Hundreds of football fans from Derry are preparing to travel to France for the 2016 European Championships.
Many of them will be travelling as members of the Republic of Ireland Supporters Club Derry branch.
Since being formed in 1992, the club has steadily grown in numbers and influence within the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).
So much so, that the Derry club is now the biggest official Republic of Ireland supporters club on the island.
In fact, its membership stretches throughout the world, with Derry exiles as far away as Canada and the US signed up members of the local branch.
However, the branch, which currently has around 300 members, is always keen to attract new recruits to the ‘Green Army’.
Current chairman Jim Barr, was one of the five founding members of the Derry branch in 1992.
The first meeting was held in the Gweedore Bar, which was then owned by Richard Moore who himself was one of those behind the formation of the local supporters group.
Initially, the branch was affiliated to an official supporters club in Dublin.
Around 100 members of the local branch travelled to the World Cup Finals in 1994, where the Republic famously beat Italy 1-0 in the first match of the group stages.
Since then, members have also travelled to every major tournament that the Republic has reached.
They also organise trips to all the Republic’s away matches in the various qualifying competitions.
According to Jim, they are all looking forward to the trip to France later this month.
“We have a significant number of members going over to France and it’s going to be a great occasion.
“There’s a fair bit of travelling about to the three group games for the Ireland fans. Our members are making their own way out to France but we will be meeting up at organised points in each city before the games.
“There is always a great atmosphere before the games and we are all really looking forward to the Euros.
“Ireland fans have a great reputation and always make a positive impact wherever they go, and France will be no different.”
The Republic’s first game is against Sweden on Monday, June 13, in Paris, before travelling to Bordeaux for the second group game against Belgium on Saturday, June 18.
The final group game is against Italy on Wednesday, June 22, in Lille.
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