24 April 1997 Edition
Sportsview: Candy for Felix
By Sean O'Donaile
Rumour has it that Eamonn McCann has given up on the Socialist Workers Movement. Is it any wonder when the Derry City FC revolution was much more likely to happen? The ``Swimmies'' revolution is due in about a thousand years time but Derry City's last uprising was only eight years ago. They did have a remarkable resemblance to a branch of the ``Swimmies'' in the early days with the speed with which they found and then lost young comrades for the CandyStripes. In fairness to Eamonn, he's been one of Derry's most consistent supporters and has always been one of their leading comrades.
Who could forget the explosion of colour and excitement Derry City FC brought with them to the League of Ireland back in the eighties? I recall going to a league fixture in Dublin where over 90% of the fans were away supporters. Derry had long given up on the Orange Irish League and if they were ever in any doubt about their wisdom, a quick glance at the disgraceful treatment of Cliftonville and the continued refusal to allow a strong West Belfast side in the league, dispels those doubts.
Derry City's carnival reached a peak in 1989 when they won the treble with exotic sounding players from Brazil and South Africa. The world was at their feet, or so we thought.
The fans seemed to disappear and the results plummeted. Derry were never in any danger of relegation but bankruptcy reared its ugly head a few years back. Derry's emergence as All Ireland Football Champions led to a revival in the GA' in the city but Derry was always a soccer city and when Felix Healy entered the fray fortunes took a turn for the better.
Derry were neck and neck with Larry O'Toole's beloved Bohs for most of the season but consistency proved the winner for Derry and the double now looks a likely bet for the Brandywell. What's more satisfying for Felix is the emergence of homegrown talent from the Bogside, Shantallow and beyond.
The future looks good. For the moment it's time for the candy!
Rumour has it that Eamonn McCann has given up on the Socialist Workers Movement. Is it any wonder when the Derry City FC revolution was much more likely to happen? The ``Swimmies'' revolution is due in about a thousand years time but Derry City's last uprising was only eight years ago. They did have a remarkable resemblance to a branch of the ``Swimmies'' in the early days with the speed with which they found and then lost young comrades for the CandyStripes. In fairness to Eamonn, he's been one of Derry's most consistent supporters and has always been one of their leading comrades.
Who could forget the explosion of colour and excitement Derry City FC brought with them to the League of Ireland back in the eighties? I recall going to a league fixture in Dublin where over 90% of the fans were away supporters. Derry had long given up on the Orange Irish League and if they were ever in any doubt about their wisdom, a quick glance at the disgraceful treatment of Cliftonville and the continued refusal to allow a strong West Belfast side in the league, dispels those doubts.
Derry City's carnival reached a peak in 1989 when they won the treble with exotic sounding players from Brazil and South Africa. The world was at their feet, or so we thought.
The fans seemed to disappear and the results plummeted. Derry were never in any danger of relegation but bankruptcy reared its ugly head a few years back. Derry's emergence as All Ireland Football Champions led to a revival in the GA' in the city but Derry was always a soccer city and when Felix Healy entered the fray fortunes took a turn for the better.
Derry were neck and neck with Larry O'Toole's beloved Bohs for most of the season but consistency proved the winner for Derry and the double now looks a likely bet for the Brandywell. What's more satisfying for Felix is the emergence of homegrown talent from the Bogside, Shantallow and beyond.
The future looks good. For the moment it's time for the candy!