CityView Vol-41 No-18 - Derry City vs Sligo Rovers - Friday 3rd October

DERRY CITY F.C. v SLIGO ROVERS F.C. LEAGUE OF IRELAND MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION FRIDAY 3rd OCTOBER 2025 | 7.45pm Vol. 41 - No. 18

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Welcome to...

SLIGO ROVERS 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 leageu game against Sligo Rovers.

Welcome also to John Russell, his staff and players, and the officials and supporters from Sligo who have travelled up the road this evening.

Some call it the North West derby, and some will dispute that, but either way, the two sides will meet tonight for the final time in 2025.

The first meeting this year was back in March when Michael Duffy’s goal earned a 1-0 win for City. April then saw a 3-0 win for City here at the Brandywell when Mullen with two goals and Gavin Whyte made up the scorers. But the tables were turned in July when we were defeated 2-0 at the Showgrounds after Derry man Patrick McClean scored the first goal of the game and Waweru

scored just before half time to finish the scoring.

The last time Sligo won a game at the Brandywell though was back in July 2020 when Eoin Toal conceded a penalty that Ronan Coughlan converted, and a Kyle Callan-McFadden strike sealed the 2-0 win.

There’s four former Candystripes in the Sligo lineup tonight, and we’ll also have to keep an eye on Owen Elding, who is taking the league by storm this season.

Enjoy the game!

TONIGHT’S MATCH OFFICIALS: Referee: NEIL DOYLE

Assistant 1: Chris Campbell |Assistant 2: Darren Corcoran Fourth Official: Daniel Murphy

TONIGHT’S MATCH SPONSOR:

www.mccambridgeduffy.co.uk | 028 7137 6888 PLEASE SUPPORT ALL OUR SPONSORS

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MESSAGE FROM THE MANAGER

I’d like to welcome John Russell and the players, staff and supporters of Sligo Rovers to the Brandywell ahead of tonight’s game.

We’re down to the business end of the season at this stage and every game from here on in really has a lot at stake.

Our visitors this evening are right up there in terms of current form and come here on the back of an excellent result against St Pats last weekend.

That said, we’re on a decent run ourselves and we fully deserved at least a point after a really good performance in Drogheda on Friday night.

I thought that the players emphasised a real togetherness with a fantastic battling performance and they left everything on the pitch at a very difficult venue.

We had several good chances to win the game and while it was a great point overall, we came off slightly disappointed that we didn’t take all three.

That performance was all the more impressive given that we had Dipo, Alex Bannon, Ben Doherty, Liam Boyce and Sam Todd all ruled out with

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injury with the first four of those all out long term.

Hopefully Sam will be back tonight as his scan showed no long-term damage, but with players missing, we didn’t want to take any chances of further injury.

You’ll probably have seen by now that we have completed our first piece of business for next season with Michael Duffy signing a three-year deal earlier in the week.

Mickey has been outstanding for this football club in my time here and I know he has been a fans favourite over a number of seasons.

He gives absolutely everything any time he pulls that shirt on and he can really help us push forward next

season and beyond.

Before that of course we have a job to do in our final four games.

As I’ve said several times before, we can’t control what goes on outside the group or what sort of distractions come our way.

What we can do is show the same fight and determonation that the players showed over the past number of weeks and I ask you again to get right behind them as we try to bring European football back to the Brandywell.

Tiernan Lynch, Manager

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DERRY CITY VS CELTIC 2000 With Derry City in dire financial straits in 2000, Martin O’Neill brought Celtic to the Brandywell for a fund-raising game on Monday 2nd October. A capacity crowd of over 9,000 contributed to takings of £100,000 and survival for the Candystripes.

It was a fleeting visit for Celtic as they flew into and out of City of Derry Airport by charter on the Monday.

Derry opened the game brightly with Eddie McCallion and Darren Kelly having shots in the early stages but it was the visitors who broke the deadline in the 13th minute.

Paddy McLaughlin brought down Petta in the box and Riseth sent home keeper John Connolly the wrong way with the resultant penalty kick. A Gary Beckett diving header was collected by Celtic’s keeper Kerr in the 22nd minute and Beckett should really have equalised for the Candystripes five minutes later. Following a

By Francie McCauley superb City move involving Peter Hutton, Mclaughlin and McCallion, Beckett raced clear but failed to get the better of Kerr when in a one-on one situation.

