CityView Vol-41 No-13 - Derry City vs Bohemians - Friday 25th July

DERRY CITY F.C. v BOHEMIAN F.C. LEAGUE OF IRELAND MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION FRIDAY 25th JULY 2025 | 7.45pm Vol. 41 - No. 13

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Welcome to...

BOHEMIAN F.C.

DERRY CITY FOOTBALL CLUB Formed:

1928

Ground:

Brandywell Stadium

Manager:

Tiernan Lynch

Asst Manager:

Seamus Lynch

Coach:

Andy Mitchell

Co-Ordinator:

Patrick McEleney

GK Coach:

Anthony Fennelly

Development:

Mark McChrystal

Head Analyst:

Rory Scott

S&D Coach

Danny Doherty

Physio:

Leah McCreadie

Kit Man:

Georgie Harkin

Kit Man:

Gerry Sheppard

Doctor:

Dr. Noel Boyle

Podiatrist:

Patrick McGill

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 Event Images and Maiden City 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 for tonight’s game against Bohemians.

Welcome back also to Alan Reynolds, his staff and players and the officials and supporters who have travelled up from Dublin this evening.

Second versus third tonight as both clubs keep the pressure on Shamrock Rovers, who’ll no doubt be hoping for a draw!

Michael Duffy’s goal in the 10th minute was the only goal of Derry’s 1-0 the last time Bohs visited the Brandywell back in February.

Derry then visited Dalymount at the end of May and only one goal separated the sides again.

Dayle Rooney converted a penalty that was given in the first minute of the game by Rob Hennessy, who then showed Robbie Benson a red card 20mins after he came on. Rob Hennessy was the ref two weeks ago as well

as we lost 2-0 to Sligo Rovers in somewhat of a shock defeat.

Derry fans will be glad to the referee’s name below isn’t that of Hennessy tonight!

But maybe it’s just a conspiracy theory! Referees can’t win or lose you matches. Instead, we need to get behind the team tonight as some players have gone and new players have come in. Let’s show the new lads the famous Brandywell atmosphere tonight and for the rest of the season. Enjoy the game!

TONIGHT’S MATCH OFFICIALS: Referee: DAMIEN MACGRAITH

Assistant 1: Richard Storey |Assistant 2: Darren Corcoran Fourth Official: Ryan Maher

TONIGHT’S MATCH SPONSOR:

PLEASE SUPPORT ALL OUR SPONSORS

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MESSAGE FROM THE MANAGER

It’s good to be back at the Brandywell tonight after a couple of weekends on the road and I know the players have very much been looking forward to playing in front of our own supporters again.

We were obviously very disappointed with the performance in Sligo in the league, especially coming off the back of four wins on the spin.

I was happy with how we responded in the cup at Treaty however, and we know have a third round tie at home to Drogheda to look forward to next month.

I know what the cup means to this city and even in practical terms there is a lot at stake in the competition this season.

Obviously there will be a lot of focus on the fact that it’s a repeat of last year’s final, but there have been a lot of changes on both sides since then.

We say this all the time of course but apart from the draw, none of us have given the cup a second thought since we arrived home from Limerick.

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It’s all about the business in hand now, and that means trying to get past an in-form Bohemians team tonight.

sion at Derry City both this season and in the years ahead, and hopefully things will continue to come together going forward.

They’ve been playing really well over the past few months and that’s reflected in their position in the table.

As always though we’re only interested in what’s in front of us and that means tonight’s game.

That doesn’t happen for no reason and we’re well aware of the threat they pose and the quality that they have throughout the team.

I trust you will get right behind the players this evening and they will definitely be looking to give you something to shout about.

We’ve been doing well ourselves as I’ve said, and just as importantly we’re getting minutes into our new arrivals during the past fortnight

Enjoy the game

I have no doubt that these lads can make a big impres-

Tiernan Lynch, Manager

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DERRY CITY VS GLENAVON 1999 Derry, having played out a scoreless draw against Coleraine earlier in the week, travelled to Lurgan on Friday 30th July 1999 to take on Glenavon in another pre-season friendly.

The Candystripes had played a testimonial match at Mourneview Park the previous season in torrential rain but on this occasion the conditions were boiling hot and Glenavon had to work very hard to overcome a resourceful Derry side.

Both Glenavon goals, one in each half, came from headers.

On nineteen minutes an Evans right wing cross was despatched into the net by Baxter (later to be the successful Crusaders manager) who was renowned for his aerial power.

The home side’s second goal after sixty-seven minutes saw centre half Smyth leave City keeper David Platt stranded with a header from a left-wing cross from full back Glendinning. Glenavon’s midfielder, Murphy, was sent off late in the second half.

