Your club's top 5 rivalries (according to a recent survey)

[Franchisor]

Saw this on Twitter, apparently these are each League One club's top 5 rivalries according to a wide-reaching survey of club supporters where fans were asked to choose their top 5:

 

[Franchisor]

Some seem a bit random:

- Coventry (56%) and Sunderland fans (42%) see each other as their club's third biggest rivalry.

- Gillingham fans see Swindon as their fourth biggest (44%) rivalry but according to Swindon fans Gillingham aren't even in their top five rivalries. Gills fans, what did Swindon do to you? (although I can understand to some extent, one of the worst fanbases I've seen)

- Portsmouth fans consider Sunderland (27%) and Millwall (26%) their fourth and fifth biggest rivalries. Sunderland fans consider Portsmouth their fifth biggest rivalry (27%). However Millwall fans don't consider Portsmouth to be one of their top 5 rivalries.

 

[RLC]

The only one of ours that does not really make sense is Crewe. I would have thought Wrexham and Chester would score far more highly, unless the survey was restricted to league clubs.

The others seem spot on.

It is interesting that we seem to be one of the least disliked clubs, as we don't feature in anybody's top four.

 

[Marked Ox]

Swindon is most definitely a fierce rivalry, Reading is a rivalry, although not a recently revisited one. There is a bit of something with Luton but nothing major or vaguely close to Swindon and Reading.

Northampton is a normal game that is local which briefly picked up a little only because of Chris Wilder and battling for the L2 title. Wycombe is just a normal game that is local. If these are rivalries then so is Millwall and any club that is close like Pompey, Bristol Rovers, Southampton etc and they simply aren't rivals in the way this is suggesting.

 

[Franchisor]

Swindon is most definitely a fierce rivalry, Reading is a rivalry, although not a recently revisited one. There is a bit of something with Luton but nothing major or vaguely close to Swindon and Reading.

Northampton is a normal game that is local which briefly picked up a little only because of Chris Wilder and battling for the L2 title. Wycombe is just a normal game that is local. If these are rivalries then so is Millwall and any club that is close like Pompey, Bristol Rovers, Southampton etc and they simply aren't rivals in the way this is suggesting.

It seems pretty accurate overall. Basically a company had a survey app installed on various news sites (nationwide papers, local papers) - it asked the person to pick the club they support, then list in their opinion their club's top five rivals in order. Can't really see a much more reliable way of doing it unless someone literally stood outside each club with a clipboard.

I suppose some people will have picked traditional/longer term rivals and some might have gone for more recent ones (e.g. Exeter picked us as their second biggest rival obviously down to Tisdale moving here last year).

 

[RLC]

Out of interest, is there a Premier League survey ? I just wanted to see whether Everton still hold a candle for us (unlikely).

 

[Franchisor]

Out of interest, is there a Premier League survey ? I just wanted to see whether Everton still hold a candle for us (unlikely).

Yeah this guy has the Prem and the rest of the EFL (just scroll up):

https://twitter.com/x/status/1165974976383672321

FYI Everton didn't list Tranmere, theirs were Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea, Man City, Newcastle.

 

[Muzzle]

First two are correct, I would then go Man City, Burnley and Preston

 

[Fedora Dale]

The Coventry/Sunderland thing stems from the game in the late 1970s when Coventry and Bristol City played out a 2-2 draw which reprieved both and relegated Sunderland - with that arbiter of sporting decency Jimmy Hill arranging for the final score from Roker Park to be broadcast loudly over the tannins so the lads on the pitch could relax for the last few minutes.

For Dale, the placing of Burnley in third dates back to the late 1980s when they were crap and played us every year. I think non-league clubs aren't included, because Stockport and Halifax are probably bigger rivals than Wigan or Accy.

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

I think the wording of the survey was 'who do you hate most' as opposed to who do you view as your closest rivals.

Never realised Lincoln or Burton had a problem with us.

 

[Pablosammy]

Never considered Crewe a rival, and don't know many Tranmere fans who would. As mentioned above, surprised Wrexham didn't make the list.

I think one of the reasons we've never caught the imagination of the Wirral public is the lack of a true rivalry. I think it's an important part of the identity of a club. Liverpool and Everton have always been out of reach, and most of our North West rivals are either slightly too far away to be proper rivals, or have generally been in different leagues to us.

