Who are AFC Bournemouth’s biggest rivals? The Cherries’ top five fiercest football rivalries

AFC Bournemouth may not have the same long list of traditional enemies as some of English football's bigger clubs, but the Cherries have built a number of rivalries during their rise through the divisions.

Geography has naturally played a major role, with several of their most familiar opponents coming from the south of England.

That has not always made the identity of their rivals straightforward. Southampton and Portsmouth provide the obvious local contests, while Bournemouth's long spells outside the top two divisions have seen them develop rivalries with clubs further afield. Brighton, Reading and Leeds have all become significant opponents for very different reasons.

So, who are AFC Bournemouth's biggest rivals? FootballGroundGuide takes a look at the five fiercest football rivalries below.

Southampton

Southampton are arguably Bournemouth's biggest local rivals, with the two clubs separated by roughly 30 miles.

The geographical proximity means this is a natural south coast derby, while the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs have added plenty of extra spice in recent years.

For much of their histories, Southampton were the more established side and spent far more time in the top flight, while Bournemouth had to work their way up from the lower divisions. That created an element of David versus Goliath whenever the clubs met, particularly as the Cherries began establishing themselves in the Premier League.

Bournemouth's rise has altered the balance, but the desire to claim bragging rights over one of their nearest neighbours has never disappeared.

Whether the clubs are battling for promotion, survival or simply local pride, Southampton remains a fixture that Bournemouth supporters will always look out for.

Portsmouth

Portsmouth are another historic south coast rival, with the two clubs having competed against one another since their Southern League meetings in the early 20th century.

Although the clubs are not quite as close as Bournemouth and Southampton, there is plenty of regional pride behind the fixture.

The rivalry has survived despite the clubs experiencing very different periods of success. Portsmouth enjoyed Premier League football and an FA Cup triumph in the 2000s before financial problems sent them tumbling down the divisions, while Bournemouth eventually made their own climb into the top flight.

Those contrasting journeys have given the fixture an extra layer. Meetings between the sides have regularly attracted passionate support, and whether in the league or cup competitions, Bournemouth-Portsmouth remains one of the Cherries' most recognisable traditional rivalries.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton & Hove Albion are another south coast club with whom Bournemouth have developed a rivalry, particularly as both sides have established themselves in the modern Premier League.

Unlike Bournemouth's contests with Southampton and Portsmouth, this rivalry has been shaped more by sustained competition than by proximity alone.

The clubs have spent increasing amounts of time operating around the same level, with their Premier League meetings giving the fixture a much bigger national audience. Both have also built reputations for smart recruitment, developing players and competing above their traditional financial weight.

That shared identity has made Bournemouth vs Brighton an intriguing modern contest.

It may not carry the same historical hostility as some of the Cherries' older rivalries, but regular top-flight meetings and the desire to finish above another ambitious south coast club have steadily increased the needle.

Reading

Reading are an example of how Bournemouth's history outside the top flight helped shape their rivalry map.

The clubs spent long periods competing against one another in the third and fourth tiers, meaning supporters became much more familiar with Reading than they did with many of the larger clubs that were playing above them.

Bournemouth have historically been somewhat detached from the main football centres around them, with Southampton and Portsmouth often operating in higher divisions. That left clubs such as Reading, Brighton, Bristol Rovers and Swindon as more regular opponents and natural rivals.

The rivalry has inevitably cooled as Bournemouth have climbed through the leagues, but those years of repeated meetings have left their mark.

For older Cherries supporters in particular, Reading remain a familiar opponent from Bournemouth's long journey through the Football League.

Leeds United

Leeds United are perhaps the most unusual rivalry on this list, given that the clubs are separated by more than 170 miles.

Unlike the Cherries' south coast rivalries, the hostility here is rooted less in geography and more in a notorious incident involving Leeds supporters in Bournemouth in 1990.

The May Day bank holiday weekend that year saw widespread disorder and damage in the town, creating a lasting resentment among sections of the Bournemouth support. It gave the fixture a level of animosity that would otherwise be difficult to explain between two clubs from opposite ends of the country.

Meetings have subsequently carried an edge whenever the clubs have shared a division, with the passionate support on both sides adding to the atmosphere.

It is an unconventional rivalry, but the events of 1990 have ensured Leeds remain a name that means more to many Bournemouth supporters than their geographical distance would suggest.