What do you do first as a Derry City fan when you get awarded the Freedom of Barcelona?
For John Hume it was simple: you invite their star-studded football team for a match at the Brandywell.
"I was told I would receive the freedom of Barcelona and I immediately worked on getting their team to Derry," said the former SDLP leader who passed away today at the age of 83.
Hume was club president of the League of Ireland side for 21 years and such was his reputation around the world that he was quickly given a promise by then Barca president Joan Gaspart.
The likes of Xavi, Patrick Kluivert, Andres Iniesta and a new Brazilian signing by the name of Ronaldinho turned up to play the Candystripes on 12 August 2003.
A capacity crowd of 10,000 packed out the Brandywell for the occasion and they were treated to a Barca side at their free-flowing best.
Not that Derry City lay down either, with Peter Hutton in particular earning plaudits for his relentless display at centre-back.
But it did only take three minutes for a David Sanchez corner to find the head of Mexican great Rafael Marquez to score from close range.
The 36th minute saw a similar scenario as Patrick Andersson met another Sanchez corner to find the net and make it 2-0.
Ronaldinho, the big money signing from PSG, made his bow in the second half and one of his trademark swerving free-kicks had to be cleared off the line by Holt.
The third came when a Marc Overmars cross made its way to substitute Gerard Lopez to score.
Further gloss was added when Argentine striker Saviola chipped the ball over the Derry keeper Bennett after being played through by Ronaldinho.
And then the mercurial Brazilian got in on the act by rounding substitute goalkeeper Mark Speers before scoring to the delight of the crowd.
A 5-0 win on the road for Barcelona in the end but everyone was a winner thanks to another great bit of negotiating from one of Derry's most famous sons.
Derry City: Bennett, McCallion, Hargan, Hutton, McLaughlin, Doherty, McChrystal, Beckett, Coyle, Martyn, Holt. Subs: Moran, McGlynn, Hedderman, Friars, Molineaux, Fimms, Deery, Gill, Aldridge (all used)
Barcelona: Valdez, Riezger, Andersson, Marquez, Lopez, Ros, Quaresma, Iniesta, Saviola, Sanchez, Overmars. Subs: Puyol, Recber, Cocu, Ronaldinho, Lopez, Kluivert (all used), Xavi Hernandez (not used).
