Richard Sutcliffe: Extra fizz in the air expected for busy derby day in Yorkshire

So said Neil Warnock yesterday when asked by the Yorkshire Post what sets derby football apart from the rest of a season.

With three all-White Rose contests coming up in the Football League this weekend and another couple to follow before the end of the month, it seemed an apposite time to seek the views of a manager with 11 senior clubs on his CV.

It wasn’t a surprise that Warnock’s response centred round the Steel City rivalry and not just because he was ‘Made in Sheffield’, as his 2007 autobiography is proudly titled.

No, such predilection on the Leeds manager’s part towards tussles between United and Wednesday was understandable because if the two clubs are in the same division then the Sheffield derby is often the standout fixture on the county’s football calendar.

Such an intense rivalry is why last season’s race for promotion from League One was so enthralling and one that caught the imagination of football folk whose loyalties lay well beyond the Broad Acres.

I was fortunate enough to cover both clubs during that run-in, whether it was Wednesday’s victory at Brentford on what proved to be the pivotal weekend of the campaign or United steam-rollering Rochdale and Chesterfield before coming a cropper at Milton Keynes and then, on the final day, Exeter City.

At St James’ Park, the desperate hope that Wednesday might stumble at the last was evident in the eyes of all Blades – whether they were supporters, players or even club officials.

With the Owls a goal ahead 250 miles away and their own game approaching half-time, a section of the travelling fans suddenly let out a huge cheer. Wycombe had equalised at Hillsborough. The celebrations soon spread as the prospect of promotion honed into view once again.

Sadly for those of a United persuasion, it proved to be a false alarm. Wednesday were still 1-0 up and destined for the Championship.

As a long line of Blades queued for the gents during the interval in an area of the antiquated main stand supposedly set aside for home supporters, one interloper who had clearly enjoyed the hospitality of Exeter ahead of kick-off lamented: “It’s bad enough to miss out like this but to be beaten to promotion by those piggy b****** is going to make this the worst end to a season ever.”

All around merely nodded, minds clearly already turning to the dreaded moment when contact would next be made in the pub, office or factory with supporters of their bitter rivals.

The horrible sinking feeling that accompanies a derby defeat is not confined to just supporters of either Sheffield clubs, of course.

Tomorrow , there will be an extra fizz in the air among what are likely to be above average attendances at Elland Road, Hillsborough and Bootham Crescent.

Fans of Barnsley, in particular, will be relishing the short trip up the M1 after the manner in which their team have made such light work of Leeds in three of four games across the past two seasons.

York, for so long denied any true derby opposition while marooned in the Conference, can also look forward to a bumper crowd as Rotherham head north looking to avenge last month’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat to Gary Mills’ men.

Then, next week, the Minstermen will be bound for Bradford City and another taste of derby action at a ground they haven’t visited since 1996.

Sheffield Wednesday are another team enjoying their fair share of all-White Rose tussles at the moment as Hull City follow in the recent footsteps of Huddersfield Town in visiting S6.

The clash with the Tigers will bring to mind one of the most eventful derbies of my nine seasons covering matches for the Yorkshire Post – I know, I know, it feels longer – as an unexpectedly large away support meant many of the 6,383 Hull fans didn’t get in until half-time despite the kick-off being delayed by 15 minutes.

The ensuing chaos then spread to the pitch as some Keystone Kops-style defending by both teams saw the 2004 contest end 4-2 to the visitors.

An enthralling evening’s entertainment and one that underlined just why derby games really are a breed apart. Let’s hope for more of the same to keep the county’s football fans on the edge of their seats in the coming rash of derby contests.