Search icon

Sport

20th Mar 2017

Football world unites in total shock and sadness at the tragic loss of Ryan McBride

Conan Doherty

Men like Ryan McBride don’t come around very often in this world but, when they do, no-one forgets them.

In such a short space of time, Ryan McBride had a massive, massive effect on everyone he came into contact with and everyone else who he forced to sit up and take notice.

In 27 years, it was almost as if he had crashed into earth and life with all the ferocity and fearlessness of one of his crunching tackles which anyone who has ever played against him will know all too well about.

He was a nice man, he was a competitive man, he was a man’s man.

McBride was a leader of men and his tragic loss will leave a void at Derry City and beyond that will never, ever be filled again.

The only small comfort anyone could take at such a devastating time – not that there is any at all, really – is that the Derry man made his mark on this world and his name will be spoken of through the decades.

He made a huge mark on the game and with anyone who was lucky enough to have met him. And anyone unlucky enough to have felt the full, brunt force of one of his inspirational tackles.

At a time of real heartbreak, the world of football has come together to say goodbye and remember a warrior, a leader, and a friend.