Charlie Doherty wears 'the badge of honour for the most faithful; 'Derry City 'til I die'.

​The 81-year-old husband, father of four, and devoted grandfather from Harden Street in the city was a highly-esteemed former secretary of The Pride of Northside Supporters club and had supported the Candy Stripes home and away since the 1960s.

He returned home in the early hours of Saturday morning after watching Derry lose 1-0 to Drogheda United and died suddenly at Altnagelvin Hospital surrounded by his loving family.

The former painter and bread man at the old 'Milanda' bakery travelled the country supporting his hometown club on the non-drinking 'Fanta bus' despite recent health and mobility issues.

After his funeral mass at St Columba's Church, Longtower on Monday morning, he was laid to rest in the City Cemetery.

Mourners were told of his 'final act of devotion' to his beloved Foylesiders after he made the journey to Drogheda and back and how he has 'finished his final away trip,' moving 'from the stands to the high ground'.

Opening the service, Father Gerard Mongan paid tribute to Charlie's love of Derry City Football Club as a signed shirt was left on the altar, adding that he 'finished his journey exactly as he lived it: a lifelong supporter, faithful to the end.'"

He said: "There's a phrase we often hear in the stands of the Brandywell. The badge of honour for the most faithful; 'Derry 'til I die'.

"For most it's a slogan. For Charlie Doherty it was a literal profession of faith. Today the stadium is quiet. For his wife Moira, the children, and the wider family Saturday and ever since was the longest day.

"You've been left in complete shock and with an overwhelming sadness that is unspeakable and a huge void has been created that will never be filled.

"We feel like we are in the injury time of a game we weren't ready to end.

"Family meant everything to Charlie and so did Derry City," Fr. Mongan added. "He lived 63 years of following the Candy Stripes. Thirty years of going to the away matches from the Irish League right into the League of Ireland in 1985.

"He travelled the length and breadth of this country on the 'Fanta bus' and made many friendships along the way including away supporters and even members of the Garda Síochána.

"These journeys were made with Creggan Derry City Supporters Club and The Pride of Northside Supporters Club. Again, many friendships were made over the years and especially with his best pal Jim O'Donnell. "Many of you remember him from his days with 'Milanda' bakery delivering bread across the city. Later he worked as a painter. A man who knew how to take something faded and make it bright again. That was Charlie's gift.

"Whether he was delivering bread, painting a wall, or standing with supporters at a match, he brought colour to the lives of those around him. "He was in every sense, a season ticket holder in the lives of his family and friends, always there; home and away through the wins and the losses. "To pass away from coming home from Drogheda, driving Vincent to his house first, having his soup at home feels like a final act of devotion. He finished his journey exactly as he lived it: a lifelong supporter faithful to the end. "In the Gospel Jesus tells us; 'in my Father's house there are many places'. We might imagine Charlie's place right now having a pretty good view of a football pitch.

"More importantly, it's the place where there is no more sudden shock. No more days. No more longest days. It's a place where the Pride of the Northside is welcomed home by the Creator. "That void we're left with today is immense because the space he occupied was so full of life. As he told Martina [his daughter] in that ambulance with calm and serenity; those 63 years of loyalty meant something because he taught us what it's like to belong to a family, a community and a club. "Charlie didn't need a long, lingering goodbye to prove his love. He had been proving it every day with that radiant smile. As we lay to rest a dear friend and member of this parish, we don't say goodbye to a lifelong supporter.

"We simply acknowledge that he's moved from the stands to the high ground. His sudden passing is a reminder that we're all on that journey home, but he finished his final away trip and please God he has gone straight to the greatest home of all."

Pride of Northside SC chairman Michael Kerrigan recalled that Charlie was already making plans to travel to Waterford to watch Derry play next Friday night as he disembarked the supporters' bus at the Everglades Hotel after making the trip from Drogheda, such was his dedication and love for the Candy Stripes.

Michael, who has known Charlie for over 60 years was shocked and saddened to learn of his passing.

"Charlie is an ardent Derry City supporter from the 60s," he began. "He never ever missed a match if it could be helped."

Not even hip surgery would keep Charlie from attending Derry fixtures as he insisted he 'might as well be in pain down in Drogheda or wherever than sitting in the house watching it.'

"He had his mobility issues this past few years," explained Mr Kerrigan. "Vincent Doherty was pushing him around in his wheelchair at games recently after his good friend Jim O'Donnell took unwell.

"His last words to us when he got off the bus at 12:50 a.m. on Saturday morning was 'what's the departure time for Waterford next week?'

"We often asked him how he managed traveling to games with his pain. He got a new hip a year or so ago and he got over all that. But this has come as a big shock to us all."

Charlie was originally part of the now defunct Creggan Community Supporters Club. When that folded he joined the ranks of The Northside Supporters Club where he was highly respected and served as secretary for many years.

"Nothing was going to hold him back from going to games," added Michael. "Even when he got his hip done, as soon as he was able to get on his feet he was back at the matches.

"We used to talk to him about the pain he was in. He was always in pain and said, "I'm going to the matches because I might as well be in pain down in Drogheda or wherever than sitting in the house watching it."

"He loved getting away. Even on Friday night, he was sitting chatting away. I was sitting in the front seat and John Elliot was driving and Charlie was sitting behind me. We were talking about the match and giving out about this, that and the other - the usual thing.

Fr Mongan finished his homily by saying: "Yes he lived by his word; 'Derry 'til I die'. He kept that promise and with his deep, strong faith in the Lord he was so aware that we are only passing through this world.

"We pray that he now rests in the Eternal City where there are no more defeats only the eternal victory of Christ, Amen."

May he rest in peace.