Ground-by-ground Guides - The Brandywell

Ground: The Brandywell is the home of Derry City FC. The club entered senior football in 1929 and approached the Corporation for the use of the Brandywell. The ground was owned by the Honourable the Irish Society whose charter called for the ground to be made available for the recreation of the community. The Council voted unanimously to give the ground to the football club.

The stadium is located on the Lone Moor Road just south-west of the Bogside. The stadium underwent a significant redevelopment in the in the early 1990’s with the construction of a cantilever, covered stand along the east side of the pitch (known as the South End Stand).

The spectator accommodation along the west side of the pitch originally consisted of a covered standing terrace and a separate elevated seated stand. Both these structures were in excess of sixty years old and were previously sited at Glentoran Football Club’s ground in east Belfast. The roof structure to the standing terrace was demolished in 2004 and open seating added to the area. The ground is unique as it has floodlit dog racing track surrounding the pitch, with Brandywell Greyhound Racing Company being a tenant of the ground since the 1940s.

The ground currently has seating for 3,157 and terracing for 1,528, however the total capacity is reduced to 3,502 for domestic and friendly matches due to health and safety restrictions and further reduced to 2,251 for UEFA football competitions where no terracing is permitted.

During its lifetime, the Brandywell has hosted some of the biggest names in European football. The stadium has seen competitive games between Derry City and Benfica, Steaua Bucharest, Gothenborg, Vitesse Arnheim and Paris St. Germain.

How to get there: From Dublin you can travel with Bus Éireann. Their buses depart from the terminal at Liberty Hall and will leave you in Derry in approx 3 hours and 40 minutes. The last stop is Foyle Street in Derry City and the Brandywell is just a 10 minute taxi drive away.  

From Cork you can fly with Aer Arann direct to Derry. Other options would be to fly to Belfast and take a bus or fly to Dublin and take a bus. For those with time on their hands and plenty of money for petrol the mammoth task of driving from Cork to Derry City could take you as long as 6 hours.

However, not matter what part of the country you are travelling from, it is always best to check with your club to see if they are running a supporters bus . This can not only be a cheaper way to travel but also a lot more fun.

Ticket Prices

Adult Stand Ticket £12

Concessionary* Stand Ticket £9

Child Stand Ticket £5

Adult Terrace Ticket £10

Concessionary Terrace Ticket £8

Child under 12 free in terrace with a paying adult

*Concessionary Men 65 and over, Concessionary Women 60 and over

Away Allocation: Section A of the New Stand is kept for the away fans with a capacity of around 100. If the away crowd is in excess of this number, they are located in the Lone Moor Side Terrace.

Nearby Time Killers: If you have some time to spare, why not take in some of the history of an area that was at the centre of some of the most significant events in recent Irish history. Why not tour the famous murals of the Bogside in the company of the three artists who painted them known as “The Bogside Artists”.

For the Guardian reading football supporter, this would be the ideal year to pay a visit to Derry to support your League of Ireland club. Derry is the UK City of Culture for 2013, so take the chance to stimulate your mind by attending one of the hundred’s of cultural events organised.

Nearby Pubs: The Brandywell Inn is the nearest pub to the stadium; the clue is in the name. However, the Bogside is nearby and the Bogside Inn comes well recommended. If your preference is to stick to the city centre for your pre-match tipple, Peadar O’Donnell’s is renowned for its traditional music sessions or drop into Downey’s bar complex which also contains the Sugar night club, if you decide that you want to make a night of it when the football is over.

Local Food: Brendan’s of Stanley Walk is a take-away on the Lone Moor Road where a hungry football fan might grab a bag of chips on their way to the Brandywell. Barrs Traditional take-away is also just around the corner from the stadium on the Brandywell Road.  If you are looking for something a bit more substantial the India House on the Carlisle Road is just a five minute walk from the ground and offers two courses for £12.95.

Accommodation: As with all city’s, Derry has a Travelodge which is cheap and cheerful and in a good central location.  The City Hotel is located quite close to the Brandywell and has an indoor pool for those needing to clear their head after a long night of celebrating a good result. It also offers good value at €70 per night, bed and breakfast.

Parking: The stadium has got ample parking spaces for cars and coaches for those who decide to drive to the game.

Did you know: Derry City played their first game as a League of Ireland club on the 8^th of September 1985 at the Brandwell, when they beat Home Farm 3-1 in front of 8,000 spectators.