Conor McDermott

Name: Conor McDermott
Born: 18 August 1997, Culmore, Londonderry
Height:
Weight: 
Position: Midfielder/Full-Back

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Under-21 (2016-date), Under-18 Schools (2015).

Club Career:
Derry City Youth

Biography:
A former pupil of St Columb's College, Conor McDermott broke into the Derry City first team as an eighteen year-old. Already a Northern Ireland Under-18 Schoolboy international, he was called into the Under-21 squad in the autumn of 2016.

To follow.

Newsletter
Derry Journal

Derry City FC
UEFA
Twitter

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
11-10-2016 France H L 0-3 ECQ
still active.

Danny Hale

Name:
Born: 1 July 1941, Waterfoot
Height:
Weight:
Position: Forward

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 3 Amateur Caps (1960-1963)
Club Honours: (with Glentoran) Irish Intermediate Cup Winner 1961/62; (with Crusaders) Ulster Cup Winner 1963/64; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1964/65; (with Dundalk) League of Ireland Champion 1966/67; League of Ireland Shield 1966/67; Top Four Cup Winner 1966/67; (with Derry) Irish Cup Runner-Up 1970/71.
Awards: Irish League Topscorer 1968/69; League of Ireland Topscorer 1966/67 (joint); Dundalk Player of the Year 1966/67.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	FL Cup	Europe	Other
St Malachy's		-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Cranburn Stars		-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lisnagarvey Strollers		-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Cliftonville	59/60-60/61	-	Amateur	*/ 19	-	-	-	-
Glentoran	61/62	-	Amateur	8(0)/  3	1(0)/2	-	-	3(0)/1
Crusaders	62/63-65/66	c/s-62	Amateur	*/138	-	-	-	-
Dundalk	66/67-67/68	c/s-66	-	41(1)/ 22	7(0)/4	18(0)/12	2(0)/1	12(0)/4
Derry City	67/68-70/71	-	-	*/103	-	-	-	-
Ards	71/72	c/s-71	-	/  6	-	/ 2	-	/3
TOTALS	-	£-		/291	/6	/14	2(0)/1	/8

* all games

Biography:

To follow.

Dundalk Who's Who

Northern Ireland Amateur Cap Details:
24-09-1960 England A L 2-3 
28-09-1963 England H W 2-1
25-09-1965 England H L 0-2

Summary: 3/0. Won 1, Drew 0, Lost 2.

Player Transfers January 2016

2014/15 - 2015/16 -2016/17

- Club Appearances - Transfers (summer 2015 - January 2016) - Cups, Ups & Downs -

Northern Ireland players on the move...

Permanent Transfers
Rory Patterson (FC United to Derry City) BBC
Jonny Steele (ex-Minnesota United to Ottawa Fury) FuryFC
Philip Lowry (Derry City to Portadown) BBC
Shane Ferguson (Newcastle United to Millwall) BBC
Michael McLellan (H&W Welders to Linfield) BBC
Chris Johns (Bangor to Coleraine) CFC
Colin Nixon (Bangor to Larne) LFC
Ryan Brobbel (Whitby to TNS) Shropshire Star 

Loan Deals
Jeff Hughes (Cambridge to Tranmere) BBC
Ivan Sproule (Linfield to Ballinamallard) BBC
Robbie McDaid (Leeds to Lincoln) IrishFA
Luke Conlan (Burnley to Morecambe) Lancashire Evening Post
Chris Hegarty (Linfield to Dungannon) LFC
Lee Hodson (MK Dons to Kilmarnock) BBC

Pre-Contracts
Michael Gault (Portadown to Crusaders) BBC

Released
Jamie Sendles-White (Hamilton Academical) AcciesFC

Mikhail Kennedy

Name: Mikhail Kennedy
Born: 18 August 1996, Londonderry
Height: 5.10 ft
Weight: 11.09 st
Position: Forward / Midfielder

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Under-21, Under-20, Under-19, Under-17 ...

Club Career:
Teams
Charlton Athletic 15/16- date Dec-14 Youth
VCD Athletic .... 14/15 ..... Dec-14 .Loan (Isthmian League)
Derry City ...... 2017 ...... Feb-17 .Loan

Biography:
A member of Northern Ireland's 2014 Milk Cup winning side, Mikhail Kennedy scored on his Charlton Athletic debut, in a League Cup tie against Peterborough in August 2015. The following month he scored within seven minutes of his Northern Ireland Under-21 debut, in a 2-1 defeat by Scotland.

