Northwest Derby
Encyclopedia
The North-west Derby (Finn Harps v Derry City) is the name of the association football match played between Finn Harps
and Derry City
. Although Sligo Rovers also play in the northwest of Ireland
, the clubs' respective games with this team are not considered to represent the playing of the traditional Northwest Derby. It has been hotly contested on a season-to-season basis since Derry's inception into the League of Ireland
in 1985, with the rival clubs often meeting on a number of occasions during the one season.
in 1985 as a result of the close proximity of the club's respective homes to the other's. The city of Derry
in County Londonderry
is located about just 40 miles from the Donegal
town of Ballybofey
, where Finn Harps play. Sligo
, on the other hand, although still considered to be within the realm of the northwest region, is further afield for both clubs.
The rivalry between the teams is fuelled by quite a substantial gulf in success, a rural-urban and a national divide between the two. Derry's support comes largely from the city of Derry while Finn Harps, who have been less successful historically, play in a small regional market-town and take their support from the whole of County Donegal
. Even though they have quite a large support-base in Letterkenny
, a sizable proportion of their support is derived from those who are culturally rural. Because of this, Derry fans often view and verbally abuse their Donegal neighbours as backward, in-bred "sheep-shaggers", "rednecks" or "culchie
s" who watch their team play in a cow-shed, relating to Finn Park, the home ground of Finn Harps. The terms have found their way into a number of club songs reserved for derby-day. Abusive and demeaning songs sung by Derry's supporters include:
Meanwhile, Finn Harps supporters often taunt the mainly-nationalist Derry fans by rhetorically asking in chant what it is like to have a British
queen, as Derry play in Northern Ireland
, while Finn Harps play across the border in the Republic of Ireland
and have the common perceived pleasure of living life free of monarchy
-rule. Along with chants such as You're Brits and You Know You Are and provocatively referring to the city as "Londonderry
, United Kingdom
", they also mock Derry fans due to their Brandywell ground's association with greyhound racing
and, in response to the "sheep-shagging" taunts directed towards them, often imply that their northern counterparts are dogs or engage in acts of bestiality with dogs. The Baha Men's
Who Let the Dogs Out?
is a popular song amongst Finn Harps supporters on the day of a derby.
However, it must be pointed out that the rivalry is not always a negative one. It is, in the main, a friendly, healthy one and the exchange of verbal abuse is often taken as "banter" and in good spirit and humour by the two groups of fans. Furthermore, while both clubs have encountered periods of financial trouble in recent years, they have often been helped by the other in this regard. Finn Harps were also one of the major proponents of Derry's joining of the League of Ireland
in 1985. Phil Coulter
is known as a fan of both sides, and has been instrumental in keeping them as operational football clubs.
Although the clubs frequently transfer local-based players between one another, after Derry signed Kevin McHugh
from a relegated Finn Harps at the beginning of the 2006 season, certain elements within Derry's support vowed never to return to the Brandywell after what he had done during a controversial goal-celebration in a promotion/relegation play-off final game between the clubs on 13 December 2003. Some still refuse to sings songs in relation to the player, but the majority of fans have welcomed McHugh's impressive skill, fitness and work ethic and forgive him for his "humorous" celebration.
Despite the close rivalry between the two teams, Finn Harps have managed only 3 wins in 58 meetings, with 12 draws and 43 Derry wins. The most recent meeting, in the 24th round of games of the 2008 Premier Division season, resulted in a 1-0 win for Derry at the Brandywell (following up their 2-1 win there earlier in the season and a 2-0 win at Finn Park).
Promotion/Relegation Play-Off final. The game decided which of the clubs would play in the following season's Premier and First Divisions. The loser was to be resigned to playing in the lower tier while the winner was to be rewarded with the top-tier place. Derry City, having qualified for the play-offs after finishing ninth in the Premier Division, came into the game facing the daunting prospect of relegation while Finn Harps, having qualified by finishing third in the First Division, faced a potential promotion. To add further flavour to the tie, Derry had never been relegated from and division they had played in their history. Relegation would have proved a huge blow and a major humiliation.
The first leg had finished 0-0 at Finn Park
on 10 December 2003, so all was still to play for. Noel King
led Finn Harps into the game after previously managing Derry and guiding them to a League of Ireland
title in 1997. Inflatable sheep could be seen floating over the heads of fans in the old 'Jungle' area of the stadium, while Derry came in for criticism from offended Finn Harps officials after the game, as prior to the game's beginning, a rendition of Baa Baa Black Sheep
was played over the Brandywell PA system in order to taunt the opposition. The officials were also critical of the handling of security by Derry's private stewards in the stadium and a suggestion that the RUC
might have done a better job was not received well in Derry. A large pitch invasion occurred after the final whistle was blown and certain Finn Harps fans had felt threatened by the excited behaviour of some of Derry's supporters. Derry are unique, due to the political situation in Northern Ireland
, in that they do not have a police presence inside their ground.
