Sam Allardyce identifies the biggest EFL derby, and it’s not Wolves versus West Brom.

Former England manager Sam Allardyce has given his verdict on the biggest derby in the EFL, and his choice may surprise some supporters.

Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Allardyce was asked to compare several of the biggest rivalries in English football outside the Premier League. His eventual choice was the fierce London rivalry between West Ham United and Millwall, which is set to return this season after a lengthy absence.

Allardyce was presented with a number of derby matches and asked to rank them against one another. AFC Wimbledon versus MK Dons was the starting point, before Portsmouth versus Southampton was judged to be a bigger rivalry. Cardiff City versus Swansea City followed, with Burnley versus Blackburn Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers versus West Bromwich Albion also placed above the opening choice.

However, when Allardyce was pushed further, he selected West Ham against Millwall as the biggest derby of them all.

West Ham vs Millwall returns

The return of West Ham and Millwall is one of the most anticipated fixtures in the Championship this season.

Derby matches are often among the first fixtures supporters look for when a new schedule is released. These are games that carry far greater significance than ordinary league matches, with fans often planning their entire calendars around them.

However, promotion and relegation can make some rivalries much less frequent. Clubs can spend years in different divisions, meaning supporters may have to wait a long time before seeing their biggest rivals again.

That has certainly been the case with West Ham and Millwall.

West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2025-26 campaign has finally brought the two London clubs back together. Their rivalry will resume after a 14-year wait, adding even more anticipation to what is already one of English football’s most fiercely contested derbies.

Allardyce has links to both clubs

Allardyce’s choice is particularly interesting because he has strong connections with both sides.

Many people may have expected him to select Wolves versus West Brom, given his background in the Black Country. Allardyce was born in the area and earned his first professional contract after being discovered while playing for Dudley Town in 1969.

Yet despite that personal connection, he ultimately placed West Ham versus Millwall above the other major EFL rivalries.

Allardyce also has a unique connection to both clubs involved in the London derby.

He managed West Ham during the 2011-12 campaign, which was the last season the two sides met competitively. His West Ham team took four points from Millwall that season, drawing 0-0 at The Den before securing a 2-1 victory in the return fixture at the Boleyn Ground.

His connection to Millwall goes back even further.

Allardyce played for the Lions between 1981 and 1983, making 63 appearances and scoring twice. Interestingly, despite his time at the club, he never represented Millwall against West Ham.

Fans eagerly await the rivalry

The announcement that West Ham and Millwall will meet again has already generated plenty of discussion among supporters.

The long-awaited return of the rivalry has attracted significant attention online, with fans looking ahead to what could be one of the most intense fixtures of the Championship campaign.

Some supporters have even imagined the possibility of the two clubs battling for promotion together, which would potentially create an incredibly dramatic Championship season.

Others have looked beyond the second tier and expressed hopes that both teams could eventually return to the Premier League, allowing the rivalry to continue at the highest level.

The intensity surrounding the fixture has also been reflected in discussions about matchday traditions. West Ham have reportedly banned half-and-half scarves at the London Stadium this season, a decision that could become particularly relevant when Millwall visit.

For Millwall supporters, however, the rivalry remains just as significant regardless of the restrictions.

A rivalry made bigger by its rarity

One of the biggest reasons Allardyce can make a case for West Ham versus Millwall being the EFL’s biggest derby is the rarity of the fixture.

There are several enormous rivalries in the Championship this season. AFC Wimbledon versus MK Dons, Portsmouth versus Southampton, Cardiff versus Swansea, Burnley versus Blackburn and Wolves versus West Brom all have enormous significance.

However, those clubs generally meet more regularly than West Ham and Millwall have done in recent years.

The extended absence has arguably made the rivalry even more intriguing. The two clubs have not played each other often enough for the fixture to become routine, meaning the return carries an additional sense of occasion.

Indeed, West Ham have spent around a decade playing their home matches at the London Stadium, yet Millwall have still never visited them there for a competitive fixture.

History adds to the rivalry

The 14-year gap between the most recent meetings is not even the longest period the two clubs have gone without facing one another.

West Ham and Millwall were regular opponents before the Second World War, but then went 31 years without meeting between 1947 and 1978.

Their recent history includes several memorable encounters.

West Ham defeated Millwall 2-1 in February 2012, while the previous meeting at The Den ended in a goalless draw in September 2011. West Ham also won 3-1 in August 2009, while the sides drew 1-1 in November 2004.

Millwall claimed a 1-0 victory in March 2004 before producing an emphatic 4-1 win against West Ham in September 2003.

Those results demonstrate that the rivalry has produced plenty of competitive contests over the years.

The date supporters have been waiting for

West Ham and Millwall will finally renew their rivalry at The Den on September 19.

With both clubs now competing in the Championship, the fixture has instantly become one of the standout games on the EFL calendar.

Allardyce’s verdict will inevitably spark debate among supporters of other clubs, particularly those who believe Wolves versus West Brom, Portsmouth versus Southampton or another historic rivalry deserves the top spot.

But regardless of which derby is considered the biggest, there is little doubt that West Ham versus Millwall has a special intensity.

After 14 years apart, the rivalry is finally back, and the first meeting at The Den promises to be one of the most closely watched fixtures of the Championship season.