Thing is, as tempting as it is to use a term with a bit of alliteration, the game is quite simply not a derby, and it certainly isn't regarded as such by Pompey fans. When we or Plymouth based journalists use the term it feeds Pompey fans' superiority complex.
From the day I became a GUZZ rating in September 1966, the games against Pompey were always known as "The Battle of the Ports". Never has been a "derby" and never will be.
From the day I became a GUZZ rating in September 1966, the games against Pompey were always known as "The Battle of the Ports". Never has been a "derby" and never will be.
For example when Liverpool play Everton this season I'm sure some wags will term it The Benitez Derby, Forest v Derby is often called the Brian Clough Derby and only a few hours ago someone said 'Lindgaard Derby' when West Ham played Man Utd.
Me? I've always liked the Dockyard Derby as the link is obvious, there's a lot of ports (Dover v Falmouth) and every game we play against them seems to be played like a derby.
One thing is for sure, this fixture will
befuddle some journalists and graphic designers charged with producing maps for publication, who previously believed the two places to be one and the same.