CityView Vol-40 No-13 - Derry City vs Drogheda United - Friday 28th June

DERRY CITY F.C. v DROGHEDA UNITED F.C. LEAGUE OF IRELAND MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION FRIDAY 28th JUNE 2024 | 7.45pm Vol. 40 - No. 13

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Welcome to...

DROGHEDA UNITED F.C.

DERRY CITY FOOTBALL CLUB Formed:

1928

Ground:

Brandywell Stadium

Manager:

Ruaidhrí Higgins

Asst Manager:

Paul Hegarty

Coach:

Conor Loughrey

Fitness Coach:

Kevin McCreadie

GK Coach:

Michael Dougherty

Development:

Mark McChrystal

Perfor Analyst:

Seamus McCallion

Opp Analyst:

Gerard Boyle

Physio:

Michael Hegarty

Equipment:

Gerry Sheppard

Kit Man:

Gavin Doherty

Kit Man:

Philip Johnson

Doctor:

Dr. Noel Boyle

CITYVIEW is the Official Match Day Programme of Derry City FC. The views expressed are, however, not necessarily those of the Board Of Directors, or indeed the Programme Committee. Design and Layout by Andrew Cassidy. Photographs courtesy of Maiden City Images, Event Images unless otherwise stated. Cover image

by Ramsey Cardy. Printing by City Print, Springtown Industrial Estate. Please support all of our sponsors. For queries about CityView contact andrew@derrycityfc.net

HONOURS:

League of Ireland Premier Division: 1988–89, 1996–97 FAI Cup: 1988–89, 1994–95, 2002, 2006, 2012, 2022 League of Ireland Cup: 1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1999–00, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2018 League of Ireland First Division: 1986–87, 2010 League of Ireland First Division Shield: 1985–86 Irish Football League: 1964–65 IFA Cup: 1948–49, 1953–54, 1963–64

Welcome back to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium after the mid season break!

Tonight we welcome Drogheda United back to the Brandywell, so welcome back Kevin Doherty, his staff, players, officials, and supporters who have travelled up from Drogheda this evening.

We’re past the halfway point in the league now and sitting in second place, so we start the fixtures all over again and recreate the first game of the season here tonight. That game finished 2-1 to Derry thanks to goals from Ronan Boyce and Pat Hoban. Drogheda grabbed a late goal back through Evan Weir, but Brian Maher saved a Ryan Brennan penalty that night as well, so it was very nearly 2-2, which was the scoreline at Weaver’s Park in April. Duffy and Patching with the goals for Derry that night.

Davis and Pierrot for Droghe-

da.

The last win here for tnoight’s visitors was a 1-0 win last April when both teams finished the match with 10 men, but before that, Drogheda last won here in September 2015. Jason Marks and Sean Thornton scored that night to finish 2-0.

Drogheda though are notoriously a team that everyone in the league finds difficult to play against, so we’ll need to be on our game tonight to repeat the win from February.

Enjoy the game!

TONIGHT’S MATCH OFFICIALS: Referee: ROBERT HARVEY

Assistant 1: Robert Clarke |Assistant 2: Shane O’Brien Fourth Official: Damien MacGraith

TONIGHT’S MATCH SPONSOR: TOMORROW’S BRIDAL & MENSWEAR

20-21 The Diamond, Derry (028) 7126 8001 www.tomorrowsformal.com

PLEASE SUPPORT ALL OUR SPONSORS

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MESSAGE FROM THE MANAGER

I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Kevin Doherty and the players, staff and supporters of Drogheda United to the Ryan McBride Brandywell as we get back to business after the summer break.

It’s a very busy time of the year for most clubs with the sunmer transfer window opening as well as the start of the FAI cup, and of course our European games.

You’ll obviously have seen the first and second round draws by now and we have a trip to Gibraltar to look forward to, with a huge prize of a couple of games against Copenhagen to come for the winners.

As always, we will concern ourselves with that when the time comes because the focus this week has all been about tonight’s game.

We went into the break on a good run of form and it’s vital we do everything in our power to take that momentum forward now.

It will be far from easy because it never seems to matter what kind of form they’re in, Drogheda always cause us problems.

Kevin Doherty has done an excellent job there and with new owners (who are here tonight I believe) on board,

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there could be good days ahead.

Obviously we can only concern ourselves with what we do and our only thoughts are playing on the front foot and getting another big three points.

We added a quality player this week in Jacob Davenport and while he can’t be registeted until 1st of July, I’m pretty sure our supporters will be looking forward to seeing him in the number 19 shirt shortly.

