Preston North End and Blackpool placed twelfth in table of football rivalries

9:24am Sunday 20th April 2008

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Preston North End and Blackpool have been placed twelfth in a league table of football rivalries in England.

It follows a survey carried survey of 6,000 fans across the country conducted by The New Football Pools to find out which teams have the biggest rivalries in football.

The league table took into account the reponses of both sets of fans, the respective league and cup records of the two clubs, the regularity of league and cup meetings betwen the rivals, the two club's records when playing each other, the impact on attnendances when they meet, transfers between clubs and fans reactions to those transfers and off the field factors such as media coverage of the rivalry.

West Midland neighbours West Bromwich Albion and Wolves top the table.

Somewhat surprisingly the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United only comes third in the table behind Ipswich Town and Norwich City.

It may also surprise many that Preston and Blackpool's rivalry is placed three places above that of Blackburn Rovers and Burnley.

Overall Preston have met Blackpool 89 times in league and cup games, dating back to 1901, and it's the Lilywhites who have the upper hand, with 43 wins to Blackpool's 29.

But Seasiders fans have the consolation of knowing that their record win - and Preston's record defeat - was a 7-0 derby victory at Deepdale in 1948.