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West Country derby

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West Country derby refers to any English sporting fixture involving two teams from the West Country.

Association football

Currently Bristol City F.C. are the highest ranked West Country association football team, playing in the Championship, the second tier of English football.[1] Plymouth Argyle F.C., Exeter City F.C., Yeovil Town F.C., Bristol Rovers F.C. and Swindon Town F.C. compete in the League One, the third tier,[2] while Cheltenham Town F.C. and Torquay United F.C. are in the npower League Two, the fourth tier,[3] having been promoted from the Conference National in the 2008–09 season.[4]

Teams in the West Country

As of 2010-11, there are eight professional football clubs in South West England that compete in the Football League, they are:

Division Team(s)
Football League Championship Bristol City
Football League One Exeter City, Yeovil Town
Football League Two Cheltenham Town, Plymouth Argle, Swindon Town, Torquay United, Bristol Rovers

Stadia in the West Country

A full list of all of the stadia from the 8 professional football clubs from the West Country.

Home Club Stadium Name Capacity
Bristol City Ashton Gate 21,497
Plymouth Argyle Home Park 19,500
Bristol Rovers Memorial Stadium1 12,010
Yeovil Town Huish Park1 9,600
Exeter City St. James Park1 8,830
Cheltenham Town Whaddon Road1 7,066
Torquay United Plainmoor1 6,104

1This ground contains terracing

2Not a football-specific ground

Major West Country derbies

Bristol Rovers vs. Bristol City

see Bristol derby

Plymouth Argyle vs. Bristol City

Both Bristol City and Plymouth have been highly successful in the 21st century and as a result both were in the Championship until the end of the 2009–10 season, when Plymouth were relegated to League One. It is just under 100 miles from Bristol to Plymouth,[5] but both clubs are in the South West region of England. The relative success of the two clubs throughout the 2000's has resulted in the derby being dubbed as a "Best in the West" match.

Recent history

At the start of the 2000s, Argyle were languishing in the lower reaches of Division Three, but two promotions in the 2001–02[6] and 2003–04[7] seasons gave them a place in the Championship. After a couple of mid-table finishes in the division, Argyle became play-off contenders, but after losing several key players they only just avoided relgation in the 2008–09 season.[8]

City started the decade a division above Argyle, and were serious play-off contenders under the management of Danny Wilson. When they did make the play-offs, in 2003, they went out in the semi-final, losing 1 – 0 to Cardiff City on aggregate.[9] Their heartbreak continued as they lost the final the following year – going down 1 – 0 to Brighton at The Millennium Stadium.[10] Gary Johnson became their manager in 2005, and after a poor start City eventually finished as runners up in League One in the 2006–07 season, as a result earning promotion.[11] They started the following season extremely well, going top of the Championship for most of it, but in the end only managed a play-off spot. In the play-off final they lost 1 – 0 to Hull City courtesy of a Dean Windass goal.[12] In their last two seasons they have narrowly missed out on the play-offs.

Previous meetings

Argyle defeated City 4 – 0 in the first round of the LDV Vans Trophy in the 2003–04 season,[13] making it the biggest win in a game between the sides in recent years. The biggest ever wins between the sides was a 6 – 0 win for Bristol in the 1954–55 season and a 7 – 1 win for Plymouth in the 1924–25 season.[14] When the clubs met again in the 2007–08 season, with both teams flying high in the Championship, a late own goal from Krisztian Timar gave City a 1 – 1 draw at Home Park.[15] The return fixture saw a Rory Fallon brace give Argyle a 1 – 2 success at Ashton Gate, effectively ending the Robin's automatic promotion hopes.[16] The following season, Argyle let two goal lead slip at Ashton Gate as the game finished 2 – 2.[17] The Robins won the return fixture 0 – 2.[18]

The team's first meeting in the 2009–10 season resulted in a 3 – 1 home win for City courtesy of two late goals in October 2009.[19]

