Thread re: Derrys history in il etc

[Risteard]

Was looking to resurrect a thread for a buddy, that i started about two years ago there, enquiring about Derrys problems in the irish league and how they came to be in the eL. Think it was Maribor made a generous long informative reply.
I searched the thread from the beginning (ten pages) and its not there.
Can anyone help or give me a link to something similar?

[1Davy]

Was looking to resurrect a thread for a buddy, that i started about two years ago there, enquiring about Derrys problems in the irish league and how they came to be in the eL. Think it was Maribor made a generous long informative reply.
I searched the thread from the beginning (ten pages) and its not there.
Can anyone help or give me a link to something similar?

Is this post in question.

I posted this on several forums and may be the one you are referring to.


Ref…..
eL - Southern league
IL - Northern league
FAI - Football Association of Ireland (South)
IFA - Irish Football Association (North)


Many reasons have been given as to why Derry City play their football in the eL rather than the IL. Some are close to the truth while some others are so far out you wonder where it comes from. So if you bear with me I’ll do my best to explain the reasons why we did end up withdrawing from the IL.

First let me take you back prior to the ‘troubles’. Whenever we played a cup game against a Belfast team, if it went to a replay, it would inevitably have to be played in Belfast. It took Derry years and years of arguing with the IFA about the unfairness in that before the IFA climbed down. However instead of these games being played in the obvious choice of Coleraine, the games were played in Ballymena, which is about 2/3 way to Belfast.

In 1964 we won the Irish Cup and thus qualified for Europe. In the first round we played Steaua Bucharest home (Brandywell) and away, but were beaten 5-0 on aggregate. That same year we won the league, and that meant that the following year we would be back playing in Europe. This time we drew the Norwegian team FK Lynn. In the first game we were beaten 5-3 in Oslo. The return leg in Brandywell was played in very bad weather. It had rained incessantly from the previous day, but that didn’t stop a full house watch Derry City win 5-1 and be the first team in the IL to win a two legged European Cup tie, and get past the first round. The fans went home drenched, but delighted, what they didn’t know was that there were forces at work out there, who would deny Derry their night of glory.

In the next round Derry drew Belgium champions Anderlecht. As soon as the draw was made, the IFA let it be made known that Brandywell pitch would be inspected before the IFA would allow the game to be played. Only six members of the committee turned up on the night the IFA debated the issue, and they refused to let the Derry City representative attend the meeting, The committee recommended to the European Union that Derry City be banned from playing their home games at Brandywell. Derry of course reacted in anger and said, “No Brandywell, No match.”
Now Anderlecht officials visited the Brandywell and said they had no bother with the Brandywell pitch, and would play the game in Brandywell. One of their officials had claimed that in another European game, they had played on a pitch of cinders. UEFA said that they had no problems with Derry playing at home, but added that it was up to Derry City’s own football association the IFA. The IFA stood by their decision, and after the first leg in Belgium, where Derry were beaten 9-0, they withdrew from the competition. What was so angering was the fact that the year before when Derry played Steaua and were beaten, Brandywell wasn’t a problem, but as soon as they won a game they were banned by their own association. Unique in the history of European football.

By 1969 trouble had erupted all over the North , British troops had entered Derry to restore calm. Because of the ban on the RUC and the British military entering the Bogside, the IFA banned all games at Brandywell, because in their opinion they couldn’t be policed adequately. Derry played 10 successive games away from home and the club lost a lot of revenue.

