Friday, November 24, 2006

Derry v Cork 17th November big match preparations

The Child in action reaching for his chair.


Pre the big match last week, the Dublin Supporters club met up in the Dungloe for a few pints.


Again the day started early with Paddy, who is still to put his watch back an hour, waiting outside the dungloe for it to open.

There were safety concerns regarding Willy"The Child"McCann and who was going to look after him. "The Child" wanted to put his pocket money in the poker machine but the bar man wouldn't let him do so unattended. So after a health and safety study it was decided he could sit on his own provided he used his baby chair, kindly bought by the Dungloe Bar for Will himself. They also had is "I'm the best dribbler at Derry City" bib ready.

It was hard enough trying to keep the girls away from Gary 'big daddy' White without the hassle of "The Child".

So if anybody is interested in being a babysitter then just come along to the final with your CV.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

ePL Killer Football - Round 2

Killer Football, the rules, incase any of you are interested in joining in, or getting it going yourselves.


Rules:

  • Start with 2 lives - €10 a head
  • Pick a team from the weekend fixtures, if your team wins your lives remain intact, if they draw or lose you lose a life
  • Each week you have to pick a different team until you have picked all 20 Premiership League teams - then you start again
  • If you forgot to send in a team, an automatic selection going from the bottom of the league up will be picked (e.g. If Charlton are bottom, and you have yet to pick them - that's your automatic selection, if you have already picked them we move on to 2nd last place and so on until we have a selection for you)
  • To make my life simple this time round, all Match Day Selections have to be in by 12pm on the preceding Friday of the Match Day - after that, none will be accepted and Automatic Selections will take place - this allows me to send an update round Friday afternoon so everyone knows who they want to win and lose at the weekend

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

The Early Blonde Waits For The Train


On Sunday 29th October Derry played Sligo in the cup and the supporters club were out in full force.

For Paddy it was an early start as he forgot to put his clock back and was at Connolly Station at 6.45.

After me and Ronan arrived we had some friendly banter with some Sligo fans then we were on our way. Darren got on the train at Maynooth and then the drinking started. The 3 hours on the train went by quickly and we soon arrived in Sligo. The Sligo fans that got the train give us some tips on what bars to go to and we were on our way.

Walking up the street we were pointed to a back door of a bar and on entering found a group of people who were out all night. So we decided to join the party.

At 12 o'clock the fans from Derry started arriving by the bus loads and the atmosphere started to build. We arranged to meet up with the rest of the supporters club and we headed to the hotel they were staying at were we got a bite to eat and a pint. When Gary had got his fill of making jokes about Paddy and his early start we heading back to the bar and meet with the rest of the Derry fans.

The match was an entertaining affair with Derry having the better of the second half but the state of the pitch didn't allow them to pass the ball with ease. The crowd was in full voice for the full 90 minutes and if Sligo had allowed then we could have had another 100 supporters easy with the room still to move freely.

After the match me an Ronan headed for the train where we met Paddy sitting waiting (again). Darren soon joined us and with Ronan eating is 12th bag of crisps for the day we were on our way back to Dublin.

Of course we still had time for one more joke and Ronan was the victim. As we were all nearly sleeping the train stopped at Carrick on Shannon. I woke Ronan and told him that we were a Connolly and to get off. So Ronan started to walk out the door and was outside before we called him back. Confused he sat down and fell asleep as the hangovers started kicking in

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Gary "Big Daddy" White Profile
















This week we are doing an exclusive profile on Gary "Big Daddy" White A.K.A The Luv Doctor. All the female fans of the Dublin SC have been desparately wanting to know about the big man hmiself - so here it is folks - the truth - the whole truth - and nothing but lies.

Famous words from the man himself:
Sitting in Ryans Pub, the bar tender has yet to switch it over to the match, Gary White walks in and Morph say "Gary, Bad news" to which Gary replies "What, they've ran out of food".

Photo's of the great man - exclusice pappazarri shots - who ate all the panini's.

