A huge leap of faith that an industrial 'rivalry' translates to a football rivalry. Two things you have assumed here:
That the majority of dockers would be football fans and would support one of either Liverpool or United - I'm sure a fair few would have been Everton or City fans so please explain why this rivalry didn't translate to us or Everton ? Secondly, you make an assumption that Liverpool or rag fans would all give a sh*t about the shipping industry, patently a huge assumption.
I wasn't around in the late sixties or seventies but we very often came out on top in local derbies so to assert that Liverpool other than in recent times were bigger rivals than City to rags is patently untrue. Anyone know ows that rivalry is driven by who you work with, live next to on a day to day basis. That for most City and United fans will be those whom you share the same City, unless you are admitting that most rags don't live in Manchester.
Give up the pretence, everyone knows this supposed firece rivalry witn liverpool was a fergie creation dedigned to undermine City. If this isn't the case I'm sure you can show us how much time you're spending on Rawk ?
The ship canal did not create a footballing rivalry, it created animosity between the cities of Liverpool and Manchester (Salford). This resentment regarding jobs was very real at the time and if you watch the attached MSC documentary that was filmed in the 1970's, the Salford dockers have nothing but scorn for the Liverpool dockers. It's a great bit of footage.
Also, the early 70's was 45 years ago. This is not by any stretch a 'modern' rivalry. And it wasn't created by Alex Ferguson, either. It's one thing making statements of fact, as a respected historian, but when you merge these with your own opinions, then this can sometimes come unstuck. Especially when people who were living and breathing in those decades have the gift of recollection.
Fast forward the clip to 4 mins. As a historian you will enjoy it. Very insightful.
the season we were relegated on the last day v luton,it was being discussed in the utd road paddock,who was going to be the "derby game".
they decided that because they hated scousers anyway,it would make sense.they even ramped it up during that seasons home game.
along came sky and ramped it up even more,although it seems to be going a bit flat now,i had to remind a few,that it was big game week a few weeks ago.