Dungannon Swifts F.C.

Club formation

The history of Dungannon Swifts Football Club began in 1949 with the formation of the club. The names of the founder committee members include Thomas Neill, Jimmy Sands, Maurice Graham, Alfred Burnett, Albert Kelly, George Richards, Albert Watt, Joe Meldrum Snr., Jack Fowler, John Martin and Ben Clarke.

The early years

In the 1949–50 season, the Swifts won the Mid Ulster Shield on their first attempt. The Swifts defeated Portadown Juniors 3–0 at Shamrock Park. The goalscorers were Johnson (1) and Neill (2). The remainder of the side included Blair, Carson, Pierson, Lynn, Gallery, Rice, Farrell and Henry. Seven of which were local players. The club also entered the Irish Junior Cup, at the 2nd Round stage. However, a disjointed display; a man short for part of the game, from the newly formed side resulted in a 3–1 loss to Armagh Whites, in a match held at Beechvalley Park, Dungannon. With a first half equalizer scored by S. Stewart. The following season, the Swifts made their entry into the Mid Ulster League. In the same season they made it through to the Alexander Cup, Foster Cup and Mid Ulster Shield where they landed runners up in each. A league title followed in the 1951–52 season; a season in which they also finished runners-up in the Irish Junior cup – after a replay. And a league and shield double in 1955–56. The Club also spent a number of Seasons in the Irish Junior Alliance League from the late Fifties until the league folded in the…

Ben Clarke (Coach) Henry Shepherd Dick Matchett (Caretaker During 1976–77 Season) Godfrey Clarke (1977–78 Season) Peter Watson (Player-Manager) Eric Magee Armstrong Beckett Colin Malone (1996–2000) Colin Jeffers & Terry McCrory (2000–2001) Joe McAree (Multiple Spells > 1996, 2001–06) Harry Fay (2006–2008) John Cunningham (2008–09) Dixie Robinson (2009–2011) Rodney McAree (15 Dec 2011 – Feb 2012, Aug 2012 – Oct 2012*) *Joint Role Darren Murphy (Feb 2012 – October 2015) Rodney McAree (Oct 2015 – September 2018) Kris Lindsay (Sept 2018 – February 2021) Dean Shiels (March 2021–June 2023)

Senior honours

Irish Cup: 1 2024–25 Northern Ireland Football League Cup: 1 2017–18 NIFL Charity Shield: 1 2025 Ulster Cup: 1 2002–03 Irish League First Division: 1 2002–03 Mid-Ulster Cup: 11 1970–71, 1975–76, 1987–88, 1996–97, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2024–25

Intermediate honours

Irish League 'B' Division South Section: 1 1975–76 IFA Reserve League: 1 2005–06† Irish Intermediate Cup: 2 1977–78, 1991–92 B Division Knockout Cup: 1 1993–94 George Wilson Cup: 3 1973–74, 2003–04†, 2005–06† Louis Moore Cup: 1 1975–76 Bob Radcliffe Cup: 9 1981–82, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1989–90, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 2005–06† Ivan Marshall Memorial Cup: 1 2016–17 † Won by reserve team

Junior honours

Mid-Ulster Shield: 4 1949–50†, 1955–56†, 1970–71†, 1993–94† Mid-Ulster League: 5 1951–52†, 1955–56†, 1969–70, 1970–71†, 1975–76† Alexander Cup: 4 1967–68†, 1969–70†, 1970–71†, 1976–77† Mid-Ulster Youth Cup: 2 2013–14‡, 2016–17‡ † Won by reserve team ‡ Won by youth team