Question Time with Gary White:
1. Who is your hero

Gary: Homer Simpson or Dale Winton, I can't decide
2. Favourite all time sandwich
Gary: I haven't invented it yet
3. What do you do befoe you go to bed at night?
Gary: As you lads, I have a sensitive bum so I add Johnson Baby talc powder to it every night - and I sleep like a baby
4. Female fans - is it a problem
Gary: Yes - they don't tackle me enough
5. The pros and cons of being Gary White
Gary - I'm a Derry Man and I'm Gary White, there's no pro's or con's to that
6. Is the pappazarri an issue?
Gary - I've never noticed, but people are following me for no reason
7. After Paris where is the Gary White convoy going to travel too?
Gary - Bundoran on the Gary White Appreciation Society Booze Up
8. What do you see as the real Gary White?
Gary - I see ku-fing fighting (over my beer gut) as the way forward
9. Hotdogs or burgers? the naked truth
Gary - see phot for answer - stop asking stupid questions. Mustard, hmmmmmmm
10. If you had no other choice - who would you tackle, Dot Cotton (Eastenders) or Blanche (Coration Street)
Gary - well a threesome with them two sexy birds would be magestic, but I can't see myself being that lucky - c'mon guys, like it would be easier to get struck by lighteninig

Thursday, September 21, 2006

And What a Week to Come

So the week just past we had two high profile games, home to PSG in the UEFA Cup and home in the League Cup Final to Shelbourne.

Almost the same in the week to come

Shelbourne v Derry
We play Shelbourne in Tolka Park tomorrow night in the league. This is another massive game, and Shelbourne have a solid record at home in the league this season. 11 played, 9 wins, 2 draws, 30 goals for and only 5 against. They beat us 1-0 earlier on in the season in Tolka in the league, but we have also beat them in the FAI Cup in Tolka this season, the same scoreline 1-0 in August.

Shels are currently 7 points clear of us, but we have 3 games in hand, a win here would be a fantastic result, as they still have to come to the Brandywell, although a draw would also suffice.

Checking on the forum it does look like we will have a good squad down for the game, although some fans won't be able to make it do to other commiments next week, which is totally understandable and will be explained shortly.

Now, to be honest, I do fancy Derry to come away with a result from the game and hopefully I'm right. Checking on the web, Derry are 21/10 with PaddyPower and 23/10 with William Hill for a win, which is very good odds for us, so I think I'll be calling up to my namesake Mr Hill and placing a few pounds on a Derry win.

Whatever the result - it looks like it's going to be one hell of a match, and I can't wait to get to it.

PSG v Derry
The away leg in the UEFA Cup. Next week, Thursday 28th September, 9.00pm KO (French Time) Parc de Princes - and the Dublin SC will be there in force.

With Derry getting a 0-0 scoreline at the Brandywell last week, this match is very much open, and hopefully this will make people's minds up on going to the match. Although, to be honest our flights and hotels were booked within a few days of the draw - so we were going no matter what.

I've already been away to the Gothenburg and Gretna games and the build up to this, it has to be said, is more intense. Derry's 12th man will be in Paris in force to cheer on the lads on the park, in what looks to be one of the biggest nights in the clubs history.

I remeber when the draw was made for the first qualifying round when we got Gothenburg, if anyone had of told me that come the end of September I'd be in Paris, watching Derry play PSG, with a 0-0 scoreline already secured in the Brandywell, I'd of be asking him what was he drinking and any chance of getting a pint.

As Stephen Kenny said at the Gretna match, Derry City is the fairytale this season. The fans are loving it, the team are loving it, you can see that in their expressions when they celebrate in front of the crowds both home and away after every match this season.

Of course, with this being a European away match, there is some rules that myself and the lads I'll be travelling with will be observing:
  • After check-in and breakfast at the Airport, it will be on to the bar for a pint and the cards will be out to get the Maverick going
  • Once on the plane and the nseat-belt sign is off, the cards will be out again
  • At some stage in Paris, we'll have to buy a deck off cards to add to our growing collection
  • Cocktails are a must before the game, this follows on from the Hard Rock Cafe in Gothenburg and Yeats in Glasgow - I think this is now a definite pre-match ritual

To be honest, the only thing I'm worrying about is the kick-off time - 9 bells, late kick-off for us now, a few pints of water will have to be drank during the day to slow things down - although, the adrenaline will be pumping all day - so we'll wait and see - oh my God, I can't wait.