Before the interval Sutton turned the home defence but his shot cannoned off an upright. Within a minute of the restart the Candystripes levelled when Sean Hargan ghosted in at the back post to head McCallion’s free kick firmly home.

Moriarty wrapped the game up for Celtic on 62 minutes with a close-range shot.

City produced an A4 format programme of 40 pages (19 were adverts) containing plenty of reading material.

Strangely, there was no price on the front cover. As expected, there was plenty written about the Bhoys’ manager and his connections to Derry.

But the programme opened with an introduction from Councillor Pat Ramsey, chairman of the Development Committee. Historical articles came from former ‘Journal’ editor Frank Curran who tracked the 70-year relationship between the clubs. Paul Lennon of ‘The Star’ wrote about Celtic’s Irish roots.

Dessie McCallion reflected on City’s famous Lansdowne Road victory in July 1997.

Don O’Doherty had two pages on Celtic’s first post-

war visit to the Brandywell in April 1947 and Terry Downey remembered his first visit to the ground for Derry’s 2-1 win over the Glasgow visitors in May 1955.

Liam Hegarty gave his ‘Personal Memories of Derry and Celtic’. Roddy Forsyth’s (BBC 5 Live) two-page item ‘No Sea of Tranquility for Managers’ was a look at Celtic managers. Bernie Mullan wrote about ‘Martin the Gaelic Footballer’, Richie Kelly about Packie Bonner, Mick Mc Bride about Jimmey Delaney, Eddie Mahon about Frank Connor and Frank Mc Clintock about ‘The Slayer Returns as a Saviour’.

We had two pages of Celtic pen pictures with a page dedicated to both Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton. Team lists were half way through and the Celtic mascot on the night was Liam Mc Williams from Templegrove.

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MORE SNIPPETS In a previous article early last year I wrote about shirt sponsorship in the Premier League. From next season gambling companies will no longer be able to appear on the front of jerseys. However 55% of the clubs (11) continue to be supported by these “investors”. The other teams have Financial Services logos (3), Airlines (2) & a conglomerate, Entertainment and Hospitality firm and a Telecoms & Semi Conductors for the remaining 3 with Chelsea having no long term partner yet but a short term one , DAMAC, a Dubai based Property Development Firm. 19 years ago on the 28th September at the Parc de Princes in Paris the Candystripes took on the mighty PSG in the 2nd leg of their UEFA Cup tie hav-

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By Sean McGillan

ing held them at home to a scoreless draw. 2 first half goals from set pieces was enough to see the French team get through the Group Stage only to go on to lose out in the Round of 16 to Benfica 4-3 on aggregate.

Going way back to September 1936 at Windsor Park Derry fielded 4 players in the Irish League side which beat the English League 3-2 for the first time ever. Our very own Jimmy Kelly scored the hat trick with the team being captained by Hugh Carlyle who joined City from Motherwell in 1934. His sons are Hilary& Paul. The other 2 were EDR Shearer who scored 78 times for Derry as well as being a great cricketer. The quartet was made up

by Scot, Harry Duffy. Meanwhile over in Scotland recently the Dunfermline Athletic Football Club decided

to end production of their match day programme.

They stated that the venture was costing the club money with sales down to under 50 copies. They will however produce a printed team sheet free of charge and would welcome discussions with volunteers who might agree to taking on the job of getting a programme out independently. Finally Grimsby Town has been in the news recently when they put Manchester United to the sword in the Carabao Cup. They have been awarded another home tie against Brentford in the next round and as an added bonus the Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded the club a blue plaque giving official recognition to the oldest remaining stand in any English Football League ground.

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NEWS FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE

2025 LEAGUE TABLE: Pld Pts Shamrock Rvrs

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63

DERRY CITY

32

51

Bohemians

32

50

Drogheda Utd

32

47

St. Pat’s Athletic

32

46

Shelbourne

31

46

Sligo Rovers

32

37

Galway United

32

34

Waterford

32

34

Cork City

32

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Last Round’s Results: FRIDAY 26th SEPTEMBER Galway United 2-1 Cork City Drogheda Utd 1-1 DERRY CITY Shelbourne 2-1 Waterford Shamrock Rvrs 2-1 Bohemians SATURDAY 27th SEPTEMBER Sligo Rovers 1-0 St Pats Athletic

NEXT GAME:

This Round’s Fixtures: FRIDAY 2rd OCTOBER Waterford v Drogheda Utd DERRY CITY v Sligo Rovers WEDNESDAY 10th OCTOBER Shamrock Rovers v Shelbourne SATURDAY 13th OCTOBER Cork City v Shelbourne

Derry City vs Shamrock Rovers Sunday 26th October, 3.00pm

DERRY CITY LOTTO

Prize Pot: £1,500

Play online now at clubs.clubforce.com 11

FANZONE: MEET THE FANS Stepping into the Fanzone tonight is lifelong Derry City fan, Ethan Wade. Ethan gives his views on all things Derry City and selects his all-time favourite team. Thanks for taking part Ethan!

