Reasons For The Rivalry
Although it is a traditional local rivalry, it is different in that it also crosses the Wales–England border, increasing somewhat the hostility between the two teams. As well as bragging rights the matches are seen as an "international contest" to prove which country is superior. Both sets of fans use this to taunt each other with patriotic songs as well as offensive props. Bristol City fans often previously brought inflatable sheep to the derby, insinuating that Cardiff fans were "sheep shaggers". Although in recent years the term has been less frequently used by Bristol City fans as Cardiff have readily adopted the name and often use the chants themselves.
Cardiff fans often refer to Bristol City fans as "Wurzels", in reference to TV character Worzel Gummidge and band The Wurzels who both famously spoke with a Westcountry accent.
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.
Read more about this topic: Severnside Derby
Famous quotes containing the words reasons for, reasons and/or rivalry:
“I should like to know what is the proper function of women, if it is not to make reasons for husbands to stay at home, and still stronger reasons for bachelors to go out.”
—George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)
“Happy the man who has been able to know the reasons for things.”
—Virgil [Publius Vergilius Maro] (70–19 B.C.)
“Sisters define their rivalry in terms of competition for the gold cup of parental love. It is never perceived as a cup which runneth over, rather a finite vessel from which the more one sister drinks, the less is left for the others.”
—Elizabeth Fishel (20th century)