Despite the scoreline the Candystripes played some bright,

By Francie McCauley inventive and skilful football and despite losing the game two nil manager Kevin Mahon said he was happy with the overall performance in what was a worthwhile exercise. City had had enough chances to score and, at times, had played some quality football. Michael Hughes had been denied hitting the back of the net on two occasions by superb saves from home keeper Matthews.

There was a sixteen-page programme on sale for £1.

Six of the pages were adverts. ‘In The Away Dressing Room’ provided information about the visitors along with a photo of manager Kevin Mahon.

Seven of the Derry squad had played for various Irish League clubs. A page was dedicated to Glenavon’s manager, Roy Walker, who updated local supporters on his side’s pre-season preparations.

‘Memory Match’ recalled a game between the two teams at the

Brandywell on Saturday 16th March 1956. With both teams out of the Irish Cup a challenge game was arranged between the two clubs with a Derry City director - Joe Williamson - putting up a cup for the winners and eleven miniature replicas for the winning players. Although City had created scoring opportunities it was Glenavon who ran out winners by three goals to one.

A special cheap return fare of 11/- operated on the 8.55 a.m. train from Lurgan to Derry on the day of the game and a significant number of Glenavon supporters had travelled to the North -West.

‘Defensive Confidence’ was a profile of the home side’s defender Gary Smyth. Team line ups were spread over the middle pages. Two pages were then given over to Glenavon’s forward Tony Grant. Reading material was rounded off with a short ‘Quiz’.

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FOOTBALL FIRSTS Scrolling through my IPad recently I discovered an interesting football first - the very 1st film of a soccer match was made in 1897 in Belfast when Glentoran played Cliftonville. In a previous article on Everton leaving Goodison Park I forgot to mention that in 1907 the club introduced the very first double decker stand in the country. It cost £13,000 but they could well afford it as they were richest club in England at that time. Another world first was achieved by Sheffield Football Club some 29 years earlier when they experimented with floodlight football in a game watched by almost 20,000 fans. Established in 1857 the club is recognised

by FIFA as the oldest existing club still playing football in the world. Closer to home a visitor to the Millenium Forum in November holds the

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record of the first Frenchman to score a hat trick in the Premier League - Eric Cantona hit 3 for Leeds United in their 5 -0 win against Tottenham.

No doubt the iconic Red Devil will be regaling his audience with many of his football “feats.” Another Frenchman had the distinction of scoring the first goal in World Cup history in 1930. He was Lucien Laurent (left) who hit a volley in the 19th minute against Mexico in Montevideo, Uruguay. Fast forward to 1982 when Norman Whiteside was the youngest player at 17 & 40 days to play in the World Cup. He had a successful career with the Old Trafford side from 1978 to 1989 when he moved to Everton but an knee injury forced him to retire in 1991. Moving on to the Olympics, football was first introduced in 1900 at the Paris Games. It has been played in all the games since then except at the 1932 Los Angeles event and from

By Sean McGillan

1992 it’s participants are under 23 with 3 over that age allowed in each team. I managed to catch 2 games on the same day at Old Trafford in the 2012 games - Egypt v New Zealand & Brazil v Belarus. The first game ended 1-1 but the South Americans had a 3-1 victory with goals from Pato, Neymar & Oscar. Some of their players ended up signing for English clubs including Lucas Moura for Spurs , Oscar & Thiago Silva for Chelsea. Finally my last “first” features the Candystripes - 60 years ago on 9th September Derry City created Irish League history as the first club to qualify for the 2nd round of the European Cup by beating Norwegian side FK Lyn 5-1 on the night, 8-6 on aggregate. I was fortunate to attend both legs & my abiding memory of the games was the late Jimbo Crossan’s wonder goal in the 49th minute to level the aggregate score at 6-6.

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NEWS FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE

2025 LEAGUE TABLE: Pld Pts Shamrock Rvrs

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49

Bohemians

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41

DERRY CITY

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40

Drogheda Utd

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38

Shelbourne

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35

St. Pat’s Athletic

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32

Waterford

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30

Galway United

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29

Sligo Rovers

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23

Cork City

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Last Round’s Results: FRIDAY 11th JULY Bohemians 3-0 Galway United Waterford 2-0 Cork City SATURDAY 12th JULY Sligo Rovers 2-0 DERRY CITY

NEXT GAME:

This Round’s Fixtures: FRIDAY 25th JULY Galway United v Waterford Cork City v Sligo Rovers DERRY CITY v Bohemians

Derry City vs Cork City Friday 8th August, 7.45pm

DERRY CITY LOTTO

Prize Pot: £1,500

Play online now at clubs.clubforce.com 11

RECENT SUMMER INS & OUTS OUTS: CONOR BARR TO CLIFTONVILLE (LOAN) 19yo Conor Barr’s successful loan spell with Ballymena United came to an end in June and he impressed enough in the Irish league for the boss to want to hang on to him, and enough that Cliftonville have come looking for him! He joins The Reds until the end of their season.