Why? He’s always a threat on the ball, seems to always have time on the ball and is a cut above.

What’s the best ground, apart from the Brandywell, that you’ve seen Derry play in?

Aviva definitely not Finn Park lol shocking pitch and ground.

What goal sticks out in your mind?

Michael Duffy’s free kick goal against Bohemians in the 2024 cup run.

Name: Ethan Wade How long have you been supporting Derry City?

Since my first game aged 6 in 2012 against Shelbourne.

Where do you sit in the Brandywell?

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

Michael Duffy Why? Our biggest threat this season by far and has been our team’s best player for years with his skill and ability to cut in and score.

Best opposition player you’ve seen play?

Graham Burke

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Why? My favourite away game I’ve ever attended. The atmosphere was top class and that goal put us on the way to the Aviva.

Name your best Derry City team (you can pick from any era) One to Eleven with Three subs GK - Gerard Doherty: The first goalkeeper I saw at Derry and was a stalwart in the team for many years.

RB - Eddie McCallion: Played for the club for 15 years and was always a reliable right back with over 500 games played.

CB - Ryan Mc Bride: A tenacious centre half and I will never forget his goal against Dundalk a week before his tragic passing.

CB - Peter Hutton: Made 670 appearances for the club is a league title winner and a great partner for Mc Bride .

LB - Ciaron Coll: A close second for my favourite derry player

over the last 12 years or so, always consistent and worked tirelessly was gutted when we let him go last summer.

RM - Paddy Mc Court: Excellent on the ball and would dominate this midfield.

CM - Barry Molloy: An ever present for a decade in our team and won 7 trophies with the club and would always give his all often through injuries.

CM - Barry Mc Namee: One of our best midfielders I have seen, always a goal threat.

LM - Duffy: It wouldn’t be an all time eleven without my favourite Derry player.

ST - Mark Farren: Our club’s top goalscorer with 114 goals, an absolute legend.

ST - Liam Coyle: Arguably our clubs greatest player despite being before my time and the fathers favourite player so had to get him in.

Best manager you’ve seen at Derry City?

A limited selection to choose from so I’ve gone Ruaidhri Higgins despite the quality of football at times brought us the cup and one of the best derry performances of my life in the final against shelbourne.

Favourite half time snack?

Curry Chips!

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

Proper club shop for merchandise and a sweet shop.

TO TAKE PART IN FANZONE, CONTACT ANDREW@DERRYCITYFC.NET

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C IS FOR CHILDHOOD...

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

ALEX BANNON

Celtic. My Dad and Granda were always fans and they got me into football.

D IS FOR DRESS SENSE...

Which Derry City team mate has the worst fashion sense?

Wow! Way to stick me in it!

Haha I’ll go big Dipo though, only because he’s wearing designer hats and body warmers on a match day!!

A IS FOR ANNOYING...

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

Sam Todd! Great guy, but too obsessed with Uno so I wouldn’t get a word out him!

B IS FOR BOX...

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

I’d say it’s The Office! It’s one of those shows that I could watch on repeat every day for life!

H IS FOR HOLIDAY...

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

Before the summer just past I would have always said Crete in Greece, but I spent 2 weeks in Mexico and it was paradise!

I IS FOR IDOL...

Which footballer did you idolise as a boy?

I was obsessed with Andres Iniesta!

E IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT...

It’s your turn to choose the music and the film for the team bus for the boys. What are your choices?

Music, I hope the boys enjoy Take That because that would be all they’d get! For the film, Hunger Games movies are my favourite so any of them would do.

F IS FOR FUNNY...

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

For the short time I had Owen Coyle as manager every Friday session we would end with volleys. He would always show us up by putting one in the top corner and acting as if it was nothing! He was always hilarious!

G IS FOR GOAL...

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

I’d have to say my goal a few weeks against St Pats! The first one.

J IS FOR JOKER...

Who is the biggest practical joker in the team?

