Is Middlesbrough a derby game?


Status
Not open for further replies.
Tbf, there's a dearth of pro clubs in our region compared to London where there's what, 10/15 clubs ?

Really, that does genuinely surprise me .

I have been at AP when there's been less than 13k but they still made a good noise.
Also been at RP when under 17k there - Lee Howey winner.
Yes mate, I think probably the last 3 times Sunderland has played Boro at home it's been maybe been around 4th biggest attendance? Still loads of interest in the game on our side though..
 
Absolutely not. Growing up it was always Sunderland or Newcastle, nothing else. Never even met a Boro fan before.
 

Just seen this discussion.

For me the answer's no.

It's a nice bit of regional pride to beat them, but otherwise I don't find I have a reason to despise them like the mags or feel strong emotions.

I also seen a thought provoking reply to that noting that we don't hold grudges against our former players who go there either (Arca, Leadbitter) whereas that's not the case with those up the road.
I would say it is. The Sunderland v Middlesboro games that I've been to have had that derby feel to them (albeit not as intense as Newcastle). I wouldn't like to put a 'cut off point' to what isn't a derby, but Sunderland to Boro down the A19 is only a half hour drive.
 
Well going back to the 1960s the Big Three, as they were referred to, of the NE were Sunderland, Newcastle and Boro. So Boro was classed as a derby back then but obviously not as competitive as the Newcastle one.
 
Tbf, there's a dearth of pro clubs in our region compared to London where there's what, 10/15 clubs ?

Really, that does genuinely surprise me .

I have been at AP when there's been less than 13k but they still made a good noise.
Also been at RP when under 17k there - Lee Howey winner.
But its also a question of the respective fans living & working cheek by jowl their communities rubbing up against one another and the importance of getting the bragging rights down the local pub or club. I have never been to Nissan but I bet there a good mixure of Mags and Lads fans on the factory floor. as there will be in most big work places in the Newcastle & Sunderland conurbation.

When we give the Smoggies a clobbering the best opportunity most of our fans get to rub it in during the rest of the season is when they are next on the A19 crossing the Tees bridge on their way to somewhere else
 
I don't care whether its a Derby or not. But for people to say its just another game is bullshit.
I've been to Roker Park and the stadium of light on a few occasions as a boro fan .
I would definitely say us boro fans get a bit more wound up over it though.
Funny when I was at the stadium of light one year police helicopters flying over head .hell on.
Copper said this only happens for ncle.man utd .boro. Leeds..
Derby or not who cares .
Just another game total shite
 
I would say it is. The Sunderland v Middlesboro games that I've been to have had that derby feel to them (albeit not as intense as Newcastle). I wouldn't like to put a 'cut off point' to what isn't a derby, but Sunderland to Boro down the A19 is only a half hour drive.
I've been to a canny few derbies v Boro that have been just as intense as Vs the mags - 75 fa cup defeat, 81 Hedley winner, 92 Davenport vital winner, Dazzler at RS 97 etc etc
 
From a Boro point of view of course it is. 25 miles apart between the two and loads of Sunderland fans around South Durham/North Teesside.

You are our nearest big club and often when we play there’s drama/trouble/incidents….

I think the Tyne-Wear is that big, we’re pretty much insignificant and a match at the Riverside doesn’t compare to one at St James.

If I could compare I’d say it’s similar to Derby vs Forest + Leicester… however we are in a region where there’s literally only three big clubs.

I don’t think our absence from the Prem helped the rivalry as you lot beat Newcastle 6 times in a row…

During the 80’s/90’s/00’s the games felt different.

Either way a game vs a team local is a game you should always want to win, football always has been and will be tribal.
 
Probably needs to be a new phrase/word to describe these "not a derby" but in some ways "like a derby".

For me >
Tier 1 Proper Derby - vs The Mags
Tier 2 A bit like a derby - Boro, Leeds, Hull.
Tier 3 Regular game
 
Last edited:

Just seen this discussion.

For me the answer's no.

It's a nice bit of regional pride to beat them, but otherwise I don't find I have a reason to despise them like the mags or feel strong emotions.

I also seen a thought provoking reply to that noting that we don't hold grudges against our former players who go there either (Arca, Leadbitter) whereas that's not the case with those up the road.

It is as much as people like to say it’s not.

It’s the second derby and nothing compared to the real one but still a derby.
 
Probably needs to be a new phrase/word to describe these "not a derby" but in some ways "like a derby".

For me >
Tier 1 Proper Derby - vs The Mags
Tier 2 A bit like a derby - Boro, Leeds, Hull.
Tier 3 Regular game
Leeds and Hull are just regular games like. I mean Blackburn is closer than Hull!
 
I noticed some Newcastle fans obviously on the wind up on twitter saying this is now Sunderland's main game as they are now operating on a different level.

Embrace it lads 😜
 
When we play the mags I get butterflies, I have about 6 shites before the match, total elation for about a month afterwards if we win, gutted for a month if we lose.....I get none of these feelings v Boro.....so not really, not for me
They have never meant anything in the AlunB household. Smogs at work are confident they will get a result. Hope we batter the radioactive clowns.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Back
Top