Smoggie
Smoggie or Smoggy is a nickname given to people from Teesside, north east England, originating with visiting football supporters. It is a contraction of 'smog monster'.[1]
History
Originally, this was a term of abuse for supporters of Middlesbrough F.C. coined by their Sunderland A.F.C. counterparts. The name was meant to refer to the heavy air pollution once produced by the local petrochemical industry,[1][2] and from Dorman Long.[3] Though, at first, Smoggie was used as a pejorative term, it has become an example of reappropriation with many people now proudly calling themselves 'Smoggies'.[1]
Current usage
Primarily directed at people from Teesside, 'Smoggies' is often used to describe the areas of Teesside with a noticeable amount of industry.[4] The term was referred to by Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP, Tom Blenkinsop, in the House of Commons, and was recorded in Hansard, in July 2011.[5] Smoggies has occasional use as a nickname for Middlesbrough F.C..[6][5][7] In 2013 the Cleveland Art Society organised a major exhibition of the works of local artists entitled Smoggies Allowed in an Art Gallery.[8]
See also
References
- McKeown, Sarah (22 June 2009). "Ich bin ein Smoggy: reclaiming regional pride". Macmillan Dictionary Blog. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
- Harley, Shaun (16 October 2007). "'I was made in Middlesbrough'". BBC News. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- "Dictionary of Middlesbrough and Teesside Accent Dialect and Slang". Love Middlesbrough - Middlesbrough Borough Council. 2012–14. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
- "Geordie: A regional dialect of English". British Library. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- "Teesside MP uses the word "smoggie" in Parliament speech". Evening Gazette (Teesside). 11 July 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
- Hancox, Dan (10 September 2009). "How is Britain coping with the recession? - Middlesbrough - Smoggies steel themselves". New Statesman. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- "Maximo Park fear for footy teams". BBC News. 22 April 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
- "Exhibition showcases work of Teesside artists". Middlesbrough Borough Council. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2013.