Colm Whelan has also been building up his game time in recent weeks and like yourselves, we’re all looking forward to seeing him back after a miserable time with injuries.

As always though, we’ll be patient with these things.

We’ve built up what we feel is

a really top squad and we’re going into the rest of the season ready to compete on all fronts.

There could well be one or two more ins and outs during the window, but that’s just how business works and we’ll keep you posted if that situation arises.

Thank you again for your fantastic backing and I hope we can send you home tonight on the back of another win.

Enjoy the game

Ruaidhrí Higgins, Manager

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SWILLY ROVERS V DERRY CITY 1989 In their opening seasons in the League of Ireland Derry City travelled into Donegal for friendly fixtures on a regular basis. At the conclusion of their historic ‘Treble Season’ the Candystripes journeyed to Ramelton on Sunday 14th May 1989 to take on a Swilly Rovers Select. The game had a dual purpose, the reopening of Swilly Park and to raise funds for the Hillsborough Disaster Fund.

Pre-match entertainment was provided by St Garvan’s Band (Milford), Swilly’s main sponsor James Mc Daid performed the opening ceremony and the Treble winners paraded their three trophies before the kick off in front of an attendance of over one thousand.

As well as local players the home team had brought in some experienced Irish League and League of Ireland players such as Joey Malone, John Cunningham, Tony Cousins and Keviin Mc Keever.

Jonathan Speak put Derry in front before eighteen-year-old Michael Mc Hugh, soon to head off to Bradford City, equalised for Rovers to leave the sides level at the beak.

City strengthened their side for

By Francie McCauley

the second half and their superiority began to tell. Felix Healy scored with a shot from the edge of the penalty area, a Mick Neville free kick from the edge of the box made it three one to the visitors and Liam Coyle rounded off the scoring when he chipped seventeen-year-old Swilly keeper Mark Duffy.

The home club produced a neat twenty-eight-page souvenir programme which was available for 50p but, as is often the case with such programmes (and understandably so), adverts took up over half the pages.

The front cover has a photo of the City team taken before the first game in the FAI Cup Final against Cork City at Dalymount Park a couple of weeks previously - but who’s missing from the line up? Swilly’s

chairman, Samuel Mc Cloy, welcomed and congratulated the Derry City club on their successes. There was a page dedicated to the career of Jim Mc Laughlin and there was a page of pen pictures of the Derry players along with some photos. Team squads took up the middle pages followed by pen pictures of the Swilly Rovers Select players.

There was a picture of the Swilly team which won the FAI Junior Cup in 1962 when they defeated Castleview of Cork 3-1. Included in that team were Johnny Moran, Mickey Mc Guinness and Gerry Bradley form Derry. ‘Swilly’s Derry Connection’ referred to the links with Derry which dated back to the Ramelton club’s foundation in 1929. Among those mentioned are Jimmy Kelly, Hugh Carlyle, Eddie and Johnny Crossan, Claude Wilton, Eddie Davis, Johnny Campbell, Paul O’Keefe and Terry Kelly.

The programme finished with a history of the Brandywell club.

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DERRY CITY WOMEN’S COACH: PAUL DIXON Tell us bit about yourself...

Paul Dixon from Ballykelly, UEFA A license coach, experience from grassroots football to coaching abroad and worked with Premier league club Southampton.

When did you join the club and how it’s going to date?

Last season I was asked to come in and try to help keep the club in the women’s premier league. It initially looked like an almost impossible job, but the coaches and I were keen on the challenge to make sure that such a historical club like Derry had a topflight team in the women’s game. It had been a few years since the team had even won a game and with relegation a real threat, we knew we had to create a group with an underdog mentality who were ready to fight. A year later, the women’s team are now sitting 4th in the premier league after surviving last year and kicking on in 2024 which is credit to all the players, and everyone involved with the club.

Tell us about the new signings this season...

There have been a lot of new signings in the door who have added to the already talented group we have. The squad is young and are still

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Interview by Charlene McGeehan settling in together but their attitude + work ethic has been unbelievable. We’re delighted with how we’ve recruited, adding top quality players with the right mentality. There’s a very exciting future ahead for these girls.

Tell us about the unsung heroes you have in the backroom staff...

Yeah, we also have some amazing people involved within the backroom staff from coaches such as Peter Mitchell who has an excellent relationship with the players and Johnny Scott who is a brilliant 1 to 1 mindset coach. Gareth Moore is one of the best goalkeeping coaches around who has been a huge asset to improving all our keepers.

We also have Charlene McGeehan who takes care of the social media as well as looking after all the girls on a daily basis.

What’s your best memory from last season?

