Full name Derek Anthony Swan Name Derek Swan Playing position Role Footballer | Years Team Position Forward 1985–1986 Home Farm | |
Date of birth (1966-10-24) 24 October 1966 (age 49) Place of birth Dublin, Republic of Ireland | ||
Derek Anthony Swan (born 24 October 1966) is an Irish former footballer who played as a forward. He played for Home Farm, Bohemians, Port Vale, FC Wageningen, Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk, Glentoran and UCD.
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Playing career
Swan began his career with Home Farm in 1985–86, making his debut against Shamrock Rovers in November 1985. The following season he secured a switch to Bohemians, where he averaged ten league goals a year in four years with the club. In June 1987 he guested for Shamrock Rovers in a tournament in South Korea.
He moved to England with Port Vale in May 1990 for a £15,000 fee. Three months later he went out on a one-month loan to FC Wageningen. He never made the first team at Vale Park and was sold on to Shamrock Rovers for £12,500 in November 1990. He scored twice on his Rovers league debut in December 1990. During his three years at the club he scored 25 goals in 75 league appearances and was top club goalscorer in 1991–92 and 1992–93.
In December 1994 he returned to "Bohs" for £2,000 and spent the next six years at Dalymount, scoring at Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi in a 1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup tie. He also netted in a 1996–97 UEFA Cup tie against FC Dinamo Minsk.
In 2000, he signed for University College Dublin, where his goals helped UCD to avoid relegation as they secured their top flight status with one point to spare.
International career
Swan was capped at schoolboy, youth, under-21 and under-23 level for the Republic of Ireland. He also played for the League of Ireland XI . He played at the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship.
Personal life
Swan comes from a sporting family; his father Tony played for Bohemians during the 1960s, while his uncle Maurice played for Dundalk and Cardiff City amongst others. His son (also called Derek) had spells in Bohemians' and Shelbourne's reserve team. His cousin is Tony McDonnell.