Farewell to Brandywell - it is not goodbye but au revoir

Derry City’s last competitive game at what we might now call the ‘old’ Brandywell took place over a month ago when Sligo Rovers came to town and were seen off by a score-line of 2-1 in the final League of Ireland game to be played before renovations begin.

Building work is expected to take ten months and Derry have accepted that they will be playing their 2017 matches elsewhere, although a replacement venue has not yet been arranged.

Barry McNamee will go down as the last player to score on the old pitch, his 77th minute goal securing the three points against Sligo as the Candystripes powered their way to third place in the league table and secured a Europa League spot for next year.

But there will be one last hurrah at the famous old stadium before it receives a much needed make-over and is transformed into a modern arena fit for the coming generations of Derry football fans.

This Sunday, November 27th, two teams of former Derry players will line out against each other to celebrate the new chapter in Derry City’s life story with a flash of nostalgia and a nod to the many footballing heroes that have helped to make the club the success that it is today.

Among those turning out will be current Republic of Ireland under 21 boss Noel King who both played for and managed the club in their first League of Ireland season in 1985/86.

Alongside King will be other stalwarts of those early years such as Jack Keay, Pascal Vaudequin, Kevin O’Neil and Felix Healy while other more recent players such as Barry Molloy, Clive Delaney and Ruaidhri Higgins will also take part. Goalscoring legend Liam Coyle is another hero of yesteryear who will be on hand to mark the transition from old to new.

The match kicks off in Brandywell at 1 pm and, although admission is free, those attending are asked to support a charity drive on the day, the proceeds of which will go to the Alzheimers Society.