It’s a changing room full of them, but I’d say Winny!

K IS FOR KIT...

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

My Uncle bought me the 2010/11 Spurs away kit when it came out and I loved it.

L IS FOR LIFE AFTER PLAYING...

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

Yeah, possibly as I’ve always enjoyed coaching but hopefully I’ve got a long career ahead before deciding that so

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who knows.

M IS FOR MEMENTO...

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

Probably not an exciting answer compared to others but the top I made my professional debut in means a lot as it was a very proud day for me and my family.

N IS FOR NEXT BIG THING...

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

I could name any of the players I’m playing alongside currently as it’s such a talented group. If I had to name one I’d say Sadou.

Very calm and composed on the ball and a joy to watch.

R IS FOR RESULT...

Which result meant the most to you in your career?

I’d say winning the play off last season with Airdrie to keep them up meant a lot.

S IS FOR SKILLS...

Who has the best skills in the team?

Gavin Whyte. He’s rinsed me in training enough!

T IS FOR TEAM MATES...

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

Charlie Webster at Burton.

I drive a Ford Focus currently.

I’m not really into cars however I’d probably drive a big SUV type car.

W IS FOR WHILE AWAY THE TIME...

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

I enjoy playing card games or one of Robbie Benson’s crazy board games!

X IS FOR EXCHANGE...

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

Scottie Scheffler! Just to be able to go round the golf course with ease!

O IS FOR OPPOSITION...

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

I’d say Bohemians as the two times playing them the atmosphere has been up there with best I’ve played in.

P IS FOR PASSTIME...

U IS FOR UNPARALLELED...

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

Louie Barry last season for Stockport.

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

I love golf. I’m rubbish at it, but I enjoy it. So I’m either watching or playing in my free time.

Q IS FOR QUIZ...

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

Ronan Boyce since he had never heard of my initiation song ‘Shine’

by Take That! Surely that song is common knowledge!

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Y IS FOR YOUTH...

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

I played all the way from 8 until first team at Queens Park and always played as a box to box midfielder.

Z IS FOR ZERO CHANCE...

V IS FOR VEHICLE...

What car do you drive now, and what would you drive if you were in the Premiership?

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

I don’t think there is any club I wouldn’t play for. Ive always been open to try new challenges everywhere.

