The 2025/26 EFL League One campaign is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. Alongside a compelling mix of promotion hopefuls and returning giants, this season offers a calendar packed with local derbies and regional rivalries that will ignite fanbases and test nerves long before the final whistle.
From century-old grudges to fresher feuds sparked by promotions and relegations, these five derbies offer far more than three points. Here are the clashes to circle on the calendar this season.
Few third-tier rivalries carry the local weight of the Devon Derby. With just 46 miles of the A38 separating them, Exeter and Plymouth are Devon’s only EFL representatives, and neither fanbase is shy about staking a claim to county supremacy.
The rivalry dates back to 1909, and in recent years, it has remained as fiercely contested as ever. When the two last met in 2022/23, Plymouth completed a league double en-route to the title, including a thrilling 4-2 triumph at Home Park and a gritty 1-0 win at St James Park. Argyle also lead the overall head-to-head with 38 wins to Exeter’s 29.
But this season brings a fresh dynamic. Plymouth are adjusting to life back in EFL League One under new manager Tom Cleverley, while Exeter are looking to rebound after a disappointing 16th-place finish last season. With the clubs in the same division for only the third time in nine years, expect two fiercely contested, high-stakes matchdays in Devon.
The Greater Manchester Derby – Bolton Wanderers vs Wigan Athletic
Separated by fewer than eight miles, Bolton and Wigan share a rivalry rooted in geography and stoked by decades of competitive tension. Their clashes date back to the lower leagues but peaked in intensity during Premier League meetings in the late 2000s. Since then, the derby has remained one of the EFL’s most emotionally-charged fixtures.
Wigan lead the rivalry with 22 wins to Bolton’s 18, with 14 draws. Their recent encounters have swung back and forth: Wigan secured a 2–0 away win in December 2024, only for Bolton to break a decade-long derby drought with a dramatic stoppage-time winner at the DW Stadium in April 2025.
Off the pitch, both sides are chasing promotion. Bolton’s late-season collapse saw them fall short of the play-offs, and new boss Steven Schumacher faces pressure to steady the ship. Ryan Lowe’s Wigan will aim for greater consistency, particularly in derby fixtures, with emotions still running high after his dismissal in the wake of April’s defeat. With both clubs targeting improvement on last season, these clashes could be decisive.
The Nene Derby – Peterborough United vs Northampton Town
Though often overshadowed by higher-profile rivalries, the Nene Derby remains one of EFL League One’s most bitter and compelling grudge matches. Just 45 miles apart along the River Nene, Peterborough and Northampton’s rivalry is fuelled as much by history and off-pitch animosity as on-field competition.
Tensions between the clubs flared in the 1970s with the infamous “Battle of Abington Park,” while transfer disputes, such as Peterborough’s acquisition of Tony Adcock and Bobby Barnes during Northampton’s financial struggles, have added fuel to the fire. Even Gabriel Zakuani’s move across the divide raised eyebrows among the respective fanbases.
Peterborough lead the all-time record with 36 wins to Northampton’s 24, but recent results show how unpredictable this fixture can be. Posh ran out 5-1 winners in March 2024, only for the Cobblers to exact revenge with a stunning 4-0 win at London Road in April 2025.
Both clubs are seeking improvement in 2025/26 after underwhelming campaigns, and the emotional weight of this derby will make it a major highlight of both clubs’ seasons. Expect no love lost when these two meet again.
The Beds–Herts Derby – Luton Town vs Stevenage
While not as steeped in history as others on this list, the Beds–Herts Derby is fast becoming one of the most compelling local matchups in the EFL. Just 15 miles apart, the clubs’ relative lack of meetings over the years has only heightened anticipation when they do clash this season.
The rivalry’s spark ignited in the mid-2010s, fuelled by crowd trouble in 2015 and a 7-1 demolition by Luton in 2017. Since then, their paths diverged, with Luton climbing the ladder and Stevenage consolidating in the lower leagues. Their last league meeting was in 2018, though Stevenage have edged recent cup ties, including a penalty shootout victory in the 2021 Carabao Cup.
Now reunited in EFL League One, the stakes have risen. Luton are looking to rebuild after successive relegations, while Stevenage, under the leadership of Alex Revell, have defied expectations and earned a deserved place for a third successive season in EFL League One. This season’s derby meetings are not just about local pride; they’re about establishing dominance in an increasingly competitive landscape.
The South Yorkshire Derby – Barnsley vs Rotherham United
Few fixtures in EFL League One come with the weight and legacy of the South Yorkshire Derby. With only 15 miles separating Oakwell and the New York Stadium, this rivalry is rooted in regional pride and an intense desire for local bragging rights.
Barnsley lead the all-time series with 25 wins to Rotherham’s 17, but the more recent record is even more lopsided. The Tykes have won the last six meetings, conceding just once in the process. Rotherham haven’t tasted victory in this fixture since October 1982, a 13-match drought that spans over 40 years.
This season, the stakes are sky-high. Both clubs are eyeing promotion, and with Doncaster also in the division, the race for South Yorkshire supremacy has intensified. For Rotherham, ending their derby misery could provide a vital psychological boost. For Barnsley, it’s about maintaining dominance and pushing back toward the EFL Championship once again.
This one rarely disappoints, and in 2025/26, it could be more explosive than ever