By the end of the tense affair, the Finn Harps manager had also been sent from the dug-out by the referee, Alan Kelly, for losing his cool after protesting Derry's second goal in extra-time. The Derry striker, Liam Coyle
, had received the ball from a quick Ciaran Martyn
free-kick and as he went down under the challenge of Shane Bradley
, the ball rolled past goal-keeper Gary Ramsey and into the Harps' net. Confusion abounded in the Finn Harps defence and their players had seemed to stall in response as if to suggest they believed that they had heard a whistle or that play had been brought to a halt by the referee for the bad tackle on Coyle. Two of King's players, Shane Bradley and Kevin McHugh
, were also later sent off from the field of play in separate incidents during the fiery second half of extra-time. McHugh's earlier equaliser had also caused controversy. The extraordinary amount of stoppage time played, which allowed McHugh the time and chance to score, was looked upon with a degree of scepticism by Derry's support, while his celebration infuriated certain others. After hitting the back of the net with the ball, McHugh ran straight for the dog-track, crouched down and ran along on his hands and knees, emulating the actions of a racing greyhound.
The game was also City veteran Liam Coyle's
last game as a player.
----
The game took Derry's unbeaten run to 8 games that season and helped condemn their rivals to relegation from the Premier Division. The tone had been set before the game as the rivalry between the two was underlined just thirty minutes before kick-off when the match referee, Pat Whelan from Dublin, following a verbal exchange with Felix Healy
, the then-manager of Finn Harps, ruled that the Harps' team boss should watch the game from the stands rather from the dug-out.
Finn Harps F.C.
Finn Harps Football Club are a professional Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1954 and elected to the league in 1969. They hail from Ballybofey, County Donegal and play their home matches at Finn Park. The club's colours are blue...
and Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
. Although Sligo Rovers also play in the northwest of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the clubs' respective games with this team are not considered to represent the playing of the traditional Northwest Derby. It has been hotly contested on a season-to-season basis since Derry's inception into the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
in 1985, with the rival clubs often meeting on a number of occasions during the one season.
History
The derby exists since Derry City's entry into the League of IrelandLeague of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
in 1985 as a result of the close proximity of the club's respective homes to the other's. The city of Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
in County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
is located about just 40 miles from the Donegal
Donegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
town of Ballybofey
Ballybofey
Ballybofey is a town located on the south bank of the River Finn, County Donegal, Ireland. Along with the smaller town of Stranorlar on the north side of the River Finn, Ballybofey makes up the Twin Towns....
, where Finn Harps play. Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
, on the other hand, although still considered to be within the realm of the northwest region, is further afield for both clubs.
The rivalry between the teams is fuelled by quite a substantial gulf in success, a rural-urban and a national divide between the two. Derry's support comes largely from the city of Derry while Finn Harps, who have been less successful historically, play in a small regional market-town and take their support from the whole of County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
. Even though they have quite a large support-base in Letterkenny
Letterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
, a sizable proportion of their support is derived from those who are culturally rural. Because of this, Derry fans often view and verbally abuse their Donegal neighbours as backward, in-bred "sheep-shaggers", "rednecks" or "culchie
Culchie
In Irish-English culchie is a term sometimes used to describe a person from rural Ireland. In Dublin, it is often used to describe someone from without the bounds of the 'M50' motorway. It usually has a pejorative meaning, but is also reclaimed by some proud of their rural origin, and may be used...