The last meeting between the sides saw Plymouth gain a thrilling 3 – 2 win in March 2010. The Greens were 2 – 0 up at half-time, but two Nicky Maynard goals saw the visitors equalise. However, Argyle captain Carl Fletcher scored with a stunning 20-yard shot in the first minute of injury time to make it 3 – 2.[20]

Head-to-head record
Competition Bristol City wins Draws Plymouth Argyle wins
League 23 11 18
FA Cup 1 1 1
League Cup 0 0 1
Football League Trophy 0 0 2
Total 24 12 22

[21]

Last two results
Venue Date Competition Bristol City Plymouth Argyle
Home Park 20 October 2009 The Championship 2 3
Ashton Gate 16 March 2010 The Championship 3 1

[22]

Players who played for both clubs

Plymouth Argyle vs. Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers and Plymouth Argyle have played each other 88 times in the Football League and in national cup competitions, with the better record belonging to The Pilgrims thanks to their 34 wins compared with Rovers' 28. Prior to these meetings they both also played in the Southern League. Bristol Rovers and Plymouth are both currently competing in League one in 2010/11 season.

Previous meetings

Plymouth and Bristol Rovers both currently compete in Npower League 1. The two west country teams played each other on a Tuesday night at Home Park in the 2010/2011 season in a cracking League One game where Plymouth were victorious in a 3 – 1 win. The return leg was another thrilling encounter where Plymouth were trailing 2 - 0 to Bristol Rovers at half-time courtesy of 2 goals from Will Hoskins for Bristol Rovers. Rovers dominated the game in the first half but Plymouth completed a stunning comeback. Scoring 3 goals in the second half resulting in Plymouth being victorious. This was also the final game for on loan Bristol Rovers goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen before he returned to his parent club Reading. Bristol Rovers had a chance at the end to clinch a point where Bristol Rovers substitute Jo Kuffour hit the post. But the full-time result finished Bristol Rovers 2 - 3 Plymouth Argyle. The match attendance was 5,943.[23]

Head-to-head record
Competition Bristol Rovers wins Draws Plymouth Argyle wins
League 23 22 33
FA Cup 2 2 1
League Cup 1 2 0
Football League Trophy 1 0 0
Total 28 26 34

[24]

Last two results
Venue Date Competition Bristol Rovers Plymouth Argyle
Home Park 2 November 2010 League One 1 3
Memorial Stadium 4 January 2011 League One 2 3

[25]

Players who played for both clubs

In addition to this, Plymouth Argyle and Bristol Rovers were managed by Ian Holloway

Torquay United vs. Exeter City

Only 18 miles separate Torquay and Exeter,[26] both in Devon. Torquay see Exeter as their main rivals, although Exeter tend to see Plymouth as their main rivals (as a 2003 survey by Football Fans Census suggests),[27] despite the fact that Argyle and Exeter have been playing in different divisions for a number of years. Nonetheless, there is still a small friendly rivalry between The Gulls and The Grecians.

Recent history

Torquay started the 2000s by just avoiding relegation to the Conference National, but by 2004 they had been promoted to League One.[28] However, they went straight back down again, and just two years later they became a Conference club after another relegation.[29] They made the play-offs twice in their two-year spell in non-league football, and in the 2008–09 season they won it – beating Cambridge United 2 – 0 in the final at Wembley Stadium.[30]

Up until recently Exeter were a non-league side. Financial problems and on-pitch struggle during the late 1990s and early 2000s ruined the club, and in fact they nearly went bust. They were relegated to the Conference in 2003,[31] but performed well as a non-league side, consistently finishing in the top half. They lost the 2007 play-off final to Morecambe,[32] but won it the following season, thereby being promoted to League Two.[33] In the 2008–09 season they finished 2nd in their new division, earning promotion again.[34]

Previous meetings

Possibly the most notable meeting between the sides was in Exeter's 2007–08 promotion season in the Conference. The two sides met in the play-off semi-final, with Toquay being victorious in the first leg as Chris Zebroski scored a last-minute goal to make it 1–2 to The Gulls. The second leg at Plainmoor saw Kevin Hill give the hosts the lead, making it 3–1 on aggregate, but Exeter remarkably stormed back to take a 1–4 lead on the night, making it 3–5 on aggregate, and as a result made it to the final at Wembley Stadium. They beat Cambridge 1–0 in that game to earn promotion.

