Derby Days

Take two towns steeped in war, tragedy and violence add a deep passion for local football and pit them against each other and you have one hell of a Derby Day. The intense rivalries between clubs that haven’t met for a prolonged amount of time, be it, 7, 9 or even 10 years… until of course this season. What happens to a rivalry when there’s an absence of meetings, is it a case of absence makes the heart grow fonder or is the rivalry is even more heated thanks to the anxious wait? Across England, Germany and Italy, Eli is here to find out. First up, it's the South Coast derby. Perhaps the rarest played major derby in the UK and certainly one of the most ferocious, thanks to two cities and sets of fans who have a hell of a lot of passion, pride, and personality as well as an edge you wouldn't want to cross. It's Portsmouth v Southampton for the first time in Seven years, in the Third round of the Carabao Cup and just like every other time they've met, there’s going to be scenes. A massive thank you to Rob, Rob Rich, Eddie, Jake, Nick, Phil, Ian, Stuart, Eugene, Alex, Wicksy, Sulley, Lloyd, Tayler, Tony, Ollie, Coco, Milts, and of course Jay and Duncan, plus SouthSea Coffee, The Three Marines pub, The Saints Pub, Kendal Kaff, The Marriott’s family, Portsmouth Central Library, Moneyfields Boxing, The Milton Arms, The Bluebell pub and everyone else who contributed to Derby Days: South Coast.

In this episode we head to Berlin, as for the very first time in Bundesliga 1, the city’s big club Hertha Berlin, based in the West, take on the rising force of the East, Union Berlin. Just like the city, the two clubs share a contradicting, complex and storied relationship, unlike any other in world football. As a result this meeting always promised to be a special occasion both on and off the pitch. It certainly delivered.

In this episode we head to Lombardy, Italy, for the first derby in more than a decade between Brescia Calcio and Atalanta B.C. Two clubs who share a rivalry that goes way beyond football and into every facet of local culture from the dialect to the food to the culture of war and violence in the region. Despite being provincial neighbours, different time spent in different divisions meant the two had been suffering their longest derby drought, until this season, where they would both finally meet in Serie A.