Exclusive interview | Dermot Mee: I get joy from being the support system

It is well known that goalkeepers are a different breed. Their psyche is very much to stick together and root for each other and that is certainly the case with Mee.

It means he takes great pride in his work at Carrington, for one of the biggest clubs in the world.

“We keepers all understand it’s not the nicest of positions,” he admitted. “We are all very different to the outfielders. You have to have that speciality and the majority want each other, even at other clubs, to succeed. One of the largest parts of my training week is getting the no.1 ready, so we can win the game and he can perform as well as he can for the whole team.

“I know I’ve played a part and I’m part of the squad. I’ve got a good relationship with Bruno [Fernandes] and part of the process of penalties is that I am helping out the whole squad at the end, when the physical toll might be a lot more for the no.1 as he’s got to prepare for the game. So I’m taking that extra bit of slack for other people by doing the practice.

“I enjoy being around the place and being in the squad. It’s Manchester United, you know. My mum used to have posters of Mark Hughes on her wall and my grandad was a big United fan. I’ve always loved the place, loved the city and I feel like I contribute day in and day out to the team.

“Over the last 12 months, I’ve had different goalkeeping coaches and they have all been slightly different. I take little bits from each coach and develop in different ways as a goalkeeper, while developing as a person. There is still the educational side too. I’m doing a degree, at the moment, as the PFA are putting on a course with the University of Portsmouth, for a full three years. It’s football and business management and all off-site, so I can do it all online.

“I don’t potentially have the stresses to play and perform, as such, so it’s an opportunity to still develop myself, as a person as well.

“There have been a lot of people to learn from – Richard Hartis, Jorge Vital, Craig Mawson. I’m learning how to get better as a goalkeeper and turning it into performances on the pitch. There are different ways to try to get better. I’ve had a few games with the Under-21s and, obviously, playing, that is the dream and sort of what you play football for. But there is a lot of joy I find from being in the Manchester United first-team squad and being a support system for a lot of other people.

“I think I’m showing my value in a different area, rather than playing games, which is just a bonus. I’m looking forward to my career developing and I will have to start playing and really kick on but, while I think the games are really enjoyable, you have to find the joy, day in and day out, to ensure you still get better. 

“I’ve played all the way through for Northern Ireland and had some really good experiences, travelling to places and it’s a different kettle of fish, international football. Hopefully, if I get playing games a few years down the line, I’ll break into the senior squad. I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else, it’s a dream of mine still being at United now and it is special really.”