Tifo poles, sausage rolls and a few goals

League of Ireland manager spot

2010-03-10T13:59:00.000-08:00

Well ex manager.

Johnny Mac passed me in his 01 Merc taxi on the Howth Road today. Add him the list of LOI head driving taxis.

If only Roddy would stop appearing on Newstalk and just drive a taxi instead. His guff has no place on the national airwaves.

Fancy a pre Cheltenham punt?

2010-03-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

Harps are 7/4 on to beat Salthill at home. Surely worth a punt if you are into that type of thing......

Here we go again, we're on the road again.....

2010-03-05T08:37:00.000-08:00

To most people it is just a normal Friday. To a small band of football supporters across the island, it is the first day of the season.

I can’t make the game, something which pains me more than I can even write about. Working on a project in Laois, a 7.45pm kickoff in the Brandywell and an exam at 9.30 tomorrow in Dublin meant something had to drop out and unfortunately it had to be the game.

I met someone wearing a Shelbourne scarf on Grafton Street this morning, there was an imperceptible nod and the fella shouted “Best of luck against the Langers” as he passed me by. It’s like a secret club, 99% of the population don’t know exist but for those of us that do, it is truly special.

Midway through a season, when you are driving home from getting hammered away from home you promise yourself you’ll get another interest. Something that doesn’t take over your life. Something that doesn’t mean you spend most Fridays driving hundreds of miles and meaning that your Friday night meal consists of a bag of chips from some terrible mobile outlet. Something that means that you’ll be able to answer “Yeah I’m free this Friday” instead of “Naw, I’m going to Longford for a game”.

But you know you won’t. You know that being there, to see it, means more than anything. Knowing that the craic on an overnighter in Cork is unmissable. Knowing that sure once you hit Ardee you will be home in two hours. Know that if you meet Tom the Gom and he backs your team for the League your f*cked.

This is the mental anguish of the League of Ireland fan. Once you are bitten, you can give it up. You can’t just give up on like an underperforming fantasy football team. You may be mid-table and it is an 12 hour round trip to Waterford, but fuck it you’ll go.

The first night of the season is what I imagine an addict feels when they relapse. The hit, the high and whole buzz. It has been building for weeks, you have seen snatches of the team in a friendly but this is the real deal. There may be only 500 there, but they are your 500. 500 people who feel the same way about the same thing about it as you.

It always reminds me of that scene in Fever Pitch

“Sarah Hughes: Paul, it's only a game!

Paul Ashworth: DON'T SAY THAT! Please! That is the worst, most stupid thing anyone could say! Cause it quite clearly isn't "only a game." I mean if it was do you honestly think I'd care this much? Eh? Eighteen years! Eight-teen years! Do you know what you wanted eighteen years ago? Or ten? Or five? Did you want to be Head of Year at North London Comprehensive, I doubt it. I'd doubt if you wanted anything for that long. And if you had, and if you'd spent three months thinking that finally, FINALLY you were gonna get it and just when you think it's there it's taken away from you... I mean I don't care what it is, a car, a job, an Oscar, the baby... then you'd understand how I was feeling tonight. But there isn't, and you don't, so...

Roll on 7.45pm and the start of the madness once again.

The Cork City Story, in summary

2010-02-23T15:22:00.000-08:00

Not quite the Jerry Springer Opera, but not far off it. I reckon I could probably break the word count on Blogger trying to explain that has happened on Leeside in the last few years.

However for the modern reader, with the limited attention span, here is a great audio round up of the events in the last few days

Part A: Bit of a preamble to bring you up to speed
http://www.ccfcforum.com/audios/96fm24022010parta.mp3

Part B: Jonathan O'Brien
http://www.ccfcforum.com/audios/96fm24022010partb.mp3

Part C: Jim McCarthy, Peter Grey, Tom Coughlan & Jonathan O'Brien http://www.ccfcforum.com/audios/96fm24022010partc.mp3

Part D: Michael O'Connell
http://www.ccfcforum.com/audios/96fm24022010partd.mp3

We've had "I Keano", surely events on Leeside necessitate another musical opera?

Lost: A load of syllables

2010-02-21T14:53:00.000-08:00

Last seen somewhere on the Louth border.

We were on the road for the first time on Saturday, off to Dundalk for the friendly. Myself and Marty D were in the car and we left Dublin on a beautiful winter lunchtime. The temperature display in the car read +4 degrees when we were at Dublin Airport and it was -2 when we arrived in Dundalk.

To be fair, it was obvious that the temperature was dropping as the freezing fog cloaked the motorway for the short hop north.

Unsurprisingly, there was no great crowd about Oriel and we got parked right in beside the ground. Tickets acquired, albeit at a rip off €9, we made our way in. In that classic LOI fashion we managed to get down the players tunnel as we made our way to the seats.

Deagy, Brendy Narr and JOT turned up and there was a sizeable enough City support down. I reckon the City support was 30% of the total crowd and they were plenty of familiar faces. Whilst we drew a blank on "Tom the Gom" watch we did spot Dermot Ahern and Dermot Keely. With the state of some of the JSB when they turned up, I thought the Justice Minister might have to place a call to the Gardai.

The game itself was one to forget. That Champsionship Manager blast from the past JJ Melligan got on the score sheet for the hosts but Gerard Doherty only really had one more save to make. City were neat and tidy and McBride impressed me in the middle of the park. I don't know what to make of Patrick McEleney, is he a front man or is he a winger? It will be interesting to see where Kenny will play him for the rest of the faces.

It was absolutely baltic at the game although Deagy showed he has travelled with Northside once too much by turning with a flask, proper cups and snag rolls. Though he still had time to prank me at half time by getting it announced that I was engaged. It is a long season Barrett and revenge is a best served cold......

There was also the "Jumping Church of Kildemock" which is probably worth a blog entry all to itself......

Err, a load of lads in tracksuits have turned up, what do I do

2010-02-17T14:54:00.001-08:00

Read the hilarious account of Shaktar Donetsk in Harrods here

City are back!

2010-02-16T16:43:00.000-08:00

Fixture list out tomorrow.

Chalkie, in a John the Baptist style is away round the country to spread the word.

The working title for the story of the season is "Only two monkey sanctuaries in Ireland, are ye serious?"

First trip? Dundalk on Saturday.

"We can't go on together........."

Cafe Kick: What a spot

2010-02-01T13:34:00.000-08:00

We were in London for the weekend(more to follow on that). However one of the big hits of the weekend for me was "Cafe Kick" which had been highly recommended by CMC.

Cafe Kick is basically my perfect bar
- Football on the TV
- Great football memorabilia on the walls
- Great drinks menu
- Chilled out vibe
- TABLE FOOTBALL

What more do ye want?

3D Football: The new bandwagon

2010-02-01T13:32:00.001-08:00

If Irish people are so interested in watching "3D" football, why don't they bother actually going to matches? Is real life not 3D?

Hat tip to Ricer.

No al calcio moderno

2010-01-22T02:28:00.000-08:00

The post below is from a QPR fan and sums up a lot about the modern game for me.

"I take more pleasure in seeing Chelsea lose than I do in seeing QPR win at the moment.

I sat through so many matches when we were absolute dogs**t under the likes of Ray Harford and with people like Paul Bruce, Matthew Brazier and Mark Perry in the squad and I never felt like this.

The club isn't ours anymore but moreso than that - football is just properly gash these days.

I mean really gash.

football generally.

I hate nearly everything about it these days....

I hate the Prem and the myth that it is exciting this year. Man City breaking into the top four isn't exciting. They spent loads of money. It's no more exciting that Nameless C*** getting to number 1 in the charts after winning the X-Factor.

I hate the myth of Arsene's kids. Buying some French kid when he's 17, playing him in the League Cup and then selling him when he's 20 after about 3 appearances in the league is NOTHING SPECIAL.

I hate hearing about Liverpool/Man Utd's debt but nothing ever happening about it. A club needs to go to the wall for the money thing to change but it doesn't happen. Why the **** are Charlton, Leeds and Southampton still in business?

I hate Frank Lampard's stupid f'ing face. I hate that Joe Cole's tongue is never in his mouth, the downsy spacker. I hate John Terry being England captain when he's CLEARLY AN OAF.

I hate the England team.

I hate young exciting wingers who have nothing but pace. Tony Scully had nothing but pace.

I hate the FA Cup. There may be little shocks like last night but for the most part you know who's going to win it. Unless a team throws away all their financial security to win it a la Pompey.

I hate Harry f'ing Redknapp. And Jamie Redknapp. And Louise Redknapp. And the Wii.

I hate James Nesbitt, Eammon Holmes and f***ing everyone.

I hate Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer.

I hate Garth Crooks.

I hate Garth Brooks for that matter.

I hate Sky Sports.

I hate that when a lower league player beats 10 players and chips the keeper it doesn't matter but if Rooney scores from more than 20 yards it's amazing.

I hate that everything football related has to have 'Club Foot' playing behind it.

I hate that female sports journos are now mandatory.

I hate Mark Lawrensen for not coming out. 'I do like a big man at the back'. I bet you do.

I hate any advert that portrays football to be about anything other than pain and disappointment.

I hate any advert that mentions pies at football.

I hate Lee Hughes and the fact that he makes a living from the game. I hate Marlon King and any team that signs him when he gets out. I hate that it'll probably be us.

I hate Phil Brown.

I hate 'well the ball is a lot lighter now and will cause goalkeepers real problems this summer' before EVERY F'ING TOURNAMENT.

I hate that Kieron Dyer earned more in the time I took to write this post than I'll earn this month.

I hate Adrian Durham, Ian Wright and Alan Brazil.

I hate Gazza. Either die or shut up. Stop f'ing lingering.

I hate hearing about Hillsborough more than I hear about Heysel or Bradford.

I hate that a comeback from 4-0 down at half time (TWICE) means nothing because we aren't f'ing scouse.

I hate Leeds.

I hate Roy Keane.

I hate grown men wearing football shirts of their team whilst shopping on a Saturday when their team is playing at home.

I hate that I don't hate Roy Hodgson.

I hate Jermaine Beckford and any player who has neck tattoos.

I hate songs being inappropriately taken as club anthems and then sung in a manly way. 'I'm forever blowing bubbles....'. Gaylords.

I hate Danny Dyer and anyone he's ever interviewed.

I hate the book 'Cass' by Cass Pennant. It is honestly the stupidest thing I've ever read. Chapter 1: Millwall. 'Yeah we took 50 to Millwall. They had 1000 in their mob but we ran 'em up and down the street'. Chapter 2: Liverpool. 'Yeah we took 50 to Liverpool. They had 2000 in their mob but we ran 'em up and down the street'. Fk me... Jade Goody's autobiography is probably better. Even her non-ghost written one.

I hate that all good youngsters end their careers at Spurs before they start"

Setanta Cup chaos

2010-01-05T12:40:00.000-08:00

Article from the 'Tele'

Personally I don't think we should be in the competition. The club that competed in late 2009 no longer exists and therefore the idea that a new entity, albeit with the same name, could be parachuted into the tournament is frankly ridiculous.

The only reasonable thing to do is to declare our results null and void and let Pats and Linfield fight it out for the last spot. However it does appear as if the hierarchy at Linfield are using this as another excuse to have a cut at the tournament.

Happy New Year

2009-12-30T23:21:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to one and all.

I'm currently in Japan following the latter stages of the Emperor's Cup. Thanks to all those that read the blog in 2009.

Photos from the wake aka Oriel

2009-12-02T15:18:00.000-08:00

Back when we had a club. Them were the days.

Losing the high ground

2009-12-01T04:29:00.000-08:00

Ah, you can always depend on the FAI.

Just when it looked like they were beginning to establish moral authority with the treatment of Derry and Cork, they managed to blow it. The world was firmly behind them in relation to the handball. Most rational observers thought there was no chance of a replay but JD was pushing the idea of bringing video evidence onto the FIFA agenda etc.

RTE Report on 33rd spot

The FAI have gone from the strong, confident figure to the needy wallflower sobbing in the corner when no one asks us to dance at the party. Classic.

The Paris Experience

2009-11-21T11:24:00.000-08:00

The Paris experience

The dust has settled, the ridiculous calls for a replay are dying away and we are left with the stark reality that we won't be in the South Africa next summer. So what can we take from the experience? In my opinion it is probably in the top three Irish away performances I have ever seen. The manner in which we played through the French, creating a number of great chances was a real positive and answered the pathetic criticism which has dogged the team throughout the campaign.

Given the size of the country I don't expect Ireland to “achieve” on the world stage very often. All I want is a team that is competitive and a team we can be proud of. A lot of fans who travel regularly have spoken of being revitalized by this campaign. After the negativity and the nightmare under Stan, we have roared back into life this time around. Bari, Sofia and last Wednesday were proof positive of the “new Ireland”.

I was in Paris from Tuesday night onwards, taking a half day and hitting the plane/train combo to make it there. Rendezvoused with the troops and headed for a bite to eat. This was a somewhat prolonged affair and we weren't back in the hotel till after three.

Matchday and the weather was perfect. All of us had done the main sites before so we opted for a cruise along the Seine, bite of lunch, and a visit to the Military Museum in the afternoon. Then it was back to get the “match gear” on and head for the stadium. Anyone that knows me would know I am not a good person to be around before a game as I just want to be in the stadium as early as possible.

The game itself was both fantastic and awful at the same time. Fantastic to see us play so well, awful for the end to come as it did. Keane's goal reminded me of Pizza's goal in the 95 Cup Final, even the whole slow motion nature of the way it went in. The goal produced absolute bedlam around us, but a middle age lad took a real tumble and had to be escorted away by the medics, which curtailed the celebrations.

Half time was a bit surreal as we were playing so well and everyone was sure the French were going to pummel us in the second half/ I said to me da that I was really worried when Duffer and Keano missed and so it turned out. If we had scored the second I am 100% certain we would have gone through as the French would have need two to beat us and that was never going to happen.

When the French scored it was a just like getting a dig in the stomach. That sickening feeling when you can feel something slipping away. In the stadium no one had an idea of the controversy. I was only when I started getting all the texts from home that I realised that something was amiss/

I was hurting on Wednesday and Thursday, no doubt. To come so close and have a decision like that go against you, it really takes it out of you. After the game, plenty of French fans came up to apologise. We went for something to eat around 1am on Thursday morning and the table of lads beside us were totally apologetic. It wasn't a faux sincerity, as one of them said “Shame on us”. To come so close and miss out is heartbreak and it could be twenty years until we come that close again.

There was a very anti-climatic feel after the game as the Irish were stunned at the manner of the defeat and the French were stunned by the manner of victory. There was no mad celebrations from the home fans, both sets of supporters just shuffling off into the night.

The atmosphere before and during the game was absolutely magic. We may have had far less travelling than we did in 2004 but it somehow felt a lot louder. The introduction of the Singing Section in Croker and the impetus ybig.ie has provided has undoubtedly helped that, evidenced through the campaign. The wall of noise from our section all night, and even at the denouement was a sight to see(and hear). You still have the quotient of eejits travelling and everyone has a story to tell about them and their antics. On the whole though, the traveling support tends to be great.

The Eurostar back home at 6.43am on Thursday was carnage. A mix of French people heading for London for a day's work and a load of lads who drank through the night and headed for the train. I was between the category, as I had been out till after 4am but was suited and booted as I was heading for the office on Thursday afternoon.

I was absolutely shattered come Thursday evening and increasingly embarrassed by the reaction of the nation at large. There was never going to be a replay, it was a shite decision, but hey that's the way it happens. Any real supporter of a team could reel you off fifteen decisions of similar magnitude that has happened to their side in the last decade.

Roll on 9/2/10 and the draw for the Euros. C'mon YBIG.

2009-11-21T07:42:00.000-08:00

From Retro rig

They've arrived. Anyone who prepaid-I'll be in touch.

The cleansing process

2009-11-15T13:45:00.000-08:00

Thursday saw the start of the "cleansing process" (Copyright Rico, Monday night on MNS).