There have been some brilliant memories over the past year but one that stands out was securing premier league football last season with a

92nd minute winner v Larne at Inver Park.

What can you tell us about this season so far?

The crowds have been growing in the Brandywell week on week which gives the team a massive boost. The journey the girls have been on from almost being relegated last season to now sit 4th in the Premier league really is an inspiration to all the young girls in Derry. Match day is an exciting day at home, we have mascots and ball girls now also we never had before. There is a great buzz about the Brandywell.

The girls are being asked for autographs and selfies.

The turnaround in just one season is unbelievable. We thank everyone for their support!

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OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S LEAGUES

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NEWS FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE

2024 LEAGUE TABLE: Pld Pts Shelbourne

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DERRY CITY

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Shamrock Rvrs

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Waterford

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Galway United

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St. Pat’s Athletic

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27

Sligo Rovers

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25

Bohemians

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Dundalk

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Drogheda Utd

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Last Round’s Results:

This Round’s Fixtures:

THURSDAY 13th JUNE Dundalk 1-0 Sligo Rovers Waterford 0-1 Shelbourne Bohemians 1-2 DERRY CITY St Pat’s Athl 2-1 Shamrock Rvrs Galway Utd 3-0 Drogheda Utd

FRIDAY 28th JUNE Sligo Rovers v Shamrock Rvrs St Pat’s Athletic v Bohemian DERRY CITY v Drogheda Utd Shelbourne v Galway United Dundalk v Waterford

NEXT HOME GAME: Derry City vs FC Bruno’s Magpies

Thursday 18th July, 7.45pm

LANDMARKS: 50TH CLEAN SHEET FOR MAHER In recent games, we have seen a few milestones for both the club and some players.

Firstly, in the home win over Waterford FC, Brian Maher kept his 50th clean sheet, becoming just the 5th goalkeeper to keep 50 clean sheets for the club.

The first to do so was Tim Dalton in Sept 1990, in a scoreless draw away against Sligo Rovers. Three years later, in Nov 1993, Dermot O’Neill kept his 50th clean sheets in a 1-0 win over Monaghan United at Brandywell, with Peter Hutton getting the only goal.

We had to wait 13 years before this milestone was reached again, with David Forde keeping his 50th clean sheet in a 2-0 home victory over Shelbourne in

By Brian Dunleavy

Oct 2006, with goals from Ciaran Marty and Paddy McCourt.

The most recent keeper to keep 50 clean sheets was Gerard Doherty in a 2-0 victory over Waterford United at Brandywell in May 2010, with goals from Mark Farren and Mark McChrystal.

And Brian becomes the first keeper in 14 years to reach this landmark.

In the same game, Sadou Diallo made his 50th league appearance, becoming the 101st player to make 50 league appearances for the club in League of Ireland football.

The first player to play 50 league games for the club was Kevin Mahon in December 1987, as

we beat Galway United 3-0 at Terryland Park with goals from Jonathon Speak (2) and Owen Da Gama. Owen DaGama in a home game against Shelbourne in March 1988, was the second player to reach 50 league games, followed by Stuart Gauld against Athlone Town at St Mel’s Park in Oct 1988.

Earlier this season, Cameron Dummigan became the most recent player to reach this milestone for the club.

For the record, the win over Waterford, saw us score our 900th home goal in the premier division and the 3-0 win was the 50th time we have recorded that scoreline in the premier division.

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FANZONE: MEET THE FANS Tonight we welcome another member of the “1985” Derry City Supporters Brigade!

Stephen Edwards has been a Candystripe for the last 39 years and although he claims he has never won the half time draw he keeps buying tickets in the hope that someday he will! Lol Welcome, Stephen let’s see your views on all things Derry City.

Name: Stephen Edwards, also known as Ted, (Never won the half time draw but pays for the tickets and programme and my son claims the prize when we win!)

How long have you been supporting Derry City?

Since joining the LOI in 1985 although I missed out a lot between 1997-2009 as I was living abroad but tried to keep up to date.

Where do you sit in the Brandywell?

The Mark Farren Stand Best Player you’ve seen playing for the Candystripes?

Best Player probably Liam Coyle, Favourite Player Alex Krstic Why?

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Liam Coyle could always do something magical or special, Alex Krstic was a power house at the time and I even had his poster on my wall.

Best opposition player you’ve seen play?

Michael Duffy when he was playing for Dundalk Why? He was very fast and not afraid to take on players plus he loved to shoot from about the corner of the box. A danger against any team What’s the best ground, apart from the Brandywell, that you’ve seen Derry play in?

