Linfield enjoy home advantage on Matchday 1 of the 2025/26 Sports Direct Premiership as they welcome Dungannon Swifts to Windsor Park for a game between the winners of the major domestic trophies from last season.
Having faced off in the Charity Shield (Swifts winning on penalties), both sides then headed for Europe, the Co. Tyrone club going out to FC Vaduz of Lichenstein while Linfield lost to Shelbourne in the UEFA Champions League and subsequently dropped into the Conference League. FK Zalgiris were seen off on a 2-0 aggregate score and while Vikingur of The Faroe Islands won 2-1 in the 1st leg of Qualifying Round 3, The Blues have a chance to repair the damage in Thursday’s home leg.
Swifts lost captain Dean Curry and John McGovern from last season’s squad and manager Rodney McAree has added Darragh McBrien, Mal Smith, Peter Maguire and Tiernan Kelly, with a top six finish the minimum requirement in 2025/26.
David Healy was busy in the early party of 2025, securing the signings of Callumn Morrison, Kieran Offord and Alex Rodriguez Gorrin, and has since brought in young Sean Brown from Larne. The quest for title No. 58 starts today.
This promises to be a competitive and entertaining afternoon of football with the points hopefully remaining in Belfast..
COYB!