The FAI sent a high powered delegation north to explore what the future held for Derry City. The last remaining director stood aside, and talk of a road map back into senior football began to emerge.

Some of the stories of the type of stuff that went on at the club is utterly shameful and indeed would make you very angry.

Personally I thought Stephen Kenny's comments on the issue on Friday were stunning. As the manager of the club he had absolutely no knowledge of the wages that the club were paying? No player ever mentioned to him that he had to sign a blank form? He didn't wonder about how we were within the 65% rule if we were paying the higher wages?

People now seem to think it is just a matter of procedure for us to be in the senior football next year. This is far from certain. This is not a case of just ticking a few boxes and getting back in the League.

The Calver issue at Coleraine has made it a lot more difficult to just wind up a company and start again. We are far from out of the woods yet. It will require a mammoth effort to have a club next season.

A new week

2009-11-15T13:12:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning, and the news of Derry being thrown out the League was starting to gain real momentum. Press from the UK, Europe and further afield were starting to learn of the news of the club's demise.

The message board nearly went into meltdown and Greengo took the sensible step to close the site overnight. At Mass that morning people were talking about the club for the first time in years. Next up was the news of a press conference at the Brandywell at 2pm on the Sunday, where the fight back would begin.

I didn't bother attending, and from talking to those that did, I missed nothing. The idea of a press conference is that it is exactly that, a press conference. Once again, fans and any other interested onlookers were allowed in and the journalists I spoke to said it precluded an chance of actually asking decent questions.

I had a Supporters Trust meeting on the Sunday evening and I tried to explain to those in attendance that the contracts was a side issue. The financial state of the club meant that a Trust was need either way and therefore the need for a Trust was as pressing as ever.

Monday was a seminal day in the whole saga. The devastating performance of John Delaney on MNS showed that the FAI weren't backing down. At the same time the board were holding an open meeting. Such was the size of turnout that the group had to move to the City Hotel. Speaking to those who were at the meeting they thought that the board had done a good job and had coralled plenty of feeling against the FAI. This was before they had seen MNS though.

JD, with the threat of bans etc, had played classic divide and conquer with the players. Given the players hadn't been paid in weeks there was nothing for them to gain by staying quiet and they were always going to go running to Abbotstown to throw themselves on the mercy of the FAI.

On Tuesday the rumour mill buzzed that the players were on the way south. Events moved at breakneck speed as the players were exonerated and the majority of the board resigned that night. The statement by the PFAI/FAI regarding the players was quite a sight to behold. The players admitted signing the contracts but they didn't know what they were signing and they didn't think to question what these blank forms might relate to.

I personally don't believe this for a second and it was a complete exercise in self survival for the players. The FAI were happy as they had their evidence, the players were happy as they were off the hook. Everyone club has a union rep, did they not think to call Stephen McGuinness and check the blank form?

On Wednesday we had the one remaining director claiming no knowledge of the contracts issue. He spoke of taking the club forward and using his business skills to run the club as a business. Make of that what you will.

A week is a long time....

2009-11-15T12:53:00.000-08:00

Sometime they say that football is better than any drama and the events of the last of last ten days have certainly proved that beyond doubt. To be honest I don't even know where to start on it, and I will probably have to break down the blog into several sections.

We'll start with the before, as in before last Saturday.

Let's be honest, the situation was far from rosy before last week. I had been saying to people for a few weeks that I was ashamed to be a Derry fan especially in the light of the Dungannon and Linfield issue. The club was in financial meltdown and most fans were sleepwalking their way into it.

The rumour of the wages issue at Derry has been floating around the League for quite a while. I was alerted to the seriousness of it in September time. Several newspaper articles hinted at the issue and indeed I posted a question relating to it on a Q&A thread posted by Pat McDaid several weeks ago.

I got a few texts on Thursday indicating that the issue was going to come to a head and the news of the hearing was announced. Friday night in Dundalk there was an acceptance that we were going to be relegated, but there was no talk of demotion.

The decision on Saturday dragged on and dragged on and whilst plenty of people thought a delay meant good news for Derry, I was far from certain. I'll be honest, even I was shocked when the news came out. For the rest of the night my inbox and mobile went into melt down.

What did these mean? Where did we go from here? Why had the FAI punished us so badly? There were the general tone of the questions I was getting. I didn't have the answer and the pictures from the 9 o'clock news with an emotional Pat McDaid claiming "shame on the FAI" meant this story was going to run and run.

It's all about this

2009-11-14T05:25:00.001-08:00

Kudos to anyone who can spot McDaid senior and junior!

For those that want a hint, check out 1.47 or so.

Going Green on November 14

2009-11-14T05:11:00.000-08:00

I'll be blogging about events of a breakneck week, but today it is all about going green on November 14.

Stranger and stranger

2009-11-09T15:04:00.000-08:00

Events at Brandywell get madder by the hour

1. Derry have their contract terminated on Saturday circa 5pm
2. Derry hold press conference at Brandywell on Sunday at 2pm. Club utterly refutes allegation, talk is of witch hunt and lack of investigation. Derry invite FAI to investigate books
3. Today Monday, FAI go on co-ordinate press smoozing. Tony O'Donoghue gets shown proof on MNS, other print journalist get juicy quotes from the CEO. If the evidence was there, why weren't Derry shown it.
4. Players are asked to come forward by noon on Thursday. Classic game theory/divide and conquer attitude here. If they have the evidence, why do they need the players?

I'm not saying something isn't amiss on the contract front, but why are the FAI suddenly on a charm offensive?

Cool as f*ck

2009-11-07T16:11:00.000-08:00

Madness to have Paul McLoone reading the t-shirt that me and Chalks made up one day in the Empire. Good times.

Sign from above

2009-11-07T16:02:00.000-08:00

Is the fact that Felix is the scorer the sign that he should come back as manager?

Contract terminated from the League of Ireland

2009-11-07T15:00:00.000-08:00

Statement from the FAI

DCFC response

Interesting times, and will the financial state it will only get more interesting in the coming weeks. Ye never get bored in this League.

From the ashes

2009-11-07T05:24:00.001-08:00

Supporters Trust Meeting tomorrow @ 5pm

This won't save the club, but if you are interested in getting involved, get yourself along tomorrow.

Scaremongering was I?

2009-11-05T17:40:00.000-08:00

Irish Times Article

The house of cards is falling. The end is nigh.

It is not about being right, though I do give two fingers to all those that had a go at me in various mediums about being a scaremongerer, working against the club and other criticisms. It was never about personalities from my side, it was about the club.

Thanks lads, you've left us in great shape.

2009-11-05T17:35:00.000-08:00

Visions of this being sung in the Brandywell boardroom at the minute.

The house is cards is collapsing and I'll be honest and say I'll not be shedding any tears for the board.

My two cent

2009-11-02T13:49:00.000-08:00

The roof has gradually been falling in at Brandywell in recent week, as one financial horror story after another has emerged as to the true state of the club's finances. A number of people over the weekend asked me "What do you think will happen?" and to be honest I don't know what will happen. On the road back down last night I did consider what I would prefer to happen.

I've my own estimation of the level of debt that the club is in and if I'm near the mark, I can't see how the club can get out of it. We managed to haemorrhage cash despite winning in Europe and selling three players cross channel, as well as McHugh to Linfield. No one in the squad stands out in terms of the quality of McGinn or McCourt, so there is likely to be little interest from across the water in the current squad.

The first Celtic friendly destroyed a lot of credibility and like the doubting Thomases, even if a full strength Celtic side showed up, a lot of people won't bother going this time round. This is we ever get a full strength Celtic side to come. You can't blame people having been stung once.

How else are we going to raise significant finance? The Dream Draw was a lot harder to sell the last time round and being honest, there are a lot more deserving causes in the City than the football club.

The recession, the mismanagement of the club and general apathy will make it a Herculean task to try and raise money for the club. Fair play to those that do, but we don't even know how much we need to raise.

Even if we were to get investment to see us through the current difficulties, anyone with any sense would make this a loan and not a donation. Therefore the money will still have to be paid back at some point.

I would have serious concerns that we would be denied a licence, even if we remain solvent long enough. I'll not go into the detail again, but have a look at the "10 questions for the board" post, as to where I think our difficulties may lie.

I don't get the feeling that there is the appetite amongst the support to get us back to an even keel by raising massive funds to cover the debt. I'll be honest, I've no appetite for it. Why should I contribute to clean up the mistakes of a board, when I disagreed with many of their decisions? As I said during an early disagreement, if our business model means that we have to charge £8 for a friendly, what type of business model is that.

I'm on record here, DerryCitychat.com and elsewhere as disgreeing with many of their decisions. People might claim it is a personality issue, but I had the same questions of the last board as well. The reality is that if we live within our means then we were probably not be competitive in the League of Ireland. Sad, but true. Derry doesn't have the spending power of Cork or Dublin and attempting to enter into an arms race with sides from there will only end in tears.

Personally, I'd wind Wellvan up and apply for the A League. I don't see how we can get ourselves out of the current position. Let us start from scratch, work from the model in the UK and truly organise ourselves as a community club. Don't use it as a cheap soundbite as it currently is, but actually start again from the ground up.

Maybe there will be no desire for a senior club, maybe we will fade away and that will be the end of Derry City. However if there is no desire for a club, then why are we all throwing some much time, energy and money into trying to be one of the top clubs in Ireland. Rovers emerged much stronger from a spell in the First Division, can we not be the same.

People may argue that we have got out of this position before, we can do it again. Maybe we can. However remember a few salient points.

1. The friendlies against United, Celtic and Barcelona cleared that debt
2. The board fronted up with their problems when it became clear how bad it was
3. We were told it would never happen again

Yet nine years since the last crisis, we are back where we started and what have we learned. I don't entirely blame this board, others must take responsibility as well. However I don't care about personalities, I care about the club. The club is a very very story state. The manner in which we have treated Linfield, Dungannon and others makes me ashamed to call myself a Derry fan. Treat people with honesty and decency and it appears that we have failed to do that.

" What is a club anyway? It's the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city."

I've used that quote from Bobby Robson before, and it rings true. The antics of the club at the minute leave me far from proud at the moment.

Swifts consider winding up order

2009-11-01T14:12:00.000-08:00

I'm ashamed to call myself a City fan at the minute, such are the antics of those running the club. At least if Dungannon pursued a winding up order then it might bring an end to the madness

RTE Report

12 questions for the .....

2009-10-31T08:11:00.001-07:00

1. When was the last time Wellvan made a complete monthly return to the HMRC and as of now, are we full compliant with the PAYE obligations?

2. How much has the Social Club cost us to date, and do you believe that these funds will be recoverable?

3. Were the board advised of the difficulties of obtaining a licence for the Social Club before they signed the lease?

4. What was the outstanding amount due from Meteor when they went into liquidation?

5. Did we receive any payments from River Media over the course of their sponsorship?

6. Who was the agent on the GOB deal?

7. Given we were paying a significant fee from David Scullion, why was only a one year contract signed with the player?

8. How much has the club spent on accomodation for players brought to and expected to live in the city?

9. Apart from the Standard Player Contracts, do any players have rider contracts in addition to these?

10. At the time, did individuals pay the travel and accommodation bills for the official travel party to Lativa?

11. Have the office staff been paid? Is not, given the subvention from the FAI for a CPO, was this money diverted elsewhere?

12. Are any players paid in the South and if so are there Revenue implications of this?

Media Snobbery

2009-10-28T14:32:00.000-07:00

Lou Macari tonight on Paddy McCourt as he was about to come on

"Well you have to remember where he has come from?" Where is that Lou, a League where the team can actually win a game in Europe.

Five minutes later Paddy skins five players and hits the bar. How do you like them apples Lou?

Tour t-shirts

2009-10-28T14:29:00.000-07:00

Hat tip to lads at YBIG.ie for another great shirt.

Mines has been ordered, let's hope the postal strike doesn't prevent its arrival. Roll on Paris!

So I was wrong....

2009-10-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

After wondering last week if it could get any blacker round Brandywell, it certainly has. A cursory search on Google News will bring back masses of recent news stories of the financial meltdown at the Brandywell.

We've had claim and counter claim, newspaper articles and radio programmes. We've had attention, unwanted, from figures such as David Jeffrey. However we are still no clearly as to just how bad it is.

Stories vary on the amount owed, who it is owed, the very seriousness on the issue. No one should be any illusion as to the seriousness of the situation.

The last time we were in difficulties which seemed as serious as this, there was an open meeting in the Delacroix. It was terrible to be there, but there was real motivation in the room that night. The closest we have got this time is the chairman offering a Q&A thread on DerryCityChat.com

We still awaiting the AGM promised for early 2009, the accounts for year ended Novemeber 2008 are overdue.

At this stage I don't think any amount of internet threads, press interviews or nods and winks will do.

Options

1. The board has to call an AGM/EGM to discuss the situation with the shareholders of Wellvan.
2. A open meeting with supporters.

Let us know where we stand.

How true: the trials of fandom

2009-10-24T16:02:00.000-07:00

Classic post by a Waterford fan on foot.ie about being a LOI fan. The post was made in the context of a discussion on the situation at Cork

"No fit and proper person would ever want to be a League of Ireland chairman.

Actually, no fit and proper person would ever want to be a League of Ireland fan. Why would you want to spend a Tuesday morning discussing the intricacies of bank drafts and cheque clearances while wondering whether players will travel to the match that night when you could turn on the telly at 7.45 and 'support' 'your' team in the Champions League from the comfort of your sitting room?"

Richmond Revival: City win!

2009-10-24T03:23:00.001-07:00

Once again, Edinburgh airport and the Scottish weather did their best to prevent me getting to a game, but I was not to be thwarted.

The 4.50 flight was delayed to nearly six, which meant I didn't land till before seven. On the plane the captain announced that for operational reason the previous aircarft had to go to Marseilles, and this was the reason for the delay. On landing,I had to collect baggage so it was then a case of grabbing a taxi, detouring via the house to drop the gear and set a course for Inchicore.

A text on route indicated the team and this was followed up by the news that we'd scored through McGlynn. Charlie has a great record away to Pats and last night was no exception. I arrived at about ten past eight and a steward let me in without needing to pay, which was a bonus. I made my way down to the City fans joined the small travelling contingent. Deagy, Senior, The Dude and Damo were there, having just arrived moments before me.

It is a terrible position to watch a game from and with City defending the "top end" in the first half, we spent a fair bit of time looking left. Once again there were many of the big names missing for the City lineup, but this was a performance to be proud of.

Neat and tidy with patches of decent football, Derry showed spirit and determination. Albeit it was up against a toothless Pats side who look in serious diffs, but it was impressive none the less. In the stands it felt like the Badger days, a small crowd but 90 minute singing and good craic. There were two St Pauli fans over and they seemed to gear everyone up for a few more songs.

The talk at half time was of administration, bankruptcy and doom and gloom but the performance on the pitch had lifted the spirits. Molloy had chances in both halves but the beard hasn't improved his shooting. The first one went wide and the second one was saved by the keeper. McClean was having a great game but is another who needs to work on the finishing. Time after time he would skin the full back but on the times he cut inside, his shot was weak.

However the young winger was instrumental in the second goal as his ball was poked home by McDaid. Molloy broke from midfield, played a perfect ball to McClean. He cut in, waiting for mean to arrive and then delivered a lovely ball in.

Pats will feel hard done by as they were denied an absolute certain penalty when Delaney handled a cross from Ryan. However Pats in the main were disappointing and like ourselves a shadow of the team of old. The game wound to a predictable conclusion, with the attention switching to Cork and how the game was going there.

The scenes after the game certainly beg a few questions. The players all stayed on the pitch and the entire backroom staff joined them there. A huddle was formed and after a few minutes the players came over the applaud the fans. It is hard to describe the scene, but there was a real air of finality about it.

However it was class to be celebrating a win, despite Ryanair and their attempts to make sure I'd miss it.