Apart from Maginn Park, (I’m originally from Derry but living in Buncrana!) it would have to be The Stadium of Light in Portugal when we played Benfica What goal sticks out in your mind?

Paul (Storky) Carlisle’s goal against Benfica in the Brandywell Why?

A GOAL AGAINST BENFICA!!! We all went mental!

Name your best Derry City team (you can pick from any era) One to Eleven with Three subs GK - Tim Dalton RB - Pascal Vaudaquin CB - Stuart Gauld CB - Ryan McBride LB - Ciaron Coll RM - Paul McMullan CM - Felix Healy CM - Peter Hutton LM - Michael Duffy ST - Liam Coyle ST - Alex Krstic Subs: Gerard Doherty, Johnathon Speak, Patrick McEleney Best manager you’ve seen at Derry City?

Jim Mc Laughlin Favourite half time snack?

Hot Soup at Half Time What one thing would you introduce that you feel would improve the match day experience?

We badly need a score board and clock. Never know how long is left!

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C IS FOR CHILDHOOD...

Who were your favourite team as a boy and what got you into them?

CONOR BARR

I’m a big Liverpool fan! It would be through my Dad and Grandad that got me into them.

D IS FOR DRESS SENSE...

Would go to New York quite often as I have family there, so I love it there. If I was to go for a more relaxed holiday, I would say Portugal.

I IS FOR IDOL...

Which footballer did you idolise as a boy?

Steven Gerrard.

Which Derry City team mate has the worst fashion sense?

Sean Patton! He won’ t like that one!

E IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT...

A IS FOR ANNOYING...

Which team mate would you hate to sit beside on the bus all the way to Cork and why?

Tiernan McGinty! He’s always at something

B IS FOR BOX...

What is your favourite TV show? Either at the minute or of all time.

I’d say Prison break would be my all time favourite. At the minute though I’m enjoying Snowfall.

What music and film would you play on the team bus for the lads if it was your choice?

My music varies, but some rap for me gets me more focused.

For the movie I would say Good Will Hunting or Coach Carter.

F IS FOR FUNNY...

What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen happen in your time in football?

Watching Man United at the minute!

G IS FOR GOAL...

What’s been the best goal you’ve ever scored?

I’ve scored a few good ones in my career so far, but I would go with my latest one I scored last Saturday there against Dundalk. I ran from the halfway line and took on a few players and finished it well.

H IS FOR HOLIDAY...

What is your favourite holiday destination? Or where would you like to go no expense spared?

J IS FOR JOKER...

Who is the biggest practical joker in the team?

There’s a few to be fair! I would say Ciaran Coll though. He’s always at something!

K IS FOR KIT...

What has been your favourite football kit that you’ve ever played in or owned?

I would say the retro Liverpool top I had as a kid. 2006-8 I think it was. Carlsberg kit.

L IS FOR LIFE AFTER PLAYING...

Do you see yourself staying in football when your playing career is over?

Yeah, definitely. It’s the best

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career in the world!

M IS FOR MEMENTO...

What is the one football memento you own that you’ll never give away?

My first professional shirt with my name and number on it. I have that framed so I would say that.

S IS FOR SKILLS...

Who has the best skills in the team?

Micky Duffy or Fats

W IS FOR WHILE AWAY THE TIME...

How do you keep yourself entertained during away trips or overnights?

Just watching shows and series’ or mixing with the lads chatting

N IS FOR NEXT BIG THING...

Which Derry City player do you think could be the next to make a move overseas?

Can I still say Cameron McJannet as he’s just away to Grimsby?

O IS FOR OPPOSITION...

Which opposition do you look forward to playing the most either this year or every year?

Shamrock Rovers for me. Always good to test yourself against the top teams.

P IS FOR PASSTIME...

Outside of football, do you have any hobbies in your spare time?

Outside of football I would’ve been studying for my A-levels a lot recently, but apart from that just other active stuff like going to the gym.

X IS FOR EXCHANGE...

T IS FOR TEAM MATES...

Who is the best player you’ve ever played with?

Micky Duffy or Fats again!

Alouth I’ve played with lots to be fair.

Who is the best player you’ve ever played against?

I played against Ethan Ennis from Man Utd when I was with with Northern Ireland. He was really good to be fair.

Y IS FOR YOUTH...

Where did you start your youth career, and did you always play in the same position?

I started for my boyhood club Tristar FC and I’ve played everywhere to be fair! Midfielder, Striker, Winger, and currently ight back and loving it at RB to be fair!

Which Derry City team mate would you definitely not want in your team if you were to do a quiz?

