Lisahally F.C.
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Lisahally Football Club is an amateur football club currently competing in the First Division of the Derry and District League. The club is based in the Strathfoyle area of Derry. The club was initially formed by the workers of Lisahally, but has since developed and offers the people and indeed, youth of Strathfoyle a chance to demonstrate their skills. The club now offers football at youth level and is in the process of relocating to a new football pitch, complete with changing rooms, which, at the minute are not available. Current manager is Chris Whoriskey, himself a former player. The former coach Charlie Burns was once offered a job as manager of Institute F.C. reserves. Lisahally is known for producing some exceptional talent, including current Institute F.C. player David Ogilby and former captain of Northern Ireland Schoolboys, Brian Devine. After the signing of Ogilby, Institute agreed to take Lisahally players on trial. It is this close relationship that has contributed to the development of youth football in Strathfoyle.
In 2006 the youth team, Lisahally Lions, competed in a youth tournament in Glasgow, which was run by Celtic F.C.
[edit] Trivia
- Lawrence Mullan, a Lisahally legend, is the brother of Glentoran F.C. hero, Gerry Mullan. Lawrence also had a spell at Glentoran. Lawrence's son, Conor is one of many players to have played at Lisahally after their fathers
- Lisahally is affectionately known as "Lissa" to its fans.
- There is a "Married Men versus Single Men" match held annually. The proceeds of this match go to charity and is usually a friendly showdown between fathers and sons. 2006's match was won by the Married Men, despite the Single men taking a 2-0 lead in the first half through goals from Ronan Whoriskey and Steven McAllister, the Married Men came back to win due to the constant squad rotation of caretaker manager Shan Whoriskey.
- Former player and Dunfermline F.C. goalkeeping coach Declan Devine and current Limavady United F.C. player Ryan Semple took training sessions as guest coaches for the youth during the summer.
- Club Colours are Yellow and Black.
Lisahally have 2 young stars on loan at Liverpool, Ronan Whoriskey (21) & Donovan Collins (19). Whoriskey will be back for the start of the 07-08 campaign and is being heavily tipped to play a major role in the clubs continuing quest for domestic and european honours. Donovan Collins is one the most exciting youth prospects ever to come out of Strathfoyle and it will be interesting to see where he finishes his career. Gary "The Dutch Master" Bryson is as close as Lisahally ever got to importing a clinical european styled striker. He proved that his talents were valuable assets to the club, but he failed to clinch a contract after a run-in with the local authorities.
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Written by Paul Duffy ( Your local sports editor himself a former promising young lisahally player)
