Our rivalry with Boro

We have loaned a player to Boro, neither us or the mags would ever even consider doing that to each other. That's the size of it.

 

‘Rivalry’

 

Exactly as you said. I’m not really bothered about them but they’re desperate to hate us. In reality they have a much smaller fan base but have been better run than us until recent years.

 

its more of a one way derby, Boro see it more of as proper derby,

for me, its like when clubs tried to force something in L1

its like Bournemouth/Brighton trying to force something with Southampton when they were all in the PL.

 

Not a derby for me. Doesn't even feel like a big game when we play them.

 

It was definitely a derby in the 70's and much more dangerous than going to SJP.

Ayresome Park was horrendous and saw some of the worst violence in the country.

They treat it as a major derby so we had to do the same ...

... the local police would simply stand back and watch when the trouble started.

 

I remember being there on one of my first away games when you could just pay on the day. 12000 fans turned up and they only had 2 turnstiles open, it was bedlam and fans were pushing and banging on that big red gate.
The police were riding horses through the crowd to try and disperse it and things only got worse. Eventually the gates either were opened or gave way and everybody just flooded in.
Luckily Boro were not that well supported so inside the stadium fans just spilled over into vacant areas otherwise it could have turned into a really nasty incident.

 

Really was bad for violence, one place you never answered when asked the time.

 

It's a north-east derby but pales in comparison to the Mags whom with we have history dating back to the civil war as well as almost daily interactions with them if you live in Sunderland or the immediate area. If you live near a Smoggy area it would naturally mean you are more used to dealing with them, so it would mean a bit more.

For what it's worth, I don't hate Boro and wouldn't mind seeing them back in the Premiership, so long as they finish below us.

 

It was usually time to run

 

As a Jarra lad ,I never came across them on a day today basis so i have never thought of them as a local derby . Take no interest in them at all really .Would prefer all 3 clubs to be in the top league though .