Sean Patton again!

R IS FOR RESULT...

Z IS FOR ZERO CHANCE...

V IS FOR VEHICLE...

What car do you drive now, and

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If you could change places with someone in another sport for a day, who would it be?

LeBron James or Pat Mahomes maybe.

U IS FOR UNPARALLELED...

Q IS FOR QUIZ...

Which result meant the most to you in your career?

I would say every one of them!

All results mean a lot to me.

what would you drive if you were in the Premiership?

I currently drive a VW Golf, but on Premiership wages I would probably say a G wagon

What club would there be no chance of you ever playing for or supporting?

Man Utd!

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TONIGHT’S SQUADS DERRY CITY F.C. 1 - BRIAN MAHER 2 - RONAN BOYCE 3 - CIARÁN COLL 4 - CIARON HARKIN 6 - MARK CONNOLLY 7 - MICHAEL DUFFY 8 - WILL PATCHING 9 - PATRICK HOBAN 10 - PATRICK MCELENEY 11 - COLM WHELAN 12 - PAUL MCMULLAN 14 - BEN DOHERTY 15 - SADOU DIALLO 16 - SHANE MCELENEY 19 - JACOB DAVENPORT 21 - DANNY MULLEN 22 - JORDAN MCENEFF 23 - CAMERON DUMMIGAN 24 - SAM TODD 26 - TADHG RYAN 27 - DANIEL KELLY 28 - ADAM O’REILLY 30 - EVAN OVENDALE 31 - TIERNAN MCGINTY 32 - SEAN PATTON 39 - CONOR BARR 40 - CALUM MCCAY 41 - LUKE O’DONNELL Manager: RUAIDHRÍ HIGGINS

DROGHEDA UNITED 1 - ANDREW WOGAN 3 - EVAN WEIR 4 - ANDREW QUINN 5 - HAYDEN CANN 6 - JACK KEANEY 7 - DARRAGH MARKEY 8 - GARY DEEGAN 9 - FRANTZ PIERROT 11 - ADAM FOLEY 12 - RYAN MAHER 14 - MATTHEW O’BRIEN 15 - DAVID WEBSTER 16 - ZISHIM BAWA 19 - RYAN BRENNAN 20 - EMRE TOPÇU 21 - LUKE HEENEY 22 - AARON MCNALLY 23 - CONOR KANE 24 - WARREN DAVIS 25 - OSAZE IRHUE 26 - OISIN GALLAGHER 27 - JETHREN BARR 29 - ANTHONY MOYO 30 - BRIDEL BOSAKANI 31 - JAMES BYRNE 32 - EVAN HADDOCK 49 - KILLIAN CAILLOCE __ - DOUGLAS JAMES-TAYLOR Manager: KEVIN DOHERTY

Tonight’s Match Sponsors:

TOMORROW’S BRIDAL & MENSWEAR

20-21 The Diamond, Derry (028) 7126 8001 | www.tomorrowsformal.com

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FIRST FOR SPORT IN THE NORTH-WEST bbc.co.uk/radiofoyle 22

CITY CUBS CORNER Send us in your photos and drawings to citycubs@derrycityfc.net and we’ll get them printed on the City Cubs page in the programme!!

SHIRT NUMBER MATHS CHALLENGE

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Can you do the maths with the shirt numbers to find out the name of the hidden Derry City player?

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Can you spot the FIVE differences between the two photos?

ANSWERS: SHIRT NUMBER MATHS: Jordan McEneff (22) + Will Patching (8) - Ciaran Coll (3) = Daniel Kelly (27) SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: 1) Referee has disappeared; 2) Row of houses has extended; 3) Daniel Kelly changed to number 16; 4) Danny Mullan’s name has disappeared; 5) Extra floodlight has appeared

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Home & Away Live Match Commentary From our Match Night Live team on 105.3fm and online at www.drive105.co.uk

Drive105mnl 28

AWAY DAYS: SLIGO ROVERS (THURSDAY 4TH JULY)

By Joseph & Leo McGeehan

Ground: Sligo Rovers FC, The Showgrounds, Church Hill, Sligo Directions: Entering Sligo on the N4 from Donegall/Derry direction, follow the signs for Dublin.

Crossing the river at Hughes Bridge, keep in the left-hand lane (right hand lane is right turn only). Once over the bridge, move into right hand lane until you reach the third set of lights where there is a turning lane. Take the righthand turn and continue up Church Hill to the ground.

Parking: The Showgrounds is one of the better grounds for parking, with a large carpark for visiting supporters just before you reach the ground on the right-hand side of their 3G training pitch on Church Hill.

