Shiels urges his Candystripes to keep delivering home comforts

DERRY City’s return to the Brandywell may have gone better than expected earlier this week but only three points against Bray Wanderers this evening will suffice for Kenny Shiels, who is hoping to put the nightmare of Shamrock Rovers firmly behind him.

The 6-1 defeat at Tallaght a week ago was arguably the lowest part of Shiels’ tenure as City boss, but he admitted he was “brought back to life” by his players’ response just two days later, with the Candystripes running out 5-0 winners over Limerick in the first game at the new Brandywell in 507 days.

“We had to give something back to the city,” he stated. “There was a big fanfare before the game and I was worried sick.

“I have managed teams in front of 60,000 and 70,000 supporters with no nerves at all, but this was nerve-racking because I knew the fans had been deprived of their fortnightly trip down to see their local team.”

Derry now have unfinished business with Bray Wanderers from last season. The Seagulls took nine points over three games and, though they sit bottom of the table, Shiels is not taking the Seagulls lightly.

“It will be tough because Bray haven’t started well but they have really good players,” he said.

“We have the youngest team in the league and it is a big ask to ask them to keep producing and producing and producing.”

Q ADid the gambling affect your football?

If you have a bad day and go to play football, you aren’t going to be in the best frame of mind. In my time at Ballymena United it had an impact, particularly when I wasn’t in the team. If I had lost a lot of money it might have affected my focus and concentration. They were dark days but I did try to help myself. It was no secret I attended Gamblers’ Anonymous but I didn’t break any rules.

Q AHow are you feeling today?

I’m in the best frame of mind that I have been in for a long time and hopefully it shows on the pitch with Ards. I’ll be 25 going into next season and want to play well in my prime years.

Q ANo, I need to go cold turkey but I still go to Gamblers’ Anonymous and I tend to go there in the off season when I have more free time. You need to go regularly for that programme to work. There you can talk about your problems and relate to other people. Ards put me in touch with a counsellor who has really helped me. I had counselling before but it didn’t work. This time I am learning more about myself. Anyone who gambles doesn’t profit and I lost a lot of money.

Matthew Snoddy talked about his gambling history on a BBC documentary about Crusaders. Have you been able to help each other?

We used to gamble together and when Matthew went up Carnmoney Hill thinking about taking his own life, I found him after a few of us went looking for him. I’m not going to judge him as I’ve been there too. We’ve been friends for a long time and I had a gut feeling he went there. I knew the path he would probably take and he was

QADo you still gamble?