Nicola took up the newly created post at the beginning of December last year. The 34 year-old former City of Derry swimmer spent 15 years working towards a career in finance and mortgages in Dublin but always wanted to make her way back to her home town.

Nicola talked at length about how her quality of life has improved significantly since returning home and said that it was always a "real honour" to represent Derry when swimming for the local sports club.

"I was born in Altnagelvin and I spent my childhood growing up in Daisy Hill just opposite Steelstown Primary School. I lived there until I was 18 and then moved to Dublin where I studied for a degree in Marketing for three years.

"Before leaving Derry I would have competed with City of Derry Swimming Club. I really enjoyed that time of my life and it was always a real honour to represent the city. After I got my degree I then studied for my Financial Diploma and various other diplomas before getting a job with mortgage company EBS."

Like many other young people from Derry, Nicola left home in pursuit of an education and a career when she was 18. After working for EBS she then moved onto National Credit and Simply Mortgages, where she was head hunted for the position by the company's director.

"The knowledge and experience I gained at EBS stood me in good stead when I went on to work for the likes of National Credit and Simply Mortgages. I worked for Simply Mortgages for eight-and-a-half years and I really really enjoyed it. I would have been one of the top sellers in the company. I loved working there, I loved meeting new people everyday and that was probably why I stayed their for so long. I was left to get on with the job. I was meeting targets and bringing in money so I was keeping my boss happy."

Nicola's brother-in-law saw the advert for Derry City Commercial Manager in the Derry Journal in August last year. Nicola wasted no time. It was the opportunity she wanted and after two rounds of interviews she was offered the job.

"In August last year my brother-in-law saw an advertisement for the position of Commercial Manager with Derry City Football Club. He sent me down a copy to Dublin and I applied. I then sent my CV and a cover letter to the club and I was called for the first round of interviews. I must have made a good impression because I was called back for a second interview and then it was at this stage that they told me I was successful.

"I was delighted. Although I had spent the best part of 15 years working and living in Dublin I had always wanted to get back to Derry. If I am honest, most of the time spent living in Dublin I would have been terribly home sick so when the opportunity to get back home came up I think I literally jumped at the chance. I always looked as Dublin as a place I could develop my career but obviously I always saw Derry as my home - I love the place.

"I officially took up the new post on December 1 last year and I haven't looked back."

Since taking up the post, Nicola has been very busy. She revealed what she has been doing for the last two months.

"The things I am working on at the minute is to renew all the existing sponsorship deals that are already at the club and obviously it's a totally different now with the current economic climate. I also have been approaching new and bigger sponsors who may have not been approached before.

When contacting the companies I would let them know about the club's history, statistics and how the fact the club are in both the Setanta Cup and in Europe would benefit their brands even more.

Nicola added: "Another big aspect of the job is to develop in website. One the website the information on what sponsors can expect to get in return for their support is on the website. Another key thing I am working on is fundraising within the club and we want to make people aware of what is coming up and people can do that by checking the Social Calendar on the website."

Nicola's job sees her working closely with club Chairman, Pat McDaid and Community Development Officer, Dermot Desmond. She said that the help and support she has got since coming on board has been second to none.

Nicola went on to explain her ambitions for the coming season and how she hopes her endeavours can help the club both on and off the pitch.

"My job is to raise as much money as possible and hopefully if we can raise more money it will help the club on the pitch and they could win even more silverware. If there's a steady stream of income coming into the club then that can only regarded as a good thing.

"I also want to really push the sale of the club lotto tickets. By introducing it online we hope to increase the amount people buying tickets and therefore raise some more revenue for the club. We will be setting up a Derry City Facebook to remind supporters to buy the match programme at the games and eventually we hope to build a considerable fan base with which we will be able to to communicate with very easily."

She continued: "The way I would be working things is by setting myself goals. I would have a figure in mind that I would like to achieve on a quarterly basis and I always try to push myself so that I will exceed it. I am a very ambitious person and I am always striving to give myself a real challenge. I want to bring the club forward in a business sense and if I can do that this year then I will aiming to better that the following year. It's a real work in progress and some of the work I am doing now is so that Derry City can start to make head way in 12 months time."

Will Nicola's plans flourish? Only time will tell but, if she is as successful as her CV suggests then Derry City Football Club will almost certainly reap the benefits instantaneously and for years to come.
"I am really loving the new job and I am meeting so many different people. I am really looking forward to the season starting and obviously I am new to the whole football side of things but I am sure I will really enjoy it. I am very passionate about what I do and when I do something, I do it well," she concluded poignantly.