Visiting Fans: Visiting fans are allocated part of the Jinks Avenue Stand leading up to the television gantry. This the stand is accessed by turnstiles to the right of the main entrance and then walking to the right of the flat gravelled area behind the goal. The pitch side seated stand has a low roof with an away seated capacity of around 400 seats over six rows, with several columns which may impede your view from the rear three rows.

There is also standing space

along this side of the ground down to the corner flag and behind the goal also.

Ticket Prices: Sligo Rovers away tickets must be bought in advance - Ticket prices are as follows: Adults: €15 Students & OAP’s: €10 Kids Under 12: €5 Programmes: Match programmes are on sale from sellers at every game

after you go through the turnstiles. They are priced at €5 and contain interviews with players, a message from the manager, news, facts, match photos and much more.

Food/Drink: There is hot food available in the ground via a decent local based hot food van behind the Church Hill goal, with Tea and coffee are also on sale as well as a range of cold drinks, sweets, and snacks. Burgers, chips, etc are of a reasonable standard although typically overpriced. Staff are friendly and helpful.

Bars: There is no alcohol served in the grounds. The closest pub is Mooney’s which is located almost directly opposite the turnstiles. Inside its walls are covered in Rovers pictures and memorabilia. If you’re walking from the train station/ town centre direction, then

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AWAY DAYS: SLIGO ROVERS (THURSDAY 4TH JULY) continued... there is O’Neill’s pub (nothing like the English chain of the same name) which is on the corner of Wolfe Tone Street and Church Hill. Otherwise, there are plenty of pubs to be found in the nearby town centre which is only a ten-minute walk away from the ground.

The Fiddlers Creek in the centre of town has a lot of TVs showing live football games and a good choice of local craft beers.

Toilet facilities: There are male and female toilet facilities close to the turnstile entrance for the Jinks Avenue stand for away supporters.

Positive Features: We always bring a good support down to the Showgrounds, and the ground has played host to some memorable games in the club’s history: our Shield Victory

over Longford Town in 1986, Johnny Speak scoring 6 in a 7-2 league win in 1988, while we played the second leg of our Europa League 1st Round game against FC Midtjylland here in 2017. Another highlight was the 2018 League Cup semi-final win down here on the August Bank-holiday where we won 1-0 in front of a large following (Rory Hale with a thunderbolt from 25 yards to win the game).

Sligo play their home games here on Saturday nights and there is always a decent atmosphere here for games, which tends to have a good North-west derby feel to it.

Negative Features: The away end is very basic, with a lot of people standing at the boundary wall close to the pitch it renders the first 3 rows of the seats useless.

For some reason, the Sligo security staff stand directly in

the area between the pitch and the boundary wall along the full length of the away end. It can be very annoying to have your view blocked by overzealous stewards staring back at the away fans all night. At the last game down there in September last season, it got quite heated with a lot of Derry fans complaining about these issues, and we saw many kids simply unable to see much of the game.

Hopefully Sligo will ease up on this aspect this season. It does seem totally overkill, as I can never recall one single incident of crowd trouble between Derry and Sligo in nearly 40 years.

In recent seasons, we have a very bad record down there.

Two x 0-1 defeats last season were perhaps two of the worse performances of the entire season. In 2022 we lost 1-2 and drew 0-0. In the Covid season (2020) we lost 0-1 to a last-minute goal in the league game, then crashed out of the FAI Cup on penalties after a forgettable 0-0 draw.

In our first away game this season, the game ended in a dull 0-0 draw. So our long wait for a league win in Sligo continues !

Ratings: Atmosphere: 8/10 Accessibility: 7/10 Parking: 9/10 Facilities: 5/10 Historical Record: 5/10 Overall: 7/10

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CANDYSTRIPES & DROGS: PLAYERS WHO HAVE PLAYED FOR BOTH Éamon Zayed Born in Dublin, Zayed played youth football for Leicester City before signing for Bray Wanderers in 2002, where he scored 54 goals in 105 games.

The striker joined Drogheda United in 2006, bagging 47 times in 71 outings on his way to becoming the top scorer in their 2007 Premier Division winning squad. The Libyan forward scored in the Europa League for Drogheda against IK Start, AC Libertas and Helsingborgs IF. After a spell at Sporting Fingal, Zayed joined Derry City in 2011, scoring 23 times in 36 appearances as the Candystripes went on to lift the League Cup. He also won the PFAI Players’ Player of the Year award that season.

