A selection of Derry City fans give their thoughts on the 2023 campaign prior to the final match against St Pat's at Brandywell.
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00:00 Well, last game of the season, folks, can you sum it all up? How's it been overall,
00:07 do you think?
00:08 I think the fans are going to be disappointed. We had a good chance of winning the league
00:13 again this year. I wouldn't say we went off ball. I think the teams in the league have
00:18 got a lot stronger compared to over the last 10 or 20 years. We could have been running
00:23 away and getting three points every week, but teams are all pairing, parting the bus
00:27 and just happy enough to get the points. But finishing second, back into Europe again,
00:32 can't complain, we'll go again next year.
00:34 We were talking before the match here, we need a point to finish in second. They had
00:39 the European run as well.
00:41 The European leagues are unbelievable, no doubt about it. I was bragging for a club,
00:45 just a pity where the away leagues was and we couldn't get as many fans going. They had
00:51 Xeriga and all last year. But we're back in Europe again. If you keep getting into Europe
00:55 you keep getting the money pumped into the club. Just keep going and hopefully win the
00:58 league next year.
00:59 What's your favourite moment of the season been? What's the highlight?
01:02 The highlight? I think the European game when they got the second goal here. Was it Micky
01:11 Duffy? Ran into the corner with the fans and the place erupted. That was a great buzz.
01:18 What about yourself? You've been to nearly every match of the season. What's been your
01:24 favourite moment?
01:25 Patching the score and taking the goal against UCD.
01:29 Had to be patching, he's your favourite player is he?
01:31 Yep.
01:32 Have you enjoyed the season?
01:35 Yep.
01:36 Aye? Definitely? You'll be back next year then?
01:39 Yes.
01:40 Obviously next year there's going to be the big stand as well too. Do you think you're
01:44 going to move seats?
01:45 Yeah, maybe.
01:46 Maybe?
01:47 We'll probably go behind the net again.
01:49 Aye?
01:50 Definitely.
01:51 And who's your player of the season? Are you going to say patching?
01:54 I'm going to say patching.
01:55 I'm Ben Doughty.
01:56 I'm Ben Doughty.
01:57 Ben Doughty as well.
01:58 Two of them in the team of the year.
02:00 Yep.
02:01 There's been a few stand outs. I think Cameron McJanet doesn't get enough credit for what
02:06 he does. He's a skipper since Fats has gone away with his injuries. He's a leader on the
02:12 pitch and he's in the upper dutch upper man office as well. I'd be going with McJanet
02:16 this season but the lead man's going to be patching.
02:18 I'm Ben Doughty.
02:19 I'm Ben Doughty.
02:20 I'm Ben Doughty.
02:21 So next season, full of promise, like going on to the next season?
02:24 I'm going to win the league next year. I'm going to double. Go for it. All or nothing.
02:27 What do you think next year?
02:28 I'm going to win it.
02:29 You're going to win the league aren't you?
02:31 Come on, let's sit down.
02:33 So folks, just to get your thoughts on the season as a whole. It's been a slight disappointment.
02:39 I sort of get the feeling around here. What do you think?
02:42 I'll have to agree. Supporter of the club, disappointed. But at the same time, if I finish
02:53 second here tonight I'll be very happy.
02:56 Especially with a European run as well too. It's been pretty good.
02:59 It's been pretty good surely. It's 30 years since we had three times in Europe. One after
03:06 an hour. That's 30 years ago. So you have to add credit to the team and the manager.
03:12 It's been disappointing in a way that he lost a lot of players to him in the one-two run.
03:18 He had them injured. Paddy McAulayne was injured. Connolly. When you lose two or three players
03:26 it's... and Duffy. He hasn't really contacted himself since the broken leg. But really it's
03:33 been a good season. I'm quite happy.
03:36 You have played at Northside. You have been travelling to the Olde Games. Home run away.
03:42 25 years.
03:43 25 years. So what have you thought of it overall?
03:47 Everybody says it's a disappointment. We should not be. We are sitting probably second to
03:54 the late second year in a row. We started on a programme. We were worried. It was a three
04:01 four year programme. But bravely we can say it took five years to win anything. It's going
04:06 to take them a save. And we are going to put the same trust. And we won't get there. And
04:10 I'm very happy. In Europe it's the third year in a row. And I'm just delighted. I would
04:17 be delighted to be there no matter what. It happens because all the bad days we would
04:21 have had. We would have been in the middle of the road getting bit. But we are not doing
04:25 that. We are not just doing things we should be doing. But we won't get there. And I'm
04:28 very happy the players are out.
