Brandywell Stadium / Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium (Derry)

The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium is a municipal football stadium with an adjoining greyhound racing track in Derry, Northern Ireland. It is the home ground of League of Ireland team Derry City F.C. and (temporarily) NIFL Premiership team Institute.

General information

Arena capacity: 3,700 spectators

Address: 155 Lone Moor Rd, Londonderry BT48 9LA, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 155 Lone Moor Rd, Londonderry BT48 9LA, UK

Year of construction: 1928

Field: artificial 3G lawn with dimensions of 111 x 72 yards

Seating plan of Brandywell Stadium

The ground shares its surroundings with County Derry’s Celtic Park Stadium, and for those who are sightseeing both stadiums are visible from the Grand Parade side of the City’s ancient walls. The vast hillside City Cemetery looms over both grounds and dwarfing the surrounding housing estates. Brandywell itself, which is owned by the local council, is a distinctive stadium, its shape being formed by a history of hosting greyhound races.

The new Main Stand has a capacity of 955 seats. Running for around half the length of the pitch it sits astride the halfway line. It has a tall cantilevered roof, meaning that there are no roof supports to hinder your view of the playing action.

The East Stand opposite was opened in 1991 it contains around 2,700 mainly red plastic seats over eight rows with BRANDYWELL spelt out in black. Despite being set back from the pitch the stand still feels well connected to the action.

Interestingly both sides of this covered seated stand extend around both corners of the ground, which makes you think that at one time it was intended to redevelop the whole ground in this way. The low cantilever roof offers an unobstructed view of the pitch and the fact that both home and away supporters are accommodated in this stand can make for a great atmosphere on a matchday. Both ends are unused for spectators. The stadium is completed with a set of four tall floodlights.

Visiting supporters are allocated a seating block in the East Stand towards the North End of the stadium. The facilities within this stand are okay and the view of the playing action good. This stand is shared with home fans and the low roof means that even a relatively small number of fans can really make some noise. The Club and supporters are normally most welcoming to visiting sides.

Where to buy tickets?

Due to a high demand for tickets, none will be on sale at the ground.

It is recommended to purchase your tickets in advance online or from one of the outlets which generally have them within a week of the game.

They post up on our Facebook & Twitter accounts when tickets go on sale. Tickets can be bought online here – www.derrycityfc.net/tickets-min.

Away fans can purchase tickets online here – www.derrycityfc.net/away-support-ticketing or here – www.derrycityfc.net/away-support-ticketing-v2.

All tickets (including Season Tickets) must be scanned by a steward upon entry.

Terrace tickets are not generally available for any fixtures in the Brandywell. For some very busy games, an exception can be made.

How to get there?

Brandywell is located close to the Bogside area, to the South-West of Derry/Londonderry City Centre.

By car

From the South:

Follow the A5 from Strabane alongside the River Foyle, turn left and cross the River Foyle on the A2 Craigavon Bridge. You will then come to a roundabout with the “hands across the divide” statue. Turn the left turn into Abercorn Road and follow the road as it kinks to the right and becomes Barrack Street. You will then see the floodlights of Celtic Park GAA Stadium direct ahead of you with the floodlights of Brandywell just visible to the left. As the road starts to slope down, turn left into Windmill Terrace and follow the road as it snakes downhill and joins Lecky Road. Take the second right turn into Brandywell Road.

From the East:

Follow the A6 from Dungiven into the outskirts of Derry,passing Institute fc, Altnagelvin Hospital then Londonderry Railway Station. Following the city centre signs, turn right and cross the River Foyle on the A2 Craigavon Bridge. Then as ‘From the South’ above.

From the West:

Follow the R236 from Ballybofey / R265 from Lifford merging into the A40 on the south suburbs of Derry. On the approach to the City Centre turn left into Lone Moor Road. The main entrance gate leading to the stadium, Sports Centre, training ground and football club car park is on the right.

Car Parking

There is a car park at the stadium which is accessed from Lone Moor Road, using the main entrance gate to the Sports Centre and training ground. The club car park is on the left hand side beyond the rear of the old Main Stand. Otherwise it is a case of street parking in the local area.

