Rivalry inquiry

[Guest MattP]

The Leicester/Nottingham rivalry is similar to those in other areas of the UK (Newcastle-Sunderland, Ipswich-Norwich, Southampton-Portsmouth etc) in that it exists way beyond football. In fact, it dates back centuries, right back to the Civil War, when Leicester backed Cromwell and Nottingham backed the monarchy.

The repercussions have lasted ever since and help to explain why Nottingham, despite only being the second-biggest city in the East Midlands, is widely regarded as the region's capital, thus securing investment, jobs and resources which by rights should be coming here. Some of us recall how it even attempted to claim the region's airport as its own, despite the fact that the facility is actually closer to Derby than Nottingham and is serviced by council tax payers in Leicester. And for many years, "regional" television stations have given far more prominence to stories in Nottingham (where of course the main studios are located) than those in and around Leicester.

These actions help to build a resentment which would exist even without football, but does explain the tensions that have been evident (on both sides) at Leicester-Forest matches since the 1960s at least. They may not be on the scale or intensity of Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, but they do deserve to be acknowledged and recognised.

Although technically speaking, Forest's longest and closest rivalry is not with Derby or us, but with their neighbours across the river, who for a brief period in the mid-1970s were actually Nottingham's premier club. I hope County can meet them on an equal footing again in the near future.

Do you really think anyone is thinking about Olivrr Cromwell when we play Forest

[Mike the Metal Ed]

Do you really think anyone is thinking about Olivrr Cromwell when we play Forest

Way to miss his point. He's just showing how the seeds were planted.

It needs some verification, no doubt. But it's reasonable, Nottingham does get a lot more attention and better entertainment than Leicester. It all started somewhere.

[Guest MattP]

Way to miss his point. He's just showing how the seeds were planted.

It needs some verification, no doubt. But it's reasonable, Nottingham does get a lot more attention and better entertainment than Leicester. It all started somewhere.

I didn't miss the point at all Mike, I'm a huge fan of Oliver Cromwell but to suggest the civil war that turned us into a constitutional republic efor a very short time as reasoning for why we are so far behind NottIngham is ridiculous, for that to be true you would have to ignore the 1800's where Leicester was a far more resourceful and productive town than Nottingham during the industrial revolution and ignore all the other cities that backed/fell to the Lord Protector that have significantly developed despite it.

Good story though if we want to go down that route.

It's pretty irrelevant anyway , soon as you have done a fair bit if travelling you realise Leicester, Derby and Nottingham are pretty much 3 logs floating in the toilet bowl that is the East Midlands.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

I didn't miss the point at all Mike, I'm a huge fan of Oliver Cromwell but to suggest the civil war that turned us into a constitutional republic for a very short time as reasoning for why we are so far behind NottIngham is ridiculous, for that to be true you would have to ignore the 1800's where Leicester was a far more resourceful and productive town than Nottingham and ignore all the other cities that backed/fell to the Lord Protector that have significantly developed despite it.

See now you put it like that, it's also a good point instead of ridicule. I must say I'm entirely ignorant on the subject, so if you're going to debunk him, put some detail into it.

[Guest MattP]

See now you put it like that, it's also a good point instead of ridicule. I must say I'm entirely ignorant on the subject, so if you're going to debunk him, put some detail into it.

I'm far to pissed to go into 1500's history at this time of the morning on a phone

I'll have a go tomorrow...

[The Year Of The Fox]

Suptised chelsea has only one mention. If you want to talk about a club who, historically especially, hate us more than direby n florist, its these.

[Weller in Tights]

1. Forest, it has to be

2. Derby

Maybe it should be Cov, certainly if you live Hinckley way.

My personal hates,

[*]Leeds for the arrogant Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire rubbish they come out with.

[*]Man Utd for the oh so funny ironic chanting they do with their Cockney/Cornish accents.

[*]Chelsea/West Ham/Millwall for their we are so fackin ard attitude.

[*]Leeds/Chelsea/Millwall for their racist scum that follow them.

[*]Newcastle/Sunderland for their we are the heart of football in the north east you know.

[Weller in Tights]

Chelsea really do appear to hate us.

A number of reasons, one of them being many years ago a group of their top lads getting outnumbered and spanked.

They have sung in europe

We will follow the Chelsea over land and sea and Leicester. The and Leicester always screamed with that squeaky cockney accent.

[The Year Of The Fox]

Chelsea really do appear to hate us.

A number of reasons, one of them being many years ago a group of their top lads getting outnumbered and spanked.

They have sung in europe

We will follow the Chelsea over land and sea and Leicester. The and Leicester always screamed with that squeaky cockney accent.

Think we done them over numerous times didn't we? Boxing day, the same day as hillsbro too I think. Knew they sing that song about us too!

[Schlupp]

Living in Hinckley. Has to he Coventry for me.

This.Although I despise Forest allot more than Coventry.

[Austin]

F#rest

[VinceNoir]

Forest probably. In 10 years it will be Man City because we'll be battling for the title.

[The Year Of The Fox]

Not sure why people claim to hate Man Utd as much as they do?

Explain someone, please...