04:30 What's your favourite moment of the season? I suppose Europe is one of the highlights
04:34 isn't it?
04:35 Europe is the highlight. I'm disappointed in a few places. We went to Sligo twice. Lost.
04:42 Disappointed. Big low point. Costs dearly. Sometimes I can't understand why that happens.
04:50 But that's football. You've got to learn from that for next season.
04:54 The other team is working all week. I'm a bit tired. I'm a bit tired of them. So at the
05:00 end of the day, second to three, second to last team. Worst of the team.
05:05 Definitely. I like to have a final answer on a positive note. But your player of the
05:08 season.
05:09 Brian Maher is our player of the season. He was fantastic.
05:16 Definitely. There are a few candidates. Ben Dornie has been very consistent too. But Brian
05:20 Maher has been excellent.
05:21 There was one man that I have to mention here. Shane McElhinney. Shane McElhinney did not
05:26 get a draw. He shouldn't have been sent off at the time he was sent off. But that's the
05:32 way it goes. Football is a funny old game.
05:35 Excellent.
05:36 So your thoughts on the season. Has it been a disappointment? Are you happy enough with
05:40 your European run and potentially second place after a week?
05:44 At the start of the season, because of what happened last year, it wasn't the expectation.
05:48 You might be pushing on to the next level and obviously challenging for a title. First
05:52 half of the season, especially with the way the Rovers were going, a lot of people were
05:55 thinking in that vein. In terms of strength, the squad, injuries and all the rest, we've
06:00 seen what happens. Getting knocked out of the cup as well. Obviously deflated people.
06:04 Now at the end of the season, I think it's probably come to a point where we're happy
06:08 we get second place, given the form we were in, the sort of last third. But at the same
06:12 time, we're still disappointed that we didn't push on. So for next year, I reckon the squad
06:17 is key. In terms of up front in particular, but on our parts of the pitch as well. In
06:23 terms of Rovers, people have seen at the end of the day, they had the squad there, even
06:27 when they were bad form. They could bring in our players and that's put them in good
06:31 stead for where they ended up. Hopefully next year we can pick up some of the in Rovers
06:37 and Dundalk players who might be coming into the contract that we could be looking at.
06:41 Hopefully we can go further afield and build up more of the youth stuff as well. So we'll
06:44 see what happens for next year. But second place, I think overall, at the start of the
06:48 season, we might want to be disappointed with that. But I think now, at the end of the season,
06:52 we'll be happy enough.
06:53 And obviously getting Europe looking forward to another season in Europe too. It was one
06:57 of the highlights of the year too. It's something they look forward to. For next year, obviously
07:00 you have the stand getting built here as well, mid-season. So plenty of positives going on
07:05 there next year.
07:06 Absolutely. The fact we needed the extra stand, if you look at five, ten years ago, there's
07:09 the support base we had then compared to now. The fact we need the extension of the stand
07:13 shows how things have moved on and the income we'll get from Europe as well, obviously in
07:17 terms of strengthening the squad and all of that is key. So that atmosphere we had here
07:21 was unbelievable. So if we can repeat that, and again, obviously if we're trying to push
07:25 on next year and challenge, I know Europe will become a steady feature for us the next
07:29 few years. But I think people need a little bit younger support especially. Look at where
07:34 we were ten years ago. We were rumbling down like a yo-yo basically. Challenging for Europe
07:40 at that stage was seeing as much as far as we were getting. Whereas now, people are sort
07:44 of taking it for granted. But we shouldn't and it's definitely something we should be
07:47 savouring. But challenging for the title next year, I think is absolutely key.
07:51 I have two more questions. I'm putting you in the spot slightly. I know I've just grabbed
07:55 you. In terms of your favourite moment of the season, the highlight of the season, was
07:59 there a special moment that you remember and you'll take from this season?
08:03 Maybe not as much as last season. Obviously the cup last year, the way we won the cup
08:07 was brilliant. The European matches was obviously a highlight themselves. In fact, we progressed.
