Sir, - I am obliged to Eoin Hurley (November 28th) for responding to my earlier letter about the possibility of Wimbledon Football Club relocating to Dublin. The primary aim of my original missive was to initiate a people's (as opposed to a journalists') debate on this proposal.
Mr Hurley's point about Berwick, Swansea, Cardiff and Wrexham not moving to other cities is well made. However, it does not diminish the fact that these clubs, like Derry City, are based within the jurisdiction of one football association while competing under the auspices of another. As a founding member and former secretary of the Derry City Supporters' Club, I well recall the utter disbelief and scoffing scepticism of the early 1980s when the idea of my home-town team competing in the League of Ireland was first mooted. In those pre-ceasefire (indeed, extremely violent) days, we were told there was absolutely no way that Southern teams and their supporters would go to Brandywell - especially if there was to be no police presence at games. A rake of "extradited" trophies later, no one bats an eyelid.
As for hooliganism, I am sure the Garda will appreciate Mr Hurley's vote of confidence. - Yours, etc.,
Nigel Cooke,
Wheatfield Court, Dublin 22.