Welcome To Derry City

Derry City’s improvement in the 2019 SSE Airtricity League has sent a warning to other club’s that Declan Divine’s team are a force to be reckoned with in 2020. A lowly 8th place finish in 2018 resulted in the return to the club of manager Declan Divine. There was a huge improvement as the Candystripes qualified for the UEFA Europa League.

The close season has seen several arrivals and departures. The most prominent departure is Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe who, due to a last day flourish, pipped our own Pat Hoban as the league’s top scorer last season with 14 goals. Junior was on loan from Colchester United last season but has since signed a permanent deal at Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Hedera.

David Parkhouse, who scored 19 goals in all competitions, has also departed. The Northern Ireland U21 international returned to his parent club Sheffield United before signing a loan deal with Stevenage for the rest of the season.

Also departed is last season’s captain Barry McNamee who agreed a deal to join Finn Harps. Another high-profile departure is, of course, Greg Sloggett, who has joined us here at Oriel Park.

Despite these departures, Derry fans will be hopeful that they are stronger than last season. Conor McCormack has returned to the club for a second stint with the 29-year-old being named club captain. Other arrivals include Belgian born defender Danny Lupano who has signed on a six-month loan deal from Hull City. Ivorian Winger Moussa Bakayoko has also arrived after playing in Armenia while an interesting capture was was former Dundalk player Conor Clifford who has arrived from St Patrick’s Athletic.

One of the most intriguing signings of the close season was Derry’s capture of Norwegian striker Tim Nilsen. Arriving from Fredrikstad FK, Nilsen scored 28 goals in 49 appearances in the past two seasons. He is certainly one to watch out for tonight and as the season progresses.

WELCOME TO DERRY CITY

MEET THE MANAGER DECLAN DEVINE

Declan Devine’s appointment last year transformed Derry City’s fortunes. Having finished 8th in 2018, last seaason ended with Europa League qualification. Devine’s managerial style and passionate touchline presence has struck a chord with the City supporters.

The 46-year-old Derryman was a goalkeeper in his playing days. He started his career at Ipswich before he returned to the Irish League and played for Omagh Town, Glentoran, Derry City and Institute. He was part of the Derry

City squad what won the 1996/97 title, but he only made a small number of appearances. He also played in the 1997 FAI Cup Final: a 2-0 defeat to Shelbourne.

His coaching career began in 2003 as a coach. He went with Stephen Kenny to Dunfermline in 2006 and returned in 2007. He was appointed manager in 2012 and won the FAI Cup. Sacked in 2014 despite leading them into Europe and spent some time working with the Irish FA before returning to the Brandywell in 2019.

Conor McCormack returns for his second spell at the club and has taken over the captaincy from Barry McNamee.

Conor Clifford is one of several new signings hoping to make an impact at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium this season.

PLAYER PROFILES 2020 DERRY CITY

1 PETER CHERRIE Bio: 36, Bellshill, Scotland. Goalkeeper. ........................................ Legendary title winner with us back in 2014. Has since played for Cliftonville, Bray, Cork City and begins his second season at Derry City.

2 COLM HORGAN Bio: 25, Galway. Defender. ........................................ Joined Derry last month after two seasons at Cork City. Operates mostly at right-back. Previously played for Galway United and Salthill Devon. ........................................

3 CIARAN COLL Bio: 28, Letterkenny, Left-Back. ........................................ A full-back who played 270 times for Finn Harps before signing a two-year contract at the start of 2019. Was voted Player of the Year by the Derry supporters. ........................................

4 CIARON HARKIN Bio: 24, Derry, Centre-Midfield. ........................................ Began in the Derry City youths, Harkin joined Institute in 2015 before returning in December 2018. Made 34 appearances in the league last year scoring five goals. ........................................

7 JAMIE MCDONAGH Bio: 23, Lisburn. Winger. ........................................ Former Sheffield United trainee who joined Derry City in 2017 after spells with Greenock Morton and Sligo Rovers. Scored four times in 27 matches in 2019. ........................................

10 WALTER FIGUEIRA Bio: 24, Battersea. Forward. ........................................ Showed potential in this 11 appearances last season for Waterford FC. Previously played in the lower levels of the Greek, Portuguese and English football. ........................................

