I felt it was strange that the cheers on Wearside were louder for Newcastle’s demise than the fact that they had
managed to secure survival.
As a Manchester City fan for as long as I can
remember, I can certainly admit to a bit of schaedenfreude when it comes to the
team from Salford – I have certainly enjoyed them being knocked off their
pedestal over the last five years or so as the blues have made their meteoric
rise.
This feeling of satisfaction comes from a generation
of oppression and domination by the red half of the city. My memories of the
competition between the two growing up was interspersed between regular
relegations for my side, and when they did take to the pitch together, all too
often there was only going to be one outcome. Needless to say, it made my
school days at times difficult as I tried to defend myself from the merciless mickey-taking!
However, as City have embarked on a revolutionary
journey in recent years, the balance has shifted, and until recently, had been
on an eight match winning streak against United. In the most recent games
between the pair, they have established an extremely healthy competition, with
both trading victories and creating interesting and balanced matches. As a
result, while I’d never actively wish success on them, I think I’d miss the
competition and local intrigue created if they were relegated.
That’s why I don’t understand it in the rivalry
between Newcastle and Sunderland. Having lived in the North East for three
years, I experienced the strength of feeling between the two cities, and the
rivalry on the pitch. However, unlike the city of Manchester derby, there has
been no one side that has historically dominated in their rivalry, never mind
English football, and therefore fans cannot point to years of humiliation and
oppression for their reason behind wishing the other was relegated.
In my eyes, no derby means less excitement for the
rest of the season, so while Sunderland fans can celebrate the relegation of
the Magpies for the moment, I’m sure even the most hardcore of fans will find
next year more boring as a result.
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