CALLUM DOHERTY TO INSTITUTE (LOAN) 17yo Derry City Academy graduate Callum Doherty has gone on a season-long loan to Peter Hutton’s Institute to gain some first team experience.

KEVIN HOLT TO AYR UNITED Kevin has departed the club having had a short 4 month stay. He signed at the end of February from Dundee United, and departs now at the start of July for Ayr United PAT HOBAN TO GLENTORAN

and departs to Declan Devine’s Glentoran to join former Candystripes Joe Thompson, Shane McEleney & Ciaran Coll.

PAUL MCMULLAN TO RAITH ROVERS

Paul was one of the most popular players with the fans. Always exciting to watch and always gave his best. Paul leaves for Raith Rovers in the Scottish Championship.

DOM THOMAS TO AYR UNITED Dom is another Scottish winger who joins Kevin Holt at Ayr United having had just a short stay on Foyleside We wish all the lads all the best at their new clubs.

INS:

Last season’s top scorer made just 8 appearances this season

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BRANDON FLEMING FROM HULL CITY Although Brandon joins from Hull City, his last few seasons were spent on loan to clubs like Bolton Wanderers, Oxford United, and Doncaster Rovers.

He was most recently on loan

at Forrest Green Rovers since January, but signs for Derry City on a permanent 18-month deal DIPO AKINYEMI FROM YORK CITY

28yo striker Dipo has been at York City since 2023 having joined from Ayr United. A proven goal scorer with a physical presence and an eye for goal.

We look forward to seeing Dipo in action for the Candystripes.

ALEX BANNON FROM BURTON ALBION 21yo Scottish defender Bannon joins on a 12-month loan from Burton Albion, having been on loan at Airdrieonians most recently ADAM FRIZZELL FROM AIRDRIEONIANS 27yo winger Frizzell, who would have been a team mate of Alex Bannon previously, has joined the Candystripes after over 100 appearances for Airdrieonians.

Good luck to the new lads coming in, and lets get behind them all!

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do you go and what’s your choice?

I like a pepperoni pizza or a Chinese!

RONAN BOYCE

D IS FOR DIRTY...

What’s the best piece of advice to give to young footballers?

Never get too high and never get too low

B IS FOR BOOTS...

What made you choose the boots that you wear?

I just liked the colour of them, nothing too deep thoughtwise!

C IS FOR CHIPPY...

It’s takeaway night, where

I IS FOR IRREPLACEABLE...

E IS FOR EUROPE OR CUP...

What is the one thing that you couldn’t go a day without?

Probably just something as simple as talking to my family to be honest.

F IS FOR FACEBOOK...

Have you ever had a job outside of football?

Yeah, a few! I’ve worked in a bar, I worked in a shop for a while as well and then out doing a bit of construction with my dad.

Which team mate is the messiest in the dressing room?

Danny Mullen! 100% Would you rather get through to the later rounds in Europe or win the Cup Final at the Aviva if you could only do one?

I’d rather win the Cup Final!

Definitely the best day I’ve had so far!

A IS FOR ADVICE...

I would prefer a lay by the pool and relax kind of holiday to be honest!

Do you ever have a look at or read reviews or comments online after a game?

Not really! It all depends if we win or not!

G IS FOR GYM...

Which team mate spends the longest in the gym?

Sam Todd!

H IS FOR HOLIDAY...

Do you prefer a sightseeing city break or a lay by the pool holiday?

J IS FOR JOB...

K IS FOR KITCHEN...

What is your speciality dish to cook if you wanted to impress in the kitchen?

Chicken and rice is about the best I can cook up!

L IS FOR LOVE ISLAND...

Which team mate would be the most likely to apply for Love Island?

I don’t know really! Probably Sadou Diallo!

M IS FOR MATES...

If you were to get into an argument on the pitch, which team mate would you be glad to see arriving to back you up?

Big Hayden Cann!

N IS FOR NOISE...

If the squad had to be quiet for as long as possible, which team mate would break and speak first?

I’d say Carl Winchester! Without a doubt!

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O IS FOR OLYMPICS...

What Olympic sport do you think you’d make the best attempt at?

I don’t know. Rowing maybe.

I reckon I could give that a go if the rowing machine has me trained up for it!