5 RYAN MCBRIDE R.I.P. 15th December 1989 – 19th March 2017. ........................................ The number 5 jersey was retired in Ryan’s honour following his sudden death. His legacy lives on in the work of the Ryan McBride Foundation.

8 GERARDO BRUNA Bio: 29, Argentina. Central Midfield. ........................................ Started in Real Madrid, Bruna joined Liverpool in 2008. Played for Blackpool, Heusca, Accrington Stanley and Ottawa Fury before joining Derry in 2019. ........................................

6 EOIN TOAL Bio: 20, Armagh, Centre-Back. ........................................ Has captained the Northern Ireland Under 21 team. Made 35 appearances for Derry in last season’s league campaign.

9 TIM NILSEN Bio: 27, Bergen, Norway. Striker. ........................................ New signing from Fredrikstad. Has scored 110 goals in 225 appearances for several Norwegian Clubs and Khimki in the Russian Second Division. ........................................

13 NATHAN GARTSIDE Bio: 21, Derry. Goalkeeper. ........................................ Made his league debut as a sub as a second half substitute last season against Dundalk. Made 3 appearances in total and a further 3 in the EA Sports Cup. ........................................

15 RONAN BOYCE Bio: 17, Donegal. . Defender. ........................................ Boyce made his U19 Ireland debut in the 1-0 defeat to Sligo last October. He made his League of Ireland debut in the 4-0 win over Cork City. ........................................

PLAYER PROFILES 2020 DERRY CITY

16 CONOR CLIFFORD Bio: 28, Dublin. Central Midfield. ........................................ Joined Derry after making 34 appearances for St Pats in 2018. Made 17 appearances for Dundalk in 2017 before moving to Limerick. ........................................

19 STEVEN MALLON Bio: 21, Belfast. Left wing/defender. ........................................ Joined Derry on loan from Sheffield United. Made 8 appearances for Central Coast Mariners in the A-League last year. A Republic of Ireland U21 international. ........................................

22 CONOR MCCORMACK Bio: 29, Carlingford. Centre-Midfield. ........................................ Won the 2017 Double with Cork City, 2012 League title at Shamrock Rovers as well as the FAI Cup at St Pats in 2014. Joined Derry in December and was named club captain. ........................................

29 JACK MALONE Bio: 19, Derry. Midfield. ........................................ Signed his first professional contract last July. Made his debut against Finn Harps last May and scored his first goal in the 3-0 win over Sligo Rovers last July. ........................................

17 MOUSSA PAUL BAKAYOKO Bio: 23, Ivory Coast. Left Winger. ........................................ Made 82 appearances for FC Shirak Gyumri in the Armenian League after also playing for Raja Club Athletic Casablanca in Morocco.

20 DARREN COLE Bio: 28, Edinburgh. Centre-Back. ........................................ Began his career at Glasgow Rangers making his debut in the Champions League match with Bursaspor in 2010. Joined Derry in 2017 from Boxburn FC. ........................................

23 ALLY GILCHRIST Bio: 24, Edinburgh. Central Defender. ........................................ Has previously played for St Johnstone, Elgin City, Peterhead before joining Shamrock Rovers in 2018. Made 30 appearances for Derry last season.. ........................................

30 JACK LEMOIGNAN

........................................ A recent addition to the Derry squad.

18 MARK FARREN R.I.P. 1st May 1982- 3rd February 2016. ........................................ The number 18 jersey was retired in Mark’s honour following his sad death from cancer in 2016. Scored 114 goals for Derry City in 209 matches. ........................................

21 DANNY LUPANO Bio: 19, Belgium. Centre-Back. ........................................ Lupano joined Derry last week on a six month loan deal from Hull City. Has also played at academy level at Leicester City and Birmingham City.

24 MARK MCCHRYSTAL Bio: 35, Derry. Central-Defender. ........................................ In his third spell at Derry City after a long career playing for Partick Thistle, Tranmere Rovers, Scunthorpe United, Bristol Rovers and Crusaders. ........................................

11 ADAM LITTLE Bio: 20, Striker ........................................ Signed on Tuesday from Reading on a loan deal.