So the roll call for the SC - The Child, Big Daddy, Morphy, Ratboy, The Twins, Twin's 1 Da, Stephen, Pauline & Lauren, Paddy, Big Daddy's bro - do we call him Big Uncle then????. And I'm sure I've left one or two out, but if you've travelled with me before, you'll now that me membering details on travel plans is sketchy at best.

So what a week it plans to be.

C'mon the Candystripes

What a Week Just Past

Well - a long time since the last post on this blog - it's just not on - but my head hasn't been in the right place to get round to doing it.

What about the last week. Two massive cup games in the Brandywell in the space of 5 days.

Derry v PSG
Firstly we were up against PSG in the UEFA Cup First Round Proper. Man, what a night at the Brandywell - traveled up from Dublin on the day with 4 lads from the Dublin SC, Darren "Morph" Smyth, Gary "Big Daddy" White, Stephen Large and Alan Walsh. (Don't worry Stephen and Alan, I'm sure you get landed with nicknames in the near future.)

Now, it has to be said, although I do strongly believe that Maverick is a great traveling game - it really sucks when I'm playing it on the way to Derry, were on two trips up, loses of €50 and €2o occurred, and Big Daddy played a huge part in them loses.

Anyhow, back to the game, the atmospherere, buzz, feeling around the Brandywell was immense, without doubt one of the biggest games in Derry City's history and a great game to be at. The eleven lads out on the field played their hearts out, Killian Brennan hitting the crossbar after 15 minutes with a superb volley, Kevin McHugh getting pulled down in the box and the ref not having the balls to give what was a stone cold penalty.

At the back there was some great defensive play with 2 clearances off the line and quite a number of saves made from Forde.

One part in these games that always stand out in my mind is the fans staying behind 20-30 minutes after the game calling out Stephen Kenny's name. It's great seeing TV interviews later on with Stephen talking and all you can here in the background is "There's only one Stephen Kenny, there's only one Stephen Kenny, walking along, singing a song, walking in the City Wonderland." And want an interview after the game, Kenny saying that PSG changed their approach in the game, played a more physical game, and then said they'd play a more open game in Paris, which would suit Derry's style of play better. It's been said a thousand times already, but the man is a LEGEND.

Derry v Shelbourne
League Cup Final, some changes to the team, Pat Jennings left out after keeping clean sheets in every game up to the final. Kenny came out and said it was a hard decision, but it had to be made.

Also quite an emotional night, with a minutes silence before the game for Gareth McGlynn's father Sean, who passed away at the weekend, may he rest in peace.

Due to two old chestnuts Time and Money (didn't have the money and couldn't afford the time off work) I wasn't able to make it up from Dublin to game. Instead, a strong contingent of the Dublin Supporters Club watched the game in Ryan's pub in Dublin, our usual haunt for SC meetings. The roll call Gary, Morph, his better half Gillian (although that's not what I was thinking when she won the sweepstake we had going), Paddy, Gareth, Graham, Davy, Paddy, Paddy Kavena, Graham, Rolan, Stephen and of course myself.

The banter was good craic, and the beer was flowing (which is never good when you mix me, watching football and drinking beer, as it usually gets messy, or should I say, I usually get messy). Chances at both ends, the clearest during the 90 minutes falling to the head off Darren Kelly who hit just wide.

The game looked like it was heading to extra-time when the first disaster (maybe a strong word, but when you're watching the match, it's the first thing that springs to mind) happened. Forde came out to clear outside the box and the ball hits off his hand when he goes to clear - and the ref has no hesitation in sending Forde off. Pat Jennings then get's his chance, and we make it to extra time.

