Severnside derby

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.^[1] Alternatively, it may be between Newport County and either of the Bristol-based clubs.

Severnside derby

Location	South Wales and West Country (England)
Teams	Bristol City Cardiff City
First meeting	Bristol City 2–0 Cardiff City FA Cup (9 January 1915)
Latest meeting	Cardiff City 1–1 Bristol City EFL Championship (15 February 2025)
Stadiums	Ashton Gate Stadium (Bristol City) Cardiff City Stadium (Cardiff City)
Statistics
Meetings total	104
Most wins	Bristol City (42 wins)
Most player appearances	Louis Carey (Bristol City) (36)
Largest victory	Bristol City 0–6 Cardiff City (26 January 2010)
Bristol City Cardiff City

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.^{[citation needed]} As well as bragging rights, the matches are seen as an "international contest".^[2][3] 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.^[1]

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.^[4]

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.^[5] 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.^[4]

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.^[4]

Notable characters in past encounters

Bristol City and Cardiff City meet at Ashton Gate in March 2009

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.^[6][7]

Head-to-head record

Results summary

From 104 competitive games: Bristol City 42 Wins Cardiff City 39 Wins 23 Draws
Last Result
Cardiff City 1 1 Bristol City Saturday 15 February 2025 Football League Championship, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 22,433

Competition	Played	Bristol City	Draw	Cardiff City
League	94	38	21	35
FA Cup	7	2	2	3
League Cup	3	2	0	1
Totals	104	42	23	39

Current as of 15 February 2025 Statistics obtained from Soccerbase.^[8]

