What is the best footballing rivalry out there? I'm looking for high points in several categories; sheer blood lust, geographic proximity (or indeed a rivalry based on North v South sarkiness), and more than a soupcon of controversy. Ideally a really contentious event from a bygone era, that one or both teams still bang on about.

The obvious main contenders for the UK are Arsenal-Spurs, Manchester United-Manchester City, Celtic-Rangers and Everton-Liverpool - but are you partial to a bit of Ipswich-Naaarwich fisticuffs? Whatever your derby tipple, please tell us.

We're looking for tales of fans who would gladly remove their own kneecaps and use them as knuckledusters, then gut themselves and wear their entrails like a Rambo headband charging into war against the "oppo" like a wailing Mel Gibson, all in the cause of a victory over their rivals.

'Most Liverpool fans forget that Everton’s wonderful team of the 80s was decimated by the banning of English clubs from Europe'


In terms of griping over the past, both Tottenham and Everton have reasons to moan. Most Liverpool fans forget that Everton’s wonderful team of the 80s was decimated by the banning of English clubs from Europe, that Gary Lineker et al left Everton BECAUSE of this ban, and so one of the most promising eras in Everton’s history was ushered through a trap-door.

More recently, Liverpool Council offered up the Stanley Park option to Liverpool even though they previously led Everton to believe that it was unavailable – now we have little option but to move outside the city.

Spurs fans also have reason to gripe; although this event happened in the murky distant past, it arguably could have had a huge impact on Arsenal's progress towards their current stature as one of England’s great teams. In 1921-22, two seasons after the League restarted following World War One, England had four main divisions and the league decided to increase the number of teams in its first and second divisions from 20 to 22 clubs.

It is the choice of teams for the new, bigger, First Division that remains controversial to this day. In the 1915 season (the last one played before the League resumed), Chelsea and Tottenham finished in the bottom two, and it was widely believed that they would stay up and the league would be joined by the two promoted teams.  Arsenal, who finished fifth in the Second Division, somehow got promotion. And not only that, they managed to relegate Tottenham, too!

From a personal, royal blue, perspective, the big one is clearly Everton-Liverpool; always a heady brew that is as unpredictable and potentially corrosive as a medieval cough syrup (with chain-mail croutons). I always regard the Merseyside derby as a time to really give it some and make Liverpool quake in their polyester pantalones.

To pay lip service to Mr Keegan "I would love it, LOVE IT, LOVE ITTTTT if we beat them!" Both these sides need each other like Heads needs Tails, and whereas Liverpool have pugilist Joe Louis as an ex-fan, we have Sylvester  'Rocky' Stallone.

But I digress. What is the biggest, nastiest, most hardcore rivalry in British football? Post your thoughts below - or submit an article to Sportingo on YOUR choice.