This is a pretty old article - Feb 2010, but interesting none-the-less. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ls-Southampton-Portsmouth-bitter-enemies.html
Hate is such and emotive word and for me is a wasted feeling it blinds people that they become irrational. I remember the Ted Bates episode so dignity and respect were clouded by hate - pity he deserved better. Not that it is one sided but I think the hatred is more East West and I have always wondered why. I can think of people more deserving of the word but not supporters/followers of football teams and I must admit I class myself now as a follower as to me a supporter is one who puts money out at the turnstile merchandising shops etc I become a supporter every two years when I venture north back home and usually manage to get a couple of games in. I might next time venture to Fratton and find a boozer where you group before a game - I will be the one with the funny hat with corks ridiculously hanging off it.
Have to say that all through my teens and twenties, I couldn't understand the bile from some Pompey fans. I think most Saints fans felt that Pompey were nothing at all to them, but the hatred east-west was palpable. (It's worth pointing out that we didn't have a term of abuse for Pompey's fans until a fanzine suggested we out to have one.)
