Soccer mourns death of Friel

News of the tragic death of Derry City chairman Kevin Friel in a car accident was met with shock and sadness by representatives of the National League's clubs, who were meeting in Dublin last night.

After adjourning the meeting - which had been intended to deal with a number of proposed rule changes as well as a report from Brendan Menton regarding Eircom Park - as a mark of respect to the warmly regarded Derry City official, league president Michael Hyland paid tribute to a man who had contributed to much to the senior game over the years.

"He was a man who had a great deal of influence over people in Derry as well as over those involved with the league throughout the country," he remarked. "Kevin was never a man to fly off the handle, he would weigh everything before expressing a well-considered opinion. He had great vision regarding where his club and the game in general should go in the future and his loss is a terrible blow to the whole of Irish football."

Finn Harps official, Derek Wilkinson, echoed those sentiments, describing the death of his long-time friend as a loss "not only to football in Derry or in north west but to everybody who cared about the game around the country.

"The sense of deep sadness when people heard the news this evening was obvious as was the strong sympathy which everybody who knew Kevin will feel for his wife and family. It is a terrible tragedy."

Friel was killed in a road traffic accident near Raphoe in Co Donegal yesterday evening. The shock announcement was made at the Brandywell last night, Derry City's home ground, during a pre-season friendly game between English first division sides, Grimbsy Town and Tranmere Rovers.

Friel (47) was a married man with five children. He lived in the Co Tyrone village of Ballymagorry and was the proprietor of a printing company in Strabane.

After the announcement was made, officials and players from both clubs formed a circle in the middle of the field and joined with the home fans in observing a minute's silence. The match was abandoned.

Derry City's commercial director, Mr Jim Roddy, said: "We simply couldn't believe the news when we received it and our immediate thoughts are with Kevin's wife and family. Kevin's first love was his family and his second love was Derry City Football Club. He was our longest serving member of the board of directors and was elected chairman just over three years ago."