He left Derry for Iranian side Persepolis in 2012, scoring a hat-trick as a substitute on his debut in the Tehran Derby to earn legendary status as his side overturned a 2-0 deficit to beat Esteghlal 3-2. He scored

By Pól O’Hare

another hat-trick a month later, against Al-Shabab in the Asian Champions League. Zayed returned to Ireland with Shamrock Rovers in 2013, scoring 4 goals before being loaned to Sligo Rovers. After a year in Malaysia, Zayed had spells playing in the NASL and USL in America before retiring. He made 8 appearances for the Libyan national team and has been manager of NASL side Northern Colorado Hailstorm since 2021.

Barry Molloy

An ever-present in the Derry City midfield for over a decade, Barry Molly made 353 appearances for the Candystripes, netting 13 times along the way. The Derry-born midfielder played youth football with Brandywell Harps and Trojans before being snapped up by Derby County in 1999. He left England to sign for Droghe-

da United in 2004, where he scored three times before Stephen Kenny enticed him to join Derry City later that year.

A legend at the Brandywell, Molloy went on to win two FAI Cups, five League Cups and the 2010 First Division before leaving for Crusaders in 2015. After nearly two years at Finn Harps, Molloy hung up his boots in August 2017.

Marc Griffin Australian born forward Marc Griffin began his career in Louth with Dundalk, making his senior debut in 2009. After impressing as one of the League of Ireland’s most promising young forwards, Derry City fought off competition to sign Griffin on a two-year deal ahead of the 2013 campaign.

The striker made 29 appearances and scored three times for City before rejoining Dundalk in 2014. After a year at Bohemians, he joined Drogheda United in 2016 and registered eleven goal involvements in eighteen months before signing for Glenavon in July 2017.

Griffin retired in July 2020 after two years at Warrenpoint and now, aged 32, manages Dundalk’s U20 side.

Killian Brennan Drogheda native Killian Brennan spent his whole senior career in the League of Ireland. The wide man learned his trade at Drogheda Boys,

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CANDYSTRIPES & DROGS: PLAYED FOR BOTH continued...

Home Farm and Peterborough United during his youth career before moving to Dublin City in 2003. Brennan was brought to Derry City by Stephen Kenny in 2004, making 114 appearances and scoring nine goals in four seasons. He was part of the City squad which

won three League Cups in a row between 2005 and 2007, alongside earning an FAI Cup winners medal in 2006. Brennan, who could operate on the wing and at full back, had spells at Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers and St. Patrick’s Athletic before joining Drogheda United in 2017. Now 40, he plays for Glebe North FC after being named the PFAI Player’s Player of the Year in 2013, alongside winning the Premier Division on three occasions, the League Cup five times, the FAI Cup twice and the Setanta Cup across his career.

James Keddy Dubliner James Keddy came through the ranks at St Mary’s Boys and St Joseph’s Boys be-

fore making his senior debut with Home Farm in 1991. After making more than 120 appearances for Home Farm and UCD in the League of Ireland, Keddy signed for Derry City in 1996. He was part of City’s most recent league winning campaign in 1996/97, where he operated on the left flank.

Keddy had a journeyed career in the League of Ireland, lining out for Shelbourne, Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians and Drogheda United before retiring at the end of his second spell with Shelbourne in 2008. Now 51, Keddy manages Wexford FC in the First Division, after taking assistant manager roles at Bray Wanderers in 2019 and Longford Town in 2021.

FROM BURY TO HUNGARY I’ve been watching the Euros recently and while watching one game in particular and looking at the lineups, I noticed an unusual surname and researching it I wondered to myself, ‘Why is a lad from Bury called Callum Styles playing for Hungary?!’

Surnames you’d expect, like Szoboszlai, Csoboth, Szappanos, Bendeguz Bolla, Botond Balogh.

The Hungarian national team’s names can look more like a WiFi password than something you could pronounce. Yet there’s one name that will stick out if you watch them in the last 16 of the Euros: Callum Styles.

So I went about finding out how could this 24-year-old lad, born in Bury and on the books at Barnsley in League One, be

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By Andrew Cassidy

playing for a country over 1,000 miles from his birthplace?

After reading out it, the full answer involves chicken noodle soup, 50 Cent, poker, languagelearning app Duolingo, and a bit of good, old-fashioned fortune.

The short answer is that Styles

qualifies for Hungary as his grandmother was from there, but the story is more complex and fascinating than that.

Growing up, he had no idea that he could one day play for them.

He was aware that his mother’s parents were from Eastern Europe, but wasn’t sure where.

He would often visit his grandmother’s house after school, just around the corner from his parent’s house.

‘I would go around twice a week and she would always be cooking a chicken noodle soup. But she passed away when I was just at the end of primary school,’ he told sports website ‘The Athletic’.

Styles started playing football when he was four, but his dream

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FROM BURY TO HUNGARY continued... almost collapsed aged 16 when he was released by Burnley.

His hometown club of Bury offered him a contract and a rough induction into the third tier of professional English football in May 2016.

Barnsley are his current employers though he has spent time on loan at Millwall and Sunderland in the Championship in the last two seasons and it looks like he could leave Oakwell this summer.

Styles only discovered that he could play for Hungary in 2020.

That year he planned to visit the nation with his girlfriend to learn more, but the Covid-19 pandemic delayed any such opportunity.

In an interview with Barnsley’s media team, he explained his Hungarian heritage and it ended up in the Oakwell Review match programme.

‘I was just putting it out there,’ he told The Athletic. ‘And hoping something comes of it.’

After weeks of silence, suddenly a stroke of luck. ‘You know how everything spreads these days with social media? That’s basically how it was. It caught fire.’

The Hungarian FA got in touch with Barnsley, wanting to speak to his agent, in 2022. Within weeks, he received a call from the national team manager, Marco Rossi, about playing.

‘The Hungary boss was telling me that as soon as my passport was ready he wanted me in the next camp. I asked: “To watch?”

And he said: “No, to play, obviously.” It was a wow moment. If there is a Barnsley programme subscriber in Budapest, thank you,’ he told newspaper The Guardian.

Fast forward to today and the full-back is a regular in the Hungary line-up. He has already accumulated 22 caps and Euro 2024 is his first tournament with the side.

Getting up to speed with the language isn’t easy. ‘I am using Duolingo. I am trying my best! It is not an easy language, let’s put it that way. It is difficult when you go over there but I am picking up quite a lot in camp but when that finishes I am back to England and everyone speaks English. It is easy to forget what you have learned because no one is speaking Hungarian around you.’

All the same, Styles has settled in well and been embraced.

For his initiation song, he performed Candy Shop by 50 Cent.

He is also part of a poker group alongside Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai and other internationals.

Hungary will hope to progress further this summer in Germany. This is their third consecutive Euros and they were on an

unbeaten run in competitive football since September 2022 until they saw two defeats in their opening two games. A win against Scotland saw them finish 3rd and progress to the last 16. A recent pre-tournament 2-1 loss to Ireland wasn’t the best way to go into the tournament.

Styles was part of the Hungary team that beat England 4-0 in the Nations League just over two years ago.

Finishing second in a Nations League group comprised of them, Italy, England, and Germany is a strong indication of their potential.

As Styles explained before the tournament, ‘’I would love to go as far as I can with Hungary and hopefully make the later rounds by getting through the group.

That’s the first goal. We’ll take it game by game after that and see how far we can get.

‘We’ve got the players, we have got the coach, we’ve got the philosophy to go far. We just have to be confident, work hard.’

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This week... Derry City fan... CONNOR DOHERTY 1. Which three Danish goalkeepers each have over 250 appearances in the English Premier League?

4.

2. There are two Argentinian players at the 2024 Copa América with over 30 International Goals in their career.

Messi, and which other?

3. Nottingham Forrest goalkeeper Matt Turner is on International Tournament duty this summer, but which country does he play for?

4. Jack Grealish didn’t get to the Euros with England, but this lad did. Who is he? (pictured on the right) 5. Derry City signed Ben Doherty from which club on Jan 8. 6th 2023?

6. Douglas James-Taylorhas joined Drogheda United on loan last month from which club?

7. Who preceded Kevin Doherty has manager of Drogheda United?

8. Drogheda United forward Frantz Pierrot has been capped a full international level for which country ?

CONNOR’S ANSWERS: 1) The two Schmiechals anyway, and... I can’t think of another; 2) MacAllister?; 3) Doesn’t say which tournament? I’ll just go for... USA; 4) Can’t remember his name! Plays for Palace?; 5) Coleraine; 6) No idea; 7) Clancy wasn’t it?; 8) Sounds French, so I’ll go France or Belgium. I konw thy’re both wrong though!

CONNOR’S SCORE: 1 out of 8! Can you beat it?

ANSWERS: 1) Thomas Sørensen (364) , Peter Schmeichel (310), Kasper Schmeichel (284); 2) Ángel Di María (31 goals); 3) He’s at the Copa America with the U.S.A.; 4) Adam Wharton; 5) Larne; 6) Walsall; 7) Tim Clancy; 8) Haiti

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BE THE CHALLENGER! CONTACT ANDREW@DERRYCITYFC.NET

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