In extra time the second disaster (read above) happens, with Killian Brennan getting sent off for lunging in. Now there's been a great debate about this on the DerryCityChat forum, Heary did get out of the way, no contact was made, but Killian did slide in with studs showing, the ref gave a red card, and I won't fault him for that. But Heary retaliating by punching Killian in the balls and the ref or linesman, who had to see it, did nothing, you could see that Kenny, on the side lines was fuming with the linesman for not reporting that dig.

So down to 9 men with 20 minutes to play, Shelbourne trying to make the advantage of the 2 extra men bombed forward, but the defending by the 8 outfield players was resolute, and Jennings made 3 great saves in extra time to take the game to penalties.

Shels up first, Pat guesses right and says to his right hand side. Can't remember the sequence of the first two Derry Penalties, I think Deery was up first and the ball hit the back of the net.

Shels up again, and same result, Pat dives to his right and saves. Thenm Higgins steps up and the ball hits the back of the net.

Shels up again and Pat pulls off another save to his right - you'd have thought the Shels player might of decided to go to the other side, but hey, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Darren Kelly then steps up, knowing if he scores, Derry win the cup, and scores he duly does. The Brandywell erupts, Ryans bar Dublin erupts and I'm sure there was bars all across the UK erupted when that ball hit the back of the net.

One of the best moments of the night was when Gareth McGlynn's number 14 jersey was draped over the Cup when the team collected it. It just goes to show the team spirit and bond between the team, the manager and the background staff - makes you proud to be supporting them.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Maverick

Maverick, Maverick they call it Maverick - OK, so a bad rip-off of a Madness song. Maverick is a card game that some members of the Supporters Club like to play when heading on away trips - to try and help raise some cash - but that plan can always backfire. Considering we've added a number of additional rules to the game - we though we'd post them for reference.

Maverick - The Rules
  • First we decide the ante - usually €1 a head
  • Each player is dealt 2 cards face up - deal round once - then twice
  • When it's your turn you can bet anything up-to the Pot that you will get a card in between the 2 cards you have been dealt
  • If you win, you take your money out, if you lose, the money goes in - but you do not have to bet if you don't get good cards
  • If you pull identical cards, e.g. 4 of spades and 4 of hearts, you get a free shot of the pot, but you have to get another 4 - and that's Maverick my friends
  • If your first card is an Ace - you have to call it high or low, 2rd card Aces are always high
  • If you pull an Ace and call it low and get a 2nd Ace - you can't be beat
  • If you pull an Ace and call it high and get a 2nd Ace - you need to get a 3rd for Maverick
Possible Hands - Winners & Losers
3 of Diamonds & Jack of Spades
You pull - 7 of Clubs - we have a winner
You pull - 3 of Hearts - we have a loser
You pull - Ace of Spades - we have a loser

5 of Hearts & Queen of Diamonds
You pull - 2 of Diamonds - we have a loser
You pull - 7 of Hearts - we have a winner
You pull - Queen of Spades - we have a loser

10 of Diamonds & 10 of Hearts
You have to pull either the 10 of Spades or Clubs to get Maverick

Additional Rules
Sure, it would be interesting if we couldn't make up some additional rules ourselves, these were made up before the Gothenburg home match and after the Gretna away match

All in on The Blind
  • before the dealing starts you can call all in on the blind, this means that you are going for the Pot before seeing your cards
  • as you are taking this risk - if you lose - you only pay half the pot
  • if you get cards were it is impossible to go you get a bye e.g. 7 of Hearts & 6 of Clubs

So, sounds an OK game - sure, you couldn't lose that much. Think again, or ever better ask Joe and Seany who played in Gothenburg Airport when it got mental. At one stage, Big Dady, Ratboy and The Child were the only one's playing and the pot was €320 - it can be either a great game - or a real nasty one.

We even had ItalianPaddy playing the game in Frankfurt Airport on the way over Gothenburg. Although he came in when we were all half tubed on the German beer and made a small killing. How we ever got on that plane in Frankfurt I'll never no - but once we levelled out, the cards were out and Maverick continued.

Killer Football

Killer Football - what's all that about. It's a competition we use for fundraising for our club. We did have it running, with some minor glitches in the Eircom League until Dublin City dropped out of site and it became an administrative nightmare, so we've had to make the call to cross over to the darkside and run one involving the English Premiership.

