What is the greatest distance between two football teams contesting a derby? | The Knowledge

"Carlisle and Barrow will play each other next season in the Cumbrian derby in the National League, writes Peter Hutchinson. The clubs are located at opposite ends of Cumbria and the distance between the two grounds is some 78 miles [by car]. Does this make it the greatest distance between two teams involved in a derby'? A couple of clarifications: answers here will feature the shortest distances by car. The second, perhaps more important, point is that we are excluding matches that are simply rivalries."

"Specifically, we are looking for matches between teams that are linked based upon their proximity or geography, rather than, say, a clasico' between Real Madrid and Barcelona, which is essentially a historical rivalry in which the distance between the two teams is largely irrelevant (save for being in the same country). Within the UK, the Cumbrian derby certainly looks the furthest derby by distance. If we are staying in England, the closest we can get to 78 miles is the A49 derby between Shrewsbury Town and Hereford United, separated by 51 miles."

"Hereford FC, the phoenix club currently in the National League North, are widely seen as the same club as Hereford United. In England, thoughts immediately go to Crystal Palace and Brighton, dubbed the M23 derby, but a quick search reveals that Selhurst Park is a mere 46 miles from the Amex Stadium, which would only get you halfway across the Lake District between Carlisle and Barrow. It is also 46 miles that separate the stadiums of Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City, the Devon derby."

"Just behind are Ipswich and Norwich the East Anglian derby (AKA El Tractico or the Old Farm) with Portman Road and Carrow Road 45 miles apart. It is something of a stretch but one could classify AFC Wimbledon v MK Dons as a derby (rather than just a heated rivalry). The distance from Plough Lane to Stadium MK is 60 miles by car. Plymouth Argyle's"

Carlisle and Barrow are set to meet next season in the Cumbrian derby in the National League, with the two grounds about 78 miles apart by car. The comparison focuses on geographic proximity rather than historical rivalries where distance is incidental. Within the UK, the Cumbrian derby is presented as the furthest by distance. In England, the closest example to 78 miles is the A49 derby between Shrewsbury Town and Hereford United at 51 miles, though the clubs have not met since Hereford United dissolved in 2014. Other notable distance-based derbies include the M23 derby at 46 miles, the Devon derby at 46 miles, and the East Anglian derby at 45 miles. AFC Wimbledon and MK Dons are mentioned as a possible derby at 60 miles.

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