Before 22nd February 2005, the last time Belfast soccer club Linfield FC travelled to the Brandywell, the home of Derry City FC, was January 25th 1969.

The two sides in the late 1960s found themselves on opposite ends of the social spectrum. Linfield, known as ‘The Blues’ for their instantly recognisable jersey were proudly Belfast’s leading protestant outfit. With the demise of Belfast Celtic, although a mixed outfit, Derry City located in the heart of the Bogside area inherited the mantle of the provinces leading nationalist outfit.

At that last fateful match, the police evacuated the Linfield fans from the ground at half time – fearing for their safety amid ugly scenes. The civil unrest, which heralded the beginning of the Northern troubles enveloped all facets of Northern Irish life blurring the lines to such an extent that it was impossible to separate religion, politics and football.

Within two years, Derry City were out of the Irish league. The Ballymena team bus hijacked and burned out by disaffected local youths and the ‘Candy Stripes’ were forced to play their homes games in Coleraine. With no attendance, financially they couldn’t continue and resigned from the league, to re-emerge thirteen years later in the Republic’s League of Ireland.

‘The Blues and Candy Stripes’ tells the story of the historic match on February 22nd 2005 through the eyes of fans, former players and club officials as they aim to chart a new course for these two clubs in a new Northern Ireland. Is it now possible for the blues and the candy stripes to play a game of football free of the religious and political overtones, which blighted their encounters in the past?

"Football can bring people together and in these times of peace and a return to normality, we can show an example to the entire community,"
Jim Roddy - Derry City FC Chairman

Compiled by Ciaran Cassidy

Produced by Liam O'Brien

An Irish radio documentary from RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland - Documentary on One - the home of Irish radio documentaries