08:14 I think for most supporters, if you tell any sort of League of Ireland team you're going
08:19 to move on from the first round, that in itself is a massive achievement. So I'd say I probably
08:23 would be. But all in all, it's sort of 50/50 in terms of where we've ended up. But I think
08:30 we're in good luck. So the ever next year, I think strength in the squad is absolutely
08:33 key.
08:34 And just finally, your player of the season. There's a couple of contenders, isn't there?
08:38 Very steady.
08:39 We have injuries. Some of the players who would have been on full season last year, people
08:45 like that, didn't get the full run. We have our fans' favours as well. Obviously, that's
08:51 obviously been one of my favours. But injuries as well has been an issue for himself. Nobody
08:59 really has stood out for me as such this year. But Brian Maher has been key as far as I'm
09:03 concerned because without him, he'd just show his previous worth again this year.
09:07 I'm joined by the chairman, Mr Phil Boddardy. Obviously, before the match here, hopefully
09:14 in second place, you're secured as well too.
09:17 It's been nice to get second. I think we deserve it, by the way.
09:20 Definitely. But overall, how have you seen the season?
09:23 It's still great to be in the European spots, which is always the minimum we're going to
09:29 look for. But I think it could have been our season. If luck had been with us, we had no
09:33 luck at all. But I'm looking forward to next season too. Getting started on the project
09:39 here, the terrace project. It should be starting in a couple of weeks' time. But we're going
09:43 to start isolating the mechanical and electrical services on Monday. It'll probably take about
09:48 a week to get diggers in. But the council seem to be helping us with getting through
09:52 all the obstacles that we have to get through to begin construction projects. So it's going
09:56 pretty fast as we can, only put it like that.
09:59 Always getting a wee exclusive of you, Phil.
10:02 You hear it here first.
10:04 But I think that's the general feeling. I'm asking a few of the fans. It's all positive
10:08 towards next season. Obviously, people were a wee bit slightly disappointed that the title
10:13 bud sort of fell a wee bit short again. But confident that that gap can be closed next.
10:18 We're real challengers now. We were a bit away from it a few years ago. But last year
10:23 and this year, they're not far between us and Seán McGovern. But there's other teams
10:27 coming up as well. Bohemians had a good season. And obviously, St. Pat's are right beside
10:33 us at the minute.
10:34 Can I ask you, because I suppose European, the run was a highlight as well this season.
10:39 But have you any specific moment that you remember from this season or you'll take away
10:43 from this season?
10:44 Obviously, the penalty shootout in Dublin. Then the next penalty shootout up here a few
10:49 days later against tonight's opponents St. Pat's. But look, overall, I suppose winning
10:55 the ties in the Ferrals and in Finland, I think that's a big highlight of the season.
10:59 It was a great coming through a couple of rounds in Europe. It really is.
11:02 And they put you in the spot player of the season. Have you got one that stands out?
11:07 There's been a few contenders, isn't there? Really consistent, Ben Doughty, Brian Macher
11:11 has been fantastic.
11:12 I'd probably say Brian Macher, actually.
11:15 He's been excellent.
11:16 Really good performances over the season.
11:18 And just finally, you'll be looking to strengthen Rory? You'll be looking to strengthen next
11:22 season?
11:23 He's been looking for this weekend, so yeah. Rory Higgins was a backer. If it comes to
11:29 plans, comes to players, I just really hope they enjoy things better this coming season
11:34 than last season. I think they had the right squad, but unfortunately our better players
11:39 were injured for a big part of the season. I hope that really can't happen two years
11:43 in a row with any luck at all.
11:45 So folks, obviously last game of the season, hopefully secure a second here. Overall, what's
11:52 your summary of the season? How's it been? Can you sum it up?
11:56 I think the season's been a wee bit of a letdown. I think we all went into the start of the
12:02 season thinking we're going to have to do big things. Europe was great, but I think
12:08 going out 10 of these two games in a row just put a bit of a damper on everything. But hopefully
12:14 we'll do the business that night and set us all happy.
12:18 I think the injuries is a big factor in the whole thing falling short. The Rovers again,
12:23 wasn't it? Do you think that's a big enough excuse? They sort of say why the Wheels came
12:28 off in the end, do you think?
12:29 I think you can see injuries and stuff like that, but every team has injuries and stuff.
