City Invite UU Students to Brandywell

A warm Brandywell welcome helps Ulster University students feel at home in Derry.

Earlier this semester, Derry City FC offered complimentary tickets for Ulster University students to attend a home game at the Ryan McBride Brandywell – a gesture designed to help students, especially those new to the city, feel part of the local community and enjoy one of its most iconic sporting experiences.

Declan Callaghan, Director of Derry City FC, said:

“At Derry City FC, we have always felt that we are an integral part of the local community and that, without the support we enjoy locally, we wouldn’t have been as successful over the past 97 years as we have been. For those reasons, we’re committed to working with the community as much as we can, and part of that is welcoming people and making them feel part of the place where they live.”

“To that end, we reached out to Director of Engagement & Alumni Relations at Ulster University, Aidan O’Kane, to identify a group of UU students who are new to the city so that we could invite them to our last home game of the 2026 season.”

“It was a great opportunity to showcase the fantastic hospitality the city of Derry offers to visitors and those who have made the city their new home. It was great to see so many UU students interested in attending the match on Sunday, and the club was delighted to welcome them to Brandywell stadium for what is, hopefully, the first of many visits.”

“We’re sure that they will have enjoyed the occasion, the game, and the result; and, hopefully, they made some new friends in the city in the process.”

“The team at Derry City and I will continue to work with Aidan and with Malachy Ó Néill, Director of Regional Engagement, further developing the relationship between Derry City FC and UU, and to help the student body at UU to support their new local club.”

Aidan O’Kane, Director of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, said:

“Ulster University is delighted to partner with Derry City FC in helping to foster a strong sense of community and belonging among our students. We’re thankful to Derry City FC for providing this opportunity for students to build friendships and connections that will enrich their university experience and strengthen our ties to the city.”

Professor Malachy Ó Néill, Director of Regional Engagement at Ulster University, commented:

“This collaboration with Derry City FC reflects the shared values of inclusivity and community that define both our institutions. Sport has a unique power to bring people together, and we’re excited to see this partnership grow in the years ahead.”

Lee Doran, Vice President of the Ulster University Students’ Union, said:

“Our students really appreciated the warm welcome from Derry City FC. Opportunities like this help new students connect with each other and the wider community, and that sense of belonging is a huge part of what makes studying in Derry~Londonderry so special.”