Harry Cavan, the IFA President, made a statement saying that there was no bias towards Derry City, and that they could again play in Europe, as soon as their ground was brought up to standard. However, although asked repeatedly by Derry City and some journalists, he was not prepared to tell anyone what that standard was.
On Sept 25th the IL vetoed a Gold Cup against Ards. The Derry Citizens Action Committee guaranteed they would provide stewards for the game, and Ards to their credit, said they would play, but the IL wouldn’t listen. On Oct 18th Derry played their first home game against Ards, in the IL. But when Derry drew Linfield in the semi-final of the cup, Derry City were amazed to be told, that they had to travel to the Oval for the game. A very low gate of £900, showed how angry the Derry supporters were. The game was marred by hooligans from a section of the Linfield support, who poured into the empty seats in the main stand, and abused Derry fans with sectarian ranting. For the record, Linfield won 2-1.
Derry’s home league game against Linfield, was moved by the IFA to Coleraine. The reason given for that was that there MIGHT be repercussions against the Linfield supporters, because of Linfield’s supporters behaviour in the cup-tie. And to rub it in, the IFA ordered Derry to pay Linfield £75, guaranteed to away teams. The gate was only £70, and of course Derry lost heavily. So the disgraceful behaviour of the Linfield hooligans was rewarded by the IFA.

The following season, The Security Council banned home games against the Glens and Linfield. This again angered Derry, for they found it incredulous that they were being told, that it wasn’t safe for Glentoran and Linfield supporters to come to Brandywell, but it was ok for Derry supporters to go to Windsor Park and East Belfast. Derry played six away games before they played their first home game of the season at the Brandywell.

On Nov the Security Council amazingly decided that Derry should play Linfield in Windsor Park. Derry refused to travel, as they said their players would be at risk, and couldn’t accept that their players were in no danger. The Irish League Rules Revision Committee (there’s a mouthful) accepted Derry’s reason for not travelling. But then ordered Derry to pay Linfield £300 and awarded the 2 points to Linfield. Amazing, but just another nail in the coffin.

Again Linfield were Derry’s opponents in the semi-final of the cup, but this time the IFA relented and played the game at Coleraine. This was Derry’s last cup game against Linfield, and for the record Derry won 1-0.
Derry faced Distillery in the final, and a major shock was, that Windsor Park was appointed as the venue. No amount of protest would budge the IFA, they were implacable, so under duress Derry went ahead with the game.
This match became known as ‘The Silent Final’. Derry sold only 150 of 2000 stand tickets. The Final was also marred by trouble, when opposing Belfast factions rioted on the unreserved side of the ground. Cars were also attacked as they tried to leave the area around Windsor Park. What a contrast from the 1964 Final when 28000 watched the game against Glentoran without a hint of trouble.
Harry Cavan also let it be known, that if Derry won the Cup they would not be allowed to play in Europe.
Again the IFA showed they had absolutely no sympathy for Derry City when they ordered them to play their postponed game against Linfield at Windsor Pk.

Because of the length of this post it has to be continued in the next.

[1Davy]

Part 2

In season 70-71, after three successive games at home Derry played Ballymena Utd. During the game, and unnoticed to those who were attending the game, a gang entered the adjoining Showgrounds. There they took the Ballymena team bus, pushed it along the Lone Moor Road and on to Foyle Road, where they set it alight. This was to have disastrous consequences for Derry City, and was the start of the countdown to the demise of Derry City in the IL. Ballymena and their official were magnanimous in their praise of Derry City and their official who got them transport to take them home. Many then jumped on the bandwagon and demanded a ban of all games in the Brandywell. The IFA quickly accepted the ban.

City tried to arrange to have their home games in the mean time played in Limavady, but ‘other interests’ in Limavady let it be known they would not be welcome. Derry then asked if they could use Finn Harps ground in Ballybofey, but that also was turned down, by the IFA.
In the meantime Coleraine, offered their ground, and as Derry had no alternative, they accepted.

When Derry was drawn at ‘home’ against Ballyclare Comrades in the IFA Cup, the IFA acted like something straight out of the comics. Coleraine were drawn against Distillery who were also homeless. They were supposed to play the game in Seaview, But Cruasaders were also drawn at home, so Distillery had to play their ‘home’ game in Coleraine, and Derry had to play their ‘home’ game in Ballyclare, where the hostility of the home crowd was very perceptible.

On Aug 7th, the following season, the security forces and the IFA indicated they were ready to let games resume at the Brandywell. But the IL announced that it was not safe security wise. In other words, they were telling the security forces that they knew better than them. To spotlight the intransigence of the IL was the fact that the Derry

City Greyhound Racing Company had commenced ‘the dogs’ and there had been no difficulty getting breeders from all over the north to participate.