Jaysus can it get any worse?

2009-10-22T17:07:00.000-07:00

Five League defeats on the bounce is unprecendented in Derry's time in the LOI and now we have another twist in the tale with the players going public with regards the wage crisis.

On the upside, if my flight is on time I'll be back and in Inchicore tomorrow night.

Hit them Derry!

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

2009-10-17T14:16:00.000-07:00

The Good

Tender for the redevelopment of the Brandy

For the purposes of this tender, the estimated construction cost for the proposed works will be £4,000,000.00 (ex. VAT). Full details here.

The Bad

City stumble to another defeat, the four League loss on the spin. By the sounds of it, it was better that I did miss the flight from Edinburgh to Galway. Full report here

The Ugly

Another financial bad news story eminating from Brandywell. Players awaiting wages, full report here

Best wishes for Farrenso

2009-10-16T14:57:00.000-07:00

Derry Journal report

I heard about Mark's condition around Christmas and was amazed he played on. Mark is a great fella as an individual, as well as a talented player. Let's hope he makes a full recovery and we see him back for the start of next season.

Let's hope for more of this this evening..

2009-10-10T05:54:00.000-07:00

In Trap we trust.

Gregory Kearney

2009-10-08T15:11:00.000-07:00

Only a snapshot of footage, and not even some of his best goals. However reminds you of the talent he was.

Independent: Derry star laments cash crisis

2009-10-05T01:53:00.000-07:00

Article from the Irish Independent, Monday 5th October.

More great publicity.

Linfield 1 Derry 1: A "Tasty" one......

2009-10-04T05:34:00.000-07:00

RTE Match Report.

While most of the media attention may be diverted to Glasgow today for the Old Firm, there was a “tasty” atmosphere at Windsor Park yesterday. The taste may have been unsavoury but it requires comment.

On and off the pitch the game may have been a lower key affair and there is no doubt that both sides are a shadow of the 2006 incarnations. The action on the pitch won't live long in the memory, with City particularly poor in the first half. However a late late goal from McManus, a legendary celebration, and City had rescued a point. Linfield could have wrapped it up early with a couple of one on ones which they missed, but we'll take the point.

Linfield were more than up for it in the first half and went ahead with a well worked goal. A fantastic ball in from McAllister was headed home by Munster. I was standing beside Marty G and as soon as the ball was crossed I went “danger here”. However it still required a cracking header to beat Gerard Doherty.

I thought City really struggled in the first half, with McGlynn the one creative spark in the team. Kearney appeared to have been given a free role but always appeared to drift inside. The result of this was that City have limited options down the left flank and ever attack was funnelled down the central channel. It was no surprise that one of McGlynn's jinking runs provided City best chance of the first half, when he was felled for a penalty.

Tommy Stewart's effort was saved, and it didn't look the most convincing run up I have ever seen. In saying that Alan Blayney, the Linfield keeper, was very impressive all day and made a great stop. City fans may remember that we tried to sign Blayney a few years ago but for some reason we ended up with Tidman and McEwan instead.

City were once again booed off the pitch at half time in what is becoming a depressing frequency. Usually for the home games I am on iCandy duty so I am in splendid isolation with Greengo in the Old Stand so I am not witness to the abuse of our own players which I am assured takes places. Usually at away games the atmosphere is a lot more supportive as people have made the effort to get there. However yesterday gave me an insight into people's stories from the Brandywell. A large of those surrounding me were just screaming abuse at players,whatever they did. If they made a mistake, abuse them. If they didn't play the ball that the fan wanted, abuse them. Didn't chase a ball, abuse them. Depressing times.

Peter Hutton had been struggling throughout the first half and was replaced by Deery at the break. This required a rejig of the City defence and it paid dividends as City were a lot stronger in the second half. Deery's ability on the ball meant that City started to get a hold in the middle of the park as had a lot more possession in the second half. McGlynn was once again relegated to right back, which somewhat stymied his attacking threat.

The appearance of a tricolour on the Kop and its subsequent burning turned the atmosphere up several notches. However large elements of the City support didn't exactly cover themselves in glory either. Choruses of “Dirty Orange Bastards”, “Hun scum” and signing Ambhran na bhFiann in English made me think I was at a Celtic match. Clowns waving Celtic shirts only added to the feelings. As predicted, a few individuals decided to decommission their pyrotechnic stockpile to by letting off numerous flares and strobes. The individuals involved are easily identifiable and lets hope that suitable measures are taking against them. Throwing used flares onto the pitch is absolute madness and one wasn't far away from the linesman.

There were idiots on both sides and I thought the hands off stewarding approach didn't help, as it allowed a situation to develop. It blew a hole in the “non sectarian support” claim that some Cty fans like to spout at times.

McManus was brought on after the hour and his energy added a new dimension up front. He may not have the skills of the last number 23 for City, but his heart and passion is endearing him to the hearts of the Candystripes faithful. He had one effort saved by Blayney as City looking to be slipping to a defeat. However a sublime lob from Charlie played the Scot in and he finished with aplomb. Tam mightn't be a local but he knew what the goal meant to the fans and let the fans in the Kop know.

City pressed on in the remaining minutes but couldn't really create anything further. The afternoon was illuminated for most City fans with the dismissal of Jeffreys in the dying seconds but the game finished 1-1 and a point apiece. City top the group with two points and head to Inchicore in November, looking to cement a place in the knock out phases. In my view though, the real talking points were off the park.

Solidarity with Leeside

2009-09-29T02:08:00.000-07:00

Whilst things are far from rosy Foyleside, things are considerably worse for Cork fans. The club's Surpporters Trust, FORAS, are hosting a protest before tonight's game with Sligo Rovers, urging fans to enter ten minutes late and to show the red card to the current ownership.

Read more about the protest here

Help you club to help you

2009-09-29T02:03:00.000-07:00

There is currently a survey running on the City website to help the club to understand the needs of supporters.

Survey Link

Fenlon v Kenny: Part 53....

2009-09-29T01:48:00.000-07:00

Irish Independent

The hilarious thing is the way that Fenlon always rises to the bait.

McGinn case: Part I

2009-09-24T02:18:00.001-07:00

For those that may of missed it, City were in court yesterday over the McGinn case. The case revolves around a sell on clause in the Niall McGinn transfer. McGinn, now with Celtic, moved from Swifts to City. Dungannon are claiming that there is a sell on clause in the contract and they are due money. We don’t know what Derry are claiming, as once again we haven’t been told anything.

The case was only up for “a mention” yesterday, but City have been ordered to produce full details of the transfer in time for next week. Perhaps we finally might get some clarity on that deal.

Derry 1 Pats 1

2009-09-24T02:04:00.000-07:00

BBC Report

I wasn’t at the game on Tuesday, as work once again intervened to prevent me making the trip. I listen to Greengo(and Kevin McLaughlin’s interruptions) on iCandy and it seemed a rather forgettable game. A phone conversation with me da after the game confirmed the suspicions. However it is two points dropped and in a three team group, this could prove very costly.

Red and White Army Flying Column

2009-09-23T01:55:00.000-07:00

Cork City v Derry City, 6th October

Just booked return flights for 0.02c. Love or loathe them, Ryanair have added the dimension of taking a flight to a game these days.

A bright future

2009-09-14T03:42:00.001-07:00

In the midst of the all the doom and gloom around the Brandywell at the minutes, there are still some great things going on around the club.

ESCAPE PROJECT

I was involved in some of the early research and preparation of the funding proposal for this centre and I'm delighted that is now coming to fruitition.

Give us your money, but don't ask us any questions

2009-09-11T03:23:00.000-07:00

Interview with Blackburn chairman

The link above comes from the Lancashire Telegraph and contains an interesting interview with the Blackburn Rovers Chairman, John Williams.

Williams is to be complimented for giving a straight forward and honest assessment of the club’s finances, what it costs to run a club and where the money goes. The article is simple enough such that you don’t need to be an accountant to understand it , allowing fans to follow the money trail.

Meanwhile on this side of the Irish Sea fans, in the main, continue to have to exist in an information vacuum. Three of the current top four; Bohs, Derry, Cork have experienced financial difficulties this year and yet it is only when it has got to crisis point that the boards at the respective clubs have disclosed any information.

Irish football, as we are painfully aware, is not the playground of the rich and famous. There are no oligarchs, no sheikhs, few wealthy ex pats. The boards at many clubs are now made up of “the last men standing”, people who are prepared to take on the thankless task of serving on a board.

However it seems as if a code of “omerta” descends on the board when they take up their positions. In the Irish game this season, Cork and Derry fans(amongst others) have been greeted with media headlines outlines the financial predicament of their clubs, with many surprised by this. I can only speak from the Derry case but at a meeting in June the board claimed that the club would be fine, and that selling a portion’s of next year’s season tickets this year was not going to threaten the club’s future. Three months later, we learn that the players have only been paid 25% of their wages.

Fans in this League tend to be incredibly loyal. Rubbish facilities, regular financial problems and amateur setups off the field. Fans at most clubs around the League can identify with these issues and yet in the main we continue to come back. The recently deceased Sir Bobby Robson encapsulated it for me when he said,

“What is a club anyway? It is the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city”

Many of the fans here are fans of the club, of which the first team are a part. Obviously the first eleven are the highest profile expression of the club but they are not the only element of the club. The club is the players, the staff, the support, the infrastructure. It is all of these things.

As an Irish person, it takes an effort to support the League here. We could all just stay at home like the rest of the population and be drip fed our football in HD from the shiny screens in the corner of every living room. It takes an effort to get up, get to the games, hit the road for the away trips, support the draws, buy the merchandise. The clubs don’t make it easy for people and then they operate in a culture of secrecy.

Internet Message boards have “flattened the earth”, no more so in relation to football clubs. Whereas in the past you would discuss the team with your mates or people that you met on a face to face basis. However the internet allows discussions to be played out by people from all parts, on all issues. This have allowed for a greater dissemination of information and therefore fans tend to at least have the ability to learn about a greater variety of topics that in the past.

Don’t get me wrong, the message board has also given rise to the “keyboard warrior”. The person who will whinge and moan about anything and everything, but would never dream of saying these things in public. People will make wild allegations, perpetuate unsubstantiated rumours and general muddy the waters. People with pseudonyms can log on and post whatever they see fit to. However the message board can also be a mine of information if used correctly.

Whatever they may say otherwise, players and directors read them. In Derry’s case, we have several board members who post on the message board. This again can be a doublededged sword. By engaging in the digital medium, the board have the chance to convey the information directly to the support. However by doing so, they also make themselves accountable to posters. As one member of the Derry site memorably commented during the news of the wages crisis, the Derry chairman was prepared to comment on a thread relating to Chuck Norris, but a thread of pertinent questions as the club’s finances was ignored.

Fans provide a major source of income for clubs here and fans seek accountability and transparency. Whilst many understand that disclosures such as “Player X is on £xxx per week” are unreasonable, there has to be a middle ground between this and the current situation. In any facet of life, if someone holds their hands up and says “I need help here” then you will appreciate their honesty and do what you can. As it is in the case of Derry, Bohs and Cork it was more a case of “We need money, you are fans, give us money”. FORAS, the Cork Supporters Trust, have to be admired for their principled stance in not crumbling to the emotional blackmail when the club was under threat of being wound up.

The common refrain from people is “Why don’t you go on the board?”. To be frank, this is childish criticism. As stated previously, serving on a board is difficult, no one disputes this. My da served on the Derry board for a decade and I know the work that is involved. However questioning the direction that the club is taking or articulate criticism of a decision has a place at every club. In an organisation, there should always been an element of dissent, a questioning attitude which fosters debate and improvement. A football club may be a different from any other company, but it is still that, a company. John Williams has shown in his interview how the club can be run on business lines, and even worse, he has told the fans how and why they have done it!

Fans should demand more, as they deserve better.

2009-09-10T08:10:00.000-07:00

Derry Journal: New stadium fast tracked

The fact that Helen Quigley, is spearheading the moves fills me with confidence. This is the woman whose bandwagoning antics were spectacularly exposed by Colin Green on Radio Foyle during the 2006 Euro run. Until we start seeing work on the site I'll reserve judgement.

2009-09-10T05:38:00.000-07:00

Interview here.

Refreshing honesty from the Blackburn chairman there. Meanwhile the rest of us languish with the information that boards' may or may not decide to release.

New "fleg"

2009-09-08T13:29:00.001-07:00

Quickpost this image to Myspace, Digg, Facebook, and others!

New flag ordered,click on it to enlarge. Should be here in a week, though with the fixture rearrangements I don't know when I'll actually get to unfurl it yet

Job done, just.

2009-09-07T04:15:00.000-07:00

Saturday night was job done, but it was far from pretty.

Indeed if it wasn’t such a vital game you would have switched it over. However as we had been reminded ad nauseum, there were vital World Cup points at stake. It was a case of get there, get the points and get the hell out of Dodge City.

Maybe familiarity breeds contempt but I am no fan of the island. Numbers were down on the travelling support, but that has been true throughout the campaign. However more bizarre was the complete absence of home support.

The early goal was brilliant and it was over and above expectations to make a breakthrough so early. For the next ten minutes or so I was very impressed, we pushed on, we had them on the rack and then inexplicably we decided to ease off. Given’s save immediately after the goal was warning enough of the threat that the home side posed, but Ireland seemed powerless to react. There was debate over whether we were being swamped by the extra Cypriot in the midfield but it is hard to know with the current pairing in the middle.

I’m a big Kilbane fan, but his place is definitely under threat after another poor enough showing. I thought he was slow coming out to close down for the Cypriot goal. Furthermore, some of his distribution out of defence was abysmal.
The front two both scored which is what you want, but there are areas for improvement all around the pitch. The midfield is still a conundrum, but if that shot of Whelan’s had gone in then it may have been glossed over. Duff kept coming in off the line, how I long from the days when he just put his head down and went for the touchline.

As the time ticked down I just couldn’t see where the goal was coming from. Anyone who was a recipient of a text message from me on the night will be aware that I was far from confident on our ability to get a second. As the Independent wrote about a toxic performance by Ireland, the NAMA of te side Robbie Keane popped up to grab us the points, and salvation. It was the old one two, Duff and Keane that did the damage and we were out of there with the desired result.

As we head to Croker the old FF election slogan comes to mind “A lot done, more to do”. The result this week in Turin may give us a clearer picture of just what we are aiming for next month, but there is still room for improvement.

45 minutes: Half a win is better than all of a defeat.

2009-09-07T03:59:00.000-07:00

I only saw half the game on Friday but still managed to see Derry score and miss a penalty. The game was won in the first half and having established a two goal advantage, Derry never seriously looked like letting that lead slide.

Conversely, whilst Dundalk didn’t look like getting back into the game the fact that they were down to ten man wasn’t at all obvious. They battled very hard and I thought the middle three of McAreavey, Daly and McGowan were very industrious. They do take the honour of being a side built in the image of their manager and being the mouthiest side in the division. Every challenge, for or against them, they seem to berate the referee. And this was without Mental Mickey on the pitch!

I thought the referee Mr Connolly had a decent game and to follow the cliché of a good referee, you didn’t really notice him. The assistant on the far side drew a fair bit of ire from the City support, but I think we have to look at the inability of our own strikers to time their runs more so that the official’s flag work.

Liam Kearney made a welcome return and showed more in fifteen minutes than we have seen from him so far this season. He skipped past two players and put a ball into the box which was headed wide by Martyn. He was also hauled down from what was a cast iron penalty. Farren didn’t take the opportunity by Kearney popped up at the back post to head home Scullion’s cross to make it three, late in the game.

With Bohs losing again, the talk turned to what might have been had it not been for the midweek defeat to Galway. As it is City are still eight points behind the front runners but with the top two still to come at the Brandywell the League is far from decided as yet. We’ll need a great run of form, but we may yet be the dark horse to come up on the rails.

Or as they say in Sky Sports land, we’ll have a big hand in where the title ends up this year.

Where do we go from here?

