Question(s) about English football

What does the term "derby" mean in the following context, a game played today between Middlesbrough and Newcastle:

"A draw was a fair reflection on a north-east derby which provided first-class entertainment for a 28,000 crowd at the Riverside Stadium."

Thanks in advance.

It says "Question(s)" in the thread title so I won't have to start another thread with the next question. There'll likely be more.

A derby game is a game between two rival local teams.. it is meant to originate from a really old game played between two halves of a town in Derbyshire which is still played to date on Shrove Tuesday. As i am from Sunderland i consider the biggest derby game to be between my football (soccer) team Sunderland and Newcastle United. search for 'derby game' on wikipedia also.. Come on Sunderland 🙂

Thank you for the info, it's appreciated. 🙂

I'm trying to study and follow the game and cultivate a real interest in it. I'm sports-mad and since "footy" fans appear to be mad (about their game) too, I'll be right at home once I get a notion of what I'm watching/reading/hearing.

Local rivalries are the best!

Originally posted by 1973mackem
A derby game is a game between two rival local teams.. it is meant to originate from a really old game played between two halves of a town in Derbyshire which is still played to date on Shrove Tuesday. As i am from Sunderland i consider the biggest derby game to be between my football (soccer) team Sunderland and Newcastle United. search for 'derby game' on wikipedia also.. Come on Sunderland 🙂

In london there are lots of clubs. But the biggist 'derby' games are Arseanal .v. Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham .v. Chealsea, West Ham .v. Millwall.

Also Arseanal .v. West ham/ Chealsea. West Ham .v Tottenham/chealsea

Other big Derby games are Manchaster United .v. Manchester City
and in scotland its Rangers .v. Celtic

Milan - Inter is probably the biggest in Europe.

Originally posted by Palynka
Milan - Inter is probably the biggest in Europe.

Hard to quantify.

For sheer craziness and raw emotion, you'd have to give it to Fenebache v Galatasaray
YouTube

Worldwide, you'd have to consider Boca v River Plate, due to the socio-economic chasm between the clubs' respective supporters.

For Eagles; if you want to see a very physical game, derbys will generally guarantee it. Celtic v Rangers would be about as physical as football gets. Quality mightn't be up to much, mind.

D

Originally posted by Ragnorak
Hard to quantify.

For sheer craziness and raw emotion, you'd have to give it to Fenebache v Galatasaray
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2qFFv8SZtU

Worldwide, you'd have to consider Boca v River Plate, due to the socio-economic chasm between the clubs' respective supporters.

For Eagles; if you want to see a very physical game, derbys will generally ...[text shortened]... ers would be about as physical as football gets. Quality mightn't be up to much, mind.

D

Technically Fenerbahçe is in Asia. 😉

From my point of view... you cannot match the atmosphere at a Sheffield United v Sheffield Wendy game...

Thanks for the insight from all!

All I can get here on television (pretty good all the same) are Premier League games but the Celtic vs. Rangers contests sound well worth taking in as are the other derby matches. Maybe I can get them while at work on the super high-speed...