The Oxford/Swindon rivalry explained

[Red]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17224115

Can't help but think they've picked the rivalry in the Didcot triangle there.

Or is it fair enough with Reading's traditional rivals being Aldershot? Either way the A420 derby doesn't really have a ring to it.

[TBM]

I dont understand what it is you're asking?

If its are Oxford and Swindon rivals, then yes, their fans class each other as such.....

[Wax Jacket]

yep you're on the wrong track here Redders I'm afraid, it's the big one for the fans of those two clubs

[Fox Talbot]

yep you're on the wrong track here Redders I'm afraid, it's the big one for the fans of those two clubs

Yokel Derby.

[FiNeRaIn]

Can't take any of the rivalry's round here serious, all too middle class. Big city derby's are the only good ones.

[No Fixed Abode]

Can't take any of the rivalry's round here serious, all too middle class. Big city derby's are the only good ones.

I dunno - I've been to a few away games at Swindon and Oxford before. Prwoper nawty.

[Red]

Really? What do you mean by "Prwoper nawty" (sounds like something NSML would say)

Admittedly I ask as someone who's never been to the fixture, but I must say I'm inclined to take the unusual position of agreeing with finerain.

[No Fixed Abode]

Really? What do you mean by "Prwoper nawty" (sounds like something NSML would say)

Admittedly I ask as someone who's never been to the fixture, but I must say I'm inclined to take the unusual position of agreeing with finerain.

Nawty in terms of trouble. I recall leaving the Manor Ground after a midweek game, Reading were mob handed - stormed up the road past the crown green bowling place and caused carnage at the top of the road (with the junction of the main road) near the pub. Pub was smashed up, police horses charging everyone. Some of the worst trouble I've witnessed.

[Cobi]

I've been to two nasty games at Oxford. One at the Manor and then the shitpit Kassam. They treat it as a bigger derby than we do, but it's still a local rivalry and I miss those games. As a football club it's healthy to have them.

[Red]

Really? What do you mean by "Prwoper nawty" (sounds like something NSML would say)

Admittedly I ask as someone who's never been to the fixture, but I must say I'm inclined to take the unusual position of agreeing with finerain.

Nawty in terms of trouble. I recall leaving the Manor Ground after a midweek game, Reading were mob handed - stormed up the road past the crown green bowling place and caused carnage at the top of the road (with the junction of the main road) near the pub. Pub was smashed up, police horses charging everyone. Some of the worst trouble I've witnessed.

Again using words like "carnage" and "trouble" doesn't really paint the scene for me here.

I'm still imagining a few middle aged blokes with receding hair lines and beer bellies, a lot of gesturing, and a little bit of fisticuffs between a handful of gelled hair youths. And the police over reacting.

[From Despair To Where?]

I was always told by Swindon fans when I worked there that the Oxford-Swindon rivalry was centred a lot around the Rover factories that used to be in both towns, especially when there was a strike in Oxford and Rover brought in scab labour from Swindon to break it, something that went to the very core of the respective communities deeper than football.

[Stuka]

I was always told by Swindon fans when I worked there that the Oxford-Swindon rivalry was centred a lot around the Rover factories that used to be in both towns, especially when there was a strike in Oxford and Rover brought in scab labour from Swindon to break it, something that went to the very core of the respective communities deeper than football.

Interesting I think Millwall v West Ham rivalry might have some industrial dimension to it as well amongst other things. Dockers at either side of the river Thames.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millwall_F ... C._rivalry

[Red]

I was always told by Swindon fans when I worked there that the Oxford-Swindon rivalry was centred a lot around the Rover factories that used to be in both towns, especially when there was a strike in Oxford and Rover brought in scab labour from Swindon to break it, something that went to the very core of the respective communities deeper than football.

Now that is interesting. We're finally making some ground here.

If true it's disappointing it wasn't mentioned in the beeb article, mind.

[Stuka]

Reading's rivalry with Oxford has its roots in the city's greedy attempts to produce biscuits to compete with Reading's main export during the depression. Workers and biscuit barons from throughout the Thames Valley were locked in bitter industrial and commercial disputes which sometimes spilled over onto football arena. On bank holiday derby days baying fans pelting one another with chocolate digestives, hob nobs, and party rings. Segregated seating was introduced for the first time, marshalled by a local vicar.