2009-08-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

Friday was a fairly turbulent day off the field with Pizza's statement, and the resultant fall out. Anyone who knows me, or who reads this blog on a regular basis will know that the news comes as no surprise. In fact, the only surprise is that it has taken so long to happen. In my view we have been overspending for several years and the club have managed to keep the show on the road for quite a while.

I don't the energy for a full article(dying with a Carlisle Grounds cold) so my initial thoughts are:

I'm sorta stuck between two stools, as I have volunteered a lot at the club and I've gain at lot from it. I'd like to think I have decent personal relationship with a few of the directors, and I don't want to slate them, but questions have to be asked.

Less than three months ago we were told that it was merely temporary problems. Journal article, 2nd of June

Questions were raised at that meeting as to the financial state of the club, but we were told there was nothing to worry about. Added to this, we are still awaiting the AGM which was promised for early 2009.

After the talk of cutting the wage bill at the end of last season, we signed Scullion, Kearney, O'Brien and McManus. In fact we paid transfer fees for some of them! Add to that the overnight stays and pre match meals which people have been questioning for months. Asking genuine questions on derrycitychat.com just provoked allegations that you were "anti board". Given I'd already had one fairly public spat with a director, I can understand why people thought that.

The start of June saw the revelation that we'd lost the two sponsors and we were running the draw for a new sponsor and selling next year season tickets early. I thought the shirt sponsor draw was a great idea but I told the chairman at the time that I still believed that massive cost cutting was required. The season ticket idea was just robbing Peter to pay Paul.

The talk is always that we are a community club, but are we? The only contact I got from Derry City as a season ticket holder was the letter asking me to buy next year's season ticket early. As someone described it to me, we are a not particularly well run charity. We have(had) a CEO, a Community Promotions Officer and a Commercial Manager and yet we appear to no better run off the pitch.

Derry City has always depended on a hardcore band of volunteers to keep the show on the road. People who consistently have up 15-20 hours a week, who put their hands in their pockets when it was required. These people don't want their name in lights, they do it for the club and that's it. However the worrying thing for me is that it is the same people who have been there from the very start. In every organisation there should be a changing of the guard, where younger people get involved and gradually take more and more responsibility. That isn't happening at Derry City. Worse, younger people are walking away from involvement with frustration.

The support in Bray was symptomatic of the situation at the club, with the demographic heavily sloped towards the over fifties. Where will that leave the club in ten/fifteen years? What is the club doing about it?

Where is the club going? I don't know. I was working on a strategic review/plan for the last week or two. It won't pay any bills or save us but it is clear that we have to go back to basics. Click on the link to have a juke.

Review Idea

Stephen Kenny's Volunteer Army

2009-08-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

That was the chant of the night last night, as City left the Carlisle Grounds with three points for a change. As another Derry fan said, "I'm delighted to leave with three points and frostbite, as normally it is dropped points and frostbite".

I'll be blogging on the financial issues(again) separately, but last night was a good three points. Having hit the bar three times it looked as if we were going to have to settle for a point, but then McGlynn popped up to break Bray hearts.

The goal had shades of Niall Quinn's against Holland in the 1990 World Cup. A long punt from Doherty, a bounce, confusion in the Bray defence. Nash's impact cannot be understated as he got the vital touch to direct the ball into McGlynn and with the winger directed it into an empty net.

We deserved the three points as we had the best chances. The additional of McLean added a real threat from set pieces and a series of five corners in the opening ten minutes provided a number of chances for Derry to break the deadlock.

Derry had very fluid midfield, with McGlynn and McLean both cutting infield and posing Bray problems. Eddie hit the bar with a cracking effort from 30 yards and it bounced down on the line. Some Derry fans claimed it had crossed the line, but McGlynn couldn't direct the header back in. Two minutes later, a twisting turning Farren also hit the bar.

Farren had a great chance at the start of the second half, but his header from McLean's cross was frankly, woeful. Derry had another couple of chances, with McManus blasting over from about 16 yards the pick of them. The game looking to be petering out and the chant from the Derry fans was "Stephen Kenny's Volunteer Army". However the last gasp intervention gave the side all three points.

It made all the train journey back into the city all the sweeter.

2009-08-28T05:43:00.001-07:00

City players to face massive wage cut

I would say I'm surprised but I'm not.

2009-08-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

Watched Maccabi v Red Bull tonight on Sellotanta. The lack of knowledge from commentator and pundit was stunning. Dolan in particular was completely clueless. Half an hour on Wikipedia was obviously too much for Dolan, who resorted to banal platitudes which could be applied to any team.

2009-08-25T03:40:00.000-07:00

Just got the sample from the supplier.

Few comments
-Stripes are too wide
-Crest is too big
-Northlands is in blue, not black.

However, would ye buy one if all this was sorted out?

Smash and grab

2009-08-24T01:36:00.000-07:00

We won. A home victory, the first since before the mid season break. It wasn’t great, in fact it was a dire game but Ciaran Martyn’s rocket finish did the damage. Pats owned the ball for most of the game and with us down to ten men for most of the game it was a great three points.

If, and I am employing the relentless optimism of the football fan here, we win our game in hand then we will only be four points behind Shamrock Rovers, with a decent chunk of the season left. There may not be anything in the cups for us but it is definitely game on in terms of the League placings.

It was a worryingly small crowd at the Brandywell but there was an “old school” atmosphere as the renditions of “Red and White Army” from the New Stand when the goal went in. The poor night and our recent form wouldn’t have encouraged many neutrals along but it is definitely something we need to address for the rest of the season.

Clive Delaney picked up his third red of the season, once again for stupidity. The round of applause he got as he was leaving the pitch was cringeworthy. It seems to be the default reaction now when a player is sent off that the player is clapped off, no matter how guilty. I hope Delaney gets a massive fine for management as he will be banned for ages now anyway.

Gerard Doherty once again has to get praise for keeping us in the game with a couple of smart saves which Farren missed a sitter in the first half. It was a rearguard action when we went down to ten and I thought Eddie and Ger O’Brien were outstanding for Derry.

However you just struggled to see where the goal was coming from but there was a flash of the 2006 Ciaran Martyn as he arrived late and absolutely hammered it home to grab all three points.

As we were leaving the ground we were treated to Jeff Kenna lambasting his side in the dressing room. Ha. Roll on Bray.

Trappatoni puts the journos in their place

2009-08-23T06:22:00.000-07:00

Classic stuff from el vecchio Trap midweek. The journalists were asking about Chris McCann and Fahey getting a place in the squad.

"Did they not have a case for inclusion? “You knows these players?” he asked his questioner.

“Yes.”

“Chris McCann? Which position would you play him in?”

“Centre midfield or on the left.”

“How many games have you seen these players? McCann, against Manchester United, he touched the ball four times in 90 minutes. Did you see the game?”

“Yes.”

“I saw the game two times. Maybe we look at it together? I am not focusing on him in particular, but this player, for example, does not have the same qualities or characteristics as, say, (Glenn) Whelan, (Keith) Andrews, Gibson, Reid or Miller"

Aye, and how many titles have the assembled press corps won. Zero. Trap has us in the shake down for a place at the WC, with a completely average squad. Let him get on with it.

It was twenty years ago today....

2009-08-22T11:04:00.000-07:00

What a season.

Selling the family silver for a song

2009-08-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

Derry are auctioning off the match worn kits from the recent Europa League games. Great idea. However we have managed to minimise the chances of maximising profits from this, in a way that DCFC specialise in.

1. We have listed it on derrycitychat.com, not Ebay
2. It ends this weekend, less than five days after it started.
3. I sent out a text to publicise it, but it hasn't been in any of the other local media

I stuck five old shirts on Ebay a few weeks ago and we made a couple of hundred quid from it. Next week, the club were selling last season's shirts in the shop for £20. The mind boggles.

Seriously, it would make you tear your fecking hair out.

Twas the night before Christmas and nothing was stirred...

2009-08-05T15:38:00.000-07:00

It is actually the night before the CSKA game

Nietzsche wrote “Hope is the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torments of Man”. It sorta sums up how I feel at the minute. Do I dare to hope about tomorrow night, or should I resign myself to the fact that the every statistic says that we are probably heading out? Derry people don't do accepting the way the things are very well. We tend to go “Batter On” and do what suits us, not what people tell us to do.

I know there will be be few raised eyebrows but we have to look at the other side of the house to take our inspiration for what we need to do tonight. This weekend the Apprentice Boys will march around the walls of the City to celebrate the fact that the walls of the City were not breached in over hundred days. It wasn't easy, there was a lot of hardship but those involved held firm when everyone else thought all was lost. We'll have to draw on that spirit tomorrow night. Tear up the formbook, throw out the history books, crumble up the oods from the bookies. If we don't believe we can win this game then we have lost the battle before we even take the pitch.

Is it going to be easy? No. In fact it will probably be the most difficult game for some of their players in their careers to date. However do you think that Tommy Stewart wants to be back playing the likes of Dungannon or Institute instead of tomorrow night's opposition? No. You want to test yourself against the biggest and the best. Tomorrow night is a chance to do that. They mightn't have the names round Derry that the likes of PSG but that doesn't make them any easier to beat. They are a very good team and we will need a brilliant performance and a large slice of luck to even give us a chance tomorrow night. I love good performances but I would trade the moral victory for a horrible game and a famous result.

Tomorrow night isn't about League points, or a title challenge. It isn't about a derby, a relegation battle or a visit from a Dublin club. It isn't about the Bohs, Shels, Harps or Rovers. There will be no Ian Stokes, no Richie Winter, no Terence Moyne. There will be no Pat Fenlon, no David Jeffrey, no Paul Doolin. It doesn't matter how far behind we are after tonight, or how many times we have each team home or away. Tomorrow night is European football.

We dream about nights like these ones. As a location we are nothing more than a limpet on the arse of Europe, holding on to the very corner of the continent. No one knows us, no one rates us. However we have another chance to make Europe sit up and take notice of this little Candystriped limpet. We have a chance, and that all we can ask for. No one hands us anything here, no one makes it easy for us but we're still hear. The Irish League sides have bowed out with a record of P8 W0 D1 L7 F4 A32. Half of the League of Ireland representatives are already out. Ourselves and Pats are left flying the flag and let's hope that both will advance to the draw tomorrow.

So starting from now, let's get the build up start. Send that text to everyone badgering them to come to the game. Have a juke on YouTube at the old favourites. Stick that DCFC playlist on your iPod on. Tomorrow. The day. You wake up with that feeling in your stomach. No one else will understand it, people will make some crap joke about you having swine flu. Don't worry, we'll all have the same feeling. It might be August, bring your scarf and your gear to work. Radio on in work? Fry their heads texting in requests for any Derry City related songs. Steal all the work papers, read all the previews. Check and recheck the message board. People might ask you for inconveniences such as work to be finished before you head off for the match. Do these people not know what is happening tomorrow?

This is no paparazzi driven, media hyped pre-season friendly tournament. This is no Audi Cup, no Community Shield or no Beijing Memorial Tournament. Others will be getting worked up by who they can get in their Fantasy Football side for their last 9 million. Tomorrow night isn't fantasy, tomorrow night is reach out and touch it stuff instead. We'd like a bit of fantasy football right enough but tomorrow is about making it happen. We don't care about Alonso to Madrid or Van Der Sar's finger, leave that to people who believe Andy Gray is a modern day prophet.

You might see a few other heads in work who are heading to the game. You might be wandering round the town over your lunch and you'll see the faces. You might nod, nothing will be said, but you will both know. You might work with a few fellow City heads and you might have a chat about it at half time. You'll worry, you'll be nervous, you'll be agitated. People around you who support a team by watching a 2D image beamed from miles away won't get it. Sack them, these feelings would be wasted on them.

Wherever you are heading to the game from be it London, Dublin, Belfast or the top of the folly, the buzz will be there when you are ready to go. I'm already working out just how early I can manage to extricate myself out of work in Dublin tomorrow to maximise my time in Derry before the game. We spare a thought for the exiles. I know how grim it is to be trapped, away from home on nights like this. Whatever about being in Derry, people elsewhere definitely don't understand. We'll do our best to convey the atmosphere to you via iCandy.

Work done, you're on your way. Be it to Waterloo Street, the Oak or straight to the game. Get the colours on, get the music blaring. If you in Waterloo Street, get the chants ringing out. This is our City, this is our team, this is our night. Moreso, we could convince a few floating fans or tourists to come along to the game. Whatever about the result, if this game doesn't sell out there should be serious questions asked. Those will be other questions for another day.

Get there early. We need a big one. No, we need a massive one tomorrow night. We need to make the sound of 2,000 to sound like 20,000. At this point I think it is apt to reiterate some of the points made pre Riga.

“We are Derry City. Everything else in your life may change but you'll always be a City fan. You may waver at times, you may wonder you do it at times, but you're always a City fan. You might be driving back from Cork/Waterford/Dublin after a defeat and moaning, but you're always City. You always look at the fixtures to see how you can fit it round holidays. You'll text home or seek an internet cafe for the results. People ask you who you support, you say Derry. You don't have to think about it, there is only one answer. People ask you who you really support and you think “What does this clown mean” and just go, Derry. Tomorrow night is a chance to enjoy yourself, throw off the shackles of the rest of your problems and just go mad. Let the Premiershite brigade wet themselves over another weekend of televised bollix. Brandywell, 7pm, that's what it is all about.”

Sing until you are dizzy, clap your hands until they are raw. It is up to the manager to decide what way we play it, how much we push it or how much patience we exert. There will be times you won't want to sing. There will be times you will think you can't sing any more. Your head should be aching, and you should be incapable of any speech. Just sing. That's it.

It is all about the pride and the passion, the ninety minutes. 11 heroes from the edge of Europe against a side that could buy and sell us with loose change. None of that matters when the players take the pitch tomorrow night, it is just 22 players and 90 minutes. Names, reputations and the like mean nothing tomorrow night. We need a win and we need a clean sheet. The opposition is frankly irrelevant, that's what need. Yeah, it would be easier if we were playing Finn Harps but we aren't. Suck it and breathe it in. This is what it is all about.

Players and supporters: don't leave anything behind. No regrets. Tomorrow morning, next week, next month; don't find yourself stopping and thinking “I could have given something more”. Leave here tonight knowing there was nothing more you could have done for the team. So no-one else gets it. No one else gets why you bust you balls and your wallets to follow a team all over the country in a League that no-one cares about. Well tomorrow night you will be with 2,500 others who understand. We all do the same. It matters.

There will be a winner and there will be a loser tomorrow night. CSKA, the media, the bookies all expect that the CSKA jolly will continue to the next round. Let tomorrow night be the night that bring another big name to their knees in the Brandywell. I mentioned the Apprentice Boys earlier in the piece. Well tiocfaidh ár lá. Let tomorrow be that day.

Choose to forget the Irish League.
Choose rebirth.
Choose 1985.
Choose Declan McDowell.
Choose EMFA in the snow.
Choose Da Gama and Da Silva.
Choose red and white convoys.
Choose tea and soup at half time.
Choose Cork at Flower Lodge.
Choose a mass exodus for a cup final.
Choose Jim McLaughlin.
Choose the Treble in '89.
Choose the Jungle.
Choose Punts and Euros.
Choose Storky scoring against Benfica.
Choose trying to pick Liam Coyle's best goal.
Choose Sunday at the Brandy.
Choose scoring a 100 goals and coming second.
Choose Roy Coyle kicking Turlough O'Connor up the arse.
Choose owning the League Cup.
Choose McNabb and "Miss it" Blisset.
Choose Derry City 3 Celtic 2.
Choose outsinging every team we ever play.
Choose beating Finn Harps.......every time.
Choose winter football.
Choose summer football.
Choose Coyle putting Puyol on his arse.
Choose Cardiff, Lisbon, Arnhem(twice), Sofia, Maribor, Nicosia, Gothenburg, Gretna, Paris, Pyunik, Riga, Sofia.
Choose planes, trains and automobiles to get to the game.
Choose to back Stuarty to score that penalty.
Choose to hate Shane Curran and Tom McNulty.
Choose beating Sligo after going 4-0 down.
Choose being two kicks from two doubles.
Choose the League in '97.
Choose the Dublin mafia.
Choose the Undertones in Squires.
Choose DCFC Online.
Choose Brandywell Pride.
Choose to abandon your barstool.
Choose the League of Ireland.
Choose face paint and tickertape.
Choose City till you die.
Choose sing songs and ding dongs.
Choose to walk a million miles for their goals.
Choose your Teenage Kicks.
Choose Derry 2 Finn Harps 1.
Choose the game to end all games.
Choose God to score.
Choose to think that it's destiny.
Choose red and white.
Choose Candystripes.
Choose Derry City F.C

Hit them Derry!

