Derry City hoping to give the 'old Brandywell' a 'proper send-off'

Derry City are hoping to give the Brandywell Stadium a proper send off with one final game at the old stadium in two weeks’ time.

It is understood the stadium will finally close to the public on November 24 ahead of a long-awaited redevelopment, which will bring the ground into the 21st century.

Derry City and Strabane District Council have identified a contractor to the multi-million pound redevelopment with work expected to start before the end of the month.

While questions remain over where the Candy Stripes will play next season, manager Kenny Shiels is determined to give the old ground one final farewell.

The City boss is hoping to arrange a game between the current players and some of the best players to have ever donned the shirt.

The game is dependent on permission from the Council but Shiels is hoping it can be given the go-ahead.

He explained: “It’s provisional at the minute because we are waiting to get permission from the contractor and the council to see if we can play it.

“Hopefully, it can happen because the ground means a lot to the club and the fans and it is the end of an era. It is to give something back to the supporters, those who have supported the club all through the years and who have special memories of special players who have played on that pitch.”

As it stands the last Derry City game played on the Brandywell pitch was the League of Ireland Premier Division game against Sligo Rovers on October 21, which the Candy Stripes won 2-1.

However, hopes are high that there will be one last game before the gates close.

“It is another chapter and we need to be conscious of the players who have played on that turf,” Shiels added.

“Those players might want to come back and pay homage to that. We want to say goodbye to the stadium and hopefully this game can happen because it would be a great event for the club and the fans.” It is hoped that if the match does go ahead the likes of Paul Doolin, Peter Hutton, Barry Molloy, Paul Curran, Stuart Gauld, Jack Keay, Felix Healy, Paul Carlyle, Liam Coyle, Tim Dalton and Gary Beckett will all be able to make an appearance.

Meanwhile, the Derry greyhound fraternity intend to stage a meeting at the stadium on 24 November, the closing date for the stadium.