[grey_squirrel]

I was always told by Swindon fans when I worked there that the Oxford-Swindon rivalry was centred a lot around the Rover factories that used to be in both towns, especially when there was a strike in Oxford and Rover brought in scab labour from Swindon to break it, something that went to the very core of the respective communities deeper than football.

That is absolutely correct + in the '70's they played each other a lot more than we did each.

I know lifelong Swindon and Oxford supporters and they just laugh at the suggestion of us being their rivals. They couldn;t give a hoot about Reading. A bit like us and Bournemouth.

[Platypuss]

I was always told by Swindon fans when I worked there that the Oxford-Swindon rivalry was centred a lot around the Rover factories that used to be in both towns, especially when there was a strike in Oxford and Rover brought in scab labour from Swindon to break it, something that went to the very core of the respective communities deeper than football.

That is absolutely correct + in the '70's they played each other a lot more than we did each.

I know lifelong Swindon and Oxford supporters and they just laugh at the suggestion of us being their rivals. They couldn;t give a hoot about Reading. A bit like us and Bournemouth.

How long is lifelong in that context, though? Oxford United didn't even exist until 1960, and weren't a league team for a few more years. Somehow I don't believe Swindon had a massive rivalry with Headington United before then.....

[Jerry St Clair]

How long is lifelong in that context, though? Oxford United didn't even exist until 1960, and weren't a league team for a few more years. Somehow I don't believe Swindon had a massive rivalry with Headington United before then.....

Biscuits and Royals, the David Downs book, says that before Oxford entered the league in the 60s there would usually be a handful of Tappins coaches bringing supporters down from Oxfordshire to watch Reading games. He describes the sight of "a line of orange coaches lined up on Norfolk Road".

When Oxford entered the league, these coaches pretty much disappeared and it's assumed that these supporters started going to the Manor instead of Elm Park. I guess a lot of time has passed, but I'd say nicking another club's supporters is decent grounds for animosity.

[Jerry St Clair]

Again using words like "carnage" and "trouble" doesn't really paint the scene for me here.

I'm still imagining a few middle aged blokes with receding hair lines and beer bellies, a lot of gesturing, and a little bit of fisticuffs between a handful of gelled hair youths. And the police over reacting.

The Manor in 1998 and the Kassam 2003 were both pretty respectable efforts at hooliganism by both sets of fans. I remember walking down London Road shortly after the 98 game and the road being absolutely covered in broken glass, bottles and even snooker balls. As I passed the John Radcliffe I was met by the glorious sight of police horses being chased by Reading fans. Never seen that before or since. Great skillz.

[grey_squirrel]

How long is lifelong in that context, though? Oxford United didn't even exist until 1960, and weren't a league team for a few more years. Somehow I don't believe Swindon had a massive rivalry with Headington United before then.....

Biscuits and Royals, the David Downs book, says that before Oxford entered the league in the 60s there would usually be a handful of Tappins coaches bringing supporters down from Oxfordshire to watch Reading games. He describes the sight of "a line of orange coaches lined up on Norfolk Road".

When Oxford entered the league, these coaches pretty much disappeared and it's assumed that these supporters started going to the Manor instead of Elm Park. I guess a lot of time has passed, but I'd say nicking another club's supporters is decent grounds for animosity.

Jerry and Platy - Not arguing with historical facts, just stating the feeling - and the way it is - for the Ox/Sw diehards. As I said Bournemouth regard us as 'rivals' (presumably because we were their closest opponents for a stretch) as do Wycombe to a degree latterly, yet we would sneer at the suggestion of both.

[From Despair To Where?]

I was always told by Swindon fans when I worked there that the Oxford-Swindon rivalry was centred a lot around the Rover factories that used to be in both towns, especially when there was a strike in Oxford and Rover brought in scab labour from Swindon to break it, something that went to the very core of the respective communities deeper than football.

That is absolutely correct + in the '70's they played each other a lot more than we did each.

I know lifelong Swindon and Oxford supporters and they just laugh at the suggestion of us being their rivals. They couldn;t give a hoot about Reading. A bit like us and Bournemouth.

The other thing to support the theory is that the car factories were the single biggest blue collar employers in both towns in the 70's and, one would assume, therefore a large proportion of the core support of both teams would work for Rover.