So How Does It Work:
  • You start with 2 Lifes
  • It's €10 a head
  • Each week you pick a team from the weekend fixtures that you think are going to win
  • If they win, your lifes stay intact, if they draw or lose, you lose a life
  • Once you select a team, you can not select them until you have selected all the rest of the teams
  • If you forget to send in your selection, an Automatic Selection is made going from the previous weeks league table (e.g. Going on the first week, Chelsea would be the auto-pick, as they won the league, after a few weeks, it's whoever is top, if you have already selected tehm, it's whoever is second and so forth)
Previous Killer Football
At the start of the Eircom League we did run Killer Football successfully. We started of with 13 people in. Mick McCourt & Stephen Large ended up sharing the pot after 9 match days, when the rest of us had lost out on our 3 lifes (cut down to 2 for the new one as the Premiership Killer is easier)

Mick McCourt had the longest winning streak selecting 6 winning teams in a row. But this pales into the shadows when looking at the magnificient losing streak of Will "The Child" McCann, when in the first 3 weeks I managed to select 3 losing teams in a row and ended up on the scrap heap - I have to say - not one of my finest moments.

So who'll win this time round is anyone's guess, but our numbers have grown and we now have 25 people competing - so may the best man win - na, screw that, I want to win.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Gretna 1 - Derry 5

Well what can I say about this match that hasn't already been said, reported, written in various forums. It was truly an unbelievable night to be a Derry fan.

The Fans
The fans were over in force, vocal throughout the whole match and about 20 minutes afterwards. After each goal the stand erupted, people hugging and jumping up with those around them, whether they new them or not. I seem to be making more and more friends with every Derry game I go to, and running into lads I haven't seen in years.

The Team
I think the only thing I missed after reading match reports in about 20 different papers was a list of player ratings - for a result like that, you'd have to be giving them all 10 out of 10, even Forde with his heart stopping moments, but if it wasn't for his heroic saves in Gothenburg, would we have been here?

1-0 down after 12 minutes, their heads could have dropped, but they didn't, they kept their shape and kept to the game plan and it paid off, with 5 stunning goals, which I'll talk about in a bit. 1-1 going into half-time, and I've heard or read that the half-time team talk from Stephen Kenny was to advise the team of the comments made about the team from Gretna's management team - my God, did it work.

4 stunning goals in the 2nd half, and but ended Gretna's European adventure - it gave the fans something that they will remember for the rest of their life's, something that we'll be able to say in many years from now - "I was there".

The Goals
1-1 Darren Kelly
Pizza plays a superb ball from the centre circle out to Hargy, who's first touch was sublime, he swivels and floats the ball into the box and Darren Kelly powers it in at the back post. Great leap and accuracy to put it into the back of the net.

1-2 Kevin Deery
Ciaran Martyn fouled 30 yards from goal. Kevin Deery places the ball and places it in the top right hand corner of the goal. The placing was inch perfect, over the wall and into the corner the keeper was placed at - possibly the best goal I've seen in my life.

1-3 Kevin Deery
The goal above only rates as possibly, due to this goal, great work down the right, ball swung into the box and headed clear by Gretna. Up steps Deery to crack it with his right foot from 30 yards out into the top left, giving the keeper no chance. I'd rate this the best live goal I've seen in my life.

1-4 Ciaran Martyn
I actually missed this one, I was under the stand on the phone to my brother who was watching in Belfast. Now he's not a Derry City fan but he decided to watch the match and he says it was one of the best performances he's seen from any team in his life. All I heard was the stands above erupt, then he erupted down the phone about 2 seconds later. Martyn made a 20 yard dash with the ball at his feet, with some great control to take it round the keeper and cooly slot it home, past two defenders.

1-5 Ciaran Martyn
Gary Beckett plays a looping ball to the feet of Martyn who lets it run for about 5 yards before unleashing an unstoppable strike from 20 yards - again giving the Gretna keeper no chance.

