Severnside derby
| Current Results (Major Competitions Only) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From 72 games: |
33 Bristol City Wins | ||||||||||
| Last League Meeting | |||||||||||
| March 22 2008: |
Football League Championship, | ||||||||||
| Next Match | |||||||||||
| Date: 13 September 2008 | Competition: Football League Championship Venue: Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales | ||||||||||
The Severnside derby is a local derby in football in the United Kingdom between Welsh club, Cardiff City F.C. and English clubs, Bristol City F.C. and Bristol Rovers F.C.
However in recent times out the 'Bristol teams' Bristol City have played more in the derby notably beacause of playing in the same devision as there 'Severnside Rivals' Cardiff, both Cardiff and Bristol City play in the Coca Cola Championship and also due to the lack of recent meetings between Rovers and Cardiff.
"Football Rivalries census" (PDF). Football Fans Census. Retrieved 2007-11-27. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)</ref> this is still considered a fierce and bitter feud.[1]
Reasons for the rivalry
Although it is a traditional local rivalry, it is different in that the two teams are actually in different countries, Wales and England respectively, increasing somewhat the hostility between the two teams. A swell as bragging rights the matches are seen as an "international contest" to prove which country is superior.[2][3] Both sets of fans use this to taunt each other with patriotic songs as well offensive props. Bristol City fans often previously brought inflatable sheep to the derby, incinuating that Cardiff fans were "sheep shaggers". Although in recent years the term has been less frequently used by Bristol City fans as Cardiff have readily adopted the name and often use the chants themselves.
Cardiff fans often refer to Bristol City fans as "Wurzels", in reference to TV character Worzel Gummidge and band The Wurzels who both famously spoke with a west country accent. The game is often played in a hostile and intimidating atmosphere in both Cardiff's Ninian Park and Bristol Citys Ashton Gate Stadium .[citation needed]
In the Football Fans census in 2003 about football rivalries, Bristol City and Cardiff were listed as 10th and 13th in the UK respectively in a list of teams.,[4]
Violence
Both teams fans have a history of hooliganism and have their own hooligan firm. Cardiffs being the Soul Crew and Bristol City with the City Service Firm. Due to the fierce rivalry and the history of the two teams the encounters can end up with some sort of conflict, commonly pre-organised.[5]
In an attempt to discourage the violence, games between the two are usually kept "all coach", meaning that everyone travelling to an away game must travel using the club's official transport and therefore no-one can travel to the game of their own accord.[6] The coaches are usually accompanied by a heavy police presence and away fans are tend to be kept in the ground after the game until the home fans have all left. While this has been mildly successful from stopping organised fights fans still attempt to attack each other by throwing objects such as bottles and coins during the game.[5]
The violence involved with this derby was featured in a BBC documentary in 2001, "Hooligans". In the programme a reporter wearing a hidden camera infiltrated the Soul Crew, exposing the use of racist chanting and abuse as well as a lack of control by stewards and police.[5]
Notable characters in past encounters
Unlike the South Wales derby, and the Bristol derby, it is not usually frowned upon to sign a player or manager who has played for the opposition in the Severnside Derby. The only players that are disfavoured are players who are remembered for one-off incidents.
Such players include, Bristol City player, Lee Trundle who is hated by Cardiff fans for a long affiliation with rivals Swansea City. After winning the LDV Vans Trophy in 2006, Trundle took to the pitch wearing a t-shirt depicting a Swansea fan urinating on a Cardiff City shirt. He also held up a Flag of Wales with the words "Fuck off Cardiff" on it but claimed he did not realise it was written on there.[7] Robert Earnshaw who played for Cardiff City as a striker. He was brought up in Caerphilly a small town near Cardiff. He was often known for taunting Bristol City fans and was disliked for a long affiliation with Cardiff for being considered ugly by Bristol City fans. Scott Murray of Bristol City is disliked by Cardiff fans for overturning a 1-0 loss and then running past the Cardiff crowd with his hand to his ear taunting them as well as a long affiliation with Bristol.
Head-to-head record
| Competition | Played | Bristol City | Draw | Cardiff City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | 64 | 30 | 15 | 19 |
| FA Cup | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| League Cup | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals | 72 | 33 | 17 | 22 |
Current as of 24 March 2008. Statistics obtained from Soccerbase.[8]
References
- ^ "Football Rivalries: The complete results" thefootballnetwork.net Retrieved on 27 December, 2007
- ^ "Are you ready?" bcfc.co.uk Retrieved on 27 December, 2007
- ^ "Trundle keen to gun down Bluebirds" Teamtalk.com Retrieved on 27 December, 2007
- ^
"Football Rivalries census" (PDF). Football Fans Census. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ a b c
"Hooligans - Bristol City". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Holigans ready for big kick-off" The Observer Retrieved on 27 December, 2007
- ^
"Swans pair handed one-match bans". BBC Sport. 2006-06-26. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^
"head-to-head: All time results between Bristol City and Cardiff City". soccerbase. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help)