Get With The Programme

FROM THE ARCHIVES: GET WITH THE PROGRAMME

Dundalk v Bohemians 1995-96 The relevance: Dundalk’s 1995-96 got off to an inauspicious start with Oriel Park unavailable when the relaying of the pitch overran. The facts: £1 bought 20 photocopied pages of programme. The content: There are modestly optimistic season previews among a decent mix of comment, stats, historic content and away team coverage. Ground season tickets, interestingly, are advertised at £40 guaranteeing over 20 games. A word from our sponsors: Ads include Bord Gais, Harp and The Star and local supporters Cool-rite Refrigeration, Roma, Lisdoo, Ma Brady’s and Paddy Lynch ‘Sand and Gravel Merchant’. Famous names: Dundalk line up with the likes of Tom McNulty, David Crawley, Joe Harahan, Brian Byrne Richie Purdy and Peter Withnell. New signings Cesar Lopez, Joe Gallen and Paul Futcher are in the squad, but record signing Stephen Napier was unavailable. Bohs include Derek Swan, Tony Cousins and Donal Broughan. The match: Bohs won 2-0 and went on to finish runners-up to St Pats. Dundalk finished the season comfortably in midtable but it was the start of a long difficult period for the Lilywhites.

Derry City v Cork City FORAS Co-op, 2010 The relevance: Tonight’s match is a season opener so we’re looking back a significant season opening match for Derry and Cork. The facts: 40 pages for £2. The content: The context around Derry’s demotion is understandably skirted around but there’s plenty of reading even though ample space is given over to sponsors. A word from our sponsors: Ads range from the Mirror and Ladbrokes to broadcast rivals BBC Radio Foyle and Highland Radio, and local businesses like Breslin’s newsagents, Dunlop Ventilation Services and AllPipe Engineering- ‘On the ball with Derry City FC’. Famous names: Derry included a young James McClean, Ruarai Harkin, Ger Doherty, Eddie McCallion and the late Mark Farren. Mark McNulty, Greg O’Halloran and Graham Cummins were in Tommy Dunne’s hastily cobbled together 13-man Cork squad. The match: Demoted for financial reasons, Derry hosted recently re-formed Cork City in the First Division opener. Emmet Friars equalised for Derry, after Davin O’Neill had given Cork the lead. The Candystripes went on to win promotion, Cork finished midtable.