Learn English Through Football Podcast: Language of Derbies

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In this week’s football-language podcast we focus on language to describe football derbies as there are big derbies taking place in England, Scotland, France and Spain this weekend. We will also look at some predictions from some of these derbies including the big game in Spain between Atletico and Real Madrid. You can read the transcript below, read some teaching tips on how to use these materials, check out our glossary here, or browse all our previous posts and podcasts.

 

For Teachers ▸ how to use this episode in class

• Vocabulary: What do students know about the word ‘derby’ in football? Do they know any big derbies from around the world? What is their team’s biggest derby?
• Vocabulary (2): What kind of language do we hear when talking about derbies? (e.g. ‘form goes out the window‘; ‘bragging rights‘)
• Listening for gist (main idea): Choose the section from the discussion on derbies (either the introduction or the section on Millwall v West Ham) and ask them to take notes and re-tell from their notes to their partner. 






• Write a short text about a derby that you know (your favourite team’s derby opponents for example)
• Share with other teachers how you are using these resources (vocabulary, listening, writing, etc.) on our teachers’ forum page

Hello

You’re listening to the Learn English Through Football Podcast

DF: Hello everyone I hope you are all well. My name is Damian and I am one half of the Learn English through Football team – the other half is of course Damon who is in Tokyo. I’m based in London where the weather is much cooler than it has been and I have even seen some rain which is great after such a hot summer. 

Now, how did your team get on this week? My favourite team Spurs have still not scored a Premier League goal after a goalless draw (nil-nil) against Everton and they were then knocked out of the Carabao Cup/The League Cup by Liverpool during the week (that’s the first Learn English through Football derby and that goes to Damon – he has the bragging rights now). But there were small shoots of recovery as the team starts to get fitter and players get used to the football style of the coach De Zerbi. Fingers crossed!

How about you Damon, how was your week? 

DB: Hi Damian. It was good thanks, especially with Liverpool’s win over Tottenham in the League Cup. Although we won, I thought Tottenham played well and were unlucky not to convert a couple of good chances. If they had been more clinical the result could have been very different. But, as I said, the win made the week pretty positive.

Stinger: You are listening to the Learn English through football podcast (in Arabic)

Today’s Show

DF: Yes, you are listening to the Learn English through football podcast and that message was in Arabic. We’d love to hear from some more languages for our show so it would be great if you can send on a message (or stinger) that says, ‘you are listening to the Learn English through football podcast’ in any language that you wish!

Stinger: You are listening to the Learn English through football podcast (from a Mexican fan)  

Football Language: Derbies

DB: Right, in today’s language focus we are going to look at some language around football derbies. Last week, there was the Manchester derby between United and City, and this week there are also some big derbies coming up around Europe. So, we thought it was a good chance to talk about football phrases related to derbies.

First of all, what is a derby? Well, it is a match between two local teams, so from the same city or area, who have built up a rivalry over history. A derby is not simply a rivalry. The teams must be close to each other in some way – either playing in the same town or city, or region.

So, if we think about Liverpool, the team I support, their local rival from the same city is Everton. They play the Merseyside Derby. Another local rival is Manchester United. This rivalry is a regional one, two big cities in the north-west of England – some people call this a North-West Derby, but others may not consider it a real derby. And finally, Liverpool have a rivalry with Chelsea, which was especially strong when Rafa Benitez was manager of the Reds and Jose Mourinho was in the Chelsea dugout. But this is not a derby – Liverpool and London are too far apart.

Anyway, when there is a derby or a big match, the fans are especially ‘up for it‘, that is, excited about the game. They want their team to beat their rivals. If their team wins, we say they have ‘bragging rights‘, which is the first phrase we’ll look at.

Bragging Rights

DB: This is a noun phrase, and it’s often used in connection with derby games, or big matches between rivals. To brag means to boast, to be proud of something and tell people about it. A right is something you deserve either by law or by your performance in some task. Added together this phrase means the fans of the winning team will have bragging rights – they will be able to boast that their team is the best, their team defeated their rivals. 

So, as Damian said, because my team Liverpool beat his team Tottenham, I have bragging rights. I can be pleased that my team beat his.

Form Goes out the Window

DB: Another popular phrase connected with derbies is ‘form goes out the window‘ or ‘the form book goes out the window‘.

