Derry City v Glentoran, Brandywell, 7.45pm
Derry City welcome Eddie Patterson’s Glentoran side to the Brandywell tomorrow night as part of their pre-season campaign. However the game will also serve as a fundraiser for City’s top goalscorer, Mark Farren, who has recently announced his retirement from football.
Mark, who moved to Glenavon for the 2013 season had been advised to undergo a course of preventative radiotherapy following a routine scan and initially decided to take some time away from the game. However in recent week and following the advice of medical staff, the striker has opted to announce his retirement from the game. A number of fundraising initiatives have been organised, and Derry City are delighted to announce that all gate receipts from tomorrow night’s fixture will be donated. A large number of City fans as well as ex players and staff turned out for a fundraising 5k run organised by Kevin McHugh at the weekend and it is hoped that a large attendance will be present in the Brandywell tomorrow night. Admission is priced at £5, with no need to purchase tickets, just turn up and pay at the gate.
Of course, Mark Farren will hold a special place in the club record books, knocking Liam Coyle off his perch as top goalscorer for the Candystripes. In both the 2005 and 2006 season, he scored 18 League goals and was named the PFAI Player of the Year in 2005. Despite his injury, he return to the side in the push for the First Division title in 2010 and scored the goal that won the title for City in a famous night in Gortakeegan as City sealed their return to the top flight. In his final season the question was whether he would beat Coyle to the top spot but a quick fire hat trick against Mervue in the FAI Cup ensured that there was no doubt that there would be a new name written into the history books.
Mark moved to Mourneview Park and the goals continued to flow for his new side, with his form rewarded when he picked up NI Football Writers Player of the Month award at the end of the 2013 season.
City will be looking to following up their impressive performance at Solitude last weekend when they face Patterson’s side at the Brandywell. The Candystripes cruised to the 2-0 victory over the Irish League leaders and although the home side were not at full strength, it was a decent work out for City. Glentoran are having a mixed season, well adrift in the race for the Irish League but remain in the Irish Cup though they were disappointed to only draw with Armagh City at the weekend. Having seen a number of big names dumped out of the competition they are one of the favourites to retain the trophy they lifted last season.
City are likely to give David Elebert another run out, with the former Shamrock Rovers player appearing as a second half substitute at Solitude. Elsewhere, the side continues to take shape, with trialists such as Chris Tsonis not doing enough to impress the management team and not retained. Collins emptied the bench during the second forty five minutes at the weekend and we may see more game time for the likes of Curran, Duffy and others as the manager casts an eye over the wider squad options available to him. Cliff Byrne made an impressive scoring debut against Cliftonville and it is likely that himself and Ryan McBride will continue in defence as the manager looks to the two to build an understanding ahead of the start of league action on the 7th of March.
Turning to the opposition, with Irish League fixtures on Saturday and an Irish Cup replay against Armagh City next Saturday, it is likely that Eddie Patterson may also use the game to look at his squad. Derry City would like to thank Glentoran for agreeing to participate in the fixture. The Glens are no longer strangers to the Brandywell as the Setanta Cup has seen us face the East Belfast side regularly over the last decade. Indeed the side currently boast ex Candystripe David Scullion amongst their ranks.
Once again, admission is £5 and all proceeds will be donated to Mark Farren.
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