DSFC First Team recently presented their Awards for the 2019/20 Season.
With the Season having been cut short we understandably didn’t have the opportunity to hold a proper awards ceremony for the players and supporters to enjoy this year. The players who won awards were recently presented with them at Stangmore Park. First Team Manager , Kris Lindsay talks us through the awards presented.
Dougie Wilson
Conner Byrne
Michael Carvill
DSFC First Team Award Winners for 2019/20 Season
Dougie Wilson – Player of the Year & Top Goal Scorer & Manager’s Player of the Year Dougie fully deserves to win this Award. He changed positions have way through the season and was excellent. He popped up with some really important goals throughout the season. Dougie is a top, top player and he’s a leader both on and off the pitch and this showed in his performances last season.
Conner Byrne – Young Player of the Year. Conner came into the squad during difficult circumstances last year and acquitted himself superbly. He got better and better with every game and had a sustained run in the team. For such a young player he has a good head on his shoulders and as long as he continues to learn and work hard he has a big future ahead of him. A fully deserved award.
Michael Carvill – Supporters Club Player of the Year Michael is absolutely deserving of this award. He has years of experience within the League but he never lets his standards drop . Michael is the one who sets the standards for everyone else and he put in some magnificent performances last year. Hopefully he can kick on and continue that this season.
All of the lads are top pros, the performances fully justified their rewards. Hopefully in the upcoming season we will have a full season to kick on and see what we can do within the League and the Cups.
Thank you to the full squad for their commitment and professionalism to DSFC throughout the 2019/20 season and congratulations to all the award winners.
Gemma Webb, Natasha Webb and Aaron Donnelly proudly show off the new Uhlsport Match Ball
The NI Football League can proudly unveil the new uhlsport match ball for the 2020/2021 season as picked by the fans!
Last year, we asked the loyal Irish League supporters to pick from a selection of designs for the new season to have their say. With over 52% of the votes across three options, the stylish electric blue panelled match ball was a popular choice.
As part of the launch of the new season ball, supporters from each of the Danske Bank Premiership clubs were amongst the first to get their hands on the new ball, including Dungannon Swifts supporters Gemma Webb, Natasha Webb and Aaron Donnelly.
Andrew Johnston, NIFL Managing Director said: “Having the supporters pick the new season football was important to us to show our appreciation for the role they play in creating the unique identity of our league.”
“We have a proud partnership with uhlsport and we are sure the supporters will be pleased with another great ball that will be instantly recognisable when we return to action.”
Brian Hutchinson, uhlsport said: “We are delighted to continue to supply the NI Football League with the official match ball for the new season and it’s important to us that the supporters have been recognised during this difficult year for everyone.”
The new look ball has already debuted in last month’s UEFA Europa League qualifying game between Glentoran and HB Torshavn will take pride of place for the resumption of all competitive games in the NI Football League, which are provisionally due to start in October 2020.
Supporters or clubs wanting to purchase the new uhlsport match ball can do so via KlubFunder.
Manager, Kris Lindsay has provided us with an update on our 1st team squad.
“I’m pleased to announce that Michael Carvill,Mark Patton and Ally Teggart have signed 1 year extensions at the club. With a young squad it’s important to get these 3 senior players signed up for another year. Michael, Mark and Ally have bags of experience of the Irish league and have shown their quality year on year, not only are they leaders on the pitch but also off it. Corey McMullan who missed all of last season due to injury has also signed a new one year contract and we will be hoping to see him in action this season. Corey has been working really hard off the pitch with his rehabilitation. We now have the vast majority of last years squad under contract and will be integrating some of our highly talented young players into the 1st team, whilst still hopeful of adding some fresh faces.
In terms of departures, Ryan Waide, Caomhan McGuinness and Ross Redman have left the club after the end of their loan agreements. Guileme Keke and Niall McGinley have also left the club after the expiration of their contracts. I’d like to thank all the lads for their efforts on the pitch over their time at the club in what turned out to be a shortened season and wish them every success in their futures.”
For the 2020/21 Danske Bank Premiership season, Dungannon Swifts FC will proudly wear the NHS logo on the front of our playing shirts. This is our way of saying “Thank you” for all the hard work and commitment both NHS staff and all other Key Workers have shown in helping our community through the Covid Pandemic. A percentage of sales from our shirts will go to an NHS Charity of our choice at the end of the season.
The launch video, showcasing our new kit, shares the message “Dungannon Swifts would like to say a big thank you, to all of the NHS and Key Workers. This season we proudly wear the NHS logo, to show appreciation for the hard work, for helping this Community, through the Covid Pandemic. Thank you, from all, at Dungannon Swifts.”
Dungannon Swifts FC takes pride in being a Community Club. We are delighted that Dungannon Swifts Charitable Trust was able to contribute over 5,000 meals for the individuals who were isolating and were at risk during the Covid-19 lockdown, in our local community.