12:34 Probably what's been frustrating is the fact that you see in the summer how the team could
12:39 play when the handbrake was sort of let off. That was really, really promising and you
12:44 thought we were going to drive on after that. Obviously, it's that elapsed day. You go out
12:49 and the response, we got a couple of results after and then it just died out. That's probably
12:54 what's disappointing because you look at it and go, this is a serious deal. What could
12:59 it have been? Especially the way that you look at all our teams and how they've maybe
13:03 underperformed. This was our chance.
13:05 I was just speaking to Fulbert earlier, he says he's going to start opening that checkbook
13:08 again to back Raelix. Where would you like to see him strengthened? Who would you like
13:11 to see him bring on, do you think, just off the top of your head?
13:14 Definitely forward. We need somebody that'll put the ball away. That's what we've been
13:19 lacking all year. There's been too many games where we've been knocking on the door and
13:24 just not been able to break it down. Somebody that'll score you 15 to 20 goals is essential
13:32 for next year.
13:33 Your highlight, I know we're putting these on the spot, has there been a standout moment
13:37 of the season, something that you're going to take away from after the season's finished?
13:41 I suppose for me, I was lucky enough to be in 2-0 for the away European game in the finish
13:47 run. Obviously, being in Torshavn, that wasn't big. They go to empty, they could see that.
13:53 As Chad earlier made so much of it, I was like, "It's a rollercoaster, 1-0 up, 1-8, 2-1
13:58 down, 2-8." You just didn't know. For WWL, to get that goal and get that absolute thrill
14:05 of knocking through one round, getting through two, just the buzz over there was just incredible.
14:09 I'd love it if that buzz was in the league or if we got back to the league in a couple
14:15 of weeks' time, but it didn't happen. I suppose you look back and just go, "That's
14:19 what I think of us all in a year, and that's the thing I take away from it."
14:22 Of course, look at Europe, they look forward to next year as well.
14:24 Exactly. I was just thinking there, what would be my highlight? It's crazy to think the
14:31 trip to Calais to watch us in Europe, just purely because how many people left the city
14:36 and went down to watch us play. I know we went away disappointed, but we really fronted
14:42 up to that team. It just shows you how good we can actually play and the support that
14:47 we still have in the city. Hopefully we'll see it again next year. Let's get the check
14:53 card, we'll see how we get on.
14:55 Again, I'm going to ask you both, who's the player of the season? Has there been any standout
14:59 player of the season for you?
15:00 It's just a noise thing.
15:04 I think it's between two players, probably McMullen and Ben Dordy. McMullen, quite exciting.
15:10 I know he hasn't scored a lot of goals in the last days of us, hopefully after that
15:15 next year. But Ben scored a few goals, he set up plenty of goals. Probably would give
15:20 it to Ben for that reason.
15:22 I'd echo that, just Ben came in, I think there was a lot of people questioning, like Ben
15:27 Dordy, they remember him years ago. He's come back a different player from his spell at
15:31 Ben Atherton, from being up at Larne, Corain and stuff. He's come back and obviously made
15:35 a really big impact. The thing is, you just say, you alluded to the injuries earlier on
15:39 too, we've had bits of spells at boys in good form, well patched in the second half of the
15:44 season, great. Whereas at the start of the season people were questioning him, stuff
15:47 like that. Joe and then McMullen came on like a house on fire. So I just think that's maybe
15:52 been the issue. We haven't had players who have had consistently brilliant seasons. If
15:56 you put them all together at the right time, it probably could have been different.
16:00 Definitely. And just finally, can we win that league next year? Or is it our year next year?
16:06 I thought it was going to be our year this year, but why not? As Jay says, if we put
16:12 a consistent run together, there's a lot of teams in transition next year. I think it
16:19 will be who can be most consistent. It's exactly what happened this year. Rovers, they knew
16:25 how to get over the line, they haven't been fantastic. And they're rumoured to lose a
16:30 lot of players. We're talking Galway's going to come up, they're dropping the derby to
16:34 spend money. But they have to get all their players to gel in. We have a really solid
16:40 spine of a team, hopefully we can keep them all together. If we are just a wee bit of
16:45 class, especially in the forward line, I definitely think we can.
16:49 And I listen to Journal Podcasts and I hope I kill you.
16:53 (laughing)