Derry's Drive 105 Match Night Live Wins Gold at Community Radio Awards
Derry community radio station Drive 105 is celebrating after its football coverage, Match Night Live, was named ‘Sports Show of the Year’ at the 2026 Community Radio Awards, taking home the gold award.
This year’s ceremony marked a decade of celebrating excellence in community broadcasting across the UK, recognising the outstanding work of stations and programme teams making a difference in their communities.
The gold award was accepted on behalf of the Match Night Live team, who were unable to attend the ceremony. The recognition followed a rigorous judging process celebrating quality programming, community engagement, innovation and impact.
The awards ceremony took place in Birmingham alongside the national community radio conference, organised by the UK Community Radio Network, bringing together broadcasters from across the country.
In his acceptance speech posted online, Lead presenter and Producer, Dee Curran said: “This is a great honour for us as a team. What people don’t see is the commitment that’s shown by everyone within the programme. We have a dozen great people, not only situated here in the City of Derry, but also in Letterkenny, Dublin and Dundalk, who contributed throughout the season.”
Dee also paid tribute to the dedication of the volunteers, the programme’s sponsors (Luxor Bathrooms, Tiles and Design, and Paul Martin Menswear) and the support of listeners, adding: “We do this for you. We bring you closer to the team (Derry City FC); We bring you closer to
the action.”
Richard Moore, Director of DRIVE 105, said: “This award is a fantastic acknowledgment of the hard work and dedication of the Match Night Live team. They have relentlessly travelled the length and breadth of Ireland and Europe to bring live coverage of Derry City football matches for listeners in the northwest and further afield.
"The award reflects the excellent standard and professionalism of the team. It highlights the important service that community radio provides. All those who give up their time week after week to ensure Drive 105 can deliver that important service will get an enormous boost from this.”
Rebecca Steers, Chair of the Community Radio Awards, praised Drive 105 Match Night Live for its “dedication, creativity and commitment”, highlighting its impact on the community and the vital role community radio continues to play in local life. She added that the exceptionally high standard of entries made this year’s recognition even more significant.