The Verdict
What more can I say - unbelievable. If you haven't seen the goals, doirecity from www.derrycitychat.com has uploaded a montage of highlights from TV and video capturing the goals and the fans - check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WelpDm_Scd8 - breathtaking.

On Friday I picked up the Star and the Sun in Glasgow and then had great write ups about the match, with some classic gems listed below:

"And the only saving grace was the Irish champions ran out of time to rub even more salt into the most gasping wounds the biggest little club in football have ever suffered." - Bill Leckie - The Sun

"But fair play to the Croatian ref Marijo Strahonya, he kept the book in his pocket and tried to let it all flow. The only disappointment was when he blew for half-time. The pity for Gretna is he made them go back out again." - Bill Leckie - The Sun

"Gretna thought things couldn't get any worse but Deery followed up to show his shooting exploits weren't a one off." - Scott Burns - The Star

"The final insult came from the Derry fans who chanted, 'Let's all laugh at Gretna', as the final whistle went." - Scott Burns - The Star

Gretna Roll Call

Well, it's only taken me 3 days after the match to put up an update about the Gretna game over in Motherwell.

Well, first of all, let's get the Roll Call done for the people I travelled over with. We seem to be molding quite nicely in to one big happy family, as you'll seen from the nicknames below. I hope to add photos to go along with the names in this post in the next few weeks.

Drum roll please for the family

Big Daddy - Gary White - the last in our entourage to be named, well he did bring it upon himself in Di Maggio's in Glasgow - and long may it last

The Twins - Darren McConway & Neil Karran - if you know these two guys, you'll know why we labelled them this, I've met them on a good few occasions now and I'm still getting them mixed up

Ratboy - Ryan Smyth - this name was given to Ryan by his older brother Morph years ago, but it's what we now all know him by

The Kid - Aimee Bronby - Big Daddy's daughter - making it to her 2nd Derry away game, her first being at Glentoran when she was only 6 months old

The Child - Will McCann - Now I'm just taking it that the lads call me this because of my boyish good looks, but if you ask them they'll probably make up some excuse about me always being the first one to hit the sack on away trips

Photo's of the above family to follow shortly.

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Bray Wanderers 2 - Derry City 3

Derry made it hard on themselves in the second half of the game last night. 3 nil up at half time, with 2 goals from Kevin McHugh, the 1st well taken and the 2nd pounced on after a goal mouth scramble, and then Ciaran Martyn firing in a rocket on the 45 minute mark.

As for the defence - they were solid in the first half, they limited Bray to shots from 20 yards with Oman and Holmes showing some great touches on the ball.

THen in the 2nd half, things didn't fall our way at all. Bray brought the score up to 3-1 3 minutes into the 2nd half, with a soplid strike from about 16 yards out. Deery limped off for Derry close just after the hour mark with McGylnn coming on for him.

Then Derry had a bright spell in front of goal, we just couldn't convert the chances, Brenna, hitting over when it looked easy to get it on target and O'Flynn glancing a header off the post.

Close to the 80 minute mark McHugh made a great break down the right wing and crossed from the bye line, with O'Flynn unlucky not to make the perfect contact for the ball.

Then on 83 minutes a lapse in defence let Bray score their 2nd, Forde again left with no chance from the strike. From corners and crosses on the night Forde's hands were as safe as houses - but some of his distruibution from those same hands was not as good.

It was a nervy last 5 minutes (well 9 really as there was 4 minutes injury time) with a lot of high balls and stray passes. Derry did great a couple of good chances, some great work from a throw in on the right on the 86 minute mark, gave us a chnace but it was misse at the back post.

Farren was unlucky in the 93rd minute with a great run. With Maribor Kev giving a running commentary to all the fans through the microphone - I tell you, he puts Motty to shame.

GARY WHITE'S WORDS OF WISDOM
Each week we'll bring different insights from the members of the Supporters club - this week the honour goes to Gary White

With about 15 mniutes gone in the 1st half, I think I spot Shaun Holmes on the field playing with 22 on his back. So I turn round to Mr White and say "Is Holmes 22" to which he replies "He's not that young"

Close to the end of the 1st half, the said Mr White lambasts Martyn for having a quite game - I don't know, Martyn must have heard him as he relfed in a bullet on the 45 minute mark.

