Pompey-Saints: Details — Terrace Edition

Words: Diego Crespo

Images: Diego Crespo

While a derby is always a match any fan wants to attend, one in England is a world away from continental Europe.

Locals claim that nothing remains of "the old days," that everything has gone to ruin; however, we are talking about one of the finest derbies in the islands, made even more potent by a fourteen-year hiatus.

It is important to acknowledge this perceived loss of essence felt by the locals because, for any outsider—especially those from continental Europe—the atmosphere still feels like a relic of another era.

Fratton Park retains that old-school mystique. In a derby, no matter how much security measures try to stifle the way rivalry is lived, there is one thing that will never change: the roar of the stadium.

From the moment the teams walk out to warm up, that “come on”—filled with equal parts rage and pride—is something unique to England.

©Diego Crespo/ Terrace Edition. Portsmouth vs Southampton.

Just like the "yes" in every contested challenge and, of course, the limbs after every goal.

A South Coast Derby, perhaps due to those years it spent tucked away, is the closest thing to traveling back in time and breathing the authenticity of days gone by.

In a football world of fleeting emotions and artificial experiences, this derby is one of the few authentic things left.

Despite its appeal to those seeking "quick fix" experiences, the South Coast Derby is a gem that, unfortunately, has its days numbered.

Numbered, because it is impossible to live in a capsule forever, detached from modern football. Or is it?