P IS FOR PENALTIES...

Would you put yourself forward to take one if a big cup final went to penalties?

I would, yeah, but I don’t know if I’d be chosen!

Q IS FOR QUIET...

Do you prefer quietness or company?

Na, I definitely prefer to be in company!

R IS FOR RULES...

If you could change one football rule or law, what would you change?

There’s a few sports that stop the clock when the ball goes out. I’d say that’d be a good idea for football as well.

S IS FOR SCHOOL...

What was your best subject at school?

Construction studies.

T IS FOR TEXT...

Which team mate would be the most likely to take a week to reply to a text?

Shane Ferguson! He takes that long to respond to a message that I think he’s lost his phone most of the time!

U IS FOR USED...

What is the most used app on your phone?

ChatGPT! It just has the answer for everything!

V IS FOR VIDEO GAMES...

What is or was your favourite video game?

I like playing a bit of Call Of Duty.

W IS FOR WORLDIE...

What goal sticks out to you as the best you’ve ever seen? Either on TV or in person.

Ronaldo’s overhead kick a few years back against Juventus

X IS FOR EXCHANGE...

Which one game would you go back and change the result of if you could?

That game against Tobol in Europe 2023 in Tallaght. We came so close! We even won the match 1-0, but going out on penalties like that was just a killer. (Pictured left)

Y IS FOR YOUNG...

Which two young footballers do you think will go on to be the next Messi or Ronaldo debate as the best players in the world?

I’d say maybe Lamine Yamal and Erling Haaland would be considered the two best in the world at the minute.

Z IS FOR ZOOM...

If you could have a 10min Zoom call with anyone in the world, who do you choose?

Cristiano Ronaldo. See if I can learn anything off him in 10mins!

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SHELS

CORK

ROVERS

WATERFORD

SLIGO

DROGHEDA

SHELS

BOHS

PATS

GALWAY

CORK

ROVERS

BOHS

TREATY

SLIGO

WATERFORD

DROGHEDA

PATS

SHELS

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BOHS

ROVERS

DROGHEDA

CORK

PATS

SHELS

WATERFORD

SLIGO

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DROGHEDA

CORK

ROVERS

SLIGO

GALWAY

PATS

WATERFORD

BOHS

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1--3

2--1

0--0

1--0

1--1

0--2

1--2

1--0

1--3

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H

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SCORE

DATE

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

1

CONNOLLY DUFFY

CONNOLLY DUFFY

CONNOLLY DUFFY

CONNOLLY DUFFY 1

R BOYCE

R BOYCE

R BOYCE

WHYTE

WHYTE

WHYTE

WHYTE

O’REILLY

FERGUSON CONNOLLY DUFFY

FERGUSON CONNOLLY DUFFY

CONNOLLY1 DUFFY

R BOYCE 1 CONNOLLY DUFFY

R BOYCE

R BOYCE

CONNOLLY DUFFY

O’REILLY

O’REILLY

O’REILLY

O’REILLY

FERGUSON CONNOLLY DUFFY

FERGUSON CONNOLLY DUFFY

R BOYCE

WHYTE

WHYTE 1

WHYTE 1

O’REILLY

WHYTE

DIALLO

HOBAN

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DIALLO

DIALLO CANN

CANN

DOHERTY

THOMAS

THOMAS

CANN

CANN

CANN

WHYTE

WHYTE

DIALLO1

DIALLO

DIALLO

DIALLO

WHYTE

HOLT

TODD

TODD 1

TODD

TODD

HOLT1

HOLT

TODD

TODD

TODD

DIALLO

TODD

WINCHESTER TODD

WINCHESTER HOLT

WINCHESTER HOLT

WINCHESTER HOLT

WINCHESTER HOLT

WINCHESTER MULLEN

WINCHESTER MULLEN

WINCHESTER HOLT

CANN

HOLT

HOLT

HOLT

HOLT

L BOYCE

WINCHESTER HOLT

WINCHESTER HOLT 1 BENSON

TODD

HOLT

WINCHESTER HOLT

WINCHESTER MULLEN

WINCHESTER MULLEN 2

L BOYCE

L BOYCE

L BOYCE

11

BANNON 1

L BOYCE

L BOYCE 3

L BOYCE

L BOYCE 1

L BOYCE

TODD

TODD

L BOYCE

L BOYCE

L BOYCE 1

MULLEN 1

L BOYCE 1

TODD

TODD

TODD

L BOYCE 1

PATTON

HOLT

L BOYCE

L BOYCE

WINCHESTER HOLT

WINCHESTER MULLEN

THOMAS

THOMAS

DIALLO

WINCHESTER HOLT

WINCHESTER MULLEN 1

CANN

10

WINCHESTER TODD

WINCHESTER MULLEN

AKINYEMI WHYTE

DIALLO

CANN

CANN

CANN

CANN

CANN

9 WINCHESTER TODD

WINCHESTER HOLT

MCMULLAN CANN

WHYTE

THOMAS

THOMAS

THOMAS

CANN

MCMULLAN CANN

WHYTE

WHYTE

WHYTE

O’REILLY

O’REILLY

BENSON

BENSON

BENSON1

BENSON

CANN

8 THOMAS

MCMULLAN DOHERTY CANN

DOHERTY

DOHERTY

MCMULLAN WHYTE

O’REILLY

O’REILLY

O’REILLY

6

MCMULLAN DOHERTY

O’REILLY

O’REILLY

O’REILLY

HOBAN

FERGUSON CONNOLLY DUFFY 1

CONNOLLY DUFFY

CONNOLLY DUFFY

CONNOLLY DUFFY

CONNOLLY DUFFY

O’REILLY

CONNOLLY DUFFY

CONNOLLY DUFFY 1

FERGUSON CONNOLLY DUFFY

HARKIN

R BOYCE

R BOYCE

R BOYCE

R BOYCE

R BOYCE

R BOYCE

R BOYCE

O’REILLY

CONNOLLY DUFFY

CONNOLLY DUFFY 1

R BOYCE 1 DUFFY 1

R BOYCE

R BOYCE

5

FERGUSON CONNOLLY DUFFY 1

CONNOLLY DUFFY

R BOYCE

4

FERGUSON CONNOLLY DUFFY 1

3

FERGUSON HARKIN

R BOYCE

R BOYCE

2

13

BENSON

MULLEN

BENSON

BENSON

TODD

WHYTE

BENSON

O’REILLY

CANN

BENSON

L BOYCE

MULLEN

L BOYCE

BANNON

PATTON

FRIZZELL MULLEN

MULLEN 1

MULLEN

DOHERTY THOMAS

DOHERTY MULLEN 1

MULLEN

TODD

TODD

FRIZZELL MULLEN 1 L BOYCE 3

MULLEN

BENSON

McMULLAN BENSON

PATTON

PATTON

16

L BOYCE 1 PATTON

L BOYCE

TODD

PATTON

PATTON

McMULLAN BENSON

McMULLAN BENSON

THOMAS

BENSON

McMULLAN BENSON

FERGUSON O’REILLY

O’REILLY

THOMAS

MULLEN

O’REILLY

McMULLAN THOMAS

FERGUSON O’REILLY

HOBAN

PATTON

PATTON

THOMAS

L BOYCE

MULLEN

TODD

McMULLAN MULLEN

BENSON

McMULLAN DIALLO

R BOYCE

HOBAN

HOBAN

HARKIN

WHYTE

MCMULLAN BENSON

DOHERTY

PATTON

15

DOHERTY TODD

McMULLAN CANN

FERGUSON HARKIN

O’REILLY

MCMULLAN CANN

FERGUSON WHYTE

WHYTE

BENSON

DIALLO

14

McMULLAN BENSON

FERGUSON HARKIN

HOBAN

HARKIN

HOBAN 1

HOBAN

McMULLAN WHYTE

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2025 STARTING XI TEAM GRID

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TONIGHT’S SQUADS DERRY CITY F.C.

BOHEMIAN F.C.

1 - BRIAN MAHER 2 - RONAN BOYCE 3 - SHANE FERGUSON 4 - CIARON HARKIN 6 - MARK CONNOLLY 7 - MICHAEL DUFFY 8 - ADAM O’REILLY 10 - DIPO AKINYEMI 11 - GAVIN WHYTE 13 - ROBBIE BENSON 14 - BEN DOHERTY 15 - SADOU DIALLO 16 - HAYDEN CANN 17 - ADAM FRIZZELL 19 - BRANDON FLEMING 20 - CARL WINCHESTER 21 - DANNY MULLEN 23 - CAMERON DUMMIGAN 24 - SAM TODD 25 - ALEX BANNON 26 - ARLO DOHERTY 27 - LIAM BOYCE 32 - SEAN PATTON

1 - JAMES TALBOT 2 - LIAM SMITH 4 - NIALL MORAHAN 5 - ROB CORNWALL 6 - JORDAN FLORES 7 - CONNOR PARSONS 8 - DAYLE ROONEY 9 - COLM WHELAN 10 - DAWSON DEVOY 15 - JAMES CLARKE 16 - KEITH BUCKLEY 17 - ADAM MCDONNELL 18 - DOUGLAS JAMES-TAYLOR 19 - RHYS BRENNAN 20 - LEIGH KAVANAGH 21 - ALEX LACEY 22 - JOHN MOUNTNEY 23 - ARCHIE MEEKISON 24 - CIAN BYRNE 26 - ROSS TIERNEY 30 - KACPER CHORĄŻKA 31 - DECLAN OSAGIE 32 - MARKUSS STRODS 33 - CHRISTOPHER CONLON 40 - JOE COLLINS

Manager: TIERNAN LYNCH

Manager: ALAN REYNOLDS

Tonight’s Match Sponsors:

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More Powerful Together 22

23 ANSWERS: SHIRT NUMBER MATHS: Robbie Benson (13) + Dipo Akinyemi (10) - Ronan Boyce (2) = Danny Mullen (21) SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: 1) DCFC has disappeared from Sadou Diallo’s socks; 2) Hayden Cann has appeared on the right; 3) Man in background is now wearing a t-shirt; 4) Michael Duffy’s shirt sponsor has disappeared; 5) Supporter beside Sadou Diallo has disappeared.

Can you spot the FIVE differences between the two photos?

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

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

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SHIRT NUMBER MATHS CHALLENGE 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!!

CITY CUBS CORNER

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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

FANZONE: MEET THE FANS Tonight’s entrant into the Fanzone arena is Pat Gillen.

Pat has been supporting the Candystripes since 1985 and brings some interesting views to the table. Welcome Pat.

Why? Great player and a prolific goal scorer What’s the best ground, apart from the Brandywell, that you’ve seen Derry play in?

Dalymount Park would be one of the grounds that springs to mind.

What goal sticks out in your mind?

Liam Coyle’s goal versus Athlone.

Name: Pat Gillen How long have you been supporting Derry City?

Since Derry entered the League of Ireland in 198.

Where do you sit in the Brandywell?

In the Southend Stand

Why? I think it was a game where we could win the League although we didn’t that day. I could be wrong but the goal was top drawer.

Name your best Derry City team (you can pick from any era) One to Eleven with Three subs

GK: Gerard Doherty LB Sean Hargan CB Peter Hutton CB Darren Kelly RB Eddie McCallion LM James Keddy CM Paul Doolin CM Barry Molloy RM Paddy McCourt ST Liam Coyle ST Mark Farren Best manager you’ve seen at Derry City?

Stephen Kenny Favourite half time snack?

Just a bag of crisps!

What one thing would you introduce that you feel would improve the match day experience?

An Electric Scoreboard (can be used for sponsoring, announcements and photos etc.)

Best Player you’ve seen playing for the Candystripes?

Has to be Liam Coyle Why? Liam was just a skilful, classy player and a great goal scorer as well Best opposition player you’ve seen play?

Gary Haylock ( Shelbourne, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers)

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THE WORLD’S SMALLEST FOOTBALL LEAGUE As a lot of leagues around the world get prepared for the start of a new season, we ere wondering; What’s the smallest football league in the world?

Well, it’s located closer than you think. It’s on the Isles of Silly, which are a small group of islands off the southwest of England with a population of just over 2,100 people, and it’s a league unlike any other!

The Isles of Scilly Football League has been played since the First World War, and although the league initially had four teams, dwindling population numbers mean that it now only has two, the Garrison Gunners and the Wolfpack Wanderers.

There are no big summer transfers to announce though. Due to the limited number of available players

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on Silly, the two teams get together at a pub at the start of each season and, much like a school playground, they will pick one player from each available pool of players until both teams have a competitive squad.

The teams then kick off the season with the charity shield, before playing each other 14 times across a league season and facing each other in two further

cup competitions, one of which is played over two legs.

The league is officially affiliated with The Football Association in England, however since the league is not part of the English football pyramid, the teams are not eligible to enter the FA Cup. Woolpack Wanderers have been crowed champions for the past four seasons, ending the pre-covid dominance of Garrison Gunnerswho had won six on the bounce.

Occasionally, instead of International football, the two teams produce a combined Isles of Scilly team and travel to play Newlyn Non Athletico, a team at level 14 of the English football league system. A team from the English city of Truro also visit annually to play against the combined team.

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FLYING THE FLAG: FORMER CANDYSTRIPES IN EUROPE 2025

Seeing that Derry City aren’t playing in this summer’s European qualifiers, I’ve had a look across the early qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League to see which former City players or Derry natives are featuring for the respective clubs across the continent.

DANNY LUPANO FC MILSAMI ORHEI

By Pól O’Hare

2025/26 Champions League.

Belgian defender Danny Lupano, who first joined Derry City on loan in January 2020 before rejoining a year later, started for the Moldovan side in both legs. Lupano made six appearances for the Candystripes in his two loan spells from Hull City and joined Milsami in 2024 after spells at Kalamata in Greece and Royal Excelsior Virton in Belgium. His side lost 1-0 on aggregate and drew Buducnost Podgorica of Montenegro after dropping into the Conference League Second Round.

RORY HOLDEN, BEN WILSON & JOSH DANIELS THE NEW SAINTS

FC Milsami Orhei v KuPS & FK Buducnost Podgorica. UEFA Champions League & UEFA Conference League: The meeting between Finnish side KuPS, who Derry City beat 5-4 across two legs in the second round of the Conference League in 2023, and Milsami Orhei of Moldova, was the first game in the first round of the

TNS v KF Shkendija & Differdange FC 03. UEFA Champions League & UEFA Conference League:

The New Saints became the first Welsh side to reach the League Phase of the UEFA Conference League last season, before winning a domestic treble of the JD Cymru Premier, Welsh Cup and Welsh League Cup. Midfielder Rory Holden, who made sixteen appearances for Derry City between 2016 and 2017, joined Bristol City for a six-figure fee before making moves to Barrow, Rochdale, Walsall and Port Vale. He signed for TNS in 2023 and has been key to their midfield since. Fellow Derry-man Ben Wilson became TNS’ record signing when they paid £200,000 to sign him from Scottish side Airdrieonians following spells at Coleraine, where he became their youngest scorer, Brighton & Hove Albion and Cliftonville. Winger Josh Daniels made 73 appearances for Derry City between 2014 and 2017 before leaving for Glenavon and has been key for the Oswestry side since joining in 2022. Holden and Wilson started both legs for the Welshmen as they lost 2-1 after extra time to Macedonian side Shkendija. Luxembourgian side Differdange FC 03 are up next for TNS in the UEFA Conference League.

DANIEL KELLY & SCOTT WHITESIDE SHELBOURNE V LINFIELD

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FORMER CANDYSTRIPES IN EUROPE continued...

for Derry City between 2016 and 2018. After a loan spell at Coleraine, he played almost 120 times for Ballymena United. Shelbourne will face Azerbaijan’s Qarabag in the second round of Champions League qualifying, while Linfield drew FK Zalgiris of Lithuania in the Conference League.

RORY HALE, RYAN CURRAN, MICHAEL GLYNN, SHAUN LEPPARD & CALLUM MCCAY – CLIFTONVILLE

Shelbourne v Linfield & Qarabag, Linfield v Shelbourne & FK Zalgiris. UEFA Champions League: Both League of Ireland and NIFL champions Shelbourne and Linfield were drawn in a mouthwatering all-Ireland tie in the Champions League qualifiers which saw the Dublin side come away with a deserved 2-1 aggregate win.

Daniel Kelly, formerly of Bray Wanderers, Bohemians and Dundalk, spent the 2024 campaign at Derry City. With the second half of his season curtailed by injury, Kelly scored just once in red and white before switching to Tolka Park in 2025 and came off the bench in the first leg against Linfield.

Blues defender Scot Whiteside was an unused substitute in both legs but has played for the Belfast side since 2024. A former Rangers and Partick Thistle youth player, Whiteside made eight appearances

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Cliftonville v St. Joseph’s.

UEFA Conference League Qualifying: Gibraltarian side St Joseph’s lost to Shelbourne at this stage last year but got one over Irish opposition by beating Belfast’s Cliftonville 5-4 after extra-time this year. Ryan Curran opened the scoring in the first leg, putting the Reds 1-0 up in Gibraltar. He began his senior career with Derry

City and made 87 appearances in red and white, scoring seven, before leaving in 2015.

Wingback Michael Glynn equalised in the second leg in Solitude. The Fermanagh man joined Derry City from Ballinamallard in 2021, making the bench on multiple occasions.

After loans at Glenavon and Dungannon Swifts, he was included in the deal to sign Ben Doherty from Larne, before later joining Cliftonville in 2024. Rory Hale is Cliftonville’s captain and is a boyhood fan of the club. He’s closing in on 200 appearances for the Reds and played 41 times as a Derry player in 2018. Hale played alongside his brother Ronan at both City and Cliftonville – he’s now a Northern Ireland international at Ross County. They’re grandsons of Derry City legend Danny Hale.

Callum McCay made his Cliftonville debut in the second leg against St Joseph’s after coming through the ranks at Derry City, where he made his first appearance at the age of 17. He played alongside Derry-man Shaun Leppard at Institute, who was named on the bench in both games against St Joseph’s and joined the Reds in 2024 after a stellar campaign with the Drumahoe side.

