When Capatilism became the norm, Manchester fought Liverpool for business. Top two cities in the north, dueled it out for prostitution rights. Manchester hookers were better than Liverpool hookers. Hence the espression: "You Mank ****, where's me rations?"
Nearby towns and cities often seem to dislike each other - I put it down to innate competitiveness and tribalism. I live in Portsmouth and you wouldn't believe the degree to which a lot of people dislike Southampton (don't mention Harry Rednapp).
Hopalong, those asterisks replacethe name given to the inhabitants of a city 50 miles or so to the East of yours and mine - with the second part of the name none-too-subtly altered.