By Train

Londonderry Railway Station is located just over a mile away from the stadium. Londonderry is linked to the whole of Northern Ireland by the Translink and Northern Ireland Railways Network. The quickest route from Belfast would be to take the Londonderry Railway Line service from Great Victoria Street via Antrim, Ballymena and Coleraine. Journey time is around 2 hours 15 minutes with 8 services throughout the day. The trains terminate at Londonderry. There are no direct services that operate from Dublin, passengers would need to first travel to Belfast Central.

The stadium is around a 15 minute walk away; When you come out of the railway station booking office, turn right and walk along the riverside. Cross the River Foyle on the nearby Craigavon Bridge. You will then come to a roundabout with the “hands across the divide” statue.

Turn left into Abercorn Road and follow the road as it kinks to the right and becomes Barrack Street. You will then see the floodlights of Celtic Park GAA Stadium direct ahead of you with the floodlights of Brandywell just visible to the left. As the road starts to slope down, turn left into Windmill Terrace and follow the road as it snakes downhill and joins Lecky Road. Take the second right turn into Brandywell Road. Turnstiles for the New Stand on the East side of the stadium are on the left with turnstiles to the old West side terracing, with the open seating and Glentoran Stand further up the hill.

By bus

There is a bus service which runs from Dublin Busaras to Derry/Londonderry Foyle Street. There is the Bus Eireann Expressway Service 033 from Dublin Busaras which then becomes the Translink NI Ulsterbus Service 274 to Londonderry Foyle Street. The service runs every day although there are only six services each day.

For those travelling from the Mid-West of the Irish Republic Bus Eireann Expressway Service 064 links Galway with Donegal, travelling via Knock Ireland West Airport, Sligo and Ballyshannon. The service then continues through to Donegal, Ballybofey and Letterkenny, terminating at Derry Foyle Street.

With all bus services arriving into Derry/Londonderry Foyle Street in the City Centre it will then take a 10 minute walk to locate Brandywell, which is located in Bogside, outside of the city walls.

When you come out of the bus station, walk through the narrow exit next to the enquiries offices and turn right onto Foyle Street. You will then see the clock tower of the Guildhall direct ahead of you. Turn left and walk under the Shipquay Gate arch in the City wall, then walk up the hill into the City Centre. At The Diamond War Memorial turn right into Butcher Street and exit the City Centre through the Butchers Gate.

You will then see the floodlights of Celtic Park GAA Stadium direct ahead of you with the floodlights of Brandywell just visible beyond. At the junction turn left and follow Fahan Street downhill alongside the grass banking outside the city wall. At the crossroads turn left and follow Lecky Road past the Bogside Artists Studio. Continue for 3 minutes then turn right into Brandywell Road. Turnstiles for the New Stand on the East side of the stadium are on the left hand, with turnstiles to the old West side terracing, open seating and Glentoran Stand further up the hill.

Where to eat and drink?

In terms of dining options and accommodation near the Brandywell Stadium, here are some suggestions:

Eating:

• Richmond Shopping Centre: Located adjacent to the stadium, the Richmond Shopping Centre houses various eateries, including fast food chains and cafes, offering a range of food options.
• Foyleside Shopping Centre: Situated within walking distance of the stadium, Foyleside Shopping Centre features a food court with several dining choices, including international cuisine and fast food.
• City Centre Restaurants: Derry’s city centre, which is a short distance from the stadium, is filled with restaurants, cafes, and pubs offering diverse cuisines. The area around Shipquay Street and the Guildhall Square is particularly known for its dining options.

Sleeping:

• Hotels in the City Centre: Derry has a variety of hotels in the city centre, providing convenient access to the stadium. Some options include the City Hotel, Maldron Hotel Derry, and Shipquay Boutique Hotel.
• Bed and Breakfasts: There are also several bed and breakfast accommodations in and around the city centre that offer comfortable and affordable stays. The Bogside B&B and Cathedral View B&B are a couple of examples.
• Guesthouses and Inns: Derry has a range of guesthouses and inns that provide cozy accommodations. The Bridge B&B and Charlemont House are popular choices in the area.

It is recommended to book your accommodation in advance, especially during peak match days or events, to secure your preferred option. Additionally, consider checking online travel websites or contacting local tourism offices for more information and additional accommodation choices that suit your preferences.