I'd say it's a secondary derby. It's a rivalry above most teams but lower than the likes of Sunderland. I wan't Boro to get promoted because it's a decent rivalry and it actually takes less than 3 hours to get there unlike most teams.
Although people say it isn't , it has proved to be a game with added significance to some people as stadium attendances will back up. We always get a full house against Middlesbrough , even in the championship. It's not a coincidence , whilst the distance between Tyneside and Teeside isn't actually ideal enough for it to be called a "local" derby , it's still a derby.
Fair enough but it's probably because there aren't any other big clubs around them that can actually rival them in football. We have each other and boro is an extra. Their extra IS the big derby.
Once you get past Boro there is nothing until you get to Hull, technically Burnley is closer. We are relatively isolated in the NE, hence games v Boro being a derby.
I disagree TBH. Boro is a local game and therefore carries a bit more significance than say playing Hull but it's got nothing on playing Newcastle. If a game doesn't tie you in knots for weeks beforehand, it can't compare to the real thing.
Isn't that what I'm saying though? It's a derby but isn't exactly as fierce as the Tyne-Wear derby due to the distance between Tyneside/Wearside and Teeside being much bigger. I can't sleep the night before we play you but playing Middlesbrough is a game where I'm relaxed as ever , but do feel a tinge more excited when I walk into the stadium to watch it as it means just a bit more than 3 points.
I never get excited when we play Boro. I don't like them, but I don't like Aston Villa and I don't class them as a derby game.
Living in Teesside Boro's a massive game for me! All my mate's are Boro fans. Growing up they were alway's the team that played Premiership football and made big money signings while I used to look on with envy. It's nice to see things have now changed!
