At this Saturdays Irish Cup fixture v Cliftonville, the Dungannon Swifts Community Trust will be organising a bucket collection for this local charity. Inspire Mental Health, wellbeing and recovery, are based at ‘The Junction’ in Dungannon. Your donations will be greatly appreciated.
Callum Byers represented Dungannon Swifts at the National Stadium at Windsor Park, as Danske Bank and the NI Football League announced the extension of their partnership for another three years, in a record breaking deal for the league.
Amid one of the most exciting title races in years, the partnership is currently in its eighth season of sponsorship and will bring Danske Bank into a decade of successfully leading at the forefront of football in Northern Ireland.
Managing Director of the NI Football League, Andrew Johnston, says that retaining a respected and well-known brand like Danske Bank sends a clear message that football in Northern Ireland is in a very strong position.
“The renewal of the Danske Bank Premiership sponsorship is fantastic news for the NI Football League, our clubs, our players and our loyal supporters.
“We have worked in partnership with Danske Bank since the inception of the NI Football League, and over that time we have built and developed a fantastic relationship which has not only brought more attention to the local game, but has seen attendance figures increase year on year, has bought more prominence to our top women’s league and provided support to our clubs off the pitch as well as on. We’re so looking forward to the next three years working together.”
Danske Bank Head of Marketing, Kevin Heavern, added:
“The Danske Bank Premiership and Women’s Premiership are some of the greatest showcases for local sporting talent in the country. They have such a huge following both here and abroad, making the Premiership one of the top sponsorship opportunities in Northern Ireland.
“At Danske Bank, supporting local sport is one of our absolute passions – from the grassroots and youth team levels right to the highest league of the Premiership. Over the last number of years, we’ve seen such passion from the fans, coaches and players, and we’ve seen huge growth in the ladies’ game that meant extending our partnership for another three years was an easy decision for us.
“We’re extremely proud of our relationship with the NI Football League and look forward to further developing our relationship and the local game over the next three years.”
Since the first season of the Danske Bank Premiership in 2012/13 attendances in the league have grown 38%, with live television broadcasts of Premiership matches each season on BBC Two and Sky Sports.
Dungannon Swifts can confirm a time and date for our outstanding Danske Bank Premiership fixture against Ballymena United…
Dungannon Swifts v Ballymena United, will take place on Tuesday 3rd March, 2020. Kick off 19:45 at Stangmore Park, Dungannon.
On the last day of the transfer window, Swifts Manager, Kris Lindsay made a move to sign midfielder, Niall McGinley.
Nineteen year old, McGinley, from Strabane, joins us at Stangmore Park as a free agent, his most recent club was Finn Harps.
“I know Caolan McAleer, and he spoke to me about Dungannon, told me that Kris, (Lindsay) was brilliant with the lads. I played with Dungannon United Youth in the Under age squads at youth level and I know it’s the same ethos, right the way through from DUY to Dungannon Swifts. I think it’s brilliant that Dungannon has so much young and experience throughout the squad and I’m looking forward to playing and learning alongside both. I am buzzing to get started and involved with the team, they are on a good run at the moment and hopefully can keep it going.”
Kris Lindsay said;
“I am delighted to add Niall to our squad and get him back on board with us in Dungannon. He gives us competition for more options in midfield. He is technically a very good player, who previously played with Dungannon United Youth. Although he wasn’t able to be involved in the game for us today, (his International clearance hadn’t came through on time), he has been training with us and he’s impressed me so far.”
Niall has been presented with the number 43 shirt. Welcome to Stangmore Park, Niall.
Douglas Wilson has been announced as the new Captain of Dungannon Swifts Football Club, with Kris Lowe being appointed the Vice Captain.
We would like to congratulate the players on their new roles at DSFC and wish them every success.
New Captain, Wilson expressed his delight at the appointment.
“I’m extremely honoured to be taking over the role as Captain of Dungannon Swifts. I’ve been at the Club for six years now and was appointed Vice Captain at the start of this season but to make the step up to Captain makes me immensely proud. The group of lads we have here is incredible and I’m really looking forward to pushing on with them and trying to build on our recent results.”
Swifts Manager, Kris Lindsay, has added forward Guillaume Keke, from Carrick Rangers FC and defender Francis Brennan, from Loughgall FC, to his playing squad.
Frenchman, Keke, joins us at Stangmore Park bringing with him a wealth of experience in the Irish League, having been on the books of Cliftonville, Larne, Ards and most recently Carrick Rangers. His name is not unfamiliar to Swifts fans as unfortunately we have been on the receiving end of many of his goals in the past, hopefully now it will be the opposite way around!
Guillaume had this to say to us tonight;
“I am happy to have signed for Dungannon Swifts, I really like it here at the Club. Obviously I know Kris from playing with him and he convinced me to come to Dungannon as he talks about football. I played in all the games at Carrick but I felt that my chances may become limited as they recently signed Darren Murray and I just want to play. I really wanted to come to Dungannon and show everyone what I am about. It is a nice Club. When I played against Dungannon, I always liked the way they played football, it’s one, two touch football. That’s what I like, that’s obviously what I want. I think I scored my ‘prettiest’ goal against Dungannon, so here’s hoping I score lots for Dungannon instead. The fact Dungannon play in blue, just like France, is just a super added bonus!”
Our other ‘new’ signing, Fra Brennan, is of course no stranger to us at Stangmore Park, having previously been a fans favourite, we’re sure he’ll slot back into that role again, very quickly.
Having left us to join Portadown and returning to us via neighbours, Loughgall, Fra admits he maybe did make the wrong move;
“I’m back and it’s honestly great to be back! The last time I left, it was sort of very rushed and looking back, it was probably the wrong decision on my behalf. I’m just delighted to get back in, and it’s good to see there are still a lot of familiar faces around the Club and actually the town! I’m pulling into the garage tonight, and it’s still the same guy behind the counter in the petrol station!! Whenever I left I obviously left the Premier League and went down to Portadown for a challenge, and it was harder than I expected in the leagues. Any player in the country will have the ambition of playing as high up as possible. Whenever the opportunity arose to come back to Dungannon, I just felt like I couldn’t turn it down. Any player in the Country, coach or manager, who says they don’t want to be involved at the highest level, would be lying to you. Any one with ambition that’s where you want to be and need to be!
Playing at Dungannon when I was part of different teams, it felt weird because I have such a close connection to the Club. However, it is a game and regardless of who I am playing for, whenever you step over the line, I want to win. Even though I probably wanted to playing for Dungannon, as most recently as the Mid Ulster Cup Semi for Loughgall, it was still good to win and go on to the final.
Right now, I’m really looking forward to getting back playing with Dungannon!”
A happy manager, Kris Lindsay, had this to say;
“I’m delighted to get both Keke and Fra on board. They both bring a wealth of experience with them having both played in the league for a number of years. Obviously Fra has had an excellent start to the season with Loughgall in the championship. Now he is relishing the opportunity to step back up to the premier league. He brings a lot of quality with him, and will add a lot of quality to the squad. He is a also a great character in the changing room which is always a positive. I’m looking forward to getting working with Fra.
Keke I’ve known a long time. He’s something different in the forward area that we don’t have at this moment in time, but he’s also a quality player who has a big strong physical presence, but he can also play. He will give us an extra dimension going forward between now and the end of the season.”
Welcome to Stangmore Park, Guillaume and welcome back, Fra!
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