The Severnside derby is a local derby in football in the United Kingdom between Welsh club Cardiff City and either of the English clubs, Bristol City or Bristol Rovers. Alternatively, it may be between Newport County and either of the Bristol-based clubs.
Reasons for the rivalry Although these matches are traditional rivalries between teams which are geographically fairly close, they are different in that they also cross the Wales–England border, increasing somewhat the hostility between the two teams. As well as bragging rights, the matches are seen as an "international contest"."Are you ready?" bcfc.co.uk Retrieved on 10 September 2013"Trundle keen to gun down Bluebirds" Teamtalk.com Retrieved on 27 December 2007 Both sets of fans use this to taunt each other with patriotic songs.
In the Football Fans census in 2003 about football rivalries, Bristol City and Cardiff were listed as 10th and 13th in the UK respectively in a list of teams.
Violence The fans of both Cardiff and Bristol City have a history of hooliganism and have their own hooligan firm: Cardiff's being the Soul Crew and Bristol City with the City Service Firm. Due to the fierce rivalry and the history of the two teams the encounters can end up with some sort of conflict, commonly pre-organised.
In an attempt to discourage the violence, games between the two are usually kept "all coach", meaning that everyone travelling to an away game must travel using the club's official transport and therefore no one can travel to the game of their own accord."Hooligans ready for big kick-off" The Observer Retrieved on 10 September 2013 The coaches are usually accompanied by a heavy police presence and away fans tend to be kept in the ground after the game until the home fans have all left. While this has been mildly successful in stopping organised fights, fans still attempt to attack each other by throwing objects such as bottles and coins during the game.
The violence involved with this derby was featured in a BBC documentary in 2001, Hooligans. In the programme a reporter wearing a hidden camera infiltrated the Soul Crew, exposing the use of racist chanting and abuse as well as a lack of control by stewards and police.
Notable characters in past encounters
Unlike the South Wales derby, and the Bristol derby, it is not usually frowned upon to sign a player or manager who has played for the opposition in the Severnside Derby. The only players that are disfavoured are players who are remembered for one-off incidents.
Such players include former Bristol City player Lee Trundle, who is hated by Cardiff fans for a long affiliation with rivals Swansea City. After winning the LDV Vans Trophy in 2006, Trundle took to the pitch wearing a T-shirt depicting a Swansea fan urinating on a Cardiff City shirt. He also held up a Flag of Wales with the words "Fuck off Cardiff" on it but claimed he did not realise it was written on there.
Head-to-head record
+Results summary From 104 competitive games: Bristol City 42 Wins Cardiff City 39 Wins 23 DrawsLast ResultCardiff City 1 1Bristol City Saturday 15 February 2025 Football League Championship, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 22,433
CompetitionPlayedBristol CityDrawCardiff CityLeague94382135FA Cup7223League Cup3201Totals104422339
Current as of 15 February 2025 Statistics obtained from Soccerbase.
Game list
Date Competition Stadium Score Bristol City scorers Cardiff City scorers Attendance Ref.15 February 2025ChampionshipCardiff City Stadium1–1Jason Knight Yousef Salech 22,4336 October 2024ChampionshipAshton Gate Stadium1–1Luke McNally Ollie Tanner 22,6642 March 2024ChampionshipAshton Gate Stadium1–0 Perry Ng 24,03528 October 2023ChampionshipCardiff City Stadium2-0Perry Ng