Severnside derby

The Severnside derby is a local derby in football in the United Kingdom between Welsh club, Cardiff City F.C. and English club, Bristol City F.C. Although neither team lists the other as their main rivals,cite web
last =
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authorlink =
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title = Football Rivalries census
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publisher = Football Fans Census
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url = http://www.footballfanscensus.com/issueresults/Club_Rivalries_Uncovered_Results.pdf
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accessdate = 2007-11-27 ] this is still considered a fierce and bitter feud. [ [http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/s120/st44186.htm "Football Rivalries: The complete results"] thefootballnetwork.net Retrieved on 27 December, 2007] The title "Severnside derby" has also been used for matches involving Newport County A.F.C. and Bristol Rovers F.C. as well. However it traditionally refers to the two cities of Bristol and Cardiff.

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. [ [http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10327~1187741,00.html "Are you ready?"] bcfc.co.uk Retrieved on 27 December, 2007] [ [http://msn.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1817_2973526,00.html "Trundle keen to gun down Bluebirds"] Teamtalk.com Retrieved on 27 December, 2007] 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 fans as Cardiff have readily adopted the name and often use the chants themselves.

Cardiff fans often refer to Bristol 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 and Bristol.Fact|date=November 2007

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.,

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.cite web
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title = Hooligans - Bristol City
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publisher = BBC News
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url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/programmes/2002/hooligans/diary/bristol_city.stm
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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. [ [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1011451,00.html "Holigans ready for big kick-off"] The Observer Retrieved on 27 December, 2007] 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.

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.

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.cite news
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title = Swans pair handed one-match bans
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publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2006-06-26
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/5116582.stm
accessdate = 2007-11-27 ]
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

Current as of 24 March 2008. Statistics obtained from Soccerbase.cite web
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title = head-to-head: All time results between Bristol City and Cardiff City
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publisher = soccerbase
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url = http://www.soccerbase.com/head2.sd?team1id=376&team2id=485
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accessdate = 2007-11-27 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10794~854457,00.html Official Football League Preview magazine]