photo from BrianClough.com) But these two clubs, whose stadiums are less than 20 miles apart, also share two unique features among soccer derbies in England: each club’s greatest-ever…
Getting to Know the Everton-Liverpool Merseyside Derby
Sometimes called the Friendly Derby, the Merseyside Derby between Liverpool and Everton is the longest-running top flight derby in English football, the two having played at least twice every season since 1962. So let's take a look at the history and some of the key games between these two great clubs and what is --…
What is Up With the Brighton-Crystal Palace Rivalry?
When you consider all of the top derbies in English soccer, you generally think of three characteristics: regional proximity, a long history, and battling for honors. In the case of the rivalry between Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion, literally none of that is the case. In fact, people don't even agree on the…
QPR vs Brentford: What One Might Call a Second-Tier West London Derby
Queens Park Rangers vs Brentford certainly qualifies as a West London Derby, the two clubs being just under four miles apart. But neither club’s fans rank the other as their top rival, even though QPR once tried to literally wipe Brentford off the map. This could be for all sorts of reasons, the biggest being…
Tottenham-Chelsea is, Almost Quietly, One of the Top Derbies in English Football
When you think about the top derbies in English football, Chelsea vs Tottenham might not be the first to come to mind. But if you consider the factors that make up a proper derby – proximity, long history, controversies, and most of all a certain equity in results – this London derby has become one…