Derry City s rise from the ashes recalled in new documentary Fan, Deirdre Dunne has followed Derry City since she was a girl. Picture by Stephen Latimer Seamus McKinney 19 April, 2021 01:00
The gang of four , from left, Tony Doherty, Terry Harkin, Eamonn McLaughlin and Eddie Mahon, brought senior football back to Derry. Picture by Stephen Latimer
The day Martin McGuinness dismantled an IRA bomb so the biggest game in the history of Derry City FC could go ahead is recalled in a new documentary charting the club s Phoenix-like rise from the Troubles. Different League: The Derry City Story charts City s entry to the Republic s League of Ireland to the day that European football royalty in the form of the great Benfica graced the Brandywell stadium.
The documentary-style feature is called Different League- the Derry City Story and is the work of film producer Guy King.
Originally from Glenarm in County Antrim, Mr King moved to Hatmore Park in Derry as a youngster before making his home in London. He was part of the huge Red and White Army that accompanied the Candystripes around Ireland in the mid-to-late 80 s. Different League tells the background to Derry s expulsion from the Irish League days and how they burst onto the League of Ireland scene in a blaze of colour, seen through the eyes of several key personnel.
There s the Gang of Four who came up with the plan to approach the FAI, former City stars like Felix Healy and Owen Da Gama, several key Board members, the ever-lively Eamonn McCann as well as first-hand testimonies of many supporters and local dignataries.