Southern Derby

The Southern Derby is a fan-based cup competition between United Soccer Leagues First Division teams based in the South-Atlantic region of the United States (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama.).

The Southern Derby was created by the fans of the teams involved to promote a friendly competition and rivalry along the clubs involved. The Southern Derby is perhaps the first cup competition of its kind in American professional soccer. It is common in nature with other United Soccer Leagues fan cup competitions such as the Cascadia Cup, the James River Cup, and the Voyageurs Cup. It is also similar to Major League Soccer trophy competitions such as the Atlantic Cup, the Brimstone Cup, the Lamar Hunt Pioneer Cup, the Rocky Mountain Cup, and the Texas Derby.

outhern Derby Commemorative Cup

The Southern Derby Commemorative Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the winner of the Southern Derby. The trophy consists of a wooden base attached to a silver-plated, two-handled cup. The inscription on the base of the trophy reads The Southern Derby: Founded A-League Season 2000 in Atlanta, Charleston, & Raleigh by those who love the Game.

The cup was purchased through funds raised by the supporters club of the inaugural three clubs involved in the competition. The Fans own Southern Derby Commemorative Cup which is loaned each year to the holders of the Southern Derby.

History

The first edition of the Southern Derby was contested in 2000 between the Charleston Battery, the Atlanta Silverbacks, and the Raleigh Capital Express with Raleigh winning the inaugural competition.

The Raleigh Capital Express folded before the 2001 season and the Charlotte Eagles were invited to replace Raleigh in the cup competition. Charlotte won the trophy in their first year in the contest. The Eagles would continue to compete in the contest in 2002 and 2003 with Atlanta and Charleston winning the competition those years, respectively.

At the end of the 2003 season, Charlotte moved to the USL Second Division leaving the Southern Derby to be played between only Charleston and Atlanta. The Silverbacks won the title outright in 2004 and 2006 and split the title with Charleston in 2005.

In 2007, the Carolina Railhawks (of Cary, NC) joined the USL First Division and was invited to take up Raleigh's original spot in the competition. Carolina went undefeated in their 2007 Southern Derby campaign capturing the cup in their inaugural season. The RailHawks successfully defended their title in 2008 and through two seasons have beaten Charleston a remarkable 6 times in 6 games (4 Southern Derby fixtures).

The Rules

*The system of play shall be the league system, with each team playing two matches (home/away) against each of the teams.
*The Matches composing the Southern Derby will be the last home and away matches of each team during the regular season.
*Points will be awarded on the 3-1-0 systems. 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. Overtime wins are treated like regulation wins an awarded 3 points.
*The winner of the Southern Derby shall be the team having the greater number of points obtained in all the designated Derby matches.
*If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above criteria, the tie-breaker shall be determined as follows:
**Goal difference in all the Derby matches.
**Greater number of goals scored in all Derby matches.
**Greater number of points obtained in all Derby matches between the teams concerned.
**Goal difference resulting from all Derby matches between the teams concerned.
**Greater number of goals scored in all the Derby matches between the teams concerned.

2008 Fixtures

External links

* [http://www.uslfans.com/Southern_Derby/2008/ 2008 Derby Standings at USLFans.com]
* [http://www.uslfans.com/Southern_Derby/2007/ 2007 Derby Standings at USLFans.com]
* [http://www.uslfans.com/Southern_Derby/2006/ 2006 Derby Standings at USLFans.com]
* [http://www.uslfans.com/Southern_Derby/2005/ 2005 Derby Standings at USLFans.com]
* [http://www.uslfans.com/Southern_Derby/2004/ 2004 Derby Standings at USLFans.com]
* [http://www.uslfans.com/Southern_Derby/2003/ 2003 Derby Standings at USLFans.com]
* [http://www.uslfans.com/Southern_Derby/2002/ 2002 Derby Standings at USLFans.com]
* [http://www.uslfans.com/Southern_Derby/2001/ 2001 Derby Standings at USLFans.com]
* [http://www.uslfans.com/Southern_Derby/2000/ 2000 Derby Standings at USLFans.com]