Declan Devine pleased Derry City is backing Derry & District League

Terry was of course the club’s captain as the Candy Stripes began life in the League of Ireland in 1985 and Chairman, Philip O’Doherty was more than happy to sponsor the competition.

“I am delighted that we are associated with this competition,” admitted Mr O’Doherty.

“This is a huge year for the D&D and I would like to congratulate them on their 100th anniversary and wish them every success in the year ahead.”

Terry’s junior club, Don Bosco’s won the trophy when it was last played in 2019 and organisers are hoping that this year’s competition will be a very special event.

Manager Declan Devine has praised the Candy Stripes for sponsoring the competition and also hopes that clubs will come out and support the tournament.

“It’s brilliant that the club are sponsoring the competition and my family personally were very close to the Kellys,” he explained.

“There’s a big connection with the Kelly’s and Derry City and I think it’s a fitting lift that the club are behind it. Also full credit to the D&D, 100 years. We as players have all come through that association and we have all played in the D&D and if there’s any support I can give to them I would be 100 per cent behind it.

“I also feel it’s a real positive thing in terms of the club backing a competition to people that mean a lot to the city and have had a big influence on the football club.

“We’re striving to make the football club better, but we also have to strive to make avenues for our young people and young players to get back playing football.

“The Derry & District League is an institution as Derry City Football Club is and we have to help that institution grow again on the back of this pandemic.

“It had a lot of difficulties over the last number of years in terms of getting teams out, but moving forward from this pandemic I think we have to encourage all our young people to get back involved in football and to be using the D&D and the Saturday Morning League in terms of getting an appetite for playing and enjoying sport again and because of that I think it’s two unbelievable institutions in Derry City and the D&D coming together and long may that continue.”