s" who watch their team play in a cow-shed, relating to Finn Park, the home ground of Finn Harps. The terms have found their way into a number of club songs reserved for derby-day. Abusive and demeaning songs sung by Derry's supporters include:
You are a culchie, A smelly cuchie, You're only happy on market day, Your ground's a cow-shed, Your fans are inbred, You're only sheep-shaggers from Ballybofey. - Sung to the tune of You Are My Sunshine You Are My Sunshine "You Are My Sunshine" is a popular song first recorded in 1939. It has been declared one of the state songs of Louisiana as a result of its association with former state governor and country music singer Jimmie Davis. The song is copyright 1940 Peer International Corporation, words and music by... . |
What's the story in Ballybofey, wouldn't you like to know? Sheep-shagging bastards, sheep-shagging bastards. -Repeated to the theme tune of Balamory Balamory Balamory was a live action television series on British television for pre-school children, based around the fictional small island community of Balamory in Scotland. It was produced between 2002 and 2005 by BBC Scotland, with 254 episodes made... . |
What's it like to be Finn Harps? What's it like to be small? What's it like when your team wins nothing at all? Nothing at all. - Sung to the tune of This Is How It Feels This Is How It Feels "This Is How It Feels" was a 1990 single by the Inspiral Carpets. It was their first single in the Top 40, where it reached number 14 in the UK.... by The Inspiral Carpets. |
Meanwhile, Finn Harps supporters often taunt the mainly-nationalist Derry fans by rhetorically asking in chant what it is like to have a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
queen, as Derry play in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, while Finn Harps play across the border in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and have the common perceived pleasure of living life free of monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
-rule. Along with chants such as You're Brits and You Know You Are and provocatively referring to the city as "Londonderry
Derry-Londonderry name dispute
The names of the city, county, and district of Derry or Londonderry in Northern Ireland are the subject of a naming dispute between nationalists and unionists. Generally, although not always, one will find nationalists calling them Derry, and unionists referring to them as Londonderry...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
", they also mock Derry fans due to their Brandywell ground's association with greyhound racing
Greyhound racing
Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner....
and, in response to the "sheep-shagging" taunts directed towards them, often imply that their northern counterparts are dogs or engage in acts of bestiality with dogs. The Baha Men's
Baha Men
The Baha Men are Bahamian singers in a Bahamian band. They play a modernised style of Bahamian music called Junkanoo.-Early career as High Voltage :...
Who Let the Dogs Out?
Who Let the Dogs Out?
"Who Let the Dogs Out?" is a song written and originally recorded by Anslem Douglas for Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival season of 1998. It was heard and taped on a float by hairdresser Keith from the London salon Smile, who played it to Jonathan King, who recorded it and released it under the name...
is a popular song amongst Finn Harps supporters on the day of a derby.
However, it must be pointed out that the rivalry is not always a negative one. It is, in the main, a friendly, healthy one and the exchange of verbal abuse is often taken as "banter" and in good spirit and humour by the two groups of fans. Furthermore, while both clubs have encountered periods of financial trouble in recent years, they have often been helped by the other in this regard. Finn Harps were also one of the major proponents of Derry's joining of the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
in 1985. Phil Coulter
Phil Coulter
Phil Coulter is an artist with an international reputation as a successful songwriter, pianist, music producer, arranger and director. His success has spanned four decades and he is one of the biggest record sellers in Ireland...
is known as a fan of both sides, and has been instrumental in keeping them as operational football clubs.
Although the clubs frequently transfer local-based players between one another, after Derry signed Kevin McHugh
Kevin McHugh
Kevin McHugh ; born 19 January 1980 in Letterkenny, Ireland) is an Irish football player currently with Finn Harps.-Career:McHugh was born in Letterkenny and raised in the border-town of Killea in Co...
from a relegated Finn Harps at the beginning of the 2006 season, certain elements within Derry's support vowed never to return to the Brandywell after what he had done during a controversial goal-celebration in a promotion/relegation play-off final game between the clubs on 13 December 2003. Some still refuse to sings songs in relation to the player, but the majority of fans have welcomed McHugh's impressive skill, fitness and work ethic and forgive him for his "humorous" celebration.
Despite the close rivalry between the two teams, Finn Harps have managed only 3 wins in 58 meetings, with 12 draws and 43 Derry wins. The most recent meeting, in the 24th round of games of the 2008 Premier Division season, resulted in a 1-0 win for Derry at the Brandywell (following up their 2-1 win there earlier in the season and a 2-0 win at Finn Park).
Notable games
Dubbed the Battle of the Brandywell by the media, there was a huge amount at stake in this game - the second leg of the 2003 League of IrelandLeague of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
Promotion/Relegation Play-Off final. The game decided which of the clubs would play in the following season's Premier and First Divisions. The loser was to be resigned to playing in the lower tier while the winner was to be rewarded with the top-tier place. Derry City, having qualified for the play-offs after finishing ninth in the Premier Division, came into the game facing the daunting prospect of relegation while Finn Harps, having qualified by finishing third in the First Division, faced a potential promotion. To add further flavour to the tie, Derry had never been relegated from and division they had played in their history. Relegation would have proved a huge blow and a major humiliation.