Game list

  Bristol City win   Cardiff City win   Draw

Date	Competition	Stadium	Score	Bristol City scorers[9]	Cardiff City scorers[10]	Attendance[11]	Ref.
15 February 2025	Championship	Cardiff City Stadium	1–1	Jason Knight 60'	Yousef Salech 90'	22,433
6 October 2024	Championship	Ashton Gate Stadium	1–1	Luke McNally 73'	Ollie Tanner 54'	22,664
2 March 2024	Championship	Ashton Gate Stadium	1–0		Perry Ng 66'	24,035
28 October 2023	Championship	Cardiff City Stadium	2-0		Perry Ng 33' Rubin Colwill 90+1'	25,806
4 March 2023	Championship	Cardiff City Stadium	2–0		Sory Kaba 52' Jaden Philogene 70'	22,156
21 August 2022	Championship	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–0	Tommy Conway 41' Robert Atkinson 64'		21,649
22 January 2022	Championship	Ashton Gate Stadium	3–2	Chris Martin 33', 63' Andreas Weimann 77'	James Collins 31' Max Watters 90'	21,435
28 August 2021	Championship	Cardiff City Stadium	2–1	Andreas Weimann 21', 70'	Dan Bentley 51' (o.g.)	20,891
6 February 2021	Championship	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–0		Curtis Nelson 18' Kieffer Moore 25'	0
6 November 2020	Championship	Cardiff City Stadium	1–0	Chris Martin 2'		0
4 July 2020	Championship	Ashton Gate Stadium	1–0		Danny Ward 85'	0
10 Nov 2019	Championship	Cardiff City Stadium	1–0	Josh Brownhill 67'		23,846
Cardiff City were relegated to Championship 2018–19
Cardiff City were promoted to Premier League 2017–18
25 Feb 2018	Championship	Cardiff City Stadium	1–0		Kenneth Zohore 82'	21,018
4 Nov 2017	Championship	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–1	Callum O'Dowda 20' Aden Flint 66'	Omar Bogle 55'	21,692
14 Jan 2017	Championship	Ashton Gate Stadium	3–2	Brian Murphy 51' (o.g.) Tammy Abraham 78'	Anthony Pilkington 74' (pen.), 85' Kadeem Harris 82'	19,452
14 Oct 2016	Championship	Cardiff City Stadium	2–1	Lee Tomlin 69'	Peter Whittingham 25 Pen' Sol Bamba 67'	22,776	[g 1]
5 Mar 2016	Championship	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–0		Lex Immers 21' Stuart O'Keefe 83'	15,758	[g 2]
26 October 2015	Championship	Cardiff City Stadium	0–0			15,287
Bristol City were promoted to Championship 2014–15
Cardiff City were relegated to Championship 2013–14
Bristol City were relegated to League One 2012–13 Cardiff City were promoted to Premier League 2012–13
16 Feb 2013	Championship	Cardiff City Stadium	2–1	Ben Nugent 90' (o.g.)	Fraizer Campbell 45', 58'	25,586
25 Aug 2012	Championship	Ashton Gate Stadium	4–2	Stephen Pearson 32', Martyn Woolford 45', 70', Sam Baldock 87'	Joe Mason 57', Heidar Helguson 82'	14,368	[g 3]
10 Mar 2012	Championship	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–1	Jon Stead 52'	Stephen McManus 45' (o.g.), Kalifa Cissé 87' (o.g.)	12,495	[g 4]
14 Aug 2011	Championship	Cardiff City Stadium	3–1	Nicky Maynard 82'	Mark Hudson 18', Craig Conway 23', Robert Earnshaw 36'	22,639	[g 5]
1 Jan 2011	Championship	Ashton Gate Stadium	3–0	Brett Pitman 3', Lee Johnson 39', Jamal Campbell-Ryce 55'		15,638	[g 6]
16 Oct 2010	Championship	Cardiff City Stadium	3–2	Steven Caulker 6', Jon Stead 8'	Jay Bothroyd 12', Peter Whittingham 46', 78'	22,444	[g 7]
26 Jan 2010	Championship	Ashton Gate Stadium	6–0		Peter Whittingham 19', Ross McCormack 23', 57', Michael Chopra 24', 46', Liam Fontaine 43' (o.g.)	13,825	[g 8]
19 Jan 2010	FA Cup	Cardiff City Stadium	1–0		Bradley Orr 74' (o.g.)	6,731	[g 9]
12 Jan 2010	FA Cup	Ashton Gate Stadium	1–1	Gavin Williams 90'	Michael Chopra 76'	7,289	[g 10]
23 Aug 2009	Championship	Cardiff City Stadium	3–0		Jamie McCombe 37' (o.g.), Michael Chopra 45', Gavin Rae 66'	20,853	[g 11]
15 Mar 2009	Championship	Ashton Gate Stadium	1–1	Nicky Maynard 71'	Ross McCormack 88'	17,487
13 Sep 2008	Championship	Ninian Park	0–0			19,312
22 Mar 2008	Championship	Ninian Park	2–1	Dele Adebola 73'	Roger Johnson 44', Peter Whittingham 81'	16,458
15 Dec 2007	Championship	Ashton Gate Stadium	1–0	Marvin Elliott 57'		15,753
Bristol City were promoted to Championship 2006–07
Cardiff City were promoted to First Division 2002–03
13 May 2003	Second Division play-offs	Ashton Gate Stadium	0–0			16,307
10 May 2003	Second Division play-offs	Ninian Park	1–0		Peter Thorne (74)	19,146
22 Apr 2003	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–0	Brian Tinnion 55' (pen.), Christian Roberts 73'		15,615
14 Dec 2002	Second Division	Ninian Park	2–0	Brian Tinnion 49', Christian Roberts 76'		15,239
