Wait, are you an Auburn guy? I would have never dreamed of hearing anyone mention Gadsden on an Everton site. I'm from Rainsville - just about 45 minutes north of there. But I live outside Atlanta now.On a football basis, you are correct. Auburn was historically terrible until the late 50's. Next to Everton football, Auburn football has no history. Oklahoma is an excellent example and I would suggest Indiana basketball, myself. It is the most important thing in the state, and it has been in the wilderness for an achingly long time.
On a cultural basis however it is the same in Gadsden and L4. By six, you must declare Roll Tide or War Eagle. It defines your life. You live in the same family and often in the same house with THEM. No thing matches football in importance in Liverpool or in Alabama. I don't mean no sport, I mean no thing. It's about how close you have to rub up against each other day in and day out and the intensity of the outcome for each side. Also, both are in places that are treated like crap by the rest of the country they have to live with. I base it more on people and culture than football. Anybody from Bootle or Opelika will see it almost immediately in the other if they take a good look at it.
If we are both ever in Bessemer at the same time, I'd love to discuss this over the seafood plate at the Bright Star. I've got about 30+ years on you and I've seen a lot.
Q: Why did they fire Ray Perkins?
A: There was nobody left in the state of Alabama who wasn't mad at him.
The bold part of the quote is exactly my experience. A while back there was a big kick up on here about that exact same thing, where I (and maybe a couple of other people) were trying to argue with the Liverpudlians on here that I could absolutely understand the heat of the Derby because we had the same thing here with the Iron Bowl, but no matter how I put it, it just wouldn't be accepted that some dumb American could possibly understand any such thing. But you've absolutely nailed it there.
As much as it pains me to admit it, I'll grant you the cultural comparison between Everton and Auburn. That is the single hardest part of being an Everton fan for me - because I see it too. That's why I emphasized the football side, to make myself feel better.