Knowing The West London Derby
The term football derby is in the English dictionary that refers to the rivalry between two football clubs in the same city or area. It is a part of the thrill and heavy tensions when football fans that take a side with which it has a score to settle, and victory if it comes, is all the sweeter.
But then, club rivalries are sparks of riots between fans clubs, and was the case during the heydays of football hooliganism between the 70s and 80s. This heat between supporters of the football clubs spills over into ugly scenes of violence. Numerous causes are the geographical position and are based on complex social dynamics and the long history between fans.
This series of unfortunate events has not vanished, but luckily, the rivalries between clubs are resolved on the pitch instead of on the football clubs or the outside streets. Now, football derby is only for fans who root for their favorite teams but for the bettors who analyze the best bookmakers’ odds to profit and not for the violence.
The West London Derby
The West London Derby is the term named Brentford, Chelsea, Fulham, and Queens Park Rangers, all situated in West London. In English Football, the West London Derby is less prominent than other such derbies because the West London teams are always in different divisions.
Between 1986 up to 2001, Chelsea did have a match with Fulham, and since 1950 they have only faced Brentford only two times. From 1966 up to 2001, Queens Park Ranger (QPR) did not match Brentford and did not play with Chelsea from 1996 up to 2008.
The Teams in West London
Chelsea Football Club. In west London, Chelsea has a rich past. In the last decade, the bulk of their successes have come. Chelsea has won the Premier League four times, twice won the League Cup, won the FA Cup four times, and won the UEFA Europa League in 2013. Finally, they won the largest football trophy, the Champions League, becoming the first team in London to do so, after being taken over by the Russian Billionaire in 2003.
Brentford Football Club. A football club in Greater London, England. The team competes in the second tier of the English Football system, the EFL Championship. The particular football club was founded in 1889 and has had home matches at Griffin Park since 1904 before moving to Brentford Community Stadium in 2020, called the “Bees.”
Fulham Football Club. An English football club professional association based in Fulham, London. They currently play in the Premier League, the English football system’s highest level. They were founded in 1879 and are the oldest football club to play professionally in London.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club. An English professional football club based in White City, London, and is usually abbreviated as QPR. The club currently competes in the second tier of English football, the EFL Championship. Following the merger of Christchurch Rangers and St. Judes Institute, they were founded in 1886, although their official founding date is 1882, the first time Christchurch Rangers were established.
The Most Heated West London Derbies
Brentford VS QPR
As Griffin Park is a mere four and a half miles away from Loftus Road, the first and most obvious explanation for the competition is both clubs’ proximity. They spent almost every season for the next 20 years in the same division after World War II.
The ties between the two teams have been frosty since then. It is one of London football’s greatest rivalries outside of the Premier League.
QPR VS Chelsea
You would expect Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers to be at each other’s throats as local rivals, but because of the gap in stature between the two, which has not been the case for a long time.
Chelsea has flourished over the last few decades, while the rangers bounced between leagues up and down. QPR fans also regard Chelsea as their biggest rivals. However, their fans consider it as one of London football’s greatest foes.
Takeaway
It comes as no surprise that football is the most popular sport in the region. The rise of the sport’s popularity has led to strong local loyalties to London football clubs, creating some fierce rivalries between fans and players.
The most important part is everyone is enjoying the game despite these rivalries and hopefully not resulting in violent acts like in the past.