So that didn't work.....

2009-08-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

So the preview didn't work

We went two down and then battered them for the rest of the game. Haven't won a game since the break........

RTE Report

Irish Independent

Irish Times

Sack it, roll on Thursday.

Rovers: Match Preview

2009-08-01T14:23:00.000-07:00

Given the bad luck that my post match comments seem to bring, we'll try a pre match one this time.

WE'll be iCandying it from the ground tomorrow, though with the Setanta broadcast I expect the numbers will be down.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/icandy-live

Massive week for us. Need a win tomorrow and a win on Thursday. If there every was one where we have to pull it out of the bag, this is it.

2009-08-01T14:15:00.001-07:00

The Sofia Syndrome: Part I

2009-07-31T06:30:00.000-07:00

Is it wrong to feel disappointed after the defeat last night? It is a testament to how far we have come, that there is that niggle that we gave away a sloppy goal. Sofia were probably value for the win, as they had the lions share of the possession and more of the chances, but we were far from routed. I think back to when I started travelling to Derry games in Europe when it was more a pre-season training camp than a realistic expectation to win a game, never mind a tie.

The game is very much in the balance for the second leg in the Brandywell and the side have a real chance to go and make history. All the travelling support would have taken a narrow defeat prior to the game yesterday and nothing we saw last night would overawe us for the return. The number 10 Todorov is a danger, the way he comes deep and brings others into the game. Lekonov, number 73, posed a few dangers down the flank but superb defensive work from City meant that CSKA were mostly restricted to long shots.

I don't want to go all “football was better in my day”, but some of the diving last night was absolutely ridiculous. I got all the Bulgarian papers this morning and there is one picture which perfectly illustrates it. One of the home side players has thrown himself in the air, while Clive and Higgins are several feet away from him. The Turkish referee produces a series of decisions which varied not from the sublime to ridiculous rather from the ridiculous to the absurd. There was one case where Derry cleared the ball up to Farren and he had his back to goal. He was completely manhandled off the ball and yet a free in was given. Bring back Stokes, all is forgiven. Well maybe not.

All it all though, it was a great trip. The results gives a fighting chance and when facing a side which on papers is seven times more successful than us, that is all we can ask for. I'd say there were only about forty Derry fans that travelling and the small group led to great camaraderie between the supporters. It was definitely an older crowd, with only a few of the “Youngertones” amongst us. Indeed less than ten of us had made our way to the game independently of the club charter. Kudos to me da, Danny, Brendy C, Matt, Macca, the Kealeys amongst others for their efforts in getting there. I know the turnaround/cost deterred a lot of people who had been in Riga. Having missed that one, there was no way I was missing this one.

We landed early Wednesday morning and the charter crowd had been well settled since Tuesday evening. The Radisson was on Parliament square and the hotel bar became base camp for the time there. We'd been in Sofia six weeks earlier for the Ireland game and therefore there wasn't much left on the cultural trail, so I spent most of my time in the environs of the hotel. The weather was superb for all our time there, and the terrace of the bar was constantly populated by the Derry support. There wasn't much mayhem, as it was an older crowd but there was a great vibe and great craic for the duration of the time there.

Me da had to head to the official reception on the Wednesday night and was suited and booted for the night. He got back decent gifts which is always a bonus from these things. Meanwhile, whilst he was away meeting the great and good we ended up having an impromptu with the head of the CSKA support. You know that someone with the nickname “Il Duce” must carry a bit of clout and this guy was no exception. Mentalist. His mates at the table weren't far behind and they were telling us that they plan to travel to Derry overland by bus. Good luck lads, wouldn't wish that trip on anyone. They were serious, with the tatoos to prove it. However I think we worked out the “Last of the Summer Wine SC” weren't looking for a rumble and we had a good nights craic with them.

The bar in the hotel closed about 12 and you were encouraged into resident's lounge, which was about 300% more expensive. However everyone still decamped there en masse on the Wednesday night, bar a few lads who decided to head to a strip club. Wallets significantly lighter, they beat a hasty retreat. The arrival of the Kealeys, bolstered by the entry of Matt and Macca about 12.30 kept the spirits high and we stayed on in the lounge until 4am.

Which is all great and good, until you remember that the person that are sharing a room with went to bed at midnight and is up to go for a walk at 7am. I'm not a morning person at the best of times and two nights in a row with 4 hours sleep was taking its tool. I managed to get up for 9am and down for breakfast. The biggest surprise there was the appearance of Jack “Dracula” McCauley and his consumption of 4 boiled eggs, a slice of melon and coffee. Obviously the secret of his phenomenal stamina.

Me da and I tried to visit the sports museum in the stadia on the morning of the game, but after a lot of “Niet” and a bit of shouty shouty we established that it was closed until 2 o'clock. Me da headed off to the Ethnography museum, whislt I opted to try and catch up on some of the sleep I had missed out in the last few days instead. Suitably refreshed, it was back to the terrace bar to shoot the breeze for another couple of hours. I was now starting to get nervous, as the game drew every closer. An appearance on Radio Foyle with Eric White helped to pass the time and as the day got warmer, the confidence began to grow. The eternally optimistic nature of the football fan kicked in and talk of away goals and score draws began to creep into people's match predictions. We knew nothing of the CSKA setup, but why would that stop us.

Those on the charter were leaving straight after the game so there were getting checked out of the hotel etc, while the rest of us were able to just kick back and enjoy the rays. At this stage I started to get really nervous. I just wanted the game to start, or even just for it to be over. Bizarre that you have travelled so far and spent a small fortune and next thing you just want the match to be over. The players left for the stadium about six or so, as we cheered them off. This was really the first outbreak of noise on the trip and the adrenalin was flowing.

WE were bussed to the stadium at 7, and after a farcical ticketing issue we were finally in the stadium whilst the players were still warming up. We were at the opposition end from where we were for the Ireland game and it really emphasised how few had made the trip. We were in a section which could held 4,000 and there were about forty of us. However lack of numbers never got Derry men down and we launched into the Brandywell songbook. Next up was the European Conga round our section of the ground. It was at this point we realise that the folks at home must have discovered an internet stream, as the text message began to poor in. The general sentiment of them was summed up in the one which read “McDaid, state of your dancing. Shape of ye.”. The home crowd began to make their way into the ground and the place began to bounce. The ultras in the southern stand began to make some serious noise. We merely waited for a lull and then launched into the chants of our own.

Game on. The first ten minutes seemed to take an eternity and I could already feel that my heart rate would be fairly high for the duration. The European Conga pre match didn't help mind. After the first ten the team settled and bar one chance, City mostly kept CSKA to long shouts. Indeed we had a few half chances of our own with Stewart and another header wide. The texts from home seemed to indicate that the general thoughts that we were doing alright. Talk turned to ensures we remained hydrated and the risk of fatigue in the second half. This was the support we were talking about, not the players.

The second half followed the same pattern. We were very ropey in the first ten and then settled and seemed to be frustrating them. However the diving continued unabated and you got see it was starting to really frustrated some of Derry players, Deery in particular. CSKA threw on a few subs and half way through the second half we were still level. And then, just when you dared to believe, they scored. Derry had just made a sub and I think were unsettled by it. The ball broke to Lenokov at the edge of the box and to be fair, he caught it absolutely superbly. Doherty, a hero for the 90 minutes, didn't have a chance with it.

Derry still a chance of their own, with a goal mouth scramble and also Farren skying it from 18 yards when he really should have hit the target. At this stage the talk was of keeping it to 1-0 and despite a few late scares it finished up 1-0. The throats, destroyed at this stage, were roused into one final effort to salute the efforts of the players. We trooped back on to the bus and back to the hotel. All the supporters had to come back, as a few of the journalists had to file stories via the hotel internet.

The supporters departed for the charter flight home, while the Independent Brigade once more took up residence in the hotel bar for one last hurrah. We celebrated the performance, the celebrated the Pats results, we celebrate European football in general. Whilst a few of the older head sloped off to bed, the rest of us continued down into the City centre. Refused entry into a karoake bar, despite Matt's best efforts at bribery, we found and open air bar and stayed there until 3 or so. My flight was at 9am this morning, so I called it a night at that stage and headed back to the hotel.

Roll on Thursday, where we have history at our fingertips. We need a massive performance on and off the pitch and we need to blitz the town into Europa League fever just like the summer of 2006.

Go West! No, East this time.....

2009-07-28T03:44:00.000-07:00

People at work think I’m mental. Well, that’s a given, but specifically in relation to shelling out the cash to head to Bulgaria for three days to watch Derry City. To be honest, I could spend the time and effort to try and explain it to them but they still wouldn’t get it, so I just grin and nod when people ask me if I am really going.
Finish work today and dive for the airport to get to London. Tomorrow the adventure really starts. Don the colours and hit the airport. There will be no army heading tomorrow, just a crack team of troops. For others, the turnaround time and the finances didn’t allow another trip so soon after Riga. For those of us who couldn’t make Riga, or those with plenty of spare cash it is the second trip in three weeks. The airport tomorrow will see people staring at the crest, trying to work out the team or wondering why there are people bedecked in red and white gear at 5.30am. The odd brave soul might ask who your support, other may know the badge and know your destination.
Don’t underestimate the task we face. People may not have heard of CSKA in the same way that they heard of PSG but they have a coefficient which is about 5 times that of Derry’s current one. People were raving about the result that Bohs got away to Red Bull Salzburg, but CSKA have a coefficient more than double that of RBS. They have serious European pedigree and we are really going to up against it for this one. The CSKA fans who have invaded the Derry message boards on mass since the fixture predict a crowd of 10,000 plus for this one. The stadium may hold 40,000 odd but the way these lads support, there will be serious noise. The City support on the other hand may number about 100.
The horrific injury list is another major problems as options are going to be seriously light on the ground. I can’t remember another season when we had two players sustain broken legs. We are down to bare bones and it will be a case of the last man standing for Stephen Kenny. Given the success of the system you’d have to think a 4-5-1 system will be employed. I’d guess that McManus may start up front with Farren replacing him as the Scot tires. The engine room will be critical and we need to man up here. Tracking men, making tackles, putting in the hard yards will all be required and we need a heroic effort to give ourselves a fighting chance. In the heat this will be difficult, we were there for the Ireland game and it was still fairly hot after 8pm.
The fans travel in hope, as if you don’t travel in hope then what’s the point? You must believe. We’ll hopefully win more friends round Europe and carry the reputation of the Red and White Army into South Eastern Europe. We were inches away from a famous goal here over a decade ago. If that chance had been converted we would have been through to the next round. There is no Anthony Tohill in the squad this time round but we will need a team of giants, metaphorically and physically. There is no room for shrinking violets on this one, the spirit of Gothenburg and Fir Park is needed for this one. Play like we have done in some of the domestic games this year and we’ll be on the end of a cricket score.
The team left today and the fans will be making their way to Sofia over the course of the next few days. I was packing the bag last night and the spring was in the step. This time last week I was telling all and sundry that I wasn’t going. No way, wasn’t spending this amount of money to go back to Sofia. And then, like Skonto Riga’s defence, my resistance crumbled and five minutes after the final whistle in the Brandywell I was booked. This is history, this is what it is all about. What if I hadn’t gone and we get a result? That would have been very hard to take, given you’d follow them anywhere else.
Donning the colours and hitting the road. The heart swells with pride. This is what it is about. Our team, our city, our people. People going “Oh aye, you beat Skonto Riga” and then it heads into a discussion of the merits of Derry City. The look on the taxi drivers wherever it is you are going to, when they realize you are here for the football. The buzz. That’s what it is, you can’t explain it. Different people get their kicks different ways, this is mine. Belting out “Teenage Kicks” or “The Town I Love So Well” as people look on bemused. The belonging, this is our tribe and while we mightn’t be perfect, you wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Sack it. When I enter the ground all talk of coefficients and reputations will go out the window. One only has to look at events on Leeside to see just how fragile clubs can be. It is about shared stories, shared passion, shared memories. That is all a football club, it is only as strong as the people that make it. This is merely eleven players against eleven. Us against them. It is all about the pride and the passion, the ninety minutes. 11 heroes from the edge of Europe against a side that could buy and sell us with loose change. Roaring yourself hoarse as this is your team. You’re not a customers, you’re not a demographic here. You’re Derry City and that team on the pitch is you. I once saw a great banner at a game which read “You live our dream, now play as in our dreams” and every time I think about it I think it brilliantly encapsulated what support is.
So passport in hand once more we hit the trail for European glory. Hit them Derry!

Hit them Derry......

2009-07-22T16:58:00.000-07:00

Another European night in the Brandywell and another night to make history. Derry City have been in existence for more than eighty years. We have been participating in European competitions for forty five years. In that time we have been entered 12 times, we have progressed three times. Three times in 45 years. Tomorrow we have the chance to make that four times. That's history, that's something that you can stand over and say “I was there”. There are Derry fans that have followed the team for years and never had the chance to see their team play in Europe, never mind have the chance to progress.

It isn't going to be easy. We have the away goal but that means nothing. Skonto score, we're back to square one. William James once said “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” That is the mindset we must adopt as supporters tomorrow night. I'm not going to peddle some hocus pocus about a 12th man having some magical effect. At the end of the day, it will be the players on the pitch that make the difference but what can we do to help them. Is sitting meekly in your seat, or abusing Sammy Morrow or whoever the fates have chosen is going to get the abuse going to help? What the team needs is that explosion of sound which they hear as they exit the dressing rooms and walk towards the pitch. They need the wall of noise which makes the hair and the back of their neck stand up when they cross the dog track. That Brandywell roar that never ceases, never falters just drones on and on, louder and louder for the whole ninety minutes.

We've haven't had it for a while. We had it for a brief time in the Bohs game but mostly it has been lacking. Well if we ever needed it, we need it now. Sack the team, we all need it. That's what its all about, that feeling of coming away from the game with your throat killing you and your head pounding because you just kept singing. The atmosphere so intense that you forget all about everything else. You aren't checking your phone every five minutes because you are bored, you aren't looking round you. Your hands are sore because you have been clapping for so long and it sounds like you are singing “Reudenheightnarmy” as you have been chanting it for so long. So follow the advice of William James and act as if what you do does indeed make the difference.

12 times since the mid sixties we have been in Europe. The game is early so there is probably only time for a quick one(if even) before the game. Make sure you have your jersey, your scarf, your flags, whatever it is you take. Round up a posse tomorrow and get them to go. This is history, everyone wants to be part of history. Get in early. This is not one for filing in late and taking your seat. We could be out of the competition this time tomorrow night, lets get in early and really get the place buzzing. If you are given a flag wave it. Wave your scarf round your head. Roar your head off, what you can do for the atmosphere, do it.

Right, you're sick of the petty actions of councillors. You're sick that we are still playing in a shitty stadium. Your pissed off that our League title challenge may have come off the rails. You're tired of the stick that “proud Derry men” give you for supporting your team, whilst these patriots look east for their fix of soap opera. You're fed up with news of job cuts and doom and gloom. Forget it all, this is a chance to show that one aspect of Derry City fears no one. No one in this island, no one in Europe. So let's show it. Let's give a massive message on and off the pitch that we'll never be broken and this little corner of Europe fears no one.

