Derry City and Strabane District Council

Minutes of Meeting of the Special Meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council held in the Guildhall, Derry on Wednesday 29 May 2019 at 7.00 pm

Present:- Councillor M Boyle (Mayor); Aldermen Devenney, Guy, McClintock, McCready and Warke; Councillors J Barr, R Barr, J Boyle, Carr, Cooper, Cusack, Dobbins, Donnelly, Duffy, Durkan, Farrell, Ferguson, Fleming, Gallagher, Hunter, Jackson, Kelly, Logue, McCann, McCloskey, McGuire, R McHugh, J McKeever, McLaughlin, Mellon and Tierney.

In Attendance:- Chief Executive (Mr J Kelpie), Lead Democratic Services and Improvement Officer (Ms E Cavanagh), Democratic Services Officer (Mrs S Maxwell) and Committee Services Assistant (Mrs T Johnstone).

SC127/19 Notice and Summons for Meeting

The Chief Executive read the Notice and Summons for the Meeting.

SC128/19 Member Attendance and Apologies

The Chief Executive took the roll call and apologies were received from Aldermen Bresland, Hussey, Kerrigan and Ramsey and Councillors Burke, Harkin, McKinney and Reilly.

SC129/19 Webcasting Notice

The Mayor read the webcasting notice.

SC130/19 Conferring the Freedom of the City on Jim McLaughlin

The Mayor welcomed the family and friends of Mr Jim McLaughlin to the Guildhall and stated that the purpose of the meeting was to confer the Freedom of the City to Mr Jim McLaughlin.

She stated that it gave her great pleasure to confer the Freedom of the City on Mr McLaughlin in recognition of his achievements as former manager of Derry City Football Club (DCFC). She stated that the Freedom of the City title was a hugely significant honour and felt proud 2

to be gathered at the Guildhall to formally acknowledge Mr McLaughlin’s great successes.

She described how Mr McLaughlin was dearly loved and cherished by the people from the city and beyond as he had given them a great sense of pride in the local football team, the stadium and achievements. She stated that the fans all agreed that Jim was one of the greatest League of Ireland managers of all time and that this fitting tribute would recognise the winning of the ‘Treble’ 30 years ago; an extraordinary feat which remained unmatched to this day. She stated that during his career, Jim McLaughlin received many prestigious awards including securing the Soccer Writers Association of Ireland Personality of the Year Award in 1979, 1984 and 1989 and a Special Merit award from the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) in 2002. He also enjoyed great success during his career securing 8 league titles, 7 FAI cups and 4 league cups during spells with Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers and Derry City Football Club.

Continuing, she stated that she hoped being awarded the freedom of his own city would remain one of his most cherished and proudest accolades. She stated that from speaking to friends and colleagues involved in football, she had heard first hand that the hugely positive influence that Jim McLaughlin has had on football at local, regional and national levels. She stated that not only had he a fantastic career as a football manager, but also as a fantastic striker and one of the nation’s best ever football players receiving a Cap on 12 occasions, and scoring 6 goals for Northern Ireland. She stated that he then played for Birmingham City, Shrewsbury Town and Peterborough over a 14 season period, scoring an impressive 26 league goals with 456 appearances.

The Mayor stated that Council was delighted to be in the position to officially honour and recognise his achievements during the 1988/89 season and to formally confer the Freedom of the City upon him. She described him as a national treasure and a hero in the eyes of the people of the city who were delighted that he and his family could hear the tributes and that he be acknowledged for his success. She stated that everyone who played with him or have watched him from the side- lines all hold him in high esteem and were delighted to bestow this honour upon him.

Councillor Carr Proposed, Seconded by Councillor Donnelly 3

That Derry City and Strabane District Council confer the Freedom of the City upon Mr Jim McLaughlin.

The Mayor then invited Councillor Carr to address Council.

Councillor Carr welcomed Mr Jim McLaughlin, his family and friends and several of the players from the 1989 Derry City Football Team.

He stated that the FAI was formed in Dublin in September 1921 and that the first League of Ireland and FAI Cup winners in 1921/22 were St James’ Gate with the League of Ireland Shield, now known as the League Cup was won in that first season by Shelbourne. He stated that all three competitions were ongoing and the only team to have won all three competitions in the same football season was Derry City Football Club. This illustrated how unique a team they were with 33 games played, 24 wins, 5 draws and only 4 lost, whilst scoring 70 goals and conceding only 21.