On Sept 6th Derry were informed officially by the security authorities in the city that as far they were concerned competitive senior soccer could be played at Brandywell. Derry immediately despatched a letter to the Emergency Committee of the League, informing them of the security decision. Was that the end of it, was it hell.

The Emergency Committee replied to the letter by informing Derry City that their registered ground was Coleraine. What a slap in the face. Derry naturally reacted by telling them, that like seven years earlier, “No Brandywell, no match”. The IFA in returned ordered Derry to play their ‘home’ game against Bangor in Coleraine. Derry simply said “No”…..The next move is up to the League”.
Derry continued to play their away games, but it was getting more futile. Then the IL made an announcement, that a special meeting would be held by the Irish League Management Committee on Oct 7th. What had happened was, that Portadown asked the IL to rescind the ban on matches at the Brandywell

At the meeting a vote was held among the senior teams. For going back to play at the Brandywell were, Portadown (the proposers) Bangor, Cliftonville, Ballymena Utd, and naturally Derry themselves. Against the motion were, Linfield, Glentoran, Crusaders, Ards, Glenavon and unbelievably Distillery. Our neighbours Coleraine abstained. That meant that the vote to keep the ban was won by a majority of votes 6-5. If Coleraine had of voted with Derry City it would have been a tied vote, and the ban would have failed, as a majority of votes was needed to carry it through.

That night we found out who our friends really were .

On Friday Oct 13th, the Derry Board met. The decision was to withdraw from the Irish League, and all it’s other competitions. The decision was unanimous, and so
Derry City remained out of senior soccer for 13 years, until they were welcomed into the eircom League, in 1985.

I hope this clears up some of the different opinions that have been knocked around about City’s exit from the IL. I would ask you to think how would you feel if your club was treated as shamelessly as Derry City were. Imagine being banned from playing in Europe by your own association. We the people in Derry know that the reasons for banning us not only from Europe, but also from participating in senior soccer was taken for sectarian reasons and for sectarian reasons only. Just look at the amount of trouble there has been in IL grounds over the years, and ask yourself what punishment did the clubs receive.

Now on hindsight we have to say we owe Harry Cavan and his IL a debt of gratitude, and a big thank you for forcing us out. Last night we played a derby game against Finn Harps. The stand was packed by Derry City and Finn Harps supporters. We stood together, we cheered our respective teams together, and we left the ground together. That could, and would not happen if we were in the IL.
Now we are being told that things have changed from those days in the IL. Maybe they have, but there is an awful lot of bitterness directed at us for no other reason, than that we are perceived to be a nationalist team

Have the IFA moved on? For years they refused entry to the League to Donegal Celtic and Lurgan Celtic. They were by-passed for inferior teams, and were only allowed entry to the IL on the week they were to go court over it. Why, was it because they also perceived as nationalist teams?

There are good people in the IL and we were treated very well By Billy Mc Cowbrey a few years ago when we played Linfield in John Easton’s Charity game. We of course would love to be playing Portadown and the Glens, but not at the expense of having to do away with our games against Shels, Pats or the Bohs. Maybe in the not too distant future this will happen, but just not at the minute.

[Risteard]

Cheers Davy, think that was it?

Was it not a long drawn out process to be allowed into the league of ireland?

No standoff with UEFA or anything?

[MariborKev]

It took a few years of talks to get into the LOI

The IL tried to block us at every turn,again.

[GavinZac]

It took a few years of talks to get into the LOI

The IL tried to block us at every turn,again.

how could they do that if you'd broken all connection with them.
im very curious. top notch explanation too, its nice to be reminded that derry are a class club in these times of heated rivalry :)

[1Davy]

Derry although not playing senior football were still affiliated to the IFA and continued to play junior football.

For several years derryb tried to get the IFA to allow Derry back into senior football, but as Kev said they blocked every attempt Derry made. ie Couldn't play at the Brandywell, but might be allowed in if they moved etc etc etc.

Eventually they gave up and went to the FAI for their assistance, and as you know the rest is history.