We are Derry City. Everything else in your life may change but you'll always be City. You may waver at times, you may wonder you do it at times, but you're always City. You might be driving back from Cork/Waterford/Dublin after a defeat and moaning, but you're always City. You always look at the fixtures to see how you can fit it round holidays. You'll text home or seek an internet cafe for the results. People ask you who you support, you say Derry. You don't have to think about it, there is only one answer. People ask you who you really support and you think “What does this clown mean” and just go, Derry. Tomorrow night is a chance to enjoy yourself, throw off the shackles of any of the rest of your problems and just go mad. Let the Premiershite brigade wet themselves over another weekend of televised bollix. Brandywell, 7pm, that's what it is all about.

You'll spend tomorrow checking here, checking the news, chatting about the game. As the time ticks on you start to get the butterfiles, the nerves. People will be asking you to do stuff, but you'll be worry about what the midfield will be. Who will start up front, will this be the day that Morrow gets back to form? Then it will be time to go.

Grab your gear, jump in the car. Head for the Brandy and see the lights. You're nearly there and a bit of nervous laughter to calm you down. Lock the car and start the walk. See the faces, hear the noise. Vincent shouting about programmes, half time draw tickets on sale. Enter the ground, take a deep breath. See the friendly faces and the people you know to nod to. Take you seat(or not). Have a chat with those around you. Feel the buzz again, the nerves start to build. Thumb the programme, not really concentrating. The place packs up, the tension is really starting to build now. The drum begins to sound out from Block J and the chants start up. This is it. This is what it is all about.

There will be times when we'll worry. The ultimate test of a man comes not from where he stand in times of comfort, but in times of challenge and controversy. Those are the words of Martin Luther King. Tomorrow night is about raising a massive flag to the rest of the world. We're here, we exist and we will face any challenge. Ask people anywhere over the world about Derry and you'll get references to Bloody Sunday, the Troubles, pick whatever you want. Say the world Brandywell to people and to most it will draw a blank. To those that do know it, it means football. It means Derry City and the famous red and white stripes. It means trebles, it means PSG and Gothenburg, it means atmosphere and passion. Tomorrow night, and every other European night is about making more and more people home and abroad aware of what Derry City and Brandywell means.

Who are we? We're Derry City

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9ImCgiTV6I&feature=related

We love you, we love you.......

Back to Bulgaria

2009-07-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

So City have a trip to CSKA Sofia to look forward to, if they can get past the Lativans that this. Hardly the cash cow that the club would have been looking for, and on a personal level not a great trip either.

Sofia is grand, but I was there in June for the Ireland game for four days. We saw everything there was to see at that stage and therefore it would be a fairly quiet trip if we go this time.

A lot of the usual suspects have already opted out of the next round for various reasons so I'll have to see who is going before I make my own decision of whether to head or not. Flights are from £200 upwards from London so they aren't horrendous, but enough to make you stop and think.

Still, could be worse, Pats are heading to Russian if they make it through.

City do the job

2009-07-17T02:32:00.000-07:00

RTE Match Report

The tie is far from over, but the away goal is a massive help.

All who travelled seemed to have a good time.

In other news

2009-07-15T14:17:00.000-07:00

http://www.derryjournal.com/derry-sport/Skonto-defeat-would-signal-disaster.5456330.jp

Derry City in financial difficulties. In other news, scientists believe that the sun will rise and set tomorrow.

In all seriousness, I'd probably break the blog with my rants about our financial stupidity. Anyone who have seen me in the last few years will know my views, I not waste your time and mine with it.

Derry City 0 Drogheda United 1

2009-07-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

Another blog, another defeat. However I believe that the non performance of the team has more to do with the defeat than my nonsensical rantings in cyberspace. Thus I’ll persist with it, if even for my own sanity.

Originally I wasn’t even going to bother coming up the road for the game. After the shocking performance in Dundalk the plan was to stay in Dublin and head to watch the cricket and GAA over the weekend. However I got the news that I had passed my exams on Friday morning and was given the nod that I could head on early. Therefore I made a last minute decision to head north and take in the game.

It was all going so well, sun shining and empty roads as I whizzed towards the Brandywell. In fact, it was going perfectly until I hit total gridlock at Magheramason. I’d had my iPod on in the car and hadn’t heard any news, so I was blissfully unaware of the bomb scare which had brought the City to a halt. I should have paid attention to this and just not bothered with the match. However that would be much to rational a decision for me, so I used every bad road and shortcut I knew to get to the Brandywell. The game had been delayed so I only missed the first fifteen minutes or so. OK, so we were back on track.

I grabbed a programme and heard about the manager’s dissatisfaction with a piece in the programme. It wasn’t mine, and to be honest I think that SK got it completely wrong. The piece mentioned lack of commitment but it was a balanced argument and far from a rant. I left the lads and head for commentary duties.

Scrambled my way up into the Old Stand where Greengo and Kev conveyed the news that the internet wasn’t working, so there wouldn’t be an iCandy. So it was just a case of watching the match. Derry weren’t bad in the first half, we created a few chances but the same problems which have been self evident for the last few weeks continue to remain. The unbeaten spell prior to the summer break seem to have papered over the cracks but with two defeats on the spin, the issues can no longer be ignored.

City couldn’t break the deadlock and it was level at the break. I was down to hand out scarves to people who paid me, so I was floating around the shop area at half time. I got a chance to have a look at the new kit up close and to be honest I am not a fan. I can understand the thinking and I appreciate rewarding the people who put their names in the sponsorship draw. However on an aesthetic basis, it can hardly be described as a cult classic.

The second half continued in the same vein, though the away side continued to grow in confidence. As City failed to beat the Drogs down the away side began to look more and more dangerous and seemed to have more creativity going forward than us. Greengo reckoned that the Drogs might nick one, and I said the same to JOT when he phoned me with about fifteen minutes to go. The introduction of Molloy seemed to give us a bit of bite in the middle, but we appear to be very one dimensional going forward. These shortcomings are multiplied when Farren, Morrow and Stewart seem to have lost their scoring touch. Morrow in particular appears to be having a horrible season.

I was down finalising the Man of Match award and missed the Drogs goal. We were trialling the Man of the Match thing for the first time and therefore I had to sort it, which meant I was in the club office when the goal was scored.

I went back up and sat with me da and JMC for the last few minutes but haven’t failed to break down the visitors for 85 minutes, the remainder was little different. I met the Drogs support after the game and it was heartening to see how many youngster their was, so passionate about their team. They outsang the home support for long periods of the game and it reminded me of following Derry through the “wilderness” years. The results mightn’t have been great but the craic was, and the away trip were a blast. Our support has really fallen away in recent times and it has lost “the buzz”.

I headed to the Oak afterward and met up with Chalks, Matt and McCole. It turned into a bit of a venting session and it once again realised how many things annoy me about DCFC at the minute. I have real problems with the deferred income schemes of selling season tickets now amongst other things and I “went off on one” as we’d say in Derry. People are completely busting their balls to raise money yet the players haven’t taken a pay cut. Crowds have fallen off, advertising has collapsed and yet instead of cutting our outgoing we are just asking fans to pay for this early.
I’ll not bore you with the details now but suffice to say it went on for several hours.

I’ll not be in Riga but I fear that on the basis of the last two weeks the tie could be dead and buried before we even get back to the Brandywell. I hope not, but we could get canned by a team that actually play football. I wish all the lads that are going a great trip, and hopefully a great result, and I wish I was amongst them.

Drumaville/West Brit Ltd: Any Clubs for sale?

2009-07-13T05:57:00.000-07:00

Vainly, I had hoped that the current recession might have brought an end to the shamelessly bandwagon jumping and event junkieism which characterises many an Irish football fan. The initial signs were good, with a fall off in the number of leprechauns in Bari and Sofia. However the front page of yesterday’s Tribune showed that the species is alive and well.

“Pub owner Chawke in bid to buy Newcastle United” screamed the Page 1 headline. The article went onto quoted Chawke, who confirmed his interest in purchasing the club from Mike Ashley. The ball park figure to gain control at St James’ Park is reckoned to be £100m sterling, with Ashley prepared to take a massive hit to get out of the club.

Chawke was part of the Drumaville consortium that purchased Sunderland a few years ago, before selling out their remaining sake to Ellis Short at the end of last season. There were a few choice quotes from the piece, none better than
"This is a better and bigger club. Bigger support, bigger team. It has no debts. It's a great city as well."

This is nothing more than shameless opportunism by the consortium involved. Buying one club shortly after selling ones is bad enough, but buying their biggest rivals. It shows that Chawke and his mates have no interest in the soul of football but want to suckle at the teet of the celebrity circuit once more.

However English football is so in thrall to the money required to keep the circus show on the road that they can’t turn down any serious offers. Whether it is former politicians from the Far East with questionable human rights records or mysterious Russian oligarchs then the door is opened and they are welcomed in.

Louis Fitzgerald is one of the other moguls quoted in the piece, saying
“To have a stake in a well-known club like this would be fantastic. They were in Dublin playing Shamrock Rovers this weekend but if it all works out, we could be in Newcastle in the near future watching them at St James' Park."

The concept of irony is obviously lost of Fitzgerald, as he mentions one of Ireland’s best known clubs and then in the same breath speaks with giddy excitement about investing in a foreign club instead. The consortium seem to be drawn to the bright lights of the Toon Army, in the same way that the club’s emblem, the Magpie, is draw to shiny things.

£100m. A staggering figure at any time, particularly for a loss making leader in a time of deep recession. What is it about business people losing all their business acumen when they get into a football boardroom. Somehow people who have made millions in their jobs take a deep sniff of nitrous oxide and go mad when put in charge of a football club.

Newcastle are now in the second tier on English football and the reality is that it is going to take a multimillion pound investment to get them back to challenge the elite in the game. Yet Chawke and his merry brand of paddywhackery think they are men to do it.

Now think what an investment of £100m in the Irish game might do. In fact scrap it, think what an investment of £10m would do for a domestic team. An investment of that size would virtually guarantee domestic silverware and would provide the side with a real chance of a major European breakthrough into the group stages.

No, instead these proud Irishmen will once again pump their cash into a foreign side, play the green card to attract the “Oirish support”, enjoy the company of their £100,000 a week players and watch defeats to Peterborough. Meanwhile the domestic game struggles for scraps.

I hope John Delaney is drawing up a black list for people to those who should be refused entry to Lansdowne Road following redevelopment. Chawke and his acolytes should be top of the list and I sincerely hope their fortunes are scuttled by the Fog on the Tyne.

Bad night for the coefficient

2009-07-09T17:08:00.001-07:00

Bad night for the coefficient with Sligo, as the seeded team, crashing out against their Albanian opponents. In this world of modern technology we were able to watch the Albanian TV broadcast of the game via the internet, even though we hadn't be able to watch the "home" leg.

Sligo had plenty of possession and more than enough chances but the 1-1 draw wasn't enough. The damage was defiantely done in the home leg and despite throwing the kitchen sink at it the Bit'O'Red crashed out on aggregate.

Up North, Linfield and Distrillery continued the proud tradition of the Irish League with a cumulative 18-1 defeat between them. I usually want local sides to do well, but the continued arrogance of the team from "An Pairc Whinger"(see what I did there) means that sympathy is in short supply for them.

Next week Derry, Pats, Bohs, the Glens and the Crues are all in action and we'll be hoping for an upturn in fortunes.

Memories of "lo Scudetto"

2009-07-09T07:30:00.001-07:00

Great article about the Samp side that won the title(and my support) in the 90/91 season.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/jun/25/sampdoria-1991-rob-smyth.

FAI Accounts....what's the story?

2009-07-09T04:22:00.000-07:00

The FAI AGM was held over the weekend and Monaghan and passed over with little or no incident.

There was some comment relating to the €16m deficit in the accounts with an one off payment of €10m in relation to the construction of Lansdowne Road.I found the comments of Jack O’Neill from Bray Wanderers interesting. He was critical of the fact that the association’s decision not to release the accounts to members until the Saturday morning. I assume that the decision was based on minimising leaks to the media. However his comments that the association needs to “grow up” seems to be on the money.

If the association are so confident in their figures then they can stand over these in front of public scrutiny. The current approach smacks of minnowism and of an association that has something to hide.

http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/fai-cagey-on-debt-at-agm-1807833.html

Tips for the weekend

2009-07-07T14:51:00.000-07:00

Timidly entering into the betting tips arena.

For the weekend ahead a draw in the Dundalk v Bohs game looks good value at 9/4. It was available at 12/5 earlier in the day and you still might get that on the exchanges.

Rovers, who are looking impressive, are also worth a look at 19/20 away to Bray. The Seagulls have started to fall away badly and you sense the momentum is with the Hoops.

Is the blog a hex?

2009-07-05T07:03:00.000-07:00

My blogging had been periodic before the mid season break and it seems that when I didn't blog, we won. However the moment I made comment on the games here, City would fall to defeat. The rational side of my brain told me to wise up, and the idea was to blog solidly for the second half of the season. However after the reverse in Dundalk on Friday I'm thinking of bowing to superstition and just letting the tumblweed blow through here on Friday night.

There's been a lot of negative reaction to the defeat in Dundalk and rightly so in my view. I've been at every away game in the League this season and it was certainly the worst I have seen this season. We played significantly better away to Cork and Rovers, when we were down to ten men!

It was very similiar to the game in the Brandywell, with Dundalk playing a physical pressing game. Derry didn't seem to have any answer and it seemed much more likely that the home side would get a second than Derry getting back into the game. Derry just never seemed to get to grips with the opposition or with the much talked about surface.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/kevinmcdaid/DundalkVDerry#5354981590092531650

In my view the game didn't tell us anything we didn't know, ie that a Martyn/Higgins midfield axis will not win us the League. That area was completed bossed by Turner and Collins and without the platform, we neverly reaclly looked like scoring. Indeed Gerard Doherty made a number of really good saves.

So long Setanta Cup?

2009-06-23T01:59:00.001-07:00

League of Ireland followers had watched the travails of Setanta with some ambivalence in recent weeks. The pervading view was that Setanta Ireland was a separate (and profit making) entity and therefore would survive the struggles of the parent company.

However developments in the last twenty four hours suggest that this confidence may have been misplaced. The postponement of the draw for the 2009 Setanta Sports Cup was the first sign that all was not well.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0623/1224249338961.html

I’m a fan of Setanta, which has provided another outlet for LOI on television. Sure, it gives Felix Healy and out and we need more moustaches like that on TV. Aside from that, the coverage of non League football in England, the IPL, the golf and many other sports is something you don’t get on Sky.

2009-06-23T01:48:00.000-07:00

Once again the lads at the GCTni have done it again with another cracking retro shirt.

We had attempted to use their last supplier but they were not prepared to go ahead without the blessing of DCFC. I forwarded all the details to the club but they opted not to do anything with it.

However the GCT have used a new supplier and I reckon we might follow them in and use a few more designs to produce a range of merchandise for the ST, with the profits for the club.

The Eastern Front

2009-06-23T01:46:00.001-07:00

So it’s Skonto Riga. After all the waiting and the research, UEFA threw a curveball with the subdivision into pots and the mixing of lower second rounded seeds and higher first round rounds. Skonto were originally seeded in the second round but due to the ramifications of the first round draw they ended up on the unseeded side of the draw.

I think it is a great trip for the fans, but a difficult one from a footballing point of view. Skonto have been one of the powerhouses of Lativan football since independence and although the crown has slipped recently, they are still a force to be reckoned with. Certainly there are many easier sides which we could have got in the draw.

Unfortunately the tie falls in the only two weeks of the year that I can’t take off work. In every year in the recent past these two weeks would have fallen in October but due to how quiet we are they have shifted it to July. I knew this from a few months back, and despite a tentative approach yesterday the answer was still no. I’ll struggle to get to the home game, and the away leg is definitely out.