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H

H

A

H

H

A

H

A

A

H

H

A

A

H

A

H

H

A

H

A

H

A

H

A

H

A

05.05.25

09.05.25

16.05.25

23.05.25

30.05.25

13.06.25

20.06.25

23.06.25

27.06.25

04.07.25

12.07.25

18.07.25

25.07.25

01.08.25

08.08.25

16.08.25

22.08.25

29.08.25

12.09.25

19.09.25

26.09.25

03.10.25

17.10.25

24.10.25

01.11.25

11.04.25

02.05.25

H

04.04.25

A

H

28.03.25

25.04.25

A

15.03.25

A

A

07.03.25

H

H

03.03.25

21.04.25

A

28.02.25

18.04.25

H

21.02.25

L

SHELS

SLIGO

WATERFORD

DROGHEDA

PATS

SHELS

GALWAY

BOHS

ROVERS

DROGHEDA

CORK

PATS

SHELS

WATERFORD

SLIGO

GALWAY

DROGHEDA

CORK

ROVERS

SLIGO

GALWAY

PATS

WATERFORD

BOHS

CORK

ROVERS

BOHS

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

CORK

ROVERS

WATERFORD

SLIGO

DROGHEDA

SHELS

BOHS

PATS

GALWAY

CUP DROGHEDA

L

L

L

CUP TREATY

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

1--1

1--1

4--3

2--2

2--1

1--1

0--0

0--2

1--1

5--1

0--2

7--2

3--0

1--0

1--0

1--1

0--1

1--2

1--1

2--1

1--0

2--0

1--2

3--0

3--2

1--3

2--1

0--0

1--0

1--1

0--2

1--2

1--0

1--3

A

H

14.02.25

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

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

MAHER

1

CONNOLLY DUFFY

CONNOLLY DUFFY

CONNOLLY DUFFY

CONNOLLY DUFFY 1

R BOYCE

DUFFY

R BOYCE

R BOYCE

O’REILLY

WHYTE

WHYTE

DIALLO1

DIALLO

DIALLO

DIALLO

WHYTE

WHYTE

DIALLO

DIALLO

AKINYEMI

CONNOLLY DUFFY

O’REILLY

DIALLO

DIALLO

O’REILLY 2 AKINYEMI 1 DIALLO

O’REILLY

CANN

CANN

DOHERTY

THOMAS

THOMAS

CANN

CANN

CANN

CANN

FLEMING

FLEMING

WHYTE

DIALLO

DIALLO

CANN

FLEMING

FLEMING

HOLT

DIALLO

FRIZZELL

FLEMING

TODD WINCHESTER MULLEN 1

WINCHESTER STOTT

TODD

FLEMING

WINCHESTER STOTT

WINCHESTER STOTT

WINCHESTER STOTT

DIALLO

FLEMING

FLEMING

BANNON

BANNON

TODD

WINCHESTER BANNON

WINCHESTER SCOTT

WINCHESTER TODD FLEMING

TODD

TODD 1

TODD

TODD

HOLT1

HOLT

TODD

TODD

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

STOTT

BANNON

BANNON

TODD

BANNON

BANNON 1

L BOYCE

L BOYCE

L BOYCE

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

CANN

MCMULLAN CANN

WHYTE

WHYTE

WHYTE

O’REILLY

O’REILLY

BENSON

BENSON

BENSON1

BENSON

AKINYEMI 1 WHYTE

AKINYEMI

WHYTE

AKINYEMI

DIALLO

DIALLO

8 THOMAS

MCMULLAN DOHERTY CANN

DOHERTY

DOHERTY

AKINYEMI 1 DIALLO

O’REILLY 2 AKINYEMI BENSON

DUFFY 1

CONNOLLY DUFFY

CONNOLLY DUFFY

CONNOLLY DUFFY

O’REILLY

O’REILLY

CONNOLLY DUFFY

FERGUSON CONNOLLY DUFFY

CONNOLLY DUFFY

R BOYCE

WHYTE

WHYTE

WHYTE

WHYTE

O’REILLY

FERGUSON CONNOLLY DUFFY

CONNOLLY1 DUFFY

CONNOLLY DUFFY

R BOYCE

R BOYCE

R BOYCE

R BOYCE

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

7

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

MULLEN

CANN

DUMMIGAN

MULLEN

BANNON

PATTON

FRIZZELL MULLEN

MULLEN 1

DOHERTY MULLEN

FRIZZELL MULLEN

MULLEN

CANN

BANNON

TODD

DUMMIGAN

DUMMIGAN

PATTON

DOHERTY FRIZZELL MULLEN

CONNOLLY WHYTE WHYTE

MULLEN

L BOYCE

DOHERTY THOMAS

TODD

FRIZZELL MULLEN 1 L BOYCE 3

MULLEN

L BOYCE

DOHERTY MULLEN 1

MULLEN

TODD

TODD

AKINYEMI DOHERTY MULLEN

WHYTE

BENSON

CANN

BENSON

CONNOLLY BENSON

BENSON

O’REILLY

R BOYCE

R BOYCE

R BOYCE

O’REILLY

BENSON

O’REILLY

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

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DOHERTY TODD

McMULLAN CANN

FERGUSON HARKIN

O’REILLY

MCMULLAN CANN

FERGUSON WHYTE

WHYTE

BENSON

DIALLO

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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.

SLIGO ROVERS F.C.

1 - BRIAN MAHER 2 - RONAN BOYCE 3 - SHANE FERGUSON 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 22 - JAMIE STOTT 23 - CAMERON DUMMIGAN 24 - SAM TODD 25 - ALEX BANNON 26 - ARLO DOHERTY 27 - LIAM BOYCE 28 - AARON HEANEY 33 - RYAN LONG 37 - CEAD MCGRATH 41 - CALLUM DOWNEY 43 - COLE SMYTH

2 - EDWIN AGBAJE 3 - SEAN STEWART 4 - SEB QUIRK 5 - PATRICK MCCLEAN 6 - MATTY WOLFE 7 - WILLIAM FITZGERALD 8 - JAD HAKIKI 9 - WILSON WAWERU 10 - CIARON HARKIN 11 - CIAN KAVANAGH 12 - RONAN MANNING 15 - OLIVER DENHAM 16 - JAMES MCMANUS 21 - JOHN MAHON 23 - KYLE MCDONAGH 28 - RYAN O’KANE 29 - SAM SARGEANT 30 - RICHARD BRUSH 31 - CONOR WALSH 37 - CONOR CAMPBELL 46 - CONOR REYNOLDS 47 - OWEN ELDING 52 - GARETH MCELROY 56 - KYLE GABBIDON 61 - CONOR CANNON 71 - DAIRE PATTON

