Drogheda United will make a historic trip to Turkey next month for a friendly against Super Lig side Trabzonspor. The League of Ireland Premier Division club confirmed the match will be played at Papara Park on 1 October, as first reported by RTÉ.
This journey marks the first time the Boynesiders have played a match in Turkey. It comes during a three-week international break in the domestic calendar and will serve as a late-season training camp for Kevin Doherty's squad. The club currently sits 9th in the Premier Division with 28 points from 29 games, having lost their last five matches including a 1-2 defeat to Galway United on 4 September. Their next league fixture is at home to Sligo Rovers on 11 September, a key match in the battle to move up from the lower half of the standings.
Who will Drogheda United face in Turkey?
Drogheda United's opponents are Trabzonspor, a club with which they share a unique sister-club relationship. The connection is one of three such partnerships for the Turkish giants, who are also linked with Sanlıurfaspor and Siirt Provincial Special Administration Sport. In recent years, Trabzonspor has assembled a squad featuring several global stars. This includes former Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and his ex-teammate Fabinho, alongside former Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Whether Salah will be available for the friendly remains uncertain. The Egyptian international is scheduled to play for his national team against South Sudan in an African Cup of Nations qualifier on 27 September, just days before the match. Trabzonspor's own Super Lig campaign resumes the following week with a fixture against Samsunspor.
What is the historical link behind the trip?
The friendly is more than just a football match, as it celebrates a deep historical bond. A documentary titled 'An Gorta Mór, The Star & The Crescent', exploring Ottoman humanitarian aid sent to Ireland during the Great Famine of 1845, will air on Turkish television around the event. Former Drogheda United PRO Roisin Philips highlighted this long-standing connection on the RTÉ Soccer podcast back in 2020.
"It goes back far longer than 2011 when they announced that we'd become their sister club," Philips said. "In fact it goes back to the Great Famine in 1845." The trip coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Turkey in 2026.
Where does this fit in Drogheda's season?
The international break provides a key moment for Drogheda United to reset. Their recent form shows five consecutive defeats, with 33 goals scored and 48 conceded this season for a -15 goal difference. The trip offers a change of scenery and a high-profile challenge before the final push in the league, where they trail leaders Shamrock Rovers by 28 points. The club will hope the experience can spark an improvement ahead of their remaining fixtures.
Facing a team of Trabzonspor's caliber is a rare opportunity for the squad. It allows players to test themselves against elite opposition in a unique environment. The club's full roster available for the trip can be viewed on the official squad page. Drogheda United's next match after the international break is the home league encounter with Sligo Rovers on 11 September.