Chairman of Dungannon Swifts Football Club, Keith Boyd, said “We have decided to bear the NHS logo on our shirts this season as a way of saying thanks, it’s the least we can do for all of the key workers who have played a vital role in helping our community.”
Our shirts are available for pre-sale from Dungannon Swifts Supporters Club and you can purchase one by clicking HERE.
Child – £32.00 – range from size 116 (6-7 Years) to 164 (13-14 Years). Please note youth shirts tend to be slightly smaller fitting so we recommend you might need to go up a size. Adult – £37.00 – range from small to XXXLarge.
We want to take the opportunity to thank you all for your continued support. We look forward to hopefully seeing you all back at Stangmore Park in the not too distant future.
Conor Bradley, a product of Dungannon Swifts F.C, has signed a professional contract with European Champions Liverpool F.C.
Conor, who turns 17 next month, joined Liverpool F.C in the summer of 2019 initially on a two year scholarship program, but after a spending a year on Merseyside, and impressing for both the club’s U18s and U23s, he has penned a three year deal.
Conor Bradley of Liverpool in action during the U18 Premier League game at The Kirkby Academy on January 4, 2020 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Bradley has also represented Northern Ireland and U16 level where he captained his country to success in the 2018 Victory Shield.
Conor Bradley representing Northern Ireland U16 against Australia
“First of all I am absolutely delighted for Conor and his family at the news of his 3 year professional contract with Liverpool F.C. From an early age it was evident that Conor had a lot of talent. However, many young players can be put into this category as we all know. Thankfully Conor was blessed with a phenomenal work ethic which together with his talent had coaches all across the country and scouts from many Premier League clubs scrambling for his signature.
We were delighted when Conor came to Dungannon United Youth and then Dungannon Swifts and with a very talented team at 2003 age group Conor developed into one of the best players in the country. Liverpool had always been the club for Conor from a young age and this contract is the reward for hard work and talent over the past 12 months. I would like to pay tribute to Ciaran O’Kane who worked tremendously hard with that group of players and on behalf of everyone connected with Dungannon Swifts and Dungannon United Youth we wish Conor every success in the future.“ Head of Youth Development, Dixie Robinson
“When Conor arrived at Dungannon he showed a desire beyond his years. He joined a talented 2003 group and he, along with a few others, became regulars in Terry Fitzpatrick’s U18s and the U20s. His work ethic and ability both in training and games, coupled with the fact a number of clubs were very keen on him, meant it was only a matter of time before he made the move to full time football.
Conor is the epitome of a coachable young player with an excellent outgoing personality and I am delighted to have had worked with him and play a very small part in his development. I have no doubt that these attributes along with his obvious ability will enable him to fulfill his full potential in the game and I wish him every success in the future.” Ciaran O’Kane, Dungannon Swifts U16 Manager
“I am delighted that Liverpool Football Club have shown faith in me by offering to extend my contract for 3 more years.
I would like to say thanks to the coaches and managers I have worked with in Dungannon United Youth and Dungannon Swifts who have helped me on my journey so far. The club have been very good to me since I first met yous so I want to wish you a good season when you all get the chance to return to play.“ Conor Bradley, Liverpool FC
Conor Bradley representing Liverpool FC U18s v Manchester City
From everyone at Dungannon Swifts FC, we would like to take the opportunity to wish Conor every success in his football career with his boyhood club, Liverpool FC.
Michael in action for Dungannon earlier in the year against Linfield Rangers. Thanks to Gavin Maxwell for the image.
Dungannon Swifts player, Michael Forbes, has secured a move to West Ham United. The teenager who celebrates his sixteenth birthday today, has been with Dungannon United Youth and Dungannon Swifts for three seasons and processed massively in his time at Dungannon. His talents have certainly not gone unnoticed as he has been heavily involved with the Northern Ireland Youth setup since a young age.
“From his first trial at West Ham United Michael impressed the coaches. They moved very quickly to get him over again and from day one I knew they liked what they saw. I had a few conversations with Del Ebanks who was very complimentary with everything Michael done, both on and off the field. Things have moved along very smoothly since then with negotiations between the two clubs being straightforward. Michael has had his medical and he will hopefully move across to West Ham in June. A very talented player Michael can play in the heart of the defence or in central midfield and at over 6 feet tall he is an exceptionally good athlete with a great game understanding. His progress has been helped under the guidance of Ciaran O’Kane Glenn McMenemy Terry Fitzpatrick Chris McCann and Stevie O Hare. I would like to wish Michael every success on behalf of all our coaches and teammates and I have no doubt he will have a fantastic career in the game.”Dixie Robinson, Head of Youth Development.
An understandably nervous but very excited Michael had this to say,
“I am really excited to have been given this amazing opportunity by West Ham United FC. It means a lot to me. It is going to be a big change but I can’t wait to get started. Since I joined Dungannon in August 2017, the coaches and managers have helped me grow as a player. I want to thank everyone at Dungannon for helping me get this far.”
We would like to take the opportunity to wish Michael every success in his future football career. It has been an absolute pleasure to have him playing for Dungannon.