Manager: TIERNAN LYNCH

Manager: JOHN RUSSELL

Tonight’s Match Sponsors:

www.mccambridgeduffy.co.uk | 028 7137 6888

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More Powerful Together 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: Danny Mullen (21) + Michael Duffy (7) - Adam O’Reilly (8) = Carl Winchester (20) SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: 1) Ball has disappeared; 2) Player on the right has disappeare; 3) Derry City shorts have got longer; 4) Derry City sleeve sponsor has disappeared; 5) Extra player has appeared on the left.

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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

LANDMARKS: 150 GAMES FOR DUFFY & BOYCE

By Brian Dunleavy

In recent games of the season, we have seen a few milestones for both the club and some players.

Firstly, in the home game against Cork City, Michael Duffy made his 150th league appearance, while in the home game St Patrick’s Athletic, Ronan Boyce also made his 150th league appearance.

Mickey and Ronan are just the 25th 26th players to reach 150 league games for the club in our League of Ireland era. The first to do so was Paul Curran in a home game against Athlone Town in Feb 1992, followed by Jonathon Speak at home to Sligo Rovers a month later, and Paul Carlyle away to Shamrock Rovers in December 1992. The most recent player to reach this milestone was Shane McEleney

in Feb 2022 and Barry McNamee in August 2017.

Also in the St Pats game, Mickey Duffy made his 50th consecutive appearance In the Drogheda match last week, Mickey Duffy became the 25th player to reach the 200 game milestone, and just the 4th in 13 years.

The first to do was Paul Curran in Jan 1991 in a league game against Bohemians at Dalymount Park, followed

by Jonathon Speak away to Sligo Rovers in the cup and Paul Carlyle at home to Bray Wanderers in the league at Brandywell in March 1992.

The most recent players to reach 200 appearances for the club have been Shane McEleney away to Shamrock Rovers in May 2022, Barry McNamee at home to Drogheda in Sept 2017, Patrick McEleney in April 2015 and Gerard Doherty in Sept 2012.

For the record, it was the 100th time we have draw 1-1 away from hiome in the premier division.

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THE FIRST FORTY YEARS The recent 40th anniversary celebrations of Derry City entering the League of Ireland, saw many memories of the past, brought to the fore. Old photos, videos, interviews and player names, rekindled memories of the initial period of the club’s life under the Dublin league.

We all have our own memories of the chequered and varied past history of the club. Mine stretch right back to the days just ahead of the club joining the league, back to when Jim McLaughlin brought Shamrock Rovers to play a friendly in 1984. A one-all draw was a great result against Irish football royalty.

On the day of the game, I went to buy the match ball in the Strand Sports Centre, which was situated next to the Strand Cinema, where Tesco and the current cinema are located. The ball sponsor was the Chariot Bar, where the Maldron Hotel now sits, on Butcher Street. My late uncle George was running the bar.

The ball was a Mitre Multiplex, a classic all white ball. It cost £30, but they guy in the shop sold it for £28. I recall walking back to the bar, bouncing the ball.

My father was the public address voice at that game and he was the voice for Derry’s league of Ireland return in 1985. He’d done many City council events, including the Foyle Festival Marathon which had been a huge attraction

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By Martin Holmes

in early 80s Derry. He was the natural choice for the Brandywell.

For me, the downside of the role, was the recording of music for the public address on matchdays. Back then, we used tape cassettes for the pre-match music. The first song played on the public address system on the day of the Home Farm game in 1985, was ‘My Kind of Girl’ by the great Matt Monro. Also on the playlist that day was ‘New York New York’ by Frank Sinatra. The Belfast Telegraph match report from the game was written by Malcolm Brodie. The opening line of the report said, ‘Start spreading the news’, which was the opening line of the song.

For years, in typical Derry fashion, people would ask my father to have a certain song played on a match day. He’d be given song titles written

on cigarette papers, cigarette packets, bookie slips and scraps of paper.

I’d often have to ask about for a certain record. I recall looking for the Talking Heads song, ‘Slippery People’. A friend at school had the extended live version which ran for nearly eight minutes.

The 40 years gave us some of the greatest players the league saw. The great treble winning team remains the benchmark for me. If those players were playing today, the bulk of them would have been signed up by other clubs in England and Scotland. We had the brilliance of locals like Liam and Felix, aided by the greats like Mick Neville, Paul Doolin, Stuart Gauld and Jonathan Speak.