He described how the team which consisted of players from Dublin, Scotland, Northern Ireland and France alongside local players such as Felix Healy and Liam Coyle were under the management of Jim McLaughlin. He further stated that people would remember from that time how much pride the team brought to the city and as the season went on the excitement built up culminating in Derry City Football Club achieving the ‘Treble’. He added that this was the reason for his proposal for the Freedom of the City to be bestowed on Jim McLaughlin, former manager of Derry City Football Club.

Councillor Carr recalled that Mr McLaughlin was born in Quarry Street in the Brandywell on 22 December 1940. At the age of 16 he made his Irish League debut for his home town in 1957, scoring in his first match against Crusaders. He went on to become the club’s top scorer with 16 goals in that debut season. He then joined First Division Birmingham City as an apprentice in the summer of 1958 and progressed to the international stage scoring on his debut against Scotland in October 1961. In total he won 12 caps and scored six goals with Northern Ireland.

Continuing, he described how Jim McLaughlin accepted an offer to be player/manager at Dundalk Football Club in 1974 which began his managerial career. He stated that during this time the team won 8 League Championships, 6 FAI Cups and 4 League Cups with Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers and Derry City. He stated that this record in football 4

management was second to none in almost 100 years of League of Ireland and only one manager had completed the unique treble.

He stated that everyone held such high esteem for Mr McLaughlin which was evident when the team carried him on their shoulders around the pitch at that time and people still felt that sense of pride.

Concluding, he stated that Mr McLaughlin was a proud Derry man and because of him Derry won the treble. He stated that the people of Derry were very proud that he was one of them and that he and his late father never missed a football match. He wished Jim and his family all the best for the future and hoped he enjoyed the evening arranged in his honour.

Councillor Tierney stated that on behalf of the SDLP, he was delighted to congratulate Jim McLaughlin on receiving the Freedom of the City which he believed was a fitting acknowledgment for his achievements and dedication to sport in Ireland. He stated that Jim McLaughlin was arguably the most successful football manager in Irish football and everyone throughout the city and district should be proud of his achievements. He stated that Jim McLaughlin achieved successes that many young, aspiring footballers from this city can only dream about, not only playing for his home town club but managing them in their most successful period.

He outlined how Jim McLaughlin first became a manager in 1974 with spells at Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers, Derry City and Shelbourne and provided promising young footballers from the area with the platform and opportunity to test their ability against the best of Irish football. He stated that Mr Liam Coyle, the youngest player of the winning side commented: ‘He could see things that maybe other people couldn’t see, and that’s maybe the genius of him. He made me believe that I could be a top class player and to go on and do what we did that season was something really special. Jim was probably the most important person I had met in my footballing life’.

He stated that this illustrated the esteem in which Jim McLaughlin is held by the people to whose lives he made a difference to and with all those achievements he also brought joy and entertainment to fans who left the city to travel the length and breadth of Ireland to watch his teams play. He stated that his party felt it was entirely appropriate that Jim McLaughlin was recognised by Council. He stated that many would agree that his greatest achievement was leading Derry City to the Treble which has never been repeated within League of Ireland football. 5

He thanked him for his contribution to football in the city and indeed, the country.

Councillor Jackson welcomed Jim McLaughlin and his family to the Chamber and echoed the sentiments expressed by the previous speakers. He stated that Sinn Fein would be wholeheartedly supporting the motion to confer the Freedom of the City onto Mr McLaughlin. He stated that it was really a privilege to be part of the conferment of the Freedom of the City, which did not occur very often and reserved to those who had made a special contribution towards the city and district.

He stated that this was the first time that anyone has been awarded this accolade since the formation of the new Council. He recalled that since childhood he was no stranger to the name of Jim McLaughlin. He stated that before he had become aware of his achievements on the football pitch, he knew of his kindness, generosity and devotion to his family and that first and foremost he was a family man. He outlined how Mr McLaughlin came from a close knit family in the Brandywell area of the city and how he developed a love for the city and for football. Although he left home at a young age, Jim McLaughlin played in the top league of English football, whilst continuing to support his family at home and ensured that he kept in contact with them long before the era of mobile phones and social media. He stated that it was whilst he was away from home that he met his wife Rena and acknowledged her support to him as she has been his rock, not only throughout his career but to this very day. He stated that the qualities that earned Mr McLaughllin the name of ‘Gentleman Jim’ were qualities he witnessed regularly in his two sisters and these same qualities are what people throughout Derry and Strabane were renowned for.

