SOCCER CAPTAIN, 27, FOUND DEAD AT HIS HOME
Derry City FC mourn the loss of their star
A YOUNG Irish soccer star was found dead in his bedroom yesterday, just 24 hours after he led his side to a crucial league victory. Ryan McBride, the captain of Derry City FC, helped his teammates to a stunning 4-0 win against rivals Drogheda United on Saturday, the day before his shocking death.
Sources said Ryan, 27, had mentioned feeling unwell after Saturday’s match, and had gone home. The Candystripes centre-back is believed to have been discovered in his bedroom, where he sadly passed away, at some time during
yesterday evening. Last night a close family friend of Mr McBride, who lived in Derry’s Bluebell Hill Gardens close to Brandywell Stadium, confirmed the sad news that he has passed away yesterday, but was too distraught to speak any further.
Crowds of supporters were last night gathering around his house to hold a vigil for the rising soccer star.
The news of the soccer star’s death at such a young age sent
‘Thoughts are with friends and family’
shockwaves through Irish soccer and several prominent attendees left the FAI International Awards, which were held in Dublin last night, when the news of the tragedy filtered through.
Ryan’s former teammate, current Republic of Ireland star James McClean, broke the news to fellow Derry native, Ireland manager Martin O’Neill, who left the annual celebration when he heard of the defender’s sudden death.
West Brom star McClean had remained close friends with his former teammate and will be excused from training with his Republic of Ireland teammates this week to attend Ryan’s funeral.
The Derry native began his soccer career with the home town team, Derry City, in 2011 and had played in every match with the Candystripes this season.
Tributes were flooding in on Twitter last night from across the soccer community, from former and current teammates, other soccer clubs and hundreds of stunned fans.
The Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland, the official body of the League of Ireland players’ union, wrote: ‘We are shocked to hear this evening the passing of our member and @derrycityfc Captain Ryan McBride. Our thoughts are with his family.’
Ryan’s team posted an emotional tribute on their official Twitter page @derrycityfc, a picture of the young man in his kit with the caption ‘Captain Fantastic’ which was liked and retweeted more than 2,000 times in just 20 minutes after it first appeared on the social media site.
One soccer fan, Gerard Grimes, wrote: ‘Heartbreaking news coming from Derry City. RIP Ryan McBride. Only 27 years old.’
And Niamh O’Mahony tweeted: ‘Thoughts are with the friends and family of Ryan McBride and the people of @derrycityfc this evening. RIP.’
This is the second tragedy to strike Derry City FC after striker Mark Farren passed away following a battle with brain cancer last year, aged just 33.
Last year also saw another member of the Derry City FC team, Josh Daniels, hit by tragedy when his mother, sister, brother-in-law and nephews were all killed in the Buncrana pier disaster.
As of late last night, the cause of Mr McBride’s death was unknown.
The Irish Daily Mail approached the Police Service of Northern Ireland press office for comment last night.
Cause of death is unknown