I went to Wath Comp, so I have plenty of Rotherham mates. They are under no illusions that we are the bigger, more successful club, but milk it to the full when they are above us.
A lot of my mates and family support Doncaster Rovers. I have never ever heard anyone calling games between our two Clubs the " Pitmans Derby" and apart from a couple of incidents with strangers who supported Donny at family functions when I have worn my Reds shirt, I have never had any trouble with them. On the contrary when we meet there's quite an amount of lighthearted pre-match banter. If they beat us , which thankfully is a rare occurrence, when I get back from the game I simply ignore any calls or texts from family members trying to rub it in. I also avoid listening to that deluded pillock Derek when he phones in to gloat on Radio Dee Dar. I sincerly hope we can beat them home and away this season.
I have no time for them. This is mainly because of the animosity shown towards us and other clubs as they enjoyed a really successfull few years as they climbed from non-League to the Championship. Initially, I was pleased for them, then I got working with Donny fans and was surprised at their resentment towards a few clubs but us in particular. This resentment was born out of jealousy. They even boasted about their growing hooligan element. They had the better of us for the first 2 seasons that we met. Oh how they were now this big club who their then chairman declared they were a bigger club than Ipswich and constantly showing disrespect to other clubs. Then realism hit. After returning to the 2nd tier following an absence of more than 50 years, their home crowds struggled to reach 10’000. Only the regular large away followings looked like filling their small capacity new stadium. This big town that covets City status. After failing to leapfrog over us and indeed, falling further back their resentment seemed to grow. Who knows,Maybe after having to eat copious amounts of humble pie, they might be a more palatable lot nowadays. Taking 6 points from these would be my. Best 6 points of the season
When they first came back into league 1 around 2004 I remember John Ryan had posters up around town centre about us, he was absolutely obsessed. Always amazed me after they beat us how many non football fans or plastic Man Utd fans turned into die hard Rovers overnight to rub it in. Until that point I used to like to see them do alright but since I despise them more than any. The stick from the donny fans in the early part of 15/16 as they were pushing for the play offs and we were bottom and the eventual way it turned out was absolutely incredible and something I never let them forget with a couple of shared videos on Facebook. Horrible club.
I don’t mind them, I like to see all the Yorkshire clubs apart from Leeds, Wednesday & Sheff Utd do well except from when they play us. I can see why they’d be annoyed with us over Moore, especially when at the time they probably thought we’d cost them any chance of promotion. In a similar scenario I remember a lot of us were annoyed at Leicester when Man Utd recalled Drinkwater & sold him to them
I honestly believe that football allegiances are a way of Town, City life and passed on through family. Hatred of a particular side is part of the beautiful game. COYR. By the way i ******* hate LEEDS, detest Millwall and dislike Man utd fans.
I used to work in Donny and I used to get some right stick. Some of their fans aren't bothered about us, some are obsessed though.
They have short memories though , when they were in financial trouble , our club made a donation to them which I believe was in the region of £50 k , we lent them Barry Conlan & we paid his wages , plus there were bucket collections for them at Oakwell , yet when Robins chose to join us , their fans gave us dogs abuse .
I also went to that school (although at the time it was called a Grammar school - I did A levels in 77) most if not all followed the reds rather than Rotherham. The term Pitman's derby. I suspect, has originated from the media rather than any longstanding tradition a la Steel City derby. The perceived bitterness stems from, I believe, the Winker's (misprint) hat era when although Rovrum beat us to the third division title, we were clearly a better footballing side.
Got loads of Pals that are all ardent Rotherham fans. I’ve even sat with them when Barnsley played them at NYS. Sat on my hands of course when we scored and beat them. They don’t hate us .... Wendy is a different issue!
I started at Wath Comp in 1977. There was a big contingent of pupils who travelled from Rawmarsh to our school. Our year was half and half Reds and Millers.
I was sat with my old Rotherham school mates for that game as well. I took along a photo of Macca out-jumping Stancliffe. It was always the big debate at school, who was the better centre half.
I live where its mostly Leeds fans, most are ok but the ones who aren't are shocking, they really belive they are a BIG club and i will never understand their hatred of man utd
I think the hatred comes from hooliganism rather than any fierce rivalry on the pitch. Think Man U always had the better of Leeds in the fisticuffs dept . Silly really