Continuing, he stated that Jim, along with the treble winning team, brought the city together during a very difficult time in its history and that the accomplishments of thirty years ago has never been repeated. He stated that the record set for that special group of players led possibly by the greatest football manager the League of Ireland has ever witnessed, would stand the test of time. He stated that by bestowing the Freedom of the City on Jim McLaughlin Council was recognising his achievements as manager of Derry City Football Club and acknowledging the esteem in which he is held by football fans throughout Ireland.

Alderman McClintock, on behalf of the Democratic Unionist Party, extended a warm welcome to Mr McLaughlin, his family and friends 6

adding that it was an honour to have him in their midst. She stated that Council had gathered to convey the Freedom of the City on him for his long and distinguished career in football and the contribution that he has made over the years both in the Brandywell, were many a fine career had begun, as well as other various clubs. She stated that he was and continues to be, a role model for many young people by giving many of them opportunities in the world of sport. She stated that the word ‘unique’ had been used to describe Mr McLaughlin which was fitting as he had made a unique contribution to sport within the city and that Members were honoured to confer the Freedom of the City upon him.

Councillor McCann stated that it was understandable that people spoke of Jim McLaughlin and his unprecedented and unparalleled achievements as manager of Derry City Football Club. He stated that he was without doubt the greatest football manager from this island. He stated that people now travelled ‘over the water’ on a regular basis however it was an unusual occurrence in those days for a young man of 17 to leave his home town to travel to England alone. He stated that Jim McLaughlin was one of the best footballers in Europe at that time because of his individual talent. He described how he had dazzled and dominated at the top of English football which gave people a huge boost in a situation where there was very little else to give raise their spirits and the people of Derry were grateful. He stated that football represented the communities they came from and that the people from those communities became fanatical about their clubs. He stated that Derry City Football Club represented the city in a unique and intimate way through Jim McLaughlin which cast glory upon everyone in the city. He expressed his gratitude to Mr McLaughlin for everything he done for the people of Derry.

Councillor R Barr recalled how he was introduced to Derry City Football Club at a very young age by a former Strabane Councillor, Freddie Boggs. He stated that it was an extremely proud occasion when Derry won the treble. He stated that Strabane had a close affinity with Derry City Football Club support wise and with local players such as Gregory Kearney, Jonathan Speake, Adrian Doherty, Danny Rouse and Kieran Tourish. He stated that the football population of Strabane were proud to see Mr McLaughlin receive such an accolade.

Alderman Guy stated that on behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party he wished to extend his congratulations to Jim McLaughlin on receiving the Freedom of the City. He stated that it was fitting for such an honour to be bestowed upon him for all his work on and off the pitch. 7

Councillor Carr Moved, Councillor Donnelly Seconded and the Council unanimously

Resolved that Council confer the Freedom of the City on Mr Jim McLaughlin

The Mayor stated on how it gave her great honour and pleasure to confer the Freedom of the City on behalf of Derry City and Strabane District Council to Mr Jim McLaughlin.

Members then gave Mr McLaughlin a standing ovation as they Mayor presented him with the scroll to award him the Freedom of the City.

The Mayor then invited the daughter of Mr McLaughlin to say a few words.

Mr McLaughlin’s daughter Jane, stated that on behalf of her family wished to express their gratitude and appreciation for the honour being bestowed on her father today.

She stated that her father grew up in Quarry Street and left for England in 1958 as a shy 17 year old striving for success. She referred to the people there who had helped through those difficult early days. She added that her father spent 16 years in England and then returned as a player/manager at Dundalk in 1974. He managed a number of clubs in Ireland but when the opportunity arose, he had no hesitation in returning to Derry. She described him as a very simple man and he once said looking back on his childhood he had absolutely nothing when he was growing up and yet he had everything. She noted that football was such a large part of their lives when growing up and to see her father’s contribution acknowledged in this way makes it all worthwhile. She stated that her family have very fond memories of attending the games and acknowledged that the return of Derry City Football Club to the League of Ireland was a breath of fresh air to the people of Derry and they showed this by the huge numbers who attended the games both at home and away. She stated that it showed the world that normal life continued and shone a positive light on the city. By receiving this award her father would say that being manager was the final piece of the jigsaw and it was the whole club and team pulling together which created that success and she thanked all the players that played under her father, staff who worked alongside him and of course the supporters. Over the years her father got to travel all over the world and it was safe to say that football has been 8

very good to him but also like to that he has been very good for football. So on behalf of our father I would like to say thank you so much for this honour which we will treasure.

The Mayor brought the meeting to a close and invited guests to a reception in the main hall.

The meeting terminated at 7.45pm