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Dermot Mee opens up on unusual Manchester United role and why he does it Dermot Mee signed a new contract at Man Utd this summer, but he's never played a competitive game for the club and usually fulfils a training role. Dermot Mee is holding court in front of a gaggle of journalists in the bowels of Croke Park when Harry Maguire walks up with his phone in hand and starts recording. "Saved a penalty, have ya?" Maguire is poking fun at the 23-year-old, who came off the bench against Leeds and then saved Harry Wilson's spot-kick as Manchester United won on penalties. It is a rare moment in the spotlight for Mee, hence his media duties after the game. The fact that Maguire is comfortable enough to have a bit of fun with the goalkeeper, who has Irish heritage, and that the stopper is willing to embrace it is a key part of his role. Mee has been at United for 12 years, but he has never played in a competitive game for the club. In fact, he has only a handful of senior appearances to his name during loan spells at non-league clubs Trafford, Runcorn Linnets, Witton Albion and Altrincham. At United, he is essentially a training goalkeeper, tasked with helping keep the others sharp and going in goal during outfield drills. It is a role he has embraced, but he had to consider whether to sign a new deal this summer. He did and has been handed chances in pre-season and with Karl Darlow and Tom Heaton both injured, he could be on the bench against Hull City when the Premier League season begins in nine days' time. "I think from the outside it seems a lot harder than it is," said Mee. "I train day in, day out with some of the best players in the world, so if anything, that could be harder than stepping into the games and being on the bench and being ready. "I think having the mentality to be able to step up and be available, and hopefully be relied on by the manager and the coaching staff, is something I pride myself on and working hard day in, day out so that I can step into these moments and not shy away from them." Mee plays his part during the week and has a role on matchday as well, but when the action begins he is usually in the stands. He has only been on the bench five times for United and not at all since March 2025. But he insists that his weekends don't feel any different when he watches the players he trains with during the week competing on the pitch. "It's not deflating. I've been at Manchester United since I was 11 years old, I want them to do well, I want them to win," he said. "I train all week to see the team win on the weekend and it's still the same feeling for me. "I still have important roles on matchday, being in the changing room and being in the stadium. It's really enjoyable, and helping the team, helping others on those days to win at the end of the day is what I'm here for." He was offered a new contract towards the end of last season but his deal actually expired at the end of June before he penned new terms to stay at the club in early July. "You have to think about every contract you sign, whether it's an insurance contract, whether it's a football contract," he said. "You just have to weigh up the pros and cons. For me, being at Manchester United since 11, it was really hard to turn down and I love the club, I love being here, and I want to help the team to do really well this season." Mee had his parents in the stands at Croke Park on Wednesday and it was a full circle moment, with his mum playing camogie at the stadium as well. He watched the dramatic All-Ireland final on TV a few weeks ago. He came on for Senne Lammens after an hour of the game, with the score 1-1, but his chance only came about after Tom Heaton picked up an injury in Gothenburg at the weekend. Mee came on for Heaton in Sweden and said the experienced goalkeeper has had a big impact on his career. "Now it's probably come off a lot because I've worked with him for so many years, but at the start he's been the biggest impact on my career from a player's point of view, easily," he said. "I think some of the advice and some of the coaching tips and some of the actually being a nice person, but pushing me at times, he's really good and I think we have a really good working relationship, but really good personal relationship as well." Sky's Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle includes at least 215 live Premier League clashes across the 2026/27 season, with more than 1,500 games from the EFL and beyond, plus F1, golf and darts. This introductory offer saves £384 compared to the standard price, with every package also providing 100 regular channels alongside free Netflix and discovery+ subscriptions.