M69_derby
M69 derby
Association football rivalry
The M69 Derby, formerly the A46 Derby[citation needed], is a football match played between Coventry City and Leicester City. It takes its name from the motorway that connects the two cities, which are only 24 miles (38 km) apart.
Although neither side is the other club's traditional "arch rival", with Aston Villa considered Coventry's traditional rival and Nottingham Forest as Leicester's, the fixture became increasingly significant between 2001 and 2011 with both clubs' traditional rivals often being in different leagues, and the disillusionment of some Coventry fans with their traditional rivalry with Aston Villa. According to a survey by The Football Pools published in 2008, this fixture is the 26th fiercest rivalry in English football.[2]
However; the rivalry had declined during the 2010’s as Leicester's rise up the leagues and successful period in the top flight, has coincided with Coventry City struggling financially, in-turn resulting into a lower league position in the Football League. Times have changed recently though, as Coventry have risen up the leagues, while Leicester have lost their Premier League status. With Leicester City relegated from the Premier League to the EFL Championship in the 2022-23 season, the M69 derby will return for the 2023–2024 season after an eleven year hiatus.
The derby has on occasion been marred by violence, the most recent in February 2008.[3] Prior to that, another took place in Coventry in October 2004 where police officers were pelted with missiles.[4]