Supporters Club Side Bets
Paddy Ward is looking good for the side bet against Gary and Morph, after him claiming McHugh will get more goals than Farren this season. 2 more added to McHugh's tally on the night and Farren having a goal ruled out.

As always the fans were in great voice throughout the game, the drums were going non-stop and Maribor Kev was vocal on the Microphone

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Derry City Beat Gothenburg Twice

Well, I've been to a good few matches and seen some great teams and games played. I've seen Man Utd play great games in the Champions leagues, I've seen Ireland play in friendly's and European Cup and World Cup qualifiers and I've seen Celtic play some great games.

Now when the draw for the UEFA Cup was made, if anyone had told me we'd beat Gothenburg not once but twice, I'd have laughed at them. This the team who have won the UEFA Cup twice in their history, beaten some of the biggest teams in Europe in the Champions League, including my second team Man Utd around 8 years ago. It was the toughest draw we could have got.

I've also been at some memorable Derry City games in the Brandywell and around Ireland, but the two matchs I was at to watch Derry City play Gothenburg in the UEFA Cup home and away are the best matchs I've ever been to in my life.

I traveled out to Gothenburg with a few members of the Dublin Supporters club and had a great time. The atmosphere at the game was electric, 300 fans, all their for one reason, to cheer on the Candystripes. And out to watch the footie and have a bit of craic whilst out in Sweden.The Gothenburg fans were all sound, before and after the game, before the game showing us the betting slips listing wins of 3, 4 or 5-0 to Gothenburg, to them we didn't stand a chance. To be honest I was hoping we'd get a draw at best.

So when Hargy banged home that header around the 80 minute mark, I think time stood still for an eternity, until the Derry fans erupted. Truly unbelievable, as most of the fans have said, either in the bars or on http://www.derrycitychat.com/ all the players played out of their skins that night - you'd have been hard pressed to name a Man of the Match, but there was no doubts about the Team of the Match.

So fast forward two weeks later to the Brandywell. I'd say everyone had their hopes up, even if some of us, me included had doubts. Like here we were, hosting Gothenburg at the Brandywell, and if we keep a clean sheet we were in the next round of Europe.But the team all played out of their skins again, the defence was unflappable, Kelly and Pizza both outstanding, for all I can recall, Forde only had to make one save. The midfield rans their hearts out, and it's the best display I've seen from Kevin McHugh on the wing. And Gary Beckett the loan front man ran himself into the ground.

Now, just think, standing in front of the home support, having to step up and take that penalty, O'Flynn must have been under immense pressure, but he slotted the ball home and the Brandywell erupted. 2,500 fans going nuts, of course there wouldf have been more if the council ever got of it's ass to help the club sort out the Brandywell.

Gothenburg did try to press, but at no time did they really look like scoring. Derry City were composed throughout the two legs and kept their shape and put Gothenburg under pressure.

So, yesterday, the draw was made and we got Gretna. On the way back down to Dublin I told some of the lads from the Dublin Supporters club that I might not be able to make the away games, due to lack of holiday days left in work - I think the email sent out when the draw was made was along the lines of "Screw that - I'm going to both Gretna Games".

So, in 12 days times, I'll be in Fir Park with lads for the Dublin Supporters clun to cheer on the Candystripes, and I know the rest of the supporters clubs will be there, from the Brandywell Pride, to the 89'ers and even the London Supporters club. I can't wait.

But until then, we have Waterford tomorrow night at the Brandywell and Bray Wanderers next Friday a the Carlisle Grounds. I'll be tuned into Radio Foyle and on Derry City Chat getting updates from the Waterford game as I can't make it, 90 minutes might seem long when your at the match, but it's twice as long when your not there to see it.

Well this is my first post of many I hope, and I'll be hoping to get more of the lads from the Dublin Supporters Club updates as the season goes on.

So, until next time "Let's all do the European Dance, the European Dance, the European Dance"