Still, spent the afternoon researching options for the like of me da who is definitely going. I think people were caught by how expensive flights were. However with less than a month to the game and heading to a destination which is increasingly popular with tourists, it was never going to be a bargain basement price.

What about that....

2009-05-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

On Friday night at half time we were eight points behind the leaders and slipping out of the title race. Come the final whistle we were back to two points behind and the title race was wide open again.

I'd stopped blogging for a while as I was convinced it was harming the home form. That's the type of crazy thoughts that get a man when his team throws away six points at home. Anyway after six points and six goals in the last two games Derry appear to be bang back in form and not before time.

The second half on Friday night was a joy to behold. Tom the Gom told me at half time on Friday we hadn't a chance(as he attempted to offload a cup of milky tea on Richie Q) and I had to agree. However within minutes of the restart not only were we back on terms but we were actually leading the game.

iCandy was a joy to commentate on, and although we missed the goal(again!) it was some craic! Felix and Micky O'Donnell have taken up residence beside us in the press box and the banter is good. Myself and Greengo have good craic describing the action and if Derry win all the better. Kudos to the Bohs fans for their "Free Colin Duffy" flag. That will take some beating in terms of bizarre flags this season.

The Brandywell was rocking on Friday night, reminiscent of the famous 3-2 victory in the semi final cup replay of the mid nineties. I think people understood the pivotal nature of the game and as it turned in favour of us, the volume just went up and up. Tom meet me again and told me that he always said we'd turn them over........

Next stop Cork. The flying column amongst us have taken advantage of the Ryanair flights and we are heading down Friday afternoon and back up on Saturday morning. Tough life, this League of Ireland lark.

Two out of three ain't bad.......

2009-04-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

There is little to take away from the disappointment of losing a game in the matter of Friday night’s defeat. Take nothing away from Sligo, they created a number of decent chances on the night and are right to savour their first victory at the Brandywell in a decade.
City were up and down on the night, although the attacking threat seemed to wane when Sligo doubled up on Sammy Morrow. It also appeared as if City lost some of their threat when Farren came on to push up to form the 4-3-3 as moving Tommy Stewart out to the wing seemed to dissipate some of the threat. Myself and Colin both commented on the fact on Friday’s iCandy and it was only the introduction of McLean, late in the game, which seemed to restore the impetus down the flanks for City.
Mr Hancock proved himself another talking point, with three penalty shouts all turned down on the night. Given the same ref was responsible for the “penalty that never was” at Tallaght a few weeks before, he won’t be forgotten by City fans in a hurry.
Sligo impressed me, as much for their workrate as anything else. Where St Pats were slow and ponderous, Sligo were snapping all round the park at City players, preventing the home side from establishing any rhythm for most of the game. Whilst City might have bossed the ball, Sligo work hard to ensure that they weren’t completely overwhelmed.
Once again questions will be asked about City’s ability to mount a title challenge if we are unable to win home games. Last year was the case in point when City were superb on the road, whilst stuttering at the Brandywell. Several reasons have been proposed for this difference in form
Attitude of the opposition: Very few teams come to the Brandywell looking to win the game, and set themselves up to take a point from the game. This leads to massed banks of defenders in their own half. City are unable to truly use the late breaking runs of Ciaran Martyn, as there is little or no room for the midfielder to gallop forward. It requires a difference set up, a different mindset and it also requires patience from the crowd.
Atmosphere at the game: In my view, the atmosphere in the Brandywell has fallen away in recent years in correlation with the increased expectation. When SK arrived for his first spell, people were used to the drudgery of the Dykes and Keely era when creating chances, never mind scoring, was a cause for celebrating. It was a bit like when Northern Ireland went for the huge spell of being unable to score. The atmosphere at Windsor got more festive with every game, as people went for a party and convinced that this would be the game that they saw the goal. It was a bit like this at the Brandywell, as we had been struggling for several years. We nearly went down in 2003 and 2004 and people used to sing for the 90 minutes home or away, whatever the score. I can remember getting tanked 4-0 away to Dundalk and the City fans singing for the entire game, and it seemed to get louder everytime we conceded a goal.
That is not to say that everything was rosy. Crowds were very poor and the standard of football was terrible. However when we started to win games under SK it was still on the hard core in attendance and people had something to celebrate. The title challenge was a blur in 2005, where we just kept winning games. From the victory in Drogheda on the first day, right through to a wonderful victory in Bray prior to the denouement in Cork on the final day. There were no expectation, people never expected us to challenge and yet we just kept winning. We began to really get a reputation for a vocal support.
Going back to Friday and it seemed as if there was an element in the Brandywell just waiting for Derry to fail. Every stray pass is picked upon and rubbished. The reality is that if we are going to play a team who is only interested in stopping us playing, then they will be hard to break down. This calls for a bit of vision, to try something a bit different that the opposition may not expect. The problem then is that there is a higher likelihood that this may go wrong. I honestly believe that there are a number of players who don’t enjoy playing at the Brandywell due to the reaction of the crowd. SK touched on it in relation to the treatment of Stephen Gray, but I don’t think it is limited to him. Players curve their creativity and also look for the simple ball in order to ensure that they are not harangued for the stands. The problem seems to be that they are also criticised for just playing this simple ball, so they lose out either way.
Those who travel have been lucky enough to see some decent performances, such as the win away to Rovers and the demolition of St Pats. There is no doubt that those who travel are less likely to turn on one of their own. Stephen Gray was the recipient of very obvious support at Inchicore from those that made the trip and the whole team responded to produce a magnificent performance. Meanwhile back in the Brandywell, the team were playing very well on Friday night. A chant of “Stand Up for the Candystripes” emanates from Block J and yet only a smattering of the rest of the stand can be bothered to stand. If City fans want the team to win the League then they must try and contribute in whatever way is possible. People may laugh off the effect of the support from the stands but it should not be completely dismissed. I was chatting to Richard Sadlier about it a few weeks ago and he said that as a player, with a supportive crowd behind you then you are more likely to run that extra yard, chase down the lost cause, make that tackle. The flip side is that if you haven’t got that then you will do your job, but you won’t put anything extra in.
The season is far from over and there is still time to change this. We can once again make the Brandywell the cauldron of noise we have had in the past. It won’t be easy, but if we want the League title back in the Brandywell then we must do everything possible to make that happened. That is at all facets of the club from the team on the pitch, to the rest of it off the pitch. From fundraising to match day atmosphere, these are the areas in which ordinary supporters can influence.
After the disappointment of Friday night, I was at Judges Road on Saturday to see the young City of Derry side keep their promotion hopes alive with a bonus point win over Monivea. The COD side is a very young one and despite the crowd being a fraction of that at the Brandywell, it was overwhelmingly positive towards the home side. They were playing were real pressure as they needed to score five tries to keep the promotion hopes alive and as they tried to force the game, mistakes happened. However those at the game didn’t berate the players, they just urge them to up the effort and try again. They roll on to play Cashel this weekend in what truly is a win or bust game in relation to promotion.
Sunday saw us in the car and on the way to Maghera for the final round of the GAA NFL, Derry v Donegal. The game was in Watty Graham’s ground and entrance was a tenner. I had no problem paying it, but given the amount of crying people do about the price of League of Ireland games, it was certainly expensive given the lack of facilities. However I didn’t hear one person complaining at the gates.
An experimental Derry side were comfortable enough victors over our near neighbours and with news filtering through of a Kerry win over Galway, Derry were heading for a repeat of the 2008 final. I am not sure Damien Cassidy was looking to qualify for the final, as he may have been happy enough to end the League on a winning note. However with Monaghan in great form in Division 2 and the sides due to meet in Celtic Park on the 24th of May, the more games the better in my view.

The first 15 come Championship time will be interesting, as one would assume that players like Niall McCusker, Paddy Bradley, Fergal Doherty and others will be restored to the starting line up. After the euphoria of the League win last year was tempered by the failure in the summer, fans will be hoping that this year isn’t shaping up for a carbon copy.

Roll on Bray. I’ll be commentating, so check out www.blogtalkradio.com/icandy from 7.30pm on Friday night.

Inchicore Calling

2009-04-07T01:09:00.000-07:00

I'll be in the hotseat from 7.30pm tonight for live commentary of the Pats game.

Pats is never the best for an internet connection, but we'll do our best.

www.blogtalkradio.com/icandy

For Club and Country

2009-04-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

It’s not been that long since the last update but plenty has happened. The first trip to Tallaght, international duty for a week, and then Galway last Friday. So where do we stand? City top the League, Ireland sit second in the group. However that hardly tells the story.

The trip to Tallaght was great for a number of reasons. I’d had the car broken into the night before in Inchicore and needed a lift(metaphorically and physically), and the game certainly provided it. The ground and the entire setup feels light years away from grounds such as United Park or Ballybofey. You’d love to bottle it and show people so that they could see what the League of Ireland is like.

You’ve probably read enough about the game at this stage but it truly was a smash and grab raid. First we give away a penalty, then down to ten men. Half time saw the talk turn to how we could hold on and that a point would be a good result. The second half saw the breakthrough for the home side and at that stage it should have been game over. Indeed Rovers had the chances to kill the game off. Whilst one can never discount a City side led by Stephen Kenny, even this looked beyond the realms of their possibilities.

Undoubtedly the introduction of Molloy and Morrow was instrumental. Molloy stopped the flow of the ball through the middle, and Morrow was able to hold the ball up when it went forward. Check out the MNS website www.rte.ie/mns website for all the highlights. The celebrations between supporters and players after the game were special and although I was in the press box, the emotion was obvious. To be the first team to take three points from Tallaght was a particular sweet fact to take from the game.

We were in Croker the following night and then onto Bari. A brief stop to watch the Boat Race in London on the Sunday, but that is another story for another blog. Whilst the Bulgaria game wasn’t anything to write home about, we had a great night before and afterwards. Kev Mullen, Mick McCourt, James O’Toole were out before and after the game. In between amusing anecdotes of taxi driving actors and ultrasounding your alloys we had a cracking night. We ended up in the Hill 16 pub in Gardiner St(scene of many a Dublin SC meeting) and between Rovers fans, singsongs and general craic it was a superb night. So good a night in fact that between the hour changing and me having to pack at 3.30am I managed to sleep in a nearly miss the flight to London.

Bari was a great trip, we ended up in the same hotel as the team(and the Italian Tupperware convention) which was good craic. Some people weren’t particularly enamoured with Bari, but I thought that the old city was a gem and the people were superb. I am lucky enough to “parlo un po d’italiano” and we had great nights with the locals. I’ve been to Italy a number of times and every time I go back I remember once again why I love the country. Great people, great food, great lifestyle. Sitting in the Old Square on the Thursday morning, reading the Gazzetta Dello Sport and drinking a “doppio” as it hit 25C, we remarked how tough a station it was.

Like City, Ireland pounced with a late goal and cue pandemonium in the stands. I remembered landing heavily on my back during part of the celebrations and was rewarded with the appropriate bruises the following day. We certainly deserved the point and indeed could have stolen it at the ended. The goal reminded me of the finish by Pizza in the 95 Cup final as it seemed to hit the net in slow motion. Matt and Richie Q randomly turned up in Bari and we ended up sitting beside them at the game. There was also a random meeting with Alan Kerins the Sligo fan in the middle of it all. Late goals have a particular quality about them and the fans stayed in the stadium for half an hour afterwards celebrating. It reminded me of being in Kashima stadium when Keane equalised against the Germans in 2002.

It was back to business on Friday and I had to be in work(they do make me come in the odd day) so there was no Brandywell for me. The consensus is that Derry were very good in the first half and should have had the game won. Without throwing in clichés about the need for a second goal, the inevitable happened and Galway nabbed an equaliser. Still, with Bohs losing at home to Cork it saw City take over sole possession of the top spot. I’d far rather be there in November than now, but for the moment the view isn’t bad.

There's nothing quite link late drama..........

2009-03-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

The last twenty four hours have reminded us all just how great a late winner is, as long as it goes for your side.

O'Gara late kick in Cardiff will grab the column inches for years to come, but City fans will remember last night's late dramatics for just as long. There was no Grand Slam on the line in the Brandywell, but the feeling when the winner went it will have been just the same.

I had another exam today, so I wasn't able to make it to the Brandywell last night. Therefore I headed to Dalyer from the "Dublin derby" between Rovers and Bohs. Due to the wonders of modern technology I was watching the game, listening to Niall and Greengo commentate on the Derry game as well as watching the West Indies v England in the ODI on my laptop. How's that for a setup.

It was on today that I realised I have seen Bohs every week this season so far, and I've only seen Derry once. From the sounds of the game last night it was very much a smash and grab raid but we'll take the three points, thank you very much. So people have pointed out that it is karma for Cork turning a two nil deficit into a 3-2 win, but I'd like to think it is revenge for the negative football that Paul Doolin has subjected opposition fans to for years.

The game at Dalymount was a great one for the neutral with the football in the first showcasing the best of the LOI. To be fair credit must go to both managers for allowing their teams to play. Michael O'Neill, the new Rovers manager, could have set his side up for a draw in his experience of a Dublin derby. However he didn't he went to win the game and although it didn't work out, I was impressed by the manner in which Rovers tried to play the game.

Bohs performance was a pleasing contrast to their opening clash against Dundalk and indeed against ourselves last night. Roddy Collins has been the loudest critic of the fact that Bohs do not entertain, much to annoyance of players and staff at Dalymount. I am more puzzled, as it seems surprisingly that with the amount of talent in the red and black that they don't cut loose more often. However Friday night was the epitome of Bohs at their best and without Barry Murphy on top form it could have been four or five.

Ndo was on form, and when he is interested there is no more exciting player in the League. However I am always a fan of the players in the engine room, the centre midfielders and I was very impressed with the Deegan/Keegan axis for the home side. Keegan was neat and tidy, setting up the passes and winning the ball. Deegan was a dynamo all round the pitch, hassling and pressing and eventually drawning the foul for the first goal.

It was my first time at a Bohs v Rovers game. Yes, the security was high. Yes, there were a few hoods about the place. Yes, I could understand if you were a parent that you would be reluctant to take kids along to the game. It is all about the perception and and the image, and unfortunately the image around this game in modern times is not good.

It is mighty shame, as the football on the night was very impressive. A perfect night, wonderful surface and both teams laid on a show for the spectators. Perhaps as I had no vested interest I was able to relax and enjoy the spectacle. From a helter skelter start the game settled down to an enthralling first half, as both sides really turned it on.

Bohs got the breakthrough with a penalty and led at the break. The second half didn't have the same drama as the first, as Bohs got the second goal and flame from Rovers died a little. I was following the lad's commentary from the Brandywell, and my random expletives when the Cork goal went it caused a few puzzled looks around me.

The game in Dalyer had an early start, so I was in the press box with the journos as the drama developed in the Brandywell. From a game in which we looking to be getting nothing we seemed to have salvaged a draw and then somehow ended up as victors. Ah late winners, ye cannae beat them!

Bohemians 1 Derry City 1

2009-03-14T15:05:00.000-07:00

The general agreement was that we would have taken a point before the game, and with the balance of play we were more than happy to leave with one.

Me da and JMC had come down for the game, so picked them up at the airport and we set sail for Dalymount. Round the ground was quiet so we got parked up, I gave the flags to the Waterside SC and headed in to get set up for the commentary.

With commentary duties so I was in the Jodi Stand, whilst the rest of the travelling support was relegated to the Connaught Street stand, the first visit there since the 2001 FAI Cup semi final. I was caught by Tom the Gom on the way in, who confidently predicted that the League was wide open, the Joey Ndo was finished and that Bray would qualify for Europe. This was amongst other topics in a wide ranging debate with myself and Kevin Moore. Well not really a debate, as Tom talked as KM and I nodded sagely.

Have escaped Tom's clutches I got myself set up in the commentary position whilst the Bohs staff delivered a goodie bag of programmes, teamsheets and snacks. No wonder they are going bust if they can afford such largesse for the humble hack. Despite the attraction of opening night in Tallaght the press area was fairly busy as people set about trying to locate power cords and wireless connectivity.