JORDAN MCENEFF LARNE Larne v FK Auda & FC Prishtina. UEFA Conference League:

LIVE FOR IT

John Murphy e: johnmurphy@oneills.com m: 07870 158211

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FORMER CANDYSTRIPES IN EUROPE continued...

Former Arsenal and Derry City midfielder Jordan McEneff started both legs against Latvian side FK Auda, as his Larne side progressed via a penalty shootout following an entertaining second leg in Riga. Auda beat Larne’s NIFL Premiership counterparts Cliftonville over two legs in the Conference League last season too. McEneff left Derry City for Larne in August 2024 after two years at his hometown club. He was City’s top scorer with eight goals in the league in 2023 and joined after his loan deal at Shelbourne from Arsenal ended in July 2022. He became a key part of the Larne midfield after signing last year. Former Maiden City players Josh Kee and Tiarnan O’Connor also both saw gametime against Auda in the first round. Larne were drawn against FC Prishtina of Kosovo in the second round of Conference League qualifying following their victory.

AARON MCENEFF SHAMROCK ROVERS Shamrock Rovers v St Joseph’s FC. UEFA Conference League: Brother of Jordan McEneff, Aaron is a former captain of hometown club Derry City.

He left Institute for Tottenham Hotspur before returning home to join the Candystripes in 2015. McEneff made more 125 appearances for City and scored 32 times, including in

the 2018 EA Sports Cup Final.

The midfielder left for rivals Shamrock Rovers ahead of the 2019 campaign. Moves to Hearts of Midlothian and Perth Glory followed in 2021 and 2022, before McEneff returned to Rovers on loan in 2024. That loan was made permanent in 2025, before the 30 year old scored a late winner for the Hoops in the Brandywell earlier this season. Shamrock Rovers were given a bye through the first round and were drawn to play the winners of Cliftonville and St. Joseph’s. They played the Gibraltarian side yesterday, hoping to return to the league phase following their successful European campaign in 2024/25.

sional career with Shamrock Rovers in 2018 and made 40 appearances before joining Derry City in 2022. He impressed alongside keeper Brian Maher on-loan at Bray Wanderers in 2021, both of whom were snapped up by Ruaidhrí Higgins ahead of the 2022 campaign. The midfielder scored 9 goals in 40 games for City, including the winner against his former club in the 2022 FAI Cup quarter-final.

Kavanagh returned to Dublin by signing for St. Pat’s ahead of the 2024 season and registered more assists than any other player in the division as he found freedom under Stephen Kenny. Kavanagh’s winner against the Candystripes late last season denied City the title. He started in the first leg at home to Lithuanian side FC Hegelmann but didn’t feature in the second. Following a 3-0 aggregate win, Pat’s were drawn against Estonian side Nomme Kalju in the second round.

BRANDON KAVANAGH ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC St. Patrick’s Athletic v FC Hegelmann & Nomme Kalju.

UEFA Conference League: Dublin native Brandon Kavanagh began his profes-

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This week... Derry City fan... JOHN GALLAGHER 1. Which goalkeeper wore the No. 1 shirt for Celtic between 1998 and 2002?

4.

2. Which player did Manchester United sign on loan from Burnley in January 2023?

3. Former Candystripe and current Bohs No.5 Rob Cornwall returned to Bohs from Northern Colorado Hailstorm, but which other former Candystripe was the manager who signed him for the Hailstorm?

4. Can you name the former Real Madrid star pictured on the right as a young boy?

7. 5. Who is Bohemians’ record league goal scorer with 133 goals?

6. Two players have left Derry City to join Ayr United in the July transfer window, which two?

7. Colm Whelan left Derry City for Bohemians last season, but which striker made the same move in 2023?

8. Which club will take up residence in the newly built Hill Dickinson Stadium from next season?

JOHN’S ANSWERS: 1) No idea; 2) Weighorst; 3) Managing in America? Can’t think; 4) Gareth Bale; 5) Jason Byrne; 6) Kevin Holt and... Dom Thomas?; 7) Akintunde; 8) Only new stadium I can think of is Everton, but isn’t that called Everton Stadium just? Maybe I’m wrong. I’ll go Everton anyway

JOHN’S SCORE: 5 out of 8! Can you beat it?

ANSWERS: 1) Jonathan Gould; 2) Wout Weghorst; 3) Éamon Zayed; 4) Gareth Bale; 5) Glen Crowe; 6) Kevin Holt & Dom Thomas; 7) James Akintunde; 8) Everton

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BE THE CHALLENGER! CONTACT ANDREW@DERRYCITYFC.NET

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