We also enjoyed the appearance of big names in the Derry side over the years, with players who had enjoyed careers

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FANZONE: MEET THE FANS continued... in the English top flight. Alan Sunderland, Luther Blissett, Neil McNab and David Kelly, all followed in the footsteps of Dennis Tueart. Perhaps the biggest name to play for Derry was the Tottenham great, David Ginola. He lined out for Derry in the Omagh bomb benefit game, whilst still a Premier League player with Spurs. That could never happen now. No Premier League team would allow it.

I recall arriving in the ground with my father, through the Showgrounds end. The charismatic Frenchman arrived about a minute behind us.

He was rushed into the home dressing room. The recently deceased Derry photographer, Hugh Gallagher, was going in to take some pictures. I clearly recall him grabbing my father by the arm as he went in. He took a great photo of my father with Ginola in the dressing room.

The early years had the matchday on a Sunday afternoon with the kickoff at 3.30pm.

That was great if you had been out on a Saturday night and equally if you were heading out on the Sunday night. I remember the Derry City players were given free admission to the Point Inn, at Quigley’s Point, on a Sunday evening.

As time marched on, games were played on Thursday and Saturday evenings, before the Friday evening became the regular fixture it is now.

There have been many highs and lows. Cup final wins and losses, dramatic penalty shootouts, exceptional goals and great signings.....mostly.

My favourite goal was scored by defender Paul Mooney in 1991, when he sealed the dramatic 3-2 win over Shelbourne here. He picked up the ball on the halfway line as he attacked the Showgrounds end. He hit a thunderous shot

from the best part of 40 yards that sailed into the net.

My favourite player was Stuart Gauld. He was everything in defence that Liam was in attack. He could read the game like nobody else around him and could create and stop the play as he chose. His excellent goal return wasn’t bad for a central defender.

Jim will always be the greatest Derry manager. Winning the treble remains the highlight of the past 40 years. The next 40 should be good.

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DERRY CITY VS SHELBOURNE: THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS!

CIARON HARKIN Brought to his local Derry City

by Declan Devine ahead of the 2019 season, Harkin was central to the midfields of both Institute and Coleraine and won an Irish Cup medal with the latter. The former Northern Ireland youth international made 109 appearances in six-and-ahalf seasons on Foyleside but suffered two devastating ACL injuries in 2022 which kept him out of action for the best part of twenty months. Returning from injury to sign on loan for Coleraine last summer, ‘Jackie’ signed for Sligo Rovers in July 2025 and was given the number 10 jersey as he went straight into the heart of the midfield.

PADDY MCCLEAN Left sided defender Patrick McClean came through the youth ranks at Derry City and first broke into the senior team in 2015 and 2016. He joined Waterford in the First Division in 2017, before moving to Sligo Rovers in February 2018. Just seven months after rejoining Derry City in 2019, the de-

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fender left to join Belfast side Glentoran. The 28 year old made more than 180 appearances for Glens and claimed the captain’s armband before returning to Sligo Rovers for an undisclosed fee in June 2025.

A rock at the back, he scored in The Showgrounds against Derry City in his new side’s 2-0 win in July.

CIAN KAVANAGH Dublin native Cian Kavanagh began his career with St. Pat’s before joining Hearts of Midlothian as a sixteen year old. After failing to make a senior appearance, Kavanagh returned to Ireland to sign for Waterford in 2021. He scored nine goals in 33 games in Munster, also playing in all of Waterford’s games against Derry City in the 2021 campaign. The Candystripes then swooped to secure the signing of the targetman in the summer of 2022.

Kavanagh netted five goals for City, two of which came home and away against KuPS to

By Pól O’Hare

send Derry to the third round of UEFA Conference League qualifying in 2023. He returned to St. Pat’s after 18 months at Derry City ahead of the 2024 campaign but found gametime limited following Stephen Kenny’s arrival, scoring twice in 18 league games. Aged 22, Kavanagh signed a two-year deal with Sligo Rovers ahead of the 2025 season and has scored four times since.

WILL FITZGERALD Current Sligo Rovers winger Will Fitzgerald came through the academy at Mervue United before switching to Limerick in 2016. After 42 senior appearances, the young wide player moved to Waterford in the summer window of 2019. With just a single goal under his belt at Waterford, he joined Derry City ahead of the 2021 campaign. A tricky winger, Fitzgerald appeared 36 times during his season on Foyleside before joining Sligo Rovers in 2022.

