'We haven't fallen out yet!': What's it like being managed by your older brother?
Aidan McDaid finds himself in a rather unique position with his club manager also doubling up as older brother, and while a move to David’s Portstewart last summer has added a “different dynamic” to their relationship, there was no way he could turn down an opportunity to work with his “role model”.
With 10 years separating the two siblings, Aidan grew up in awe of David, who established himself as a prolific striker across successful Irish League spells at the likes of Cliftonville, Coleraine and Larne.
Like in many families, older brother David set the example which Aidan was determined to follow – McDaid junior also spent time on the books of Larne, playing for the club’s Olympic side before going in search of senior minutes elsewhere.
After taking on his first senior managerial role at third-tier Portstewart following John Gregg’s departure, David was quickly joined by Aidan, who originally only planned to join up with the Seahawks to build some pre-season fitness.
That turned into signing on a permanent basis and, in a proud moment for the McDaid family, David joined Aidan on the pitch for the first time in a 9-0 Craig Memorial Cup victory last month – both brothers getting their names on the score sheet.
"It's a bit of a different dynamic with him telling me what to do!” Aidan told the News Letter. “But no, I'm really enjoying it.
“In the summer, he just said to me ‘why don't you come down for pre-season to get some fitness?’, I didn’t know what to do but then just thought ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’, it had been a while since I had a proper pre-season.
"I did well in the pre-season matches and he signed me up to see how I got on, that’s how it all came about.
"It’s been easy working together so far, we’re best friends and we’d be chatting everyday about football, we haven’t fallen out yet but he does be on my case quite a bit!
"I think I need that, I enjoy that sort of side of him being a manager and also a big brother.
"He pushes me on...sometimes I'm sitting going ‘I couldn't be bothered to do anything’ and he would be on my back saying, ‘look, you need to get out and do something and keep ticking over’. It's a good dynamic.
"Our family love to see us playing together and we got a chance to do that this season when David brought himself on...he scored after two minutes and spent the rest of the time trying to assist his wee brother!”
Ex-Derry City striker David has already emerged as one of Northern Ireland’s brightest young coaches, winning eight of his first nine matches in the newly-formed National Conference League Premier Division.
It’s perhaps unsurprising to learn Portstewart, with McDaid’s influence, not only sit top of the league in terms of points, but also goals scored too – they’ve netted three or more in 11 of 15 games across all competitions.
The McDaids see each other at least three times a week for football-related matters, but there’s also space to just be brothers as well.
"David just lives and breathes football,” added McDaid. “If we're even chatting on the phone or watching a Premier League game or something, he will be asking me questions about players from Institute or Limavady.
"It was actually yesterday, I just asked him ‘do you ever switch off?’. He's always on it.
"In the past couple of weeks we actually went over to watch the NFL game, so there is some down time where we aren’t talking about football as much.”
As David terrified defences across the League of Ireland and Irish League throughout his career, you could almost guarantee Aidan was close by cheering him on as his brother’s self-confessed “number one fan”.
All the attributes which Aidan has greatly admired about David over the years are now on full display for his Portstewart team-mates – and he’ll still argue about his sibling’s standing as the Premiership’s best.
"Ever since I can remember, I have been obsessed,” said McDaid. “He was my role model with everything he has done.
"Nobody could tell me that he wasn't the best striker in the Irish League, I still believe to this day that when he was playing, he was the best, I've always been his number one fan.
"He's the perfect person to look up to, even as a manager for the boys that have him, he’s a perfect role model, but having him as a brother and a manager is unbelievable.
"He’s the whole reason why I even played football in the first place, why I want to keep playing. I could never get to the heights that he got to, but he's my inspiration.”
While David has enjoyed a successful playing career – and remains registered to feature for Portstewart – Aidan believes an obsession for coaching could perhaps bring his brother even further.
“People might laugh at me for saying this, but I think that he could go to England some day,” added McDaid. “He lives and breathes football, tactics, he just sits and watches games.
"Even when we’re watching Premier League matches he’s talking about how they are set up and their tactics, he’s obsessed with football, and I think that obsession will take him wherever he wants to go, the sky is the limit for him.”