David Votoupal
Well-Known Member
Sometimes rivalries become fiercer than ever before when two teams don't play each other for a while, due to changes in divisional status. Well these things happen everywhere.
The Southampton v Portsmouth rivalry is one of the best examples. Pompey enjoyed a golden age from the 20s to 50s, enjoying a long stay in the First Division and winning League titles and the FA Cup. In 1959, however, they were relegated while bitter rivals Southampton won the Third Division title a year later to set up the first meeting between the two sides since 1927. While Portsmouth remained stuck in the Second Division and even spent a year in the third, Southampton rose to the First Division in 1966, bringing about a cessation of hostilities until the mid-70s when Saints were relegated. And in 1976, Southampton won the FA Cup as a Second Division side, while Pompey were relegated from that level and sank into the Fourth Division in 1979- by which time Saints had re-established themselves as a First Division club.
As it were Southampton hung onto that status, albeit increasingly precariously, until 2005. And what happened at Portsmouth in the meantime? Third Division champions in 1983, another promotion in 1987 which meant a resumption of the South Coast derby. But they were instantly relegated, so there were no League meetings between the two until 2003 when Portsmouth won Division One.
It's amazing to see how the fortunes of the two clubs reversed after that promotion. After bumbling around between relegation struggles and mid-table respectability, the trapdoor finally opened for Southampton in 2005. Portsmouth meanwhile are now an established Premiership player, who've won the FA Cup in the same season Southampton barely avoided relegation to League One.
And Genoa provides another good example of a rapid role reversal. Sampdoria and Genoa have very up-and-down histories. and the two clubs yo-yoed between Serie A and B for many years. Genoa however managed to spend a year in Serie C1, before quickly returning to the big time by 1973. 1977 saw Sampdoria relegated from Serie A after a 10-year spell, itself following another prolonged spell in Serie A in the 50s and early 60s. Genoa followed them a year later after a second relegation from Serie A that decade. Promotion for Genoa followed in 1981 for a three-year spell in Serie A, and Sampdoria the following year.
Sampdoria were run by Paolo Mantovani, who knew what he was doing and enticed many good players to the club. They prospered in Serie A, and the 1982-95 period was the club's golden age. They tasted European success, won the Scudetto and reached a European Cup Final. But after Mantovani's death in 1994, the fortunes of the club declined and by 1999 the trapdoor finally opened. Meanwhile, Genoa were promoted to Serie A again in 1989 and two years later finished 4th in the same season Samp won the title... and followed it up with a memorable European run in which they beat Liverpool. But this didn't last, as they were relegated from Serie A by 1995 and spent 12 long and miserable years out of the top flight.
Much happened in the years since. Sampdoria's relegation in 1999 meant a resumption of the derby for another four years before they were promoted back to Serie A. They've been up there since, even having a couple of good seasons. Genoa meanwhile spent years unable to get out of Serie B, and had relegation to C1 cancelled in 2003 due to Caso Catania- thereby creating the current 20-team Serie A and 22-team Serie B. In 2005, they were supposed to be promoted to Serie A, only for a scandal to break out leading to forced relegation. Never mind, they managed back-to-back promotions and followed that up with a good finish back in Serie A.
And this season, it's role reversal. Genoa played second fiddle to Sampdoria for most of the period since the early 80s, and now have usurped that status by moving into a top four place. Sampdoria, meanwhile, have struggled this season and are in the bottom half of the league. Such dramatic role reversals are not unknown, but fascinating after a long time innit?
The Southampton v Portsmouth rivalry is one of the best examples. Pompey enjoyed a golden age from the 20s to 50s, enjoying a long stay in the First Division and winning League titles and the FA Cup. In 1959, however, they were relegated while bitter rivals Southampton won the Third Division title a year later to set up the first meeting between the two sides since 1927. While Portsmouth remained stuck in the Second Division and even spent a year in the third, Southampton rose to the First Division in 1966, bringing about a cessation of hostilities until the mid-70s when Saints were relegated. And in 1976, Southampton won the FA Cup as a Second Division side, while Pompey were relegated from that level and sank into the Fourth Division in 1979- by which time Saints had re-established themselves as a First Division club.
As it were Southampton hung onto that status, albeit increasingly precariously, until 2005. And what happened at Portsmouth in the meantime? Third Division champions in 1983, another promotion in 1987 which meant a resumption of the South Coast derby. But they were instantly relegated, so there were no League meetings between the two until 2003 when Portsmouth won Division One.
It's amazing to see how the fortunes of the two clubs reversed after that promotion. After bumbling around between relegation struggles and mid-table respectability, the trapdoor finally opened for Southampton in 2005. Portsmouth meanwhile are now an established Premiership player, who've won the FA Cup in the same season Southampton barely avoided relegation to League One.
And Genoa provides another good example of a rapid role reversal. Sampdoria and Genoa have very up-and-down histories. and the two clubs yo-yoed between Serie A and B for many years. Genoa however managed to spend a year in Serie C1, before quickly returning to the big time by 1973. 1977 saw Sampdoria relegated from Serie A after a 10-year spell, itself following another prolonged spell in Serie A in the 50s and early 60s. Genoa followed them a year later after a second relegation from Serie A that decade. Promotion for Genoa followed in 1981 for a three-year spell in Serie A, and Sampdoria the following year.
Sampdoria were run by Paolo Mantovani, who knew what he was doing and enticed many good players to the club. They prospered in Serie A, and the 1982-95 period was the club's golden age. They tasted European success, won the Scudetto and reached a European Cup Final. But after Mantovani's death in 1994, the fortunes of the club declined and by 1999 the trapdoor finally opened. Meanwhile, Genoa were promoted to Serie A again in 1989 and two years later finished 4th in the same season Samp won the title... and followed it up with a memorable European run in which they beat Liverpool. But this didn't last, as they were relegated from Serie A by 1995 and spent 12 long and miserable years out of the top flight.
Much happened in the years since. Sampdoria's relegation in 1999 meant a resumption of the derby for another four years before they were promoted back to Serie A. They've been up there since, even having a couple of good seasons. Genoa meanwhile spent years unable to get out of Serie B, and had relegation to C1 cancelled in 2003 due to Caso Catania- thereby creating the current 20-team Serie A and 22-team Serie B. In 2005, they were supposed to be promoted to Serie A, only for a scandal to break out leading to forced relegation. Never mind, they managed back-to-back promotions and followed that up with a good finish back in Serie A.
And this season, it's role reversal. Genoa played second fiddle to Sampdoria for most of the period since the early 80s, and now have usurped that status by moving into a top four place. Sampdoria, meanwhile, have struggled this season and are in the bottom half of the league. Such dramatic role reversals are not unknown, but fascinating after a long time innit?