29 Dec 2001	Second Division	Ninian Park	3–1	Scott Murray 56', 58', Lee Matthews 60'	Graham Kavanagh 47'	16,149
9 Oct 2001	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	1–1	Mickey Bell 56'	Robert Earnshaw 45' (pen.)	13,804
Cardiff City are promoted to Second Division 2000–01
Cardiff City are relegated to Third Division 1999–2000
22 Feb 2000	Second Division	Ninian Park	0–0			6,586
9 Jan 2000	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	0–0			10,570
Bristol City are relegated to Second Division 1998–99 Cardiff City are promoted to Second Division 1998–99
Bristol City are promoted to First Division 1997–98
Bristol City are relegated to Second Division 1994–95 Cardiff City are relegated to Third Division 1994–95
Cardiff City are promoted to Second Division 1992–93
25 Aug 1992	League Cup	Ashton Gate Stadium	5–1	Andy Cole (3), Leroy Rosenior, Wayne Allison	Carl Dale	9,801
18 Aug 1992	League Cup	Ninian Park	1–0		Carl Dale	4,066
Cardiff City are relegated to Fourth Division 1989–90
10 Feb 1990	Third Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	1–0	Gary Shelton		11,982
16 Sep 1989	Third Division	Ninian Park	3–0	Gary Shelton, Bob Taylor, Robbie Turner		5,970
1 Apr 1989	Third Division	Ninian Park	1–1	Bob Taylor	Nicky Platnauer	6,358
17 Dec 1988	Third Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–0	Rob Newman, Nigel Hawkins		7,493
Cardiff City are promoted to Third Division 1987–88
Cardiff City are relegated to Fourth Division 1985–86
25 Jan 1986	Third Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–1	Steve Neville, Gary Marshall	Paul Wheeler	7,541
14 Sep 1985	Third Division	Ninian Park	3–1	Alan Walsh (2), Howard Pritchard	Graham Withey	4,412
Cardiff City are relegated to Third Division 1984–85
Bristol City are promoted to Third Division 1983–84
Cardiff City are promoted to Second Division 1982–83
Bristol City are relegated to Fourth Division 1981–82 Cardiff City are relegated to Third Division 1981–82
Bristol City are relegated to Third Division 1980–81
20 Apr 1981	Second Division	Ninian Park	3–2	Kevin Mabbutt, Jimmy Mann (2)	Steve Grapes, Peter Kitchen	5,575
26 Dec 1980	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	0–0			15,039
Bristol City are releged to Second Division 1979–80
Bristol City are promoted to First Division 1975–76 Cardiff City are promoted to Second Division 1975–76
Cardiff City are relegated to Third Division 1974–75
26 Dec 1974	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	0–0			12,484
14 Sep 1974	Second Division	Ninian Park	1–0	Keith Fear 46'		8,858
19 Aug 1974	League Cup	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–1	Gerry Sweeney 31' Geoff Merrick 55'	Jimmy McInch 72'	8,813
2 Feb 1974	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	3–2	Trevor Tainton 4' Gerry Sweeney 74' (pen.), 90'	Leighton Phillips 15' Andy McCullough 26'	24,487
15 Dec 1973	Second Division	Ninian Park	1–0	Don Gillies 79'		9,368
26 Dec 1972	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	1–0	Gerry Gow 65' (pen.)		20,490
23 Sep 1972	Second Division	Ninian Park	3–1	Gerry Gow 9' (pen.) John Galley 12' Brian Drysdale 70'	Gary Bell 22' (pen.)	14,102
26 Apr 1972	Second Division	Ninian Park	3–2	Peter Spiring 9', 63' Gerry Gow 20' (pen.)	Alan Warboys 32' Bobby Woodruff 82'	17,227
31 Aug 1971	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–0	John Galley 22' Gerry Gow 51'		23,525
3 Apr 1971	Second Division	Ninian Park	1–0		Ken Wimshurst 4' (own goal)	24,368
29 Aug 1970	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	1–0	Gerry Sharpe 84'		24,969
29 Dec 1969	Second Division	Ninian Park	1–0		John Toshack	18,479
23 Aug 1969	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–0		Brian Clark, Ronnie Bird (pen)	23,237
25 Jan 1969	Second Division	Ninian Park	3–0		Brian Clark (2), Peter King	26,210
28 Sep 1968	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	3–0		Peter King, John Toshack, Barrie Jones	20,632
2 Mar 1968	Second Division	Ninian Park	1–0	John Galley		15,334
14 Oct 1967	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	1–1	Chris Crowe	Bobby Brown	15,609
31 Dec 1966	Second Division	Ninian Park	5–1	Gerry Sharpe	Bobby Brown (2), Gordon Low (own goal), Ronnie Bird (2)	12,306
27 Aug 1966	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–1	Gordon Low	John Toshack (pen), George Andrews	11,952
