List of association football rivalries in the United Kingdom



This is a list of the main association football rivalries in the UK.

Football derby matches in the United Kingdom are often heated affairs, and violence is not uncommon. However, the matches and the rivalries they encompass are frequently listed among the best in the sport. A 2008 report showed that West Bromwich Albion vs Wolverhampton Wanderers was the number one rivalry in English football. While Old Firm derby matches between Scottish clubs Rangers and Celtic are known to go beyond the sport with its "enormous quantity of references to wider cultural and political issues". The first football derby played was between Hallam F.C. and Sheffield F.C. in December 1860.

Central England

 * A420 derby: Oxford United vs. Swindon Town
 * Aylesbury derby (El Quackico): Aylesbury United vs. Aylesbury Vale Dynamos
 * Bedford derby: Bedford Town vs. Real Bedford
 * Berkshire derby: Maidenhead United vs. Slough Town
 * Buckinghamshire derby: Milton Keynes Dons vs. Wycombe Wanderers
 * Cambridge derby: Cambridge City vs. Cambridge United
 * Small Cambridgeshire derby: Cambridge City or Cambridge United vs. Histon
 * Cambridgeshire derby: Cambridge United vs. Peterborough United
 * Colney derby: Colney Heath vs. London Colney
 * Didcot Triangle derbies:
 * A420 derby: Oxford United vs. Swindon Town
 * M4 derby: Reading vs. Swindon Town
 * Thames Valley derby: Oxford United vs. Reading
 * Dunstable derby: AFC Dunstable vs. Dunstable Town
 * Hertfordshire derby: Any games featuring Boreham Wood, Hemel Hempstead Town or St Albans City
 * Luton-Stevenage rivalry: Luton Town vs. Stevenage
 * M1 derby: Luton Town vs. Watford
 * Maidenhead derby: Maidenhead Town vs. Maidenhead United
 * Milton Keynes-Northampton rivalry: Milton Keynes Dons vs. Northampton Town
 * Milton Keynes-Peterborough rivalry: Milton Keynes Dons vs. Peterborough United
 * Nene derby: Northampton Town vs. Peterborough United
 * Northamptonshire derby: Kettering Town vs. Rushden & Diamonds - can also refer to any of the two against Corby Town or Northampton Town
 * Northampton-Oxford rivalry: Northampton Town vs. Oxford United
 * Oxford derby: Oxford City vs. Oxford United
 * Oxfordshire derby: Didcot Town vs. Oxford City
 * University derby: Oxford United vs. Cambridge United
 * M40 Derby: Oxford United vs. Wycombe Wanderers

Eastern England

 * Basildon Borough derby: Any games featuring Basildon United, Billericay Town, Bowers & Pitsea and Hashtag United
 * Canvey Island derby: Canvey Island vs. Concord Rangers
 * East Anglian derby (also known as the Old Farm derby ): Ipswich Town vs. Norwich City
 * Colchester-Ipswich derby: Colchester United vs. Ipswich Town
 * Essex derby: Colchester United vs. Southend United
 * M11 derby: Bishop's Stortford vs. Harlow Town
 * Maldon derby: Heybridge Swifts vs. Maldon & Tiptree
 * Norfolk derby: Gorleston vs. Great Yarmouth Town
 * Suffolk derby:
 * Bury Town vs. Sudbury
 * Leiston vs. Lowestoft Town
 * Lowestoft Town vs. Needham Market
 * Uttlesford Derby:
 * Saffron Walden Town vs. Stansted FC

Greater London

 * 4G Derby: Bromley vs. Sutton United
 * Arsenal-Chelsea rivalry: Arsenal vs. Chelsea
 * Arsenal–West Ham United rivalry: Arsenal vs. West Ham United
 * Chelsea–Crystal Palace rivalry: Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace
 * Chelsea–Millwall rivalry: Chelsea vs. Millwall
 * Chelsea-Tottenham Hotspur rivalry: Chelsea vs. Tottenham Hotspur
 * Chelsea–West Ham United rivalry: Chelsea vs. West Ham United
 * Croydon derby: Croydon vs. Croydon Athletic
 * Dockers derby: Millwall vs. West Ham United
 * Dulwich-Tooting derby: Dulwich Hamlet vs. Tooting & Mitcham
 * East London derby: Leyton Orient vs. West Ham United, also may include a match between either of those and Dagenham & Redbridge
 * Enfield derby: Enfield 1893 vs. Enfield Town
 * Harrow derby: Harrow Borough vs. Wealdstone
 * North London derby: Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur
 * South London derby: any match between Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace, Millwall and AFC Wimbledon.
 * Sutton derby: Carshalton Athletic vs. Sutton United
 * Tottenham Hotspur–West Ham United rivalry: Tottenham Hotspur vs. West Ham United
 * West London derby: any match between Brentford, Chelsea, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers

Midlands

 * A5 derby: Nuneaton Town vs. Tamworth
 * Aston Villa-Coventry rivalry: Aston Villa vs. Coventry City
 * Bassetlaw derby: Any games featuring Retford, Retford United or Worksop Town
 * Buxton-Leek rivalry: Buxton vs. Leek Town
 * East Midlands derby:
 * Derby-Leicester rivalry: Derby County vs. Leicester City
 * Derby-Nottingham Forest rivalry: Derby County vs. Nottingham Forest
 * Leicester-Nottingham Forest rivalry: Leicester City vs. Nottingham Forest
 * Lincoln-Mansfield rivalry: Lincoln City vs. Mansfield Town
 * Derbyshire derby: Chesterfield vs. Derby County
 * Hereford-Kidderminster rivalry: Hereford vs. Kidderminster Harriers
 * Hinckley derby: Hinckley vs. Hinckley Leicester Road
 * Nottingham derby: Nottingham Forest vs. Notts County
 * Lincolnshire derby: Any game featuring Boston United, Gainsborough Trinity, Grimsby Town, Lincoln City and Scunthorpe United, although games solely between Grimsby and Scunthorpe are usually referred to as the Humber derby.
 * Nottinghamshire derby: Mansfield Town vs. Notts County
 * Number Nine derby: Halesowen Town vs. Stourbridge
 * M69 derby: Coventry City vs. Leicester City
 * Miners strike derby: Chesterfield vs. Mansfield Town
 * Potteries derby: Port Vale vs. Stoke City
 * Retford derby: Retford United vs. Retford F.C.
 * Second City derby: Aston Villa vs. Birmingham City
 * Shrewsbury-Walsall rivalry: Shrewsbury Town vs. Walsall
 * Shrewsbury-Wolves rivalry: Shrewsbury Town vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
 * Shropshire derby: Shrewsbury Town vs. A.F.C. Telford United
 * Staffordshire derby:
 * Burton Albion vs. Port Vale
 * Chasetown vs. Hednesford Town
 * Hednesford Town vs. Stafford Rangers
 * Port Vale vs. Walsall
 * Stoke City vs. West Bromwich Albion
 * Stoke City vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
 * West Midlands derby:
 * Aston Villa–West Bromwich rivalry: Aston Villa vs. West Bromwich Albion
 * Aston Villa-Wolves rivalry: Aston Villa vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
 * Black Country derby: West Bromwich Albion vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
 * Birmingham-West Bromwich rivalry: Birmingham City vs. West Bromwich Albion
 * Birmingham-Wolves rivalry: Birmingham City vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
 * Walsall-Wolves rivalry: Walsall vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

North-Eastern England

 * Auckland derby: Bishop Auckland vs. West Auckland Town
 * Billingham derby: Billingham Synthonia vs. Billingham Town
 * Blyth-Gateshead derby: Blyth Spartans vs. Gateshead
 * Coast Road derby: Heaton Stannington vs. Newcastle Benfield
 * Darlington-Spennymoor rivalry: Darlington vs. Spennymoor Town
 * Darlington-York Rivalry: Darlington vs. York City
 * East Durham Derby: refers to matches between Easington Colliery, Horden Community Welfare and Seaham Red Star
 * Humber derby: refers to any match between Grimsby Town, Hull City, and Scunthorpe United
 * North-east derby: Blyth Spartans vs. Hartlepool United
 * Teesside derby: Darlington vs. Hartlepool United
 * Teesside derby: Guisborough Town vs. Redcar Athletic
 * Tees-Wear derby: Middlesbrough vs. Sunderland
 * The Shields derby: North Shields vs. South Shields
 * Tyne-Tees derby: Middlesbrough vs. Newcastle United
 * Tyne-Wear derby: Newcastle United vs. Sunderland