The teamsheet showed that Sammy Morrow had missed out, having not recovered from a knock during the week. This prompted a discussion as to whether City would line up 4-4-2 or 4-5-1. As the crowd slowly filtered in, the PA guys were telling me that the Bohs players were choosing the music this season. This in no way explaining the succession of shockingly bad 80s "hits" that we were subjected to.

However the main event soon arrived and we'd plenty of action in the first 15 minutes. City hit first, with the Tommy Stewart goal after 8 minutes. He let the ball come across the front of his body, then hit it low into the right corner, leaving Murphy sprawling on the turf. A great finish, with Gareth McGlynn the architect. We were ahead! Cue joyous scenes on the far side as the travelling support celebrated a goal, probably somewhat earlier than they may have expected.

Unfortunately it wasn't to last, with Bohs back on level terms within ten minutes. Having had a shout for a penalty moments earlier, Bohs got a free kick when Molloy tackled Brennan. The winger stepped up and curled it into the far corner, with Doherty caught flat footed. Indeed from where I was sitting, Doherty's lack of reaction indicated that the ball must have taken a deflection on the way in. However everyone behind the flight of the ball confirmed that it was straight and true. This brought the home support to life and indeed Bohs probably had the better of the game from there on in, although it was far from a classic.

In the age of multimedia, I was providing a commentary on our game, watching the Rovers game on rte.ie and also an eye on the latest scores. All at the same time as trying to battle with the Wifi dropping at Dalymount.

The game was littered with sloppy passing and late challenges, never developing a rhythm. Fenn and Ndo were at the best of what the home side offered, whereas City seemed to lack ideas going forward. Stewart dropped back into midfield, leaving Farren to plough the lonely furrow up front. Stewart was my man of the match on the night, working tirelessly up and down the pitch and always offering an option for City. Bohs continued to press in the first half and although they forced a number of corners, Gerard Doherty wasn't unduly troubled by any efforts on goal.

The half time was enlivened by the appearance of the NOTW girls, and a general discussion on Rovers and Tallaght. The only problem is that it is a seriously cramped area and a visit to the toilet was in order after drinking a litre of water during the first half. A less than elegant exit and re-entry and I was ready to go for the second half.

City were struggling in the middle of the park, with the industrious Keegan and Deegan causing problems. Kearney had a very disappointing debut and as I remarked on commentary reminded me of a 16 year old trying to play with the adults. He was too slow to the ball, knocked off it far too easily and always got drawn inside, leaving the Derry side very narrow. I am loathe to criticise players from my own team, but his performance was so poor as to be glaringly obvious.

The second half was a repeat of the first, littered by errors on both side. Twice Crowe managed to get away from Hutton but fail to capitalise. It was one of the games where you start to notice that Pizza is losing another bit of pace. Fortunately, so is Crowe and the danger was averted.

However the best chance of the second half fell to Farren, when he was sent clear by Higgins. The striker seemed to be caught in two minds as to whether to round the keeper or to shoot. He seemed to plump for the compromise, to shoot whilst trying to take it round Murphy. The keeper got a glove to the ball, pushing it out for the corner.

Both sides probed for the rest of the second half but clear cut chances were in short supply. The main highlights were the now predictable shambolic decisions by officials. Mr Stokes obviously felt that his role as centre of attention was under threat and he proceeded to book Ciaran Martyn for what was not only a fair challenge, but one in which he won the ball!

The game petered out into a 1-1 draw which the away side will probably be the happier with.

Back in the house just after 1am which was not bad.

Roll on Tallaght!

Consensus: Good Point

Good Points: Tommy Stewart, not getting beat, the "shorts display" by the QUBSUDCFCSC

Bad Points: Liam Kearney, midfield over-run at times

Crowd guestimate: 1700

iCandy, live from Dalymount

2009-03-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

After missing out last week due to exams, I'm back in the hotseat.

Live commentary from 7.30pm on Bohs v Derry, catch it on iCandy

See y'all there

Futsal, what's that all about?

2009-03-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

Having missed my fix of the Candystripes this week, I headed to the National Basketball Stadium to watch City in the semi finals of the Futsal tournament.

For anyone unfamiliar with the rules of Futsal, check it out

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futsa l

Derry had beaten Dundalk to make it through to the semi finals, where they were up against last year's winners, St Pats.

I'd been to watch Futsal before, at the 07 Pan American games, but this was the first time I had seen any of the Irish competition. I'd heard about the Pats team, which was made up of Brazilians last year, and wondered what they would be like this year.

The Basketball Arena is visible from the M50 but it isn't easy to find, and the game had already started by the time I landed in. There were about 50 spectators in the arena, with the vast majority of them Brazilians.

The Pats team appeared to be made up entire of Brazilians, though I did notice two Irish lads on the bench. The spectators appeared to be the friends and families of the players and I was certainly the only City fan in attendance.

Derry were 2-1 when I arrived and George McBridel, the coach, was the only one of the Derry personnel I recognised. A quick glance at the programme indicated that the squad was

Martin Healy
Lee Roddy
David Shovlin
Cillian Morrison
Darren Harkin
Seanan McColgan
Conor Heagherty
Martin Gallagher
Conor Browne
Carl O'Hagan
Darren Coyle
Adam Clarke
Keith Toland
Sean McNeill

There only seemed to be ten Derry players between those on the bench and on the field, so not all the City players appeared to have travelled.

Watching the game was a bizarre experience, surrounded by Brazilians going mental, all to a samba beat soundtrack which was supplied by a trio of drumers.

The first thing which struck me was a number of Pats players seemed significantly older that the City squad. I reckon the keeper and one of their players was in the mid/late twenties. City's squad on the other hand was all the young guns.

The game is all action, and delays in a restart can see the advantage overturned. City trailed 3-2 at the break but were more than a match for Pats. Whilst the Saints may have been flicks and tricks, City players should no little skill of their own. Derry were fast and direct, and whilst Pats may have had more of the ball the Candystripes were well in the game.

The second half was to prove a different story, with City having a man sent off for two yellow cards. Pats brought out a Wanger Love lookalike upfront in the second half. In jumping for a ball he led with his elbow and caught the Derry player with his elbow. Nothing was given, but the next time the same Pat's player got the ball he was emptied. Cue multiple rolling about on the surface. Personally I thought the Derry player had got the ball first, but it was certainly a physical challenge which resulted in a yellow card.

This also produced a bit of friction in the stands, with the Pats fans going mental and turning round to shout at me, as if I was somehow responsible. The game continue, with Pats pulling away to 5-3. Pats introduced another player, who I thought was playing in his socks. On closer inspection(when he fell over and I saw soles) he was wearing a pair of plimsoles which were reminiscient of the standard PE footwear of the 80s.

Wagner Love was launched from the bench again and within minutes was once again involved. The same players clashed once again and the Pats player collapsed in a heap, a second yellow card was produced was City were down to four men. Once again it seemed much ado about nothing, and in the empty arena the anger of the City players was clearly audible.

Pats immediately used the advantage to move 6-4 ahead. If you read the rules of Futsal, you are down to four men for two minutes, or until the other team scores. Having lost the goal City were back up to five, but the sending off have deprived City of one of their most impressive performers.

Pats had a full bench and used this effectively as the clock ticked down, whilst the young City team started to tire. However the incidents were not over yet. A ball was lofted forward and the City forward tried to toe it in, as the keeper tried to block him. It wasn't a 50/50 ball, it was a 70/30 ball for the Derry player. I didn't see any contact but the keeper went down in a heap and started rolling round and round. The referee was unmoved, much to the annoyance of the keeper. He got to his feet again, protesting loudly, walked back to get the ball and then crouched down complaining again.

The referee basically told him to get on with it, but the keeper was having none of this. In order to show his displeasure he launched the ball out of ball, much to the annoyance of his manager. I don't have much Portugese but there was definately one or two curses from the manager. In the middle of this, the manager was having to deal with an irate parent who obviously disagreed with a decision.

As the time ticked down, Pats brought on a reserve keeper, which meant that the pyscho keeper was now on the bench it seemed to ignite his erratic behaviour. He began running up and down behind the Pats bench, just roaring and shouting. The manager was pleading with him to sit down, the fourth official tired to intervene, but to no available.

City were awarded penalty after a clumsy challenge by the "Plimsole Kid" and lashed it home to make it 7-5 with two minutes left. They did have the chances to make it a grandstand finish and it was not to be as they bowed out in the semi final stage.

The final whistle was greeted somewhat overenthusiastically, with a mass pitch invasion by the Pats side, and a load of Brazil flags flying amongst the support. As City trooped off, it wasn't to be their day, but they can be very proud of their performance.

As I headed home I met the Cork side on the way in for the second semi final. Their coach for the day? Liam Murphy. Anyone that remembers Liam from his playing days wouldn't associate him with the skills required for futsal :)

Different sport, same attitude

2009-03-07T16:31:00.000-08:00

Keith Duggan's piece in the Irish Times today,

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0307/1224242447590.html

Whilst it is directed at GAA fans, could equally apply to LOI fans.

RDS, slipping down the list.

2009-03-07T16:23:00.001-08:00

When I was a kid I used to love the RDS. I can remember Rovers playing there in the early nineties and I for some reason I remember going to Chicago Pizza Pie Factory before a game there. The things you remember as a kid eh?

I was there for the classic Liam Coyle diving header, Pascal getting emptied in front of the stand and falling into it. Remember the urban legends about players having to get tetanus injections and the like. It always seemed strange to have the support in the Anglesea Road Stand, which was high up but yet right over the pitch. It was quite a contrast to the Brandywell, where the pitch seemed miles away when you were a kid.

Anyway, after last season's Cup final heartache I am less fond of the place and today didn't endear me any more to it. There is no doubt that the new stand on the far side has made it an impressive venue, but I would rather it was a kip and we had won the cup. I had three exams there today, in the same hall as I had my lunch before the Cup final. That was bad enough, but then the car wouldn't start after the exams were finished. Cue a call to the AA and not getting out of the RDS until well over two hours after the exams were finished. Not a good day all in all.

1 down, 3 points, 35 more to go.

2009-03-07T16:06:00.000-08:00

Derry 1 Drogheda 0

Off the mark and up and running. In a week where Galway are the early, and very unlikely pacesetters, City did what they had to do.

A win and a clean sheet is the requirement, though the football fan always demands more. I had exams on Saturday so there was no chance of a trip to the Brandywell for this one. The evening was spent clicking refresh, whilst watching the Dundalk v Bohs game on the TV. Revision was supposed to be the order of the day but after five minutes I just gave up and went back to following the games.

The City game didn't sound great, with Colin battling connection problems to try and get iCandy online. A call to me da at have time elicited nothing more than his voicemail. A few other contacts were also missing the opening game of the season due to a trip to England, so it McKeegan got the call to provide the half time summary.

His view was that we were all over them for the first twenty, then they had stopped us playing. I didn't detain him too long, as he was battling with the PA system to make himself heard. I was battling with the urge to through the radio at the wall, such was the infantile nature of the Newstalk sports show.

I didn't expect that we could match the sublime Friday Night Sportsnight, but I did expect some sort of coverage of the games. However we had Paul Parker slabbering about the FA Cup, a discussion of the ugliest pairing of Giles and Dunphy and then a repeat of the best bits of the show that week. It was enough to drive a man to drink, but I convinced myself otherwise.

It was back to the lads of the TV, who were desperately trying to find "highlights" from the first half of the Dundalk v Bohs game. They were sparse on the ground. More discussion centred around the pitch and the fact that Bohs hadn't really settled.

I thought the second half might prompt me to try and attempt a bit of study but once again, it was in vain. I was sitting staring at tax legislation whilst trying to remember previous games against Drogheda.If only the ICAI examined me on things like that. Anyways, it was back to the multimedia setup.

TV on showing Dundalk v Bohs, subtitles on
iCandy on the audio, Colin covering the Derry game
In the DCFC chatroom with the rest of the exiles
Other windows open,keeping up to date with the other games.

Ah technology, great.

Derry managed to close out the victory, whilst Bohs resorted to type and managed to win a game that looked set for a draw. The real story was that coming out of Inchicore as Galway tanked Pats at home.

Final whistle. Phone calls to McKeegs as to the second half performance. Nervy last twenty he said, we should have been out of sight by then. Stewart very good, Farren should have had a hatrick. Thank him for the call. Me da back in the house and phones me. Apologises for lack of availability, some issue with his mobile. His view, Stewart runs up blind alleys, and the full back should have realised Stewart would always cut inside from the left flank. However competent performance in his view, decent crowd.

Look at the watch,11pm. No point trying to do any study now. Lets just hope that narrative question of the description of the 2005 season comes up in the paper.

Shirts off for the City

2009-03-04T14:21:00.001-08:00

Tomorrow sees the launch of a "kitllection" for the Changaro Trust.

This is a project I've been involved in with the Supporters Trust in conjunction with Dermot Desmond, CPO and Eddie Kerr of seeds.ie.

Due to work I can't make it up tomorrow, but the Mayor will launch the scheme with representatives of the Supporters Trust as well as DCFC players and pupils from Oakgrove College.

The idea is to collect unwanted sports kit to help the Changaro Trust. To learn more about the Changaro Trust check out their page on Seeds. Following on from the inspirational example of the Glentoran Community Trust and their "Ghana Glens" project, we'd thought we tried to follow their lead.

I spoke to Dermot about it and after a quick meeting with Eddie, we were up and running. Kit can be donated at various venues around the City and it certainly is a worthy cause. Although we are in tough times, we all have piles of gear lying about that we never wear.I've been lucky enough to visit Africa on a few occasions and the conditions make the "credit crunch" seem like a holiday camp.

It is certainly worth donating any gear you have lying about the house and hopefully we will be able to kit out a load of Kenyan kids in the beloved Candystripes.

Countdown's on.

2009-03-03T15:05:00.000-08:00

A quick check of the countdown clock on the flashy new League of Ireland site, www.loi.ie, indicates 2 day, 20 hours and 27 minutes to the start of the new season.

Doesn't seem long since the heartbreak in the RDS and yet we're off again. Well, I'm not. Thanks to the geniuses in the ICAI I have exams this weekend so my first match will have to wait until City travel to Dalyer to play Bohs next week. Nightmare isn't in it.

Drogheda are a far cry from the side that many reckoned could retain their title. The bookies think the same, with City odds on for the win across the board. In fact there is very little to keen a punt in the opening fixtures, with possibly only Sligo or Drogheda to tempt those who fancy a flutter.

I could roll out all the old cliches about a good start etc being needed but we know what we need to do. We need to win more games and home and retain our 2008 away form. Do that and we'll certain be there or there abouts at the end of the season.

We be blogging home and away, about on and off the field matters for the course of the 2009 seaon. There will be up and downs, wins and losses, great trips and fiascos. All in all a standard League of Ireland season.

First up, enjoy Mr A's alternative prediction options from foot.ie

First Club to miss wage payments:
First Club to transfer list entire squad:
First club to enter examinership:
First Club (if any) to go under completely:
Likelihood of FAI having the balls to do anything meaningful about any of the above:

Number of clubs to gain asterisks this season:
Most bizarre reason for points deduction:
Number of times Bohs will sell Dalymount this year:
Number of times Bohs lose court cases:
In what month will Georgie leave Dundalk after a bust up:
Number of times Mental Mickey will receive red cards:
Number of players Roddy will mention that he signed or tried to sign previously:
Average time required to get a transfer fee owed by Derry City:
Month in which Sligo come up with their next scare story involving baby seals under threat of execution to raise funds:
Month in which Jeff Kenna jumps ship to move back to UK:
Number of different colours used for seats in the new stand in Tallaght:
Number of weeks before Hegarty loses it completely and batters the entire Harps squad, and how many times he uses the phrase 'to be perfectly honest' before that happens:
Number of EGMs Cobh will have this year: