New book relives 30 years of highs and lows at Derry City

A new book, chronicling Derry City’s 30 years in the League of Ireland, is set to be released later this week.

Written by Derry News sports editor Gary Ferry, ‘30 – The Journey So Far’ gives a season by season account of the many highs and many lows experienced by the club and its fans since it returned to senior football on Sunday, September 8, 1985.

From the fearsome partnership of Owen Da Gama and Alex Krstic, to the magical treble winning season of 1988/89, from the visit of Benfica to the Brandywell to the agony of Athlone in 1995, the book will help fans relieve the brightest and darkest moments in the club’s chequered history as a League of Ireland team.

Fans will get the chance to savour the Candy Stripes’ last title win in 1996/97, before the club’s off-field financial struggles almost put Derry City out of business.

Recall arguably the most dramatic night in the club’s history as Liam Coyle’s extra time winner devastated Finn Harps in the relegation play-off back in 2003, before Stephen Kenny arrived to transform the club entirely, culminating in the magical European Dance of 2006.

Recalling those significant moments are the players and managers directly involved themselves, including some of the most famous names to wear the Derry City shirt.

Former Manchester City star Denis Tueart retains great memories of his brief stay at the club in 1985.

“What I couldn’t believe however was the enthusiasm of the supporters,” he recalls. “The Brandywell was packed out. We had some decent players in that team and they had a great desire to make the club successful and that’s what stays in my memory.”

Alan Sunderland may be famous for sinking Manchester United with a last minute winner in the 1979 FA Cup final, but Derry City fans of a certain age will remember his late winner against Shelbourne on his debut in January 1987. That goal went a long way to City securing promotion to the Premier Division, where they remained for over 20 years.

“I knew nothing about Derry,” Sunderland admitted. “I didn’t even know where it was, but I soon found out. I’m very glad I did it. I had a great time, the people were lovely and we got promotion.”

The treble winning season of 1988/89 had many memorable moments but it may never had happened had Derek Swan scored a penalty in an FAI Cup clash at Bohemians. The Dubliners were a goal to the good when they were awarded a penalty. Had Swan scored, there would have been no way back for the Candy Stripes but Tim Dalton produced an acrobatic save to keep Derry in the cup.

“Tim Dalton gave away the penalty and to be honest I thought we were out,” Felix Healy recalled. “But Tim guessed right and saved the penalty and all of a sudden it was like someone pressed the accelerator and the game changed completely. A game that had been played in slow motion burst into life and for the next 20 minutes we were very good.”

Derry City’s time in the League of Ireland has been far from smooth however with strife both on and off the pitch.

Who could forget the FAI Cup humiliation at the hands of Ashtown Villa in March 1991? Coming just two years after the treble success, it remains the club’s most embarrassing moment.

“I remember that as much as I remember the treble,” Paul Curran said. “It was just soul destroying. The players not living in Derry got off the hook whereas those local players had to face the fans. It was one of the worst results ever for Derry.”

If that was embarrassing, Stuart Gauld’s missed penalty at Athlone on April 23, 1995 was the most heart-breaking. Needing a win to seal the league championship, City’s veteran defender, so ruthless from the spot in the past, stepped up with the game tied at 1-1, only to see goalkeeper Shane Curran save his spot kick. It is a miss still felt some 20 years later.

“If there is anyone you want to take a penalty it’s Stuart Gauld,” Liam Coyle admitted. “I remember people asking me afterwards why hadn’t I taken it, but why would I? When the final whistle went it was absolute heartbreak for everybody.”

Just two years later, the players did get their hands on the league title, but rather than build on that success, the Candy Stripes suffered a dramatic fall from grace and after Felix Healy’s departure, Kevin Mahon took the reins. Mahon’s time at the club was based on working with a miniscule budget and the promotion of young players, while the club treaded water to stay afloat financially. It was a difficult time for everyone, but when the going got tough, the good name of the club carried far, with Manchester United and Celtic both coming to the Brandywell in 2000.

“When there’s a bit of suffering the Derry people gather around each other,” Darren Kelly acknowledged. “We were struggling that season but the supporters came out to help get the club out of a sad and difficult time. They came out for those friendlies. The club was saved.”

Season 2003 remains one of the most tumultuous of the past 30 years as Derry City came incredibly close to relegation. The season was a rollercoaster, with Kevin Mahon departing after five years, and Dermot Keely departing after what seemed like five minutes. Gavin Dykes took charge but the Candy Stripes finished in the relegation play-off spot, where they came up against Finn Harps, leading to an unforgettable night at the Brandywell on December 13. Derry looked to have scraped a 1-0 win, until Kevin McHugh’s last gasp equaliser took the game to extra time. At the time it appeared that Derry City’s flirtations with relegation were finally finished.

“The game was up,” Paddy McLaughlin insisted. “I had asked the referee how long was left and he told me if we cleared the ball it was over,” McLaughlin recalled. “Then the ball was headed out and Kevin McHugh stuck it in the net from 20 yards. I couldn’t believe it. Everyone dropped to their knees.

For the first time over the two legs I thought we were in bother.”

Liam Coyle’s winner in that game preceded the arrival of Stephen Kenny to the Brandywell, arguably the best managerial appointment at the club since 1988.

IFK Gothenburg, Gretna, Paris St. Germain – Within three years of escaping relegation, Derry City were missing it with some of the biggest names on the European stage.

“That European period captured the imagination of the whole region,” Stephen Kenny explained. “We had massive queues of supporters at the airports, we had camera crews, BBC, ITV, all the local radio stations and local newspapers all covering it. There were civic receptions everywhere.

“The game against Paris St. Germain in the Brandywell was covered by BBC Northern Ireland, not by RTÉ and that was most unusual. They wondered what was going on with this Derry team; to beat Gothenburg home and away, and to beat Gretna. There was also the great passion of the Derry City fans.”

Derry City’s time in the League of Ireland has been a rollercoaster ride, and three years after the double-winning season of 2006, the club was cast out of football, due to financial irregularities. From that, to the glorious return to the FAI Cup win of 2012, and the arrival of Roddy Collins, ’30- The Journey So Far’ has it all.

For Derry City fans both young and old, this book is the ultimate keepsake.

The official launch of ’30 – The Journey So Far’ – will take place at Derry City Social Club this Saturday, December 12 at 1.00pm.

Derry City manager Kenny Shiels, plus current and past players, will be in attendance. All are welcome to attend.

Photo shows Felix Healy celebrating the FAI Cup win – and the completion of an historic “treble” – with young son, Patrick.