At 26, he’s key on the wing

LIVE FOR IT

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

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DERRY CITY V SHELBOURNE: HIGHS & LOWS continued... for John Russell’s men and is behind only Michael Duffy in the Premier Division’s assists charts this year, making seven goals for his teammates.

STEPHEN MALLON Originally signed on-loan from Sheffield United, Belfast native Mallon is best remembered at Derry City for a curling shot into the top corner on his first start against Bohemians in 2020. He scored again a week later, this time against Waterford. After seventeen appearances for City, Mallon returned to Sheffield United before signing permanently for Bohemians in January 2021. The wide-man scored once in seventeen games for Bohs before joining Cliftonville in July 2022, where he recently won the Irish Cup alongside former Derry City men Rory Hale, Ronan Hale, Nathan Gartside, Ryan Curran and Derry native Ben Wilson. Mallon signed for Sligo Rovers last summer and made 22 appearances before former Derry City assistant manager Paddy McLaughlin brought him to Glenavon in the NIFL

Premiership.

JUNIOR OGEDI-UZOKWE English forward Junior OgediUzokwe joined Derry City onloan from Colchester United after impressing on trial in 2019.

He finished the campaign as the Premier Division top scorer, bagging a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Finn Harps on the final day. Junior left Colchester for Hapoel Hadera in 2020 but returned to Ireland with Sligo Rovers later that year. After half a season at the Showgrounds, where he netted twice in fourteen games, Junior signed for Dundalk, before rejoining Derry on-loan in the summer of 2021. Six goals in fifteen on loan at the Brandywell helped City to a higher placed league finish than his parent club. After a spell at Bohemians, where he scored five and assisted six in twenty games in 2022, Junior lined out for Galway United and Glentoran before joining Karşıyaka Anamur in Cyprus.

DANIEL LAFFERTY Daniel Lafferty signed for Derry City in 2010 after three

years on the books at Celtic and made 12 appearances as the Candystripes won the First Division. After a further 34 appearances in red and white, Championship side Burnley snapped up the left-back for £150,000 and gave him the number 3 shirt. He made 40 appearances for the Clarets, also playing for Rotherham United, Oldham Athletic and Sheffield United on loan. Sheffield signed him permanently in 2017 and loaned him to Peterborough United in 2019.

He returned to Ireland that summer, signing for Shamrock Rovers. Lafferty won the FAI Cup that November, and the Premier Division title in 2020.

Declan Devine brought him back to Derry ahead of the 2021 season, and Lafferty left for Sligo Rovers in 2023 after winning the FAI Cup with his hometown club. The left back scored the opener in a 2-1 defeat for the Bit’O’Red in July 2023 in the Brandywell. Aged 36, the former Northern Ireland international lines out for Ballymena United after a spell at Institute.

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This week... Derry City fan... DANIEL MCLAUGHLIN 1. Who was the last Rep of Ireland Internationsl player to play for Manchester United playing just 4 minutes in September 2012?

4.

2. Which Derry City player has scored the most goals against Sligo Rovers in the current 2025 season?

3. In which year did Will Fitzgerald leave Derry City to sign for Sligo Rovers?

4. Can you name the future striker pictured on the right as a youth player?

5. Sligo Rovers beat Bala Town and Motherwell to make

7. it to UEFA Europa Conference League Q3 before being knocked out by Viking FK, what was the year?

6. Newcastle United beat Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday in the Champions League, but which nation are USG from?

7. Ruud Van Nistelrooy was Machester United manager for 4 games as caretaker before moving to which club?

8. Who is the League Of Ireland First Division’s Top Scorer this season with 24 goals so far?

DANIEL’S ANSWERS: 1) I would have guessed John O’Shea; 2) Michael Duffy; 3) 2021; 4) Looks like a wee Haaland; 5) No idea! 2020?; 6) Belgium; 7) Leicester; 8) Daryl Horgan?

DANIEL’S SCORE: 4 out of 8! Can you beat it?

ANSWERS: 1) Robbie Brady; 2) Danny Mullan; 3) December 2021; 4) Erling Haaland; 5) 2022; 6) Belgium; 7) Leicester City; 8) Barry Coffey (Cobh Ramblers)

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BE THE CHALLENGER! CONTACT ANDREW@DERRYCITYFC.NET

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