Club Rivalries Uncovered

Club Rivalries Uncovered was a 2003 census uncovering the biggest rivalries in English football.^[1]

Summary

The survey was carried out by the Football Fans Census. The data found that only 44 of the 92 teams in the football league at this time had a requited rivalry. 45% of fans said their biggest rivalry is down to tradition and 35% said it was down to being close geographically. Amongst those surveyed the Old Firm Derby between Celtic and Rangers was thought to be the fiercest, with the Merseyside Derby contested with Everton and Liverpool the most amicable.^[2]

Clubs main rivalries

The census discovered that many perceived 'traditional' rivalries no longer existed. For example, Leicester City and Derby County are traditional rivals but both listed Nottingham Forest as their main rivalry. Manchester United were the only team to have had 5 different clubs consider them their biggest adversaries.^[3]

Requited rivalries

·Aston Villa and Birmingham City
·Blackburn Rovers and Burnley
·Blackpool and Preston North End
·Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace

References

1. ^ http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:GVQZ5RLnfXsJ:www.footballfanscensus.com/issueresults/Club_Rivalries_Uncovered_Results.pdf+club+rivalries+uncovered&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShtKhPpsi8MAXdTwrQty0EkEYQjRxE0cF4G1ahq7zUwBgW8kGtSuomVhAOQzNlCEZQ6_gAx9GaXjY-eZlaXkTCkGcxbLHRge87vOS-45oZvWb6lxSOqbTkDpkV3XpMQzgD02eTg&sig=AHIEtbTlapUj4BClhqpaRtGXP_-OERB8vA
2. ^ http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:GVQZ5RLnfXsJ:www.footballfanscensus.com/issueresults/Club_Rivalries_Uncovered_Results.pdf+club+rivalries+uncovered&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShtKhPpsi8MAXdTwrQty0EkEYQjRxE0cF4G1ahq7zUwBgW8kGtSuomVhAOQzNlCEZQ6_gAx9GaXjY-eZlaXkTCkGcxbLHRge87vOS-45oZvWb6lxSOqbTkDpkV3XpMQzgD02eTg&sig=AHIEtbTlapUj4BClhqpaRtGXP_-OERB8vA
3. ^ http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:GVQZ5RLnfXsJ:www.footballfanscensus.com/issueresults/Club_Rivalries_Uncovered_Results.pdf+club+rivalries+uncovered&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShtKhPpsi8MAXdTwrQty0EkEYQjRxE0cF4G1ahq7zUwBgW8kGtSuomVhAOQzNlCEZQ6_gAx9GaXjY-eZlaXkTCkGcxbLHRge87vOS-45oZvWb6lxSOqbTkDpkV3XpMQzgD02eTg&sig=AHIEtbTlapUj4BClhqpaRtGXP_-OERB8vA