Morning all, I hope you all feel better than I do. A late night sat up chatting to my host over a pretty good malt as I had to travel down last night for an early KO has left me an almighty hangover. The guy I talked late into the night with is a life time Pompey fan, and we were reflecting on past derby games and the whole rivalry bit. Growing up in Southampton, we had our Pompey "wing" of the family. A now deceased cousin and I would greet each other as "scummer" and "skate git". We agreed on all things non-football, but would need hosing down if discussing anything to do with the beautiful game. My Pompey friend had similar experiences. Next weekend, the best part of 100,000 scousers will descend on Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final. The guy last night asked me if the rivalry between the two teams was intense as it is down South. I told him the not atypical story of a guy I worked with. He was a section manager, 30's very ambitious and frighteningly clever. He is witty and articulate - and a life time Evertonian. The morning after Liverpool won the European Cup in Istanbul I was meeting him to run through his appraisal. He came in and when I greeted him with a cheery "Good Morning" he slumped into a chair and asked (no told) me not to effing well good morning him. He was gutted, and I counselled him for an hour! His appraisal was a formality anyway. The rivalry between Everton and Liverpool is incredibly intense, and many who have never experienced it see the mixed fans and the "Mersey-pride" chants as sign that all the fans shuffle off after the game, the victors are congratulated and the vanquished consoled. No chance. The post mortem can last years. Old sores are resurrected regularly. In conversation with a Blue after the 2006 Cup Final I suggested that we needed to give Liverpool credit for coming back twice. "Give them credit? I wouldn't give those bastards a cold" was the retort. This conversation took place in my local pub with a table full of fans of both clubs. The Red response? Laughter. So why oh why is today going to be treated like WW3 by some of my fellow Saints and some of our fishy friends? I want to win today like I haven't wanted to win any other game for years. I know that there are workplaces where, come Tuesday, bragging rights will be all important. If Pompey can stop us getting promotion their fans will accept relegation. If we can secure promotion and help relegate Pompey there will be a double celebration. To underline how important the rivalry is to me, I will never wear blue (I couldn't even wear blue when it was Saints away colour), and for 90 minutes this afternoon I will see the 11 players on the opposing team as the spawn of Satan - BUT I will not be chanting how much I hate them. I will be supporting the Saints and be desperate for them to win, mostly so that I can sing "We're top of the league". It's a big game for us. Lose and doubts will creep in. Win and we'll wonder what the fuss was all about. But is there any chance we can just focus on supporting our team, and do what we should always do with Pompey - ignore them!
Channon H2O that is a great piece and having lived in the NW myself for 5 years I can concur with your writings. I understand and share your sentiments about the game today and the anti Pompey chanting. However, I just know that I am going to be shouting myself hoarse this lunch time and when tunes like the "sha la la la la la" start up I'll be right there with it. The noise that makes is amazing. I suffered some dogs abuse from blues I know in a good nature banter type of way; I deserved it because for the twenty five years before that I'd revelled in our superiority. Now, I'm ready for the natural order of things to return. I was brought up in a 50:50 red:blue Hampshire town in the 70's and early 80's with a two league gap. Mother nature is about to restore normality. "Come on you saints" "sha la la la la la" "one Markus Liebherr" "we're top of the league" BRING IT ON
Well I know its fairly petty monkey brained behaviour to indulge in but I cant help myself. Hating Pompey has been ingrained in me since I can remember. I was there when they beat us 3-1 at Fratton and started singing that infernal sha-la song and at the 4-1 Cup game I actually gave myself a hernia singing to loudly during the game! So today is a day for sweet revenge....oh and its my birthday too so Im relying on the boys in red and white to give me the perfect pressie
I've no idea if this has already been posted on here, but I've just come across this (Pompey) blog. I have to say, I found it impressive.
I always thought Liverpool's rivalry was with Man U and that the Everton thing was a bit of fun. If football was sterilised to the level some on here want, it would be ****e. You can go to the game safely and have your fun. If some get out of hand that is their choice, they face the consequences.
Ha! The rivalry between Manchester and Liverpool is a general thing. The Blues and Reds will agree they both hate the Mancs both United and City. Mancs feel the same in return. But Everton/Liverpool rivalry is incredibly intense
I lived in Manchester for about ten years, and have lived in Liverpool for the best part of 25 all told and have never heard this one.
Hey Channon, back to your OP, how did his appraisal go? If I had gone in to one and told the appraiser "not to effing well good morning me". I knew things were not going to go to well. Maybe you're are still a big softie southerner at heart.