CAFC
Soccerbase
Wikipedia

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
05-09-2015 Scotland H L 1-2 ECQ 1 goal
still active

Adrian Doherty

Name: Adrian Doherty
Born: 10 June 1973, Strabane
Died: 9 June 2000, The Hague (Netherlands)
Height: 5.08 ft
Weight: 10.06 st
Position: Winger

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Under-16, 6 Under-15 Schoolboy Caps (1988).

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	FL Cup	Europe	Other
Moorfield Boys	-	-	Youth	-	-	-	-	-
Derry City	-	-	Youth	0(0)/0	-	-	-	-
Manchester.United	-	Nov-87	Youth	0(0)/0	-	-	-	-
Derry City	93/94	c/s-93	Free	3(0)/1	-	-	-	-
TOTALS	-	£0		3(0)/1	0(0)/0	0(0)/0	0(0)/0	0(0)/0

Biography:
A contemporary of Manchester United's famous "Class of '92", Adrian Doherty was rated ahead of the likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and David Beckham. By the time those illustrious names had become established at Old Trafford, Doherty's career had been ended by injury.

Doherty came through youth football in the Derry area, earning schoolboy caps while a pupil at St Colman's in Strabane. He was attached to Derry City and signed for Manchester United at fourteen. He was just 16 when called into United's senior squad in March 1990. Around the same time Billy Bingham sought to include him in the Northern Ireland Under-21 squad for a match against Israel, but Alex Ferguson blocked the move, considering Doherty still too young.

Just days before what should have been his First Division debut, Doherty suffered the cruciate ligament injury that would ultimately end his career. Over the following few years he had a few abortive comeback attempts before Ferguson agreed to allow him to sign for Roy Coyle's Derry City. He made a goalscoring debut for the Candystripes against Cobh in August 1993, but after just two further matches, aged just twenty, his playing career was over.

Also a talented guitarist and song-writer, some speculate that he could have as easily been the next Bob Dylan as the next George Best, Doherty attempted to build a career in music. In reality he ended up drifting from job to job. It was shortly after moving to Amsterdam to work in a furniture factory that he tripped and fell into a canal. After spending a month in a coma, Doherty passed away, just a day short of his 27th birthday.

An incredibly tragic story of "what might have been".

Guardian Article
Matt Bradley Tribute

Northern Ireland Schoolboys, 1988

Michael Duffy

Name: Michael Duffy
Born: 28 July 1994
Height: 5.10 ft / 1.78 m
Weight: 10.10 st / 68 kg
Position: Forward / Midfielder

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Under-21, Under-19.
Club Honours: (with Dundalk) FAI Cup Runner-Up 2017.

Club Career:
Teams .... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Europe Other
Derry City 2012 - 2014 ...... Youth 56(-)/13 ............. 6(-)/2
Brentford ............ Jan-14 Trial .0(0)/ 0
Celtic ............... Feb-15 Undis .0(0)/ 0
Alloa Ath. 15/16 ..... Jul-15 .Loan 31(3)/ 3 1(0)/0 1(0)/0 ...... 2(0)/0
Dundee ... 16/17 ..... Jun-16. Loan .4(4)/ 0 0(1)/0 3(1)/1
Dundalk .. 2017 - date Jan-17 .Free

Biography:
Left winger awarded his first senior call-up in August 2016.

More to follow.

UEFA
Derry City

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
09-09-2014 Serbia.. H L 1-4 ECQ
05-09-2015 Scotland H L 1-2 ECQ
08-09-2015 Iceland. A D 1-1 ECQ
still active

Irwyn McKibbin

Name: Irwyn McKibbin
Born:
Height:
Weight:
Position: Goalkeeper

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 5 Amateur Caps (1969-1973), Youth.
Club Honours: (with Linfield) Gold Cup Winner; City Cup Winner.

Club Career:
Teams....... --Seasons-- Signed --Fee-- League FA Cup Europe Other
Cliftonville .................. Amateur
Derry City .................... Amateur
Linfield ................. 1972 Amateur
Carrick Rangers .......... 1975

Biography:
To follow.

LinfieldFC

Northern Ireland Amateur Cap Details:
27-09-1969 England. H L 1-4
15-04-1972 Wales... A W 3-0
15-05-1972 England. A W 2-1
06-10-1972 England. A L 1-2
07-04-1973 Wales... A D 1-1

Summary: 5/0. Won 2, Drew 1, Lost 2.

News: Billy Gillespie

Hi folks,

I would like to draw your attention to an event taking place in the village of Kerrykeel in Co Donegal on Saturday 7th September at 4pm when the village will pay tribute to Billy Gillespie, Sheffield United and Northern Ireland legend.