This is a football cliche, which is often used to describe the build up to a derby. Maybe one of the teams is higher in the league table, and they have been playing better and have a team with a lot of star players. But, because it is a derby, the opponents will raise their game, will play with more passion. This means that form – the recent record, the players’ condition and recent performances, all count for nothing.

So, even though a team has good form going into the game – perhaps unbeaten in five or six matches – this form means little; it can be thrown out the window. We can disregard it.

This is a great phrase for describing the upcoming London derby between Millwall and West Ham. Here’s Damian to explain more about this match.

Football Language: Millwall v West Ham

DF: Yes, I’m going to talk a little about one of the biggest and fiercest derbies in English football which features two teams from London. No, not Tottenham v Arsenal in the North London derby but instead West Ham and Millwall. Now, both of these teams are currently in the second tier of English football, the Championship, after West Ham’s relegation last season but it is still a big game, especially for the supporters.

Both clubs used to be neighbours in the East End of London until Millwall moved south of the river over a hundred years ago but the rivalry continued. The fact that the two sides do not often meet makes the derby even more ferocious – the last time they faced each other was in the 2012 season, so, 14 years ago. Matches between the two sides usually means early kick offs and lots of security and this weekend will be no different as the game kicks off at 12:30 on Saturday here in London. 

What other derbies do you know about? What are the fiercest derbies in your area or in your country? 

Predictions Review: Liverpool v Tottenham

Listen to our previous podcast on the language of predictions here.

DF: OK, each week both myself and Damon will try and predict (or guess) the result of some big games each weekend. Listen out for some language of predictions and we have a link to a previous podcast on predictions language here on our post. And of course you can also join in by adding your scores to our predictions forum page. Let’s take a look back at our predictions from the Liverpool v Tottenham game. Damon went for a 1-0 win while I was hoping for a draw but thought we’d lose 2-0. We were both kind of right as Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners. 

Predictions: Atlético v Real Madrid

DB: How about this weekend? We are going to try and predict the results for two derbies. The first is Atlético v Real Madrid. Damian?

DF: I think this will be a 2-2 draw – lots of thrills and excitement and maybe a card or two, especially as the two managers are not strangers to controversy, that’s Mourinho and Simeone of course)

DB: There will definitely be cards, yellow, but maybe no reds! I’m not going to look at the form and I’m going to agree with you Damian. I think this will be a draw, but 1-1. 

The next derby we have already mentioned – Millwall v West Ham.

Predictions: Millwall v West Ham

DF: This will be a huge game this weekend – I think West ham have the better players and they have started to hit form but the atmosphere will be electric at Millwall. I reckon it’ll finish 1-1 – maybe a red card here too!

DB:  I’m predicting some real blood and guts football here – hard tackles flying in, lots of aggressions from players and fans, and no quarter given. I’m going to go for a home win as well. I think the 12th man will see Millwall across the line to a 2-1 win.

What do you think of our predictions? Don’t forget you can give your own on this week’s predictions thread. on our forum.

Stinger: You are listening to the Learn English through Football Podcast 

Language Review

DF: OK, let’s look back at some of the language from today’s podcast. We heard Damon talk about bragging rights. We also heard the phrase, ‘form goes out the window’. And we also talked a little bit about the word ‘derby’ and we looked at the Millwall versus West Ham game as well. Can you think of any other words or phrases connected to this topic of football derbies? And how would you say some of these expressions in another language that you know? Drop us a line on our forum where we have a thread on today’s podcast and we think it’s a great place to share ideas and ask more football-language questions!

Contact

DB: Now, if you come along to our site and open this post, you’ll see some teaching ideas at the top of the page in which we suggest a few ways to possibly use these materials with your students or even when you’re learning by yourself. We also have a thread for teaching ideas on our forum so come along and take a look and maybe share some of the ways that you might use these with your learners.

DF: Yes, if you have any questions or comments about this week’s podcast or our football expression from earlier in the week, remember we talked about the phrase, ‘flagged for offside‘, you can drop us an email at [email protected]. And you can also find us on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram and YouTube. And we love to hear from you and, of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our football-language podcasts.

Goodbye

DF: OK, that’s it for this week in which we looked at language connected to derbies in football. We’ll see you all again next week with the shorter Weekly Football Phrase episode, in which we look at an expression from the weekend’s games. Until then, bye bye.

DB: Ta-ra!

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