DERRY CITY RETURNED to League of Ireland action tonight for the first time since the passing of captain Ryan McBride.

Hosting Bray Wanderers in Buncrana, Derry players took part in their warm-up while wearing shirts with ’McBride 5′ on the back and kept them on as Gerard Doherty led his team-mates onto the pitch ahead of kick-off.

Also before the game, members of the Derry City FC Cubs released balloons in McBride’s honour while the club’s U-17 and U-19 squads stood in a figure of five formation in tribute to their fallen hero. There was also a minute’s applause in his honour.

The players each wore a black armband adorned with the number 5 while the centre-back’s name and number was also stitched into the middle of their game shirts.

Maginn Park was a shrine to McBride, who died earlier this month, as supporters proudly put a litany of banners and messages on display.

The message was very clear: gone but certainly not forgotten.

Connacht derby falls foul of weather as Galway United-Sligo Rovers is called off

From unprecedented loss to collective pride: The League of Ireland really is a true ‘football family’