William Ballintrae Gillespie was born in the Village of Kerrykeel, Co. Donegal on 6th August 1891. The son of a policeman, he became simply known as “Billy”.  Showing talent from a young age in junior football ranks Gillespie was quickly signed up by Derry Institute when he was just 17 before making the move to Yorkshire to the then called Leeds City. Sheffield United obviously liked what they saw and in December 1912 he moved to the Blades for a fee of £400. It was money well spent as Billy Gillespie became the lynchpin of the side, making nearly 500 appearances’ and scoring over 130 goals, it’s no surprise that he is still revered around the streets of Bramell Lane. His finest hour however came when he captained the Blades to the 1925 FA Cup win over Cardiff and in turn became the first Irishman to captain an FA Cup winning team. The man from Kerrykeel was outstanding on the day with his performance described as follows by the local scribes of the day; “Sheffield United played wonderfully well but special praise is due to Gillespie, the man who waves a wand and whose influence has played such a vital part in United's capture of the Cup." To date this is still Sheffield United’s last major honour.

His career in the green shirt of Ireland was equally outstanding – Gillespie made his International bow on February 15th 1913 at Windsor Park and the Sheffield United marksman scored twice as Ireland recorded an historic first victory over England. It was the start of a remarkable run of goals for Gillespie against the English side. He repeated the feat the following year as the Irish side ran riot beating England 3-0 at Ayesome Park in Middlesbrough, as Ireland won the home international championship. Gillespie would go on to score seven of his thirteen international goals against the English in an international career that would span 25 Irish caps and would be Northern Ireland’s leadings marksman for a remarkable 78 years, before his goals tally was eventually overtaken in 2004 by David Healy, himself a thorn in the English side.

When leaving Bramell Lane in 1932, Gillespie would also have an effect on the local football scene. Returning to take charge of Irish League side Derry City, he took a Sheffield United strip with him and the Derry club adopted the red and white stripes they famously wear to this day. There’s no doubt Billy Gillespie was a proud Blade. He led Derry City to two City Cup triumphs and on four successive occasions they finished runners up in the Irish League. When Gillespie left Derry City in 1941 he relocated to Bexley in Kent, where he died a month short of his ninetieth birthday in July 1981.

Sadly in the modern era of wall to wall TV coverage and million pound contracts the extraordinary achievements of Billy Gillespie were in danger of being lost in time. This hit a nerve with a number of football enthusiasts within the Kerrykeel area and thanks to the help of funding from the local authorities in Donegal, Billy Gillespie’s name and football legacy will live on to another generation of young football fans across the North of Ireland.

The events on September 7th will begin at 4pm and included in the programme will be:

• A commemorative plaque will be unveiled by Jane Bull (Billy’s Grand-daughter who is traveling from the UK) at the local football club’s clubhouse at Rab’s Park Kerrykeel.
• Distribution of a commemorative brochure for the occasion
• A Billy Gillespie wall inside the clubhouse (newspaper cuttings, pictures, information on career etc)
• Refreshments afterwards in local Bar & Restaurant

Sheffield United, The Irish FA, The Football Association of Ireland, Derry City and Institute FC are sending representatives to Kerrykeel on the day in question and it is hoped football supporters across the North West and beyond will travel to what what promises to be a special day for the area and for the Gillespie family.

Donegal Now

Shane McEleney

Name: Shane McEleney
Born: 31 January 1991, Londonderry
Height: 6.03 ft / 1.91 m
Weight: 13.05 st / 85 kg
Position: Defender

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 2 Under-21 Caps (2012); Republic of Ireland: Under-21, Youth; League of Ireland Representative.
Club Honours: (with Derry) FAI Cup Winner 2012; League of Ireland Cup Winner 2011 (unused sub); League of Ireland First Division Champion 2010 (promoted).

Club Career:
Teams .... -Seasons- Signed -Fee- -League- Europe
Derry City 2009-2015 ...... Youth 126(-)/0 4(-)/0
St. Pat's. 2015-2016 Jul-15
Ottawa Fury ........ Dec-16

Biography:
Formerly a member of the Republic of Ireland Youth teams, Derry City defender Shane McEleney was first called into the Northern Ireland Under-21 team for a friendly against Hungary in August 2012. He marked his debut with a goal in a 3-2 defeat.

A Derry-native, McEleney made his Candystripes debut against Drogheda in September 2009 and remained with the club after they were demoted from the Premier Division. He established himself in the team as they claimed the First Division title in 2010 and played his part in FAI Cup and League Cup wins as well as big European matches in the seasons that followed.

