Why is an important football match called derby?

Games between two rivals of close geographical proximity are usually called a local derby, or simply just derby (. UK: /ˈdɑːrbi/; DAR-bee or. US: /ˈdɜːrbi/; DER-bee); a sporting fixture between two teams from the same town, city or region, particularly in association football. read more

In 1731 the mayor made an unsuccessful attempt to suppress the game, repeated every year by his successors until1848, when troops were called in. From then on the name 'local Derby' was attributed to any football match played with fierce partisanship between neighbouring clubs. read more