19. Millwall vs West Ham
Perhaps the most violent derby in English football, the East End Derby is always a nightmare for the police, a riot with the fans and a headache for the powers that be. The rivalry has existed for over 100 years now, and is one of the fiercest local rivalries in world soccer.
It originated due to the locality of both clubs, and the continual contact that both sets of supporters had with each other. Both clubs were centered around the River Thames, one on either side, and in the early years, many of the fans worked at the local shipyards and often opposition fans worked for rival firms and the anger between the two clubs continued through the week in the workplace.
What has enhanced the rivalry is the sporadic nature of the fixtures. Millwall have not been in the top-tier of English football since 1990, while West Ham in recent years have maintained Premier League status. The rivalry, while not full of quality on the pitch, is known for violence, with plenty of matches that have been marred by violence in the stands.
Such is the rivalry between the two sets of supporters, that 2005 film, Green Street, focused on fights between West Ham’s firm, Inter City Firm and various other London firms, including those of Millwall, namely Millwall Bushwackers. The violence between the two clubs symbolizes the anger and aggressiveness between the two East London clubs, and is one of the fiercest rivalries in world football.