Drogheda United are off to Turkey to play a friendly with Trabzonspor on October 1, the quirky fixture a consequence of a long-standing arrangement between the clubs.
Kevin Doherty’s side will travel during the international break for a novel away day against Mo Salah’s new employers, although the Egyptian has a double header of Afcon qualifiers earlier in that enlarged window.
Drogheda are a sister club of Trabzonspor, with the long relationship – incredibly enough – dating back to the Famine.
The Ottoman Empire sent aid to the Irish people in the form of cash and food supplies but when the British authorities complicated the access route into Dublin, the ships landed at the port in Drogheda.
As a thank you to the Turks, the star and crescent, symbols of the Ottoman Empire, were adopted in the coat of arms of Drogheda which then became a part of the Drogheda United crest when the club was established. Both clubs also wear claret and blue, with efforts made in the late 2000s to develop a link.
This has led to a unique trip to Papara Park with Drogheda chairman Ben Boycott saying the relegation-threatened Boynesiders will use the exercise as a training camp to prepare them for the run-in to what has been a stressful season.
“The Trabzonspor friendly, in addition to all the cultural and partnership benefits it provides to the club in the long term, is a strategic sporting decision. We want to keep the team working together during the international break, sharpen ourselves against quality opposition in a friendly match and use the trip as a launchpad into the crucial final weeks of the season,” said Boycott.
A statement from the club referenced how the fixture marks 75 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Turkey, with the event also intended to feature in an upcoming independently produced documentary for Turkish TV that will explore the historical connection.
Drogheda are encouraging members of the business community to travel in order to capitalise on the opportunity.
Meanwhile, Shelbourne have agreed a new long-term deal with defender Kameron Ledwidge, fending off interest from Shamrock Rovers to tie down the Dubliner on a three-and-a-half year contract.
The Hoops are long-term admirers of the 25-year-old left-sided centre-half, but Shels have managed to get the 2024 league winner to stay around on a contract that runs until the end of the 2029 season.