18 Mar 1966	Second Division	Ninian Park	2–1	Brian Clark	Peter King, John Toshack	13,405
25 Sep 1965	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	1–1	John Atyeo	Bernard Lewis	15,300
Bristol City are promoted to Second Division 1964–65
Cardiff City are relegated to Second Division 1961–62
Bristol City are relegated to Third Division 1959–60 Cardiff City are promoted to First Division 1959–60
16 Jan 1960	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	3–0		Joe Bonson, Graham Moore, Peter McCall (og)	18,184
5 Sep 1959	Second Division	Ninian Park	4–2	John Atyeo, Wally Hinshelwood	Colin Hudson (2), Johnny Watkins, Colin Baker	22,545
27 Dec 1958	Second Division	Ninian Park	1–0		Tommy Burden (og)	27,146
26 Dec 1958	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	3–2	Bobby Etheridge, John Atyeo	Joe Bonson (2), Brian Walsh	27,570
7 Apr 1958	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–0	Bobby Etheridge, John Atyeo		25,723
4 Apr 1958	Second Division	Ninian Park	3–2	Bobby Etheridge, John Atyeo, Bert Tindill	Ron Hewitt (2)	15,567
Cardiff City are relegated to Second Division 1956–57
Bristol City are promoted to Second Division 1954–55
Cardiff City are promoted to First Division 1951–52
Cardiff City are promoted to Second Division 1946–47
7 Apr 1947	Third Division South	Ninian Park	1–1	Sid Williams	Stan Richards	49,310
4 Apr 1947	Third Division South	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–1	Don Clark, Sammy Collins	Billy Rees	32,535
No competitive football took place between 1939 and 1945 due to World War II
1 Apr 1939	Third Division South	Ashton Gate Stadium	1–1	Dick Armstrong	Harry Egan	10,003
11 Jan 1939	Third Division South	Ninian Park	2–1	Lew Booth	Ritchie Smith, George Walton	8,645
5 Mar 1938	Third Division South	Ashton Gate Stadium	1–0		Jimmy Collins	38,953
15 Dec 1937	FA Cup	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–0		Jimmy Collins (2)	23,050
11 Dec 1937	FA Cup	Ninian Park	1–1	Joe Brain	Bert Turner	25,472
23 Oct 1937	Third Division South	Ninian Park	0–0			17,858
1 May 1937	Third Division South	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–1	Jack Haycox, Dick Armstrong	Jack Hick (og)	4,360
14 Sep 1936	Third Division South	Ninian Park	3–1	Willie White	Reg Pugh, Albert Pinxton, Les Talbot	24,936
28 Mar 1936	Third Division South	Ninian Park	1–0		Reg Keating	9,755
23 Nov 1935	Third Division South	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–0		Jack Diamond, Joe Roberts	10,350
4 May 1935	Third Division South	Ashton Gate Stadium	4–0	Albert Banfield, Ernie Brinton, Ted Harston, Leo Loftus		5,558
22 Dec 1934	Third Division South	Ninian Park	3–3	Ted Harston (2), Leo Loftus	Harry Riley, Billy Bassett, Reg Keating	7,043
24 Mar 1934	Third Division South	Ashton Gate Stadium	3–0	Joe Riley (2), Tommy Foy		7,186
11 Nov 1933	Third Division South	Ninian Park	5–1	Syd Homer, Leo Loftus, Jimmy Heale, Gordon Reed (2)	Jack Galbraith	9,090
15 Apr 1933	Third Division South	Ashton Gate Stadium	3–1	Ted Bowen (3)	George Russell	7,176
3 Dec 1932	Third Division South	Ninian Park	1–1	Albert Keating	Les Jones	6,115
Bristol City are relegated to Third Division South 1931–32
Cardiff City are relegated to Third Division South 1930–31
14 Feb 1931	Second Division	Ninian Park	1–0	Bertie Williams		11,780
11 Oct 1930	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	1–0	Sidney Elliott		19,447
26 Dec 1929	Second Division	Ninian Park	1–1	Percy Vials	Harry Wake	25,244
25 Dec 1929	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–0	Arthur Johnson, Bertie Williams		17,140
Cardiff City are relegated to Second Division 1928–29
Bristol City are promoted to Second Division 1926–27
Bristol City are relegated to Third Division South 1923–24
23 Feb 1924	FA Cup	Ninian Park	3–0		Jimmy Gill (2), Joe Clennell	50,000
Bristol City are promoted to Second Division 1922–23
Cardiff City are promoted to First Division 1920–21
22 Jan 1921	Second Division	Ninian Park	1–0		Albert Barnett	42,000
15 Jan 1921	Second Division	Ashton Gate Stadium	0–0			35,000
Cardiff City join The Football League 1920–21
21 Feb 1920	FA Cup	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–1	Bert Neesam, Tommy Howarth	George Beare	32,452
9 Jan 1915	FA Cup	Ashton Gate Stadium	2–0	Eddie Burton (2)		15,000

See also

• Cultural relationship between the Welsh and the English