North-West England and Yorkshire

 * A62 derby: Huddersfield Town vs. Oldham Athletic
 * A627 derby: Oldham Athletic vs. Rochdale
 * Accrington-Morecambe rivalry: Accrington Stanley vs. Morecambe
 * Ashton derby: Ashton United vs. Curzon Ashton
 * A500 derby: Crewe Alexandra. Port Vale
 * Barnsley-Leeds rivalry: Barnsley vs. Leeds United
 * Blackburn-Preston rivalry: Blackburn Rovers vs. Preston North End
 * Bolton-Oldham rivalry: Bolton Wanderers vs. Oldham Athletic
 * Bolton-Tranmere rivalry: Bolton Wanderers vs. Tranmere Rovers
 * Bolton–Wigan rivalry: Bolton Wanderers vs. Wigan Athletic
 * Burnley-Rochdale rivalry: Burnley vs. Rochdale
 * Burnley-Preston rivalry: Burnley vs. Preston North End
 * Canal derby: Liverpool vs. Leeds United
 * Cheshire derby: Altrincham vs. Stockport County
 * Chester-Tranmere rivalry: Chester vs. Tranmere Rovers
 * Cumbrian derby: Barrow vs. Carlisle United
 * East Lancashire derby: Burnley vs. Blackburn Rovers
 * Fleetwood-Morecambe rivalry: Fleetwood Town vs. Morecambe
 * Fleetwood-Southport rivalry: Fleetwood Town vs. Southport
 * Fylde Coast derby: Blackpool vs. Fleetwood Town
 * Manchester derby: Manchester City vs. Manchester United
 * Merseyside derby: Everton vs. Liverpool, also includes any combination of games against Tranmere Rovers or Southport
 * Northwest derby: Liverpool vs Manchester United
 * Liverpool-Manchester City rivalry: Liverpool vs Manchester City
 * Northwich derby: Games between 1874 Northwich, Northwich Victoria  and Witton Albion
 * Oldham-Stockport rivalry: Oldham Athletic vs. Stockport County
 * Rules derby: Hallam vs. Sheffield; the oldest derby in football
 * South Yorkshire derby:
 * Barnsley-Sheffield Wednesday rivalry: Barnsley F.C. vs Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
 * Barnsley-Sheffield United rivalry: Barnsley F.C. vs Sheffield United F.C.
 * Barnsley-Doncaster rivalry: Barnsley F.C. vs. Doncaster Rovers
 * Barnsley-Rotherham rivalry: Barnsley vs. Rotherham United
 * Doncaster-Rotherham rivalry: Doncaster Rovers vs. Rotherham United
 * Steel City derby: Sheffield United vs. Sheffield Wednesday
 * Tameside derby: Hyde United vs. Stalybridge Celtic
 * War of the Roses derby: Leeds United vs. Manchester United
 * West Lancashire derby: Blackpool vs. Preston North End
 * West Yorkshire derby: refers to any match between Bradford City, Halifax Town, Huddersfield Town and Leeds United In the Northern Premier League, there is also Liversedge vs. Ossett United.
 * Wool City derby: Bradford City vs. Bradford Park Avenue

