McDaid's Football Special

McDaid's Football Special is a soft drink produced by McDaid's in Letterkenny and Ramelton, the company is based in County Donegal, Ireland. The two most popular flavours produced are banana and the most popular, Football Special, which is made with a mix of seven secret flavours. McDaid's uses their own private water source to produce the beverages.

Football Special is one of McDaid's oldest and most distinguished products, winning two awards for excellence in 1984 and 1989 from the London Beverage Society.

Edward McDaid, the CEO of the company was also on the founding board of Swilly Rovers FC, one of the most decorated junior football clubs in Ireland, and, as such, wanted to celebrate winning trophies by filling the cup with an exciting yet non-alcoholic beverage. They created a drink and named it "Football Cup" which later was changed to Football Special.

Football Special is found most commonly in Donegal where it is produced but has also been sourced in Derry and in Belfast. Also most are sold in plastic bottles a cold Football Special in a glass bottle is even better. Recently Football Special has also been used to make Football Special flavoured Cheesecakes, these were sold in Supervalue in Newtoncunningham and Ballybofey.