Bean has been staying in Londonderry in a bid to track down relatives of a former footballer at his beloved Sheffield United with friend Dr Gary Armstrong. 

The Lord of the Rings actor waved to fans at the ground, only to see Cork leave the Candystripes stunned after fighting back from a two-goal deficit to win 3-2. 

Sharpe star Bean will today hand over the shillelagh he used in the 1990 film The Field to Mayor Drew Thompson, on his last day in office. 

Dr Armstrong is the author of ‘Sheffield United: The Biography’ and the pair are coming to see the home of one of the Blades’ legendary players, and to see if they can track down any surviving relatives. 

Billy Gillespie, from Kerrykeel in Donegal, played for United between 1913 and 1932 and is credited with giving Derry their candystripes. 

Gillespie was Derry manager from 1932 to 1940, but before he was part of the team that won the Blades’ last major honour � the 1925 FA Cup. 

Dr Armstrong, a Brunel University lecturer, said: “There’s only one link that we know of between Sheffield United and the Candystripes of Derry City. 

“Billy Gillespie who was from Donegal played for Sheffield United for 20 years and then went to Derry City as player/manager. 

“He took a Sheffield United kit with him, so you have the replication of Sheffield United in red and white and the red and white of Derry City.”