Mid-way through the 2015 season McEleney left Derry for St Pat's.

More to follow.

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
15-08-2012 Hungary A L 2-3 FR 1 goal
13-11-2012 England A L 0-2 FR sub

Summary: 1(1)/1. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 2.

Gerard Doherty

BBC

Name: Gerard Doherty
Born: 24 August 1981, Londonderry
Height: 6.02 ft (1.88 m)

Weight: 13.08 st (86 kg)
Position: Goalkeeper

Representative Honours: Republic of Ireland: Youth; League of Ireland Representative (2011).
Club Honours: (with TNS) Welsh Premier League Champion 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07; Welsh Cup Winner 2004/05; League of Wales Cup Winner 2005/06; FAW Premier Cup Winner 2006/07; (with Derry) FAI Cup Winner 2012; League of Ireland Cup Winner 2008, 2011; League of Ireland First Division Winner 2010.

Awards: Airtricity/Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland Goalkeeper of the Year 2011.

Club Career: (to end of 2012)

Clubs.... --Seasons-- Signed --Fee-- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Europe

Derry C. .98/99 .............. Youth ..5(0)/0

Derby Co. ........... Feb-99 £30,000 ..0(0)/0 

T.N.S. .. 01/02-07/08 Nov-01 ...Free 144(0)/0 ............. 8(0)/0

Barry T. .03/04 ............... Loan ..2(0)/0 

Derry C...2008 - date Jan-08 ....... 130(-)/0 ............. 4(0)/0

Biography:

A former Republic of Ireland youth cap, Ger Doherty was long talked-up as a potential international by his club-manager, Declan Devine. Michael O'Neill awarded Doherty his first Northern Ireland call-up for a February 2013 friendly in Malta.

More to follow.

Wikipedia

Welsh Premier League
Irish Times Soccer Stats

League of Ireland Representative Appearance Details:

30-07-2011 Manchester City FC L 0-3 DSC

31-07-2011 Celtic FC ........ L 0-5 DSC

Summary: 2/0. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 2.

Bobby Brolly

Name: Robert G. Brolly
Born: Belfast
Height:
Weight:
Position: Right-Half

Representative Honours: (Northern) Ireland: 10 Amateur Caps / 1 Goal (1953-1957)
Club Honours: (with Coleraine) Irish Cup Runner-Up 1952/53; (with Derry) Irish Cup Winner 1953/54, Runner-Up 1956/57.

Club Career:

Clubs	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	Europe	Other
Coleraine	-	-	Amateur	-	-	-
Derry City	-	Nov-53	Amateur	-	-	-
TOTALS		£-		-	-	-

Biography: 

Right-half and some-time captain of Ireland Amateurs through much of the 1950s, Bobby Brolly played in three Irish Cup finals for Coleraine and Derry, winning just once, in 1954. He moved between the two near-neighbours in an exchange deal that saw Fay Coyle transfer in the other direction.

More to follow.

Northern Ireland Amateur Cap Details:
31-01-1953 England...... A L 1-4
14-02-1953 Scotland..... H W 1-0
12-09-1953 England...... H W 3-1
10-10-1953 South Africa. H L 2-5
23-01-1954 Wales........ H W 3-2
22-02-1954 Distillery FC N W 5-2
25-02-1956 Scotland..... A W 3-1
15-09-1956 England...... A L 2-5
19-01-1957 Wales........ H L 1-3
23-02-1957 Scotland..... H W 4-1 1 goal
28-09-1957 England...... H L 0-3

Summary: 10/1. Won 5, Drew 0, Lost 5.

Blair Vincent

Name: Blair C. Vincent
Born: 30 November 1913, Castlerock
Died: 25 April 1998
Height: 5.10 ft
Weight: 11.12 st
Position: Right-Back

Representative Honours: Ireland: 1 Amateur Cap (1939).
Club Honours: (with Coleraine Crusaders) Irish Junior Cup Winner 1936/37; (with Ballymena) Irish Cup Winner 1939/40, Runner-Up 1938/39.

Club Career:

Clubs	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	Other
Coleraine	-	-	Amateur	-	-
Derry City	37/38	1937	Amateur	-	-
Coleraine	38/39	Sep-38	Amateur	-	-
Ballymena United	38/39-39/40	Nov-38	Amateur	*32/1	-
TOTALS		£-		-	-

Biography:
Younger brother of Jamie, also an amateur international.

To follow.

Ireland Amateur Cap Details:
19-04-1939 Scotland A D 1-1

Summary: 1/0. Won 0, Drew 1, Lost 0.

With thanks to Medusa for the additional details.