Southern England

 * A33 derby: Aldershot Town vs. Reading
 * A4 derby: Bath City vs. Chippenham Town
 * A27 derby: Bognor Regis Town vs. Whitehawk
 * A259 derby: Peacehaven & Telscombe vs. Newhaven
 * Bristol derby: Bristol City vs. Bristol Rovers
 * Cathedral City derby: Salisbury vs. Winchester City
 * Coxbridge derby: Badshot Lea vs. Farnham Town
 * Creekside derby: AFC Portchester vs. Fareham Town
 * Devon derby: Games between Exeter City, Plymouth Argyle or Torquay United
 * Dockyard derby: Plymouth Argyle vs. Portsmouth
 * Dorset derby: Games between Dorchester Town, Poole Town, Weymouth and Wimborne Town
 * Eastbourne derby: Games played between Eastbourne Borough, Eastbourne Town, Eastbourne United and Langney Wanderers
 * East Sussex derby: Eastbourne Borough vs. Lewes
 * Gloucestershire derby: Games played between Cheltenham Town, Forest Green Rovers and Gloucester City
 * Hampshire–Surrey derby: Aldershot Town vs. Woking
 * Kent derby: Gillingham vs. Maidstone United;
 * Mid Hampshire derby: Totton vs. Winchester City,
 * Mid-Sussex derby: Burgess Hill Town vs. Haywards Heath Town
 * Mole Valley derby: Dorking Wanderers vs. Leatherhead
 * New Forest derby: Bournemouth vs. Southampton
 * North Devon derby: Games between Barnstaple Town, Bideford and Ilfracombe Town
 * Rushmoor derby: Aldershot Town vs. Farnborough
 * Seaside derby: Bognor Regis Town vs. Worthing
 * Somerset derby: Bath City vs. Yeovil Town
 * South Coast derby: Portsmouth vs. Southampton
 * South Hampshire derby: Gosport Borough vs. Havant & Waterlooville
 * South Midlands derby: Gloucester City vs. Worcester City
 * Surrey derby Dorking Wanderers vs Woking
 * Sussex derby: Lewes vs. Worthing
 * Thanet derby: Margate vs. Ramsgate
 * West Country derby:
 * Bristol Rovers vs. Exeter City
 * Bristol City vs. Plymouth Argyle
 * Bristol Rovers vs. Torquay United
 * Bristol Rovers vs. Cheltenham Town
 * Bristol Rovers vs. Swindon Town
 * Cheltenham Town vs. Swindon Town
 * Exeter City vs. Plymouth Argyle
 * Yeovil Town vs. Bath City
 * Yeovil Town vs. Weymouth

Wales

 * South Wales derby: Cardiff City vs. Swansea City

Inter-regional

 * A13 derby: Leyton Orient vs. Southend United
 * A500 derby: Crewe Alexandra vs. Port Vale
 * Aldershot-Reading rivalry: Aldershot Town vs. Reading
 * Cambridge–Colchester rivalry: Cambridge United vs. Colchester United
 * Chesterfield-Sheffield rivalry: Chesterfield vs. Sheffield United or Sheffield Wednesday
 * Crewe-Walsall rivalry: Crewe Alexandra vs. Walsall
 * Dons Derby: AFC Wimbledon vs. Milton Keynes Dons
 * Newcastle-Manchester rivalry: Newcastle United F.C. vs. Manchester United F.C.
 * England-Wales rivalries:
 * Cardiff City–Leeds United rivalry: Cardiff City vs Leeds United
 * Cross-border derby: Chester vs. Wrexham
 * Severnside derby: Primarily refers to Bristol City vs. Cardiff City but may also refer to Bristol Rovers or Newport County
 * Shrewsbury-Wrexham rivalry: Shrewsbury Town vs. Wrexham
 * Tranmere-Wrexham rivalry: Tranmere Rovers vs. Wrexham
 * Gillingham-London rivalries:
 * Gillingham-Charlton Rivalry: Gillingham vs. Charlton Athletic
 * Gillingham-Millwall Rivalry: Gillingham vs. Millwall
 * Gillingham–Southend rivalry: Gillingham vs. Southend United
 * Gillingham-Swindon Rivalry: Gillingham vs. Swindon Town
 * Hertfordshire-London rivalries:
 * Barnet-Boreham Wood rivalry: Barnet vs. Boreham Wood
 * Boreham Wood-Wealdstone rivalry: Boreham Wood vs. Wealdstone
 * Brentford-Watford rivalry: Brentford vs. Watford
 * Crystal Palace-Watford rivalry: Crystal Palace vs. Watford
 * QPR-Watford rivalry: Queens Park Rangers vs. Watford
 * Leicester-Leeds rivalry: Leicester City vs. Leeds United
 * London-Leeds rivalries:
 * Brentford-Leeds rivalry: Brentford vs. Leeds United
 * Chelsea–Leeds rivalry: Chelsea vs. Leeds United
 * Leeds United–Millwall rivalry: Leeds United vs. Millwall
 * London-Liverpool rivalries:
 * Arsenal–Liverpool rivalry: Arsenal vs. Liverpool
 * Chelsea–Liverpool rivalry: Chelsea vs. Liverpool
 * Everton–Millwall rivalry: Everton vs. Millwall
 * London-Manchester rivalries:
 * Arsenal–Manchester City rivalry: Arsenal vs Manchester City
 * Arsenal–Manchester United rivalry: Arsenal vs Manchester United
 * Chelsea–Manchester City rivalry: Chelsea vs. Manchester City
 * Chelsea–Manchester United rivalry: Chelsea vs. Manchester United
 * London–Midlands rivalry:
 * Arsenal–Stoke rivalry: Arsenal vs. Stoke City
 * Arsenal–Aston Villa rivalry: Arsenal vs. Aston Villa
 * Aston Villa–Millwall rivalry: Aston Villa vs. Millwall
 * Aston Villa–West Ham United rivalry: Aston Villa vs. West Ham United
 * Leicester City–Millwall rivalry: Leicester City vs. Millwall
 * Millwall–Nottingham Forest rivalry Millwall vs. Nottingham Forest
 * Luton-York rivalry: Luton Town vs. York City
 * M23 derby: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Crystal Palace