 

[Plumbob]

Coventry?! Where did they get that from? I wouldn't have mentioned them in a top 10.
I'd imagine most of us Imps would have, at least, Posh and Notts County ahead of them. Then we would likely be looking into Yorkshire after that.

 

[Luke Imp]

Coventry?

Not sure I'd have Hull in there because we rarely play each other - Posh and County probably above them.

 

[GodsGift]

I think the wording of the survey was 'who do you hate most' as opposed to who do you view as your closest rivals.

Never realised Lincoln or Burton had a problem with us.

We don't, very odd!

Obviously this survey is restricted to league clubs but I'd say our top five is:

1. Grimsby
2. Mansfield
3. Scunny
4. Boston
5. Peterborough

Closely followed by Hull and Notts. In fact I'd have Hull quite up a decade or so ago, whereas Mansfield would have been fairly low down.

 

[Reremnart]

I don’t know a single Tranmere fan who consider Crewe a rival and I`m pretty sure it`s the same for them They`re a club who we have played a lot of games against (we have played them more than any other club I think) and they happen to be in the same county and that`s as far as it goes. They are no bigger rival to us than Stockport IMO. As far as I am concerned our biggest rivals are Bolton, Bolton, Bolton, Bolton and Bolton although judging by today’s news not for much longer it seems

 

[Franchisor]

I think those that pointed out it could be 'most hated' rather than 'biggest rival' might have a point.

Either way ours is pretty accurate: 1. AFC Wimbledon 2. Northampton 3. Peterborough 4. Luton 5. Wycombe - although I'd swap Posh and Luton around, and maybe swap Wycombe for Swindon.

 

[Indian Dan]

- Gillingham fans see Swindon as their fourth biggest (44%) rivalry but according to Swindon fans Gillingham aren't even in their top five rivalries. Gills fans, what did Swindon do to you? (although I can understand to some extent, one of the worst fanbases I've seen.

The Swindon Town and Gillingham rivalry is an unusual one considering the distance between in miles, yet the events of a meeting at Priestfield in March 1979 set the tone for future years.

With the sides seeking promotion from Division Three, Swindon’s visit culminated in a fiery encounter. Gillingham scored two in the opening 25 minutes, only for Town to make it 2-2 before half time and take the draw. Gills fans were incensed when goalscorer Westwood was sent off for foul and abusive language, then later by the antics of Town defender Ray McHale, which culminated in a Gills fan running ont the pitch to punch and knock out the referee.

A few weeks later Gillingham visited the County Ground and McHale was centre of attention again after a tackle on him earned a red card. Then with Town 3-0 up Gills players turned on McHale for some retribution. The game eventually finished 3-1 and as the players returned to the dressing room, there was a fracas in the tunnel. Swindon coach Wilf Tranter was hospitalised with facial injuries after being punched. Two Gills players ended up in court over the incident, both were acquitted – and the season ended with both teams missing out on promotion – the Gills by a single point, which the Kent side blamed on Swindon.

Add to that we stuffed them in the play offs in the 80s when, at one time, they were oh so close to winning. Funny as fuck, that. Selhurst Park that evening is one of my favourite memories!

It’s the sort of thing that happens to clubs that have a history.

You may get one eventually.

 

[Pompey_Squinny]

We only have one real rival and that's scum.

Bournemouth are pretty much the opposite and Brighton is a media creation because we're both on the south coast. Millwall is a feisty affair but their rivals are all local to them. Sunderland is just a big competitor in this league and we've played 5 times this year.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Tranmere are our most played opponent in the Football League (and I'd wager we're theirs too) but no way are we both fierce rivals. As I said on the League Two forum, it's a friendly local contest with mutual respect. But Tranmere have always looked to Greater Manchester for rivalries in the modern era and we've always looked to The Potteries for ours over the last 25 years or so.

 

[Marked Ox]

It seems pretty accurate overall. Basically a company had a survey app installed on various news sites (nationwide papers, local papers) - it asked the person to pick the club they support, then list in their opinion their club's top five rivals in order. Can't really see a much more reliable way of doing it unless someone literally stood outside each club with a clipboard.

I suppose some people will have picked traditional/longer term rivals and some might have gone for more recent ones (e.g. Exeter picked us as their second biggest rival obviously down to Tisdale moving here last year).

