Drive 105 MNL, a word of thanks.

[TenaciousDee]

The 2024 season didn’t exactly end with a trophy-lifting parade we hoped and expected. There was real hope in the air around the club – a feeling that this year, the three-year plan would bring it all together. And though it wasn’t quite to be, we at Drive 105’s Match Night Live couldn’t help but step things up too, putting on a programme we thought the season deserved.

We rolled out a big three-hour format for match days, bringing on a rotating crew of three co-hosts at home to shake up the conversation, with committed men travelling across Ireland and Gibraltar for away coverage. We stacked it with interviews – from journalists, ex-LOI stars, RTE pundits, Derry legends past and present, the management squad, and even a Champions League winner and a ROI International or two.

What you see on-air and online? Just the tip of the iceberg. Behind the scenes, it’s all unpaid work including late nights, endless emails, bleary-eyed audio and video editing, long drives through the night, and even some out-of-pocket expenses to keep the broadcast going. None of us are journalists or sound techs; we’re not trained, and we’re definitely not polished. We might just be the most unprofessional professional broadcast team you’ll ever tune in to – all driven by the motto, “We’ll work it out”.

A massive shoutout to the incredible team who made this season’s Match Night Live possible: Kevin, Stephen, Eddie, Gareth, Mikhail, Packie, Michael, Dermot, and James – thank you for giving it your all, week in and week out! Special thanks to Danny Lafferty, Rory Patterson, and the many others who swooped in to cover commentary when we needed that last-minute save. Thanks to Paul, Richard, Bill and Gregory for filling in at the studio at match nights as well as the Drive 105 presenters who accommodate our broadcasts. And, of course, Lawrence Moore, Derry City’s P.R.O. – we owe you a big one for all the behind-the-scenes help! To all the club P.R.O.s who kindly lined up interviews with managers and players – we’d have been lost without you! And to every current player, manager, pundit, and journalist who joined us on air this year, without asking for a thing in return – thank you.

But the biggest thanks goes to you, our listeners. It’s easy to wonder if all the effort flies under the radar sometimes, but then you get those messages on FAI Cup Final day from Ohio, Egypt, and beyond, and you know it’s all worth it.

As for me, the portable studio is folded up, the mics and gear are back at the station, and it’s time for a breather – just as the manager suggested, a little “reset and refresh.” We pushed to make 2024 bigger and better, and now? Well, we’ll have to let 2025 answer that. Until then, enjoy the close season! Here’s to whatever comes next.

[PauliAlonso]

Well done Dee, and everyone at Drive105. It's a great job.

[da-gama]

Class post. Well done to all concerned Dee

[marcoloco]

Congratulations Dee and everyone involved in delivering your shows.

As as side note, that’s a hell of a lot of work for volunteers to deliver. Are there no sponsors willing to lend a hand or other ways to secure investment for the show to help you with it and ensure that it grows from strength to strength?

[Paddydcfc2010]

Yeah fair play to drive 105. Some effort going up and done the country every week as volunteers. Listened when I could. Here's hoping for the same next season and hopefully we'll have a bit more to celebrate next year.

[TenaciousDee]

Congratulations Dee and everyone involved in delivering your shows.

As as side note, that’s a hell of a lot of work for volunteers to deliver. Are there no sponsors willing to lend a hand or other ways to secure investment for the show to help you with it and ensure that it grows from strength to strength?

It's a challenge, Marco. When I started at the station in 2010, the community radio model didn’t allow for sponsorship, only donations, because we operated as a non-profit, registered charity. That’s still our status, but a rule change following an Ofcom review allowed sponsorship. Over the years, we’ve applied for funding from various sources like the Big Lottery Fund and the Community Radio Fund (awarded by Ofcom), as well as other organisations. Most of this funding goes toward equipment maintenance, as systems naturally age and face wear and tear—sometimes due to carelessness.

During COVID, the station came dangerously close to shutting down, but thankfully, Richard, Kevin, Noel and others have been able to turn things around.

Our biggest challenge is proving our value to potential sponsors. Businesses often ask for listener numbers, but we can’t provide them because we’re not members of RAJAR. When we started, this wasn’t an expense we needed to consider under the old model. Now, we rely on sponsors’ good faith. While some see the value, most don’t, as they understandably want measurable results.

[harridawg]

Public radio has always provided a vital service to the community and its shameful that they have to fight for every penny.
You all deserve great credit for your work, and long may it continue.

[Keyser Soze]

Congratulations and thanks to all involved.

A great service.

[VINNY]

The 2024 season didn’t exactly end with a trophy-lifting parade we hoped and expected. There was real hope in the air around the club – a feeling that this year, the three-year plan would bring it all together. And though it wasn’t quite to be, we at Drive 105’s Match Night Live couldn’t help but step things up too, putting on a programme we thought the season deserved.

We rolled out a big three-hour format for match days, bringing on a rotating crew of three co-hosts at home to shake up the conversation, with committed men travelling across Ireland and Gibraltar for away coverage. We stacked it with interviews – from journalists, ex-LOI stars, RTE pundits, Derry legends past and present, the management squad, and even a Champions League winner and a ROI International or two.

What you see on-air and online? Just the tip of the iceberg. Behind the scenes, it’s all unpaid work including late nights, endless emails, bleary-eyed audio and video editing, long drives through the night, and even some out-of-pocket expenses to keep the broadcast going. None of us are journalists or sound techs; we’re not trained, and we’re definitely not polished. We might just be the most unprofessional professional broadcast team you’ll ever tune in to – all driven by the motto, “We’ll work it out”.

A massive shoutout to the incredible team who made this season’s Match Night Live possible: Kevin, Stephen, Eddie, Gareth, Mikhail, Packie, Michael, Dermot, and James – thank you for giving it your all, week in and week out! Special thanks to Danny Lafferty, Rory Patterson, and the many others who swooped in to cover commentary when we needed that last-minute save. Thanks to Paul, Richard, Bill and Gregory for filling in at the studio at match nights as well as the Drive 105 presenters who accommodate our broadcasts. And, of course, Lawrence Moore, Derry City’s P.R.O. – we owe you a big one for all the behind-the-scenes help! To all the club P.R.O.s who kindly lined up interviews with managers and players – we’d have been lost without you! And to every current player, manager, pundit, and journalist who joined us on air this year, without asking for a thing in return – thank you.

But the biggest thanks goes to you, our listeners. It’s easy to wonder if all the effort flies under the radar sometimes, but then you get those messages on FAI Cup Final day from Ohio, Egypt, and beyond, and you know it’s all worth it.

As for me, the portable studio is folded up, the mics and gear are back at the station, and it’s time for a breather – just as the manager suggested, a little “reset and refresh.” We pushed to make 2024 bigger and better, and now? Well, we’ll have to let 2025 answer that. Until then, enjoy the close season! Here’s to whatever comes next.

Thanks for the coverage this season and many more before that.
Here's to 2025

[paul60]

Great station.
Coverage and commentary on the matches are excellent.

[brandyball]

I always seem to lo lose the Signal.