THERE HAVE BEEN countless tributes paid to Ryan McBride since his tragic death on Sunday, and last night’s Soccer Republic show was no exception.
After the Derry centre-back who was team captain died suddenly at the age of 27, the show invited leading figures in Irish football to give their thoughts on the late footballer.
The ensuing tribute perfectly captures what endeared McBride to people, starting with a quote from the man himself: “Other footballers have dreams of going across the water and playing for Man United and Celtic but my dream as a boy was to play for Derry City and that came true.”
McBride had established himself as a key player for Derry, featuring in both the 2012 and 2014 FAI Cup finals, both against St Pat’s, and emerging victorious in the former game.
Pete Mahon perhaps puts it best when he says: “Loyalty, I thought, was a bygone word in football, but he was a one-club man — Derry through and through.”
Watch the tribute in full below.
Leading figures in the Irish game remember @derrycityfc captain Ryan McBride. #SoccerRepublic pic.twitter.com/kEeierK6eO
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) March 20, 2017
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