Wycombe aren't a rival as much as they want us to be, anymore than Rochdale are.

 

[Etienne Vermeer]

Aw Gills, I'd have thought Charlton would have bad blood than us.

I suppose ours would go:
1. West Ham
2. Palace
3. Charlton
4. Chelsea
5. Leeds? We always have had adventures with them

 

[RLC]

Tranmere are our most played opponent in the Football League (and I'd wager we're theirs too)

Yes, also our first ever opponents in the Football League. There is no rivalry at all between Tranmere and Crewe, which is strange considering how close the two clubs are geographically and how many times we have met, but that is just the way it is. Our relationship with Stockport or Shrewsbury is pretty similar.

My lists would be as follows.

Most disliked:

1. Liverpool
2. Everton

Biggest rivals:

1. Bolton
2. Wrexham
3. Oldham

 

[SF_]

First two are correct, I would then go Man City, Burnley and Preston

For me.

1. Blackpool.
2. Burnley.
3. Blackburn.
4. Bolton.
5. Fuck knows, Carlisle or Wigan?

Although some of our lot really hate Blackburn and would have them above Burnley, some even more than Blackpool if they're South Ribble way.

 

[Muzzle]

For me.

1. Blackpool.
2. Burnley.
3. Blackburn.
4. Bolton.
5. Fuck knows, Carlisle or Wigan?

Although some of our lot really hate Blackburn and would have them above Burnley, some even more than Blackpool if they're South Ribble way.

Your older lads would have us first or second, but that would be down to off field rows

 

[SF_]

Your older lads would have us first or second, but that would be down to off field rows

My dad doesn't like you lot from back then but certainly not more than the Lashers or the plastics.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Yes, also our first ever opponents in the Football League. There is no rivalry at all between Tranmere and Crewe, which is strange considering how close the two clubs are geographically and how many times we have met, but that is just the way it is. Our relationship with Stockport or Shrewsbury is pretty similar.

My lists would be as follows.

Most disliked:

1. Liverpool
2. Everton

Biggest rivals:

1. Bolton
2. Wrexham
3. Oldham

Even stranger, in the olden days, we both had traditional rivalries with the same teams (Chester and Wrexham) and even though they hate each other more than they hate us, a rivalry would resume between us and those two should we play each other again. Just like it did with you lot when you went down to the Conference. But for some reason, we seemed to have mutual respect for each other. We've always had more needle with Stockport than Tranmere over the years too and before our rise to the second tier in the 90s (when we started playing the Potteries sides more regularly), they'd be with Chester and Wrexham in our Top 3 easily.

Despite ourselves and Stockport rising in the 90s and leaving Chester and Wrexham for dead, we all seemed to pick different fights once we all made the second tier. You guys hated Bolton and had some memorable cup ties with your Merseyside neighbours. Stockport only had eyes for Man City and we drew our attentions to Stoke.

For me it's 1. Stoke; 2. Vale; way above anyone else then 3. Stockport (over sending each other down in the last 10 years). Chester and Wrexham would be rivalries again if it resumed (I've never seen us play a league game against either) but I've nothing but respect for Tranmere and Macclesfield.

I don't know why Shrewsbury are on our list because over the last 60 years I think we've been in the same division for only 15 seasons at best. When they were good in the 80s we were shit and vice versa for the late 90s and 2000s. Always saw them as the local whipping boys growing up and we used to sign their best players with alarming regularity, most of them being duds. They've come a long way in that time though, but I'd never consider them a rival, even if we did pretty much send them all but down in 2014...

 

[Back in the DHSS]

Everybody snubs us for being rivals, except Forest Green Rovers seemingly, who we snub in return. Not really had a mutual rivalry since the days of New Brighton fc.
In my time supporting Tranmere I’d say Chester and Wrexham have been our biggest rivals and we had that thing going on withBolton. Liverpool and Everton just aren’t on the map as I don’t think we’ve ever played either of them in a league fixture and hardly ever cross paths in cup competitions either.

 

[Franchisor]

It’s the sort of thing that happens to clubs that have a history.

You may get one eventually.

I can honestly say I'd rather be a plastic franchise customer with 15 years of history than a Swindon fan in any capacity.

 

[Indian Dan]

What would you know about being a fan.

 

[Franchisor]

What would you know about being a fan.

Enough to know I wouldn't want to be one of Swindon.