After the tremendous news that four players had agreed new deals at the club, (Wilson, Douglas, Hutchinson and Harpur), this week we were delighted to announce that our Vice Captain and forever dependable defender David Armstrong has agreed a three year extension to his current Swifts contract. This delivers a major boost to the club as a whole as supporters can sit back and appreciate that the players want to stay at Dungannon Swifts and can only bode well for our forthcoming football.
David joined the club last summer and has slotted into his role at centre half comfortably, as well as making plenty of new friends on the pitch he has made just as many off the pitch at the club. David has adapted well to life at Dungannon Swifts and is certainly relishing his time here.
When speaking to David this week he made his feelings precise about the Swifts…
“To be honest I wouldn’t sign for anyone else in the Country! That’s just how much I am enjoying my football here. I’m at a stage where I certainly need to be playing and enjoying my football and thanks to Murph and Rod, and everyone else at the club, they have got that desire back in me and the love for the game comes flowing along with it.
Playing for the Swifts is different in a way from some other clubs in that there is no pressure on you to be expected to go out and win every single game you play in. Players can go out and give 100 per cent and people know you’re putting in the effort and it’s a real windfall when results come your way as it means so much to everyone. The club is a real family orientated club where everyone is close to each other and knows each other. My mum and dad would regularly come and watch us playing, especially our home games. My dad always enjoys watching games at Stangmore Park in particular and when in attendance they have always been made more than welcome by everyone around the club. Unfortunately my ‘Mrs’ works most Saturdays but the odd time she has been able to make a few games and bring my two year old son Alfie which has been really wonderful.
I think it always takes time to gel at a new club but it’s important to get off to a good start and that is half the battle. I feel that I did that and the boys in the squad took to me well helping me gel right in from early on in the season. I’ve been named as vice-captain of the club and actually captained the side on numerous occasions when Harps was off getting married (haha!), injured and suspended for example. Without any doubt it’s an absolute honour to Captain your team and the first time I got handed the captaincy I was a bit shocked as it is my first year at the club but I love doing it and hope to captain the side many more times in the future!
It’s been a strange season for us, the first half of the season we were playing great football but not getting the results in my opinion. Whereas more recently to our own standards we maybe haven’t played as well as we would like to but we have been winning and picking up valuable points. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going as there is such a positive buzz around the place at the minute.
On a different note there is a player on our team you are all going to have to watch out for, Francis Brennan. He’s always telling me he is the best player in the Country, so he must be going to turn into some player because I just haven’t seen it yet! My favourite thing about playing for the Swifts is getting to see Abby Sanusi’s clothing attire every training night. Oh dear me! Brutal.”
We take the opportunity to extend continued best wishes to David with his three year extension and wish him every success in a Swifts shirt. He has been an exceptional addition to our team in 2014/15 and we are ever grateful for his efforts.
Good luck David.