The first leg had finished 0-0 at Finn Park
Finn Park
Finn Park is a football stadium in Ballybofey, Ireland, the home of League of Ireland Premier Division team Finn Harps F.C., and has a capacity of 7,500 with 400 seats...
on 10 December 2003, so all was still to play for. Noel King
Noel King
Noel King is a former footballer and currently is the Republic of Ireland Under 21 manager having being appointed on 19 July 2010.-Playing career:...
led Finn Harps into the game after previously managing Derry and guiding them to a League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
title in 1997. Inflatable sheep could be seen floating over the heads of fans in the old 'Jungle' area of the stadium, while Derry came in for criticism from offended Finn Harps officials after the game, as prior to the game's beginning, a rendition of Baa Baa Black Sheep
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep (nursery rhyme)
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep is an English nursery rhyme, sung to a variant of the 1761 French melody Ah! Vous dirai-je, Maman. The original form of the tune is used for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the Alphabet song. The words have changed little in two and a half centuries...
was played over the Brandywell PA system in order to taunt the opposition. The officials were also critical of the handling of security by Derry's private stewards in the stadium and a suggestion that the RUC
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
might have done a better job was not received well in Derry. A large pitch invasion occurred after the final whistle was blown and certain Finn Harps fans had felt threatened by the excited behaviour of some of Derry's supporters. Derry are unique, due to the political situation in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, in that they do not have a police presence inside their ground.
By the end of the tense affair, the Finn Harps manager had also been sent from the dug-out by the referee, Alan Kelly, for losing his cool after protesting Derry's second goal in extra-time. The Derry striker, Liam Coyle
Liam Coyle
Liam Coyle is a former Northern Irish footballer who plied his trade with Derry City F.C. from 1988 until 2003. Born in Derry, Northern Ireland, he is remembered for scoring a hat-trick on his Derry City debut against Cobh Ramblers on 6 November, 1988.-Club career:After playing for Finn Harps F.C...
, had received the ball from a quick Ciaran Martyn
Ciaran Martyn
Ciarán Martyn is a midfielder for Glentoran of the Irish Premier League .-Career:Martyn played with Derry City since 2002 until his loan move to Fredrikstad F.K. in 2007. He is one of the few players who have paid to play for Derry City...
free-kick and as he went down under the challenge of Shane Bradley
Shane Bradley
Shane Bradley is an Irish football player currently with the League of Ireland club Finn Harps FC...
, the ball rolled past goal-keeper Gary Ramsey and into the Harps' net. Confusion abounded in the Finn Harps defence and their players had seemed to stall in response as if to suggest they believed that they had heard a whistle or that play had been brought to a halt by the referee for the bad tackle on Coyle. Two of King's players, Shane Bradley and Kevin McHugh
Kevin McHugh
Kevin McHugh ; born 19 January 1980 in Letterkenny, Ireland) is an Irish football player currently with Finn Harps.-Career:McHugh was born in Letterkenny and raised in the border-town of Killea in Co...
, were also later sent off from the field of play in separate incidents during the fiery second half of extra-time. McHugh's earlier equaliser had also caused controversy. The extraordinary amount of stoppage time played, which allowed McHugh the time and chance to score, was looked upon with a degree of scepticism by Derry's support, while his celebration infuriated certain others. After hitting the back of the net with the ball, McHugh ran straight for the dog-track, crouched down and ran along on his hands and knees, emulating the actions of a racing greyhound.
The game was also City veteran Liam Coyle's
Liam Coyle
Liam Coyle is a former Northern Irish footballer who plied his trade with Derry City F.C. from 1988 until 2003. Born in Derry, Northern Ireland, he is remembered for scoring a hat-trick on his Derry City debut against Cobh Ramblers on 6 November, 1988.-Club career:After playing for Finn Harps F.C...
last game as a player.
----
The game took Derry's unbeaten run to 8 games that season and helped condemn their rivals to relegation from the Premier Division. The tone had been set before the game as the rivalry between the two was underlined just thirty minutes before kick-off when the match referee, Pat Whelan from Dublin, following a verbal exchange with Felix Healy
Felix Healy
Felix Healy is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played for Coleraine and then became a football manager...
, the then-manager of Finn Harps, ruled that the Harps' team boss should watch the game from the stands rather from the dug-out.
In popular culture
- A bizarre own-goal, in which the goal-keeper was lobbed from outside the box, scored by Finn Harps' Terry Leake for Derry City during a 1989-90 season Brandywell-meeting once appeared on the "What happened next?" round of the BBC'sBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
A Question of SportA Question of SportA Question of Sport is a long-running BBC quiz show which started on 2 December 1968 and continues to this day. It is currently recorded at The Studios, MediaCityUK...
.