Discontinued derbies

 * A49 derby: Hereford United vs Shrewsbury Town
 * Aldershot-Reading rivalry: Aldershot vs. Reading
 * Bishop Auckland-Spennymoor derby: Bishop Auckland vs. Spennymoor United
 * Bolton-Bury rivalry: Bolton Wanderers vs. Bury
 * Bury–Oldham rivalry: Bury vs. Oldham Athletic
 * Cheshire derby:
 * Altrincham-Macclesfield rivalry: Altrincham vs. Macclesfield Town
 * Chester vs. Macclesfield Town
 * Crewe Alexandra vs. Macclesfield Town
 * Crystal Palace-Wimbledon derby: Crystal Palace vs. Wimbledon
 * South Lancashire derby: Bury vs. Rochdale
 * Denbighshire derby: Prestatyn Town vs. Rhyl
 * Dorking derby: Dorking vs. Dorking Wanderers
 * Halifax-York rivalry: Halifax Town vs. York City
 * Ossett derby: Ossett Albion vs. Ossett Town
 * North Yorkshire derby: Scarborough vs. York City
 * Shropshire derby: Shrewsbury Town vs. Telford United
 * Sunderland derby: Sunderland vs. Sunderland Albion
 * Walton derby: Walton Casuals vs Walton & Hersham
 * West Yorkshire derby: Only those derbies are defunct that included the now defunct club Halifax Town vs. Bradford City, Huddersfield Town or Leeds United
 * Wirral derby: New Brighton vs. Tranmere Rovers

Northern Ireland

 * Belfast derbies:
 * Big Two derby: Linfield v Glentoran
 * North Belfast derby: Crusaders v Cliftonville
 * Linfield v Cliftonville
 * Donegal Celtic vs. Linfield
 * Glentoran vs. Crusaders or Cliftonville
 * Mid-Ulster derby: Glenavon vs. Portadown
 * A26 derby: Ballymena United vs. Coleraine
 * North Down derby: Ards vs. Bangor F.C.
 * East Antrim derby: Carrick Rangers vs. Larne vs. Ballyclare Comrades
 * Lurgan derby: Glenavon vs. Lurgan Celtic
 * North-West derby: Coleraine vs. Limavady United vs. Institute
 * Mourne derby: Newry City vs. Warrenpoint Town

Scotland



 * Angus derby: any combination of Arbroath, Brechin City, Forfar Athletic and Montrose
 * Ayrshire derby: Ayr United vs. Kilmarnock
 * Dundee derby: Dundee vs. Dundee United
 * Edinburgh derby: Heart of Midlothian vs. Hibernian
 * Falkirk derby: East Stirlingshire vs. Falkirk
 * Fife derby: any combination of Dunfermline Athletic, Raith Rovers, Cowdenbeath and East Fife
 * Highland derby: Inverness Caledonian Thistle vs. Ross County
 * Lanarkshire derby: any combination of Airdrieonians, Albion Rovers, Hamilton Academical and Motherwell
 * North derby: Aberdeen v Inverness Caledonian Thistle
 * New Firm: Aberdeen vs. Dundee United
 * Old Firm: Celtic vs. Rangers
 * Original Glasgow derby: Queens Park vs. Rangers
 * Renfrewshire derby: Greenock Morton vs. St Mirren
 * Tayside derby: St Johnstone vs. Dundee or Dundee United