The boyhood fan turned manager eyeing historic cup win

It's the dream of every football supporter to make history with the club you love.

For Rodney McAree, that's exactly what has happened.

He will be in the dugout as Dungannon Swifts look to win the Irish Cup - the showpiece event for club football in Northern Ireland - for the first time.

McAree is from the town, and after a stint playing for Fulham, where he became a cult hero, he returned home to Stangmore Park.

In 2007, the Irish Premiership underdogs were denied a first Irish Cup success on penalties to Linfield.

McAree scored a first-half equaliser and netted his penalty in the shootout, but it ended in heartbreak.

He stepped into the dugout at the club after he hung up his boots, and led the club to its first senior trophy in the League Cup in 2018.

After stints at Coleraine and Glentoran, he returned to the Swifts in 2023 and now he's looking to make even more history on Saturday.

"It means everything, really. I'm a Dungannon Swifts fan," said McAree.

"Whenever I was away from the club and you see it not doing as well as you want to see it doing, it hurts.

"Whenever I got the opportunity to go back it came at a time when I felt it was right for me to go back.

"People maybe looked at it as a bit of a step backwards from where I was, but I saw it as a challenge.

"I went to see if I could do something or create something special, and to get to the Irish Cup final is something special.

"Now that we're in the cup final we want to try and go to win it."

The club's Stangmore Park ground was opened in 1975, the year after McAree was born.

As he was growing up in Dungannon, so was the club.

"I remember Dungannon Swifts when there was only a bit of fence around it, and there was a shuck up around the far side.

"I remember the old changing rooms and the old blue hut, and I remember the new clubhouse going up.

"There is so much that I remember, and remembering all that shows just how far the club has come."

When you consider those memories, and the fact his father, Joe, was a cornerstone of the club, it's no surprise that it's ingrained in his DNA.

"You are able to see the progression and the amount of hard work that people have put in, some of whom are no longer with us.

"There are people who are new to the club who have bought into the hard work that's needed to keep Dungannon Swifts going.

"It would mean so much for everyone who has been involved in it. It would be something that we would all be able to celebrate together."

Roll back to May 2007 and Rodney McAree stands dejected in the middle of Windsor Park, his hands on his hips staring at the Dungannon Swifts supporters.

McAree, who netted the Swifts second equaliser and scored the Swifts' fourth penalty in the shootout, says it was still a "great day" despite the result, but he has one lingering regret.

"It was disappointing in the end because we went so close. My biggest regret of that day is that I didn't take the second penalty.

"We were 1-0 up and Linfield had missed their first two kicks, and I feel we could have given ourselves a bit of a bridge.

"But I didn't. I went for glory and thought I was going to score the winner and I hit the fourth penalty, but it didn't work out that way."

Now, 18 years on, he has a chance at redemption with the Swifts - but this time in the dugout against Cliftonville.

"It was a great day and it's brilliant to be back.

"I actually thought about trying to find my medal, but I don't know where I have it.

"We'll speak about our own experiences in the changing room the best we possibly can."

It has been the season of dreams for Dungannon Swifts, even for the most optimistic of supporters.

Tipped for relegation by many, they made a blistering start to the season, but instead of slipping down the table, they have stuck the chase.

McAree's side became the first side to crack into the traditional 'top six' in five years, surpassing clubs that have more financial muscle and resource.

A Mid-Ulster Cup win and Irish Cup final marks a superb season, but even if they lose the Windsor Park showpiece, they will still have a play-off for European football next season.

The Swifts have plenty of experience, like Dean Curry, Gael Bigirimana and Andrew Mitchell.

That's been blended with exciting youth, such as top scorer John McGovern and defenders Adam Glenny and Steven Scott. It's been the perfect recipe.

"The players have clicked and bought into it. Everyone in the dressing room has delivered something this season. I think we're a good group, not just as good people but good players.

"It's about trying to get them to buy into the information that is given to them, and they've done that.

"They improved towards the end of last season, and I'm always fearful at the start of the season you could get yourself in a rut if you don't get yourself going as quickly as you can.

"But we got off to a good start, were up around the top of the table and we've managed to stay there for the duration."

McAree says there has been "a really good buzz" around the club and while the Swifts haven't got the biggest support in the league, "they are loyal".

"I know they will come out in their numbers the best they can and give us good support on the day.

"It would be nice to reward them with something really special like winning the cup or getting European football."