Players who played for both clubs

Plymouth Argyle vs. Exeter City

Traditionally, Argyle and Exeter see each other as their main rivals, but over the years the two clubs have been playing in different divisions. It's approximately 35 miles from Plymouth to Exeter, but both cities are actually closer to Torquay than to each other. Although, the two clubs do tend to be more successful than Torquay, hence the reason for hating each other more than The Gulls.

Argyle and Exeter are both currently in Npower League 1. The last cup meeting between the sides was a Johnstones Paint Trophy area quarter final at Home Park, which Exeter won 2–1.[35]

The most recent meeting between the sides, was when Exeter defeated Plymouth by a single goal. Curtosey James Dunne which was his first goal of the season for Exeter.[36]

Last two results
Venue Date Competition Exeter City Plymouth Argyle
Home Park 11 December 2010 League One 0 2
St James Park 29 April 2011 League One 1 0
Players who played for both clubs

Rugby

West Country derby is also a phrase used in rugby.[37]

Cricket

Games between Somerset and Gloucestershire are often referred to as a West Country derby.[38]

References

  1. ^ "Coca-Cola Championship". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  2. ^ "Coca-Cola League One". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  3. ^ "Coca-Cola League Two". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  4. ^ Begley, Emlyn (17 May 2009). "Cambridge 0–2 Torquay". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  5. ^ "Miles From Plymouth to Bristol". Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  6. ^ "Plymouth Promoted". www.bbc.co.uk. 26 March 2002. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  7. ^ "Plymouth Argyle 2003–04". [Greens On Screen. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  8. ^ "2008–09 Championship Table". Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  9. ^ "Bristol City 0–0 Cardiff City (Cardiff win 1–0 on agg.)". Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  10. ^ "Brighton 1–0 Bristol City". BBC News. 30 May 2004. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  11. ^ "Bristol City Promoted". BBC News. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  12. ^ McNulty, Phil (24 May 2008). "Bristol City 0–1 Hull City". BBC News. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  13. ^ "Plymouth Argyle 4–0 Bristol City". Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  14. ^ "Head to Head". Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  15. ^ "Argyle 1–1 City". www.bbc.co.uk. 8 December 2007. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  16. ^ Tallentire, Mark (17 March 2008). "Bristol City 1–2 Plymouth Argyle". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  17. ^ "City 2–2 Argyle". BBC News. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  18. ^ "Plymouth 0–2 Bristol". BBC News. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  19. ^ "Bristol 3–1 Plymouth". BBC News. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  20. ^ "Plymouth Argyle 3–2 Bristol City". Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  21. ^ http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=2036&team2_id=376
  22. ^ http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=2036&team2_id=376
  23. ^ "Bristol Rovers 2–3 Plymouth Argyle". Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  24. ^ http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=388&team2_id=2036
  25. ^ http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=388&team2_id=2036
  26. ^ "Distance From Torquay To Exeter". Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  27. ^ "RIVALRY UNCOVERED!". Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  28. ^ "Division Three Table 2003-2004". Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  29. ^ "Torquay Are Down". Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  30. ^ Nickless, Graham (18 May 2009). "Torquay Promoted". The Sun. London. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  31. ^ "Exeter Relegated". Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  32. ^ "Exeter 1–2 Morecambe". BBC News. 20 May 2007. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  33. ^ Whyatt, Chris (18 May 2008). "Exeter 1–0 Cambridge". BBC News. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  34. ^ "Rotherham 0–1 Exeter". BBC News. 2 May 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  35. ^ http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Fans-delighted-result-victory-marred-violence/article-2860588-detail/article.html
  36. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/13174433.stm
  37. ^ "Bristol Vs. Plymouth". Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  38. ^ "Tonight's derby Somerset v Gloucestershire is huge game - Marcus Trescothick". thisisbristol.co.uk. Bristol Evening Post. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
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