Trans-Atlantic trips, cancelled plane tickets, hopping back and forth across the Irish Sea. Just some of the trips and sacrifices that are being made by Mallards supporters to ensure they are in Windosr Park for the biggest game in the club’s history this Saturday. 
Kick off in the Irish Cup final is at 2.30pm and the stands will be rocking with Mighty Duck supporters dreaming of the sweetest end to what has been an incredible journey. 
And speaking of journeys there are plenty being made this week. Former Ballinamallard manager Whitey Anderson boarded a plane in America, where he coaches soccer now, and has landed for the big day.
“It is an occasion not to be missed for anyone involved in Ballinamallard, past or present. To get to a final is just fantastic and it is a two horse race now,” he said. 
“Best wishes to Harry and the back room team and all the players. I always liked managing at Windsor, we actually beat Linfield three times in four years there. To win a cup final would just be unbelievable and a great reward for everyone at the club for all the hard work that goes on.”
Another Ballinamallard fan who is flying across water is Stephen Armstrong. He hasn’t got as far to travel as Whitey as he lives in England but a four hour car journey has to be made to Newcastle before making his flight. 
A family wedding for his wife meant that Stephen was earmarked for baby sitting duties. But a clash with the Mallards’ big day meant some creative thinking was needed, and he found it in the shape of fellow Ballinamallard supporter Scott Williams. 
Scott lives in Newcastle and his wife has kindly agreed to take charge of the two Amrstrong kids, along with her own two kids, for the weekend while her husband and Stephen head across the Irish Sea.
“It is very good of her to let us go off gallivanting for the weekend,” Stephen explained, before adding.
“We are due to stay in Belast on Saturday night but if ballinamallard win it will be hard to resist a trip down the road.” 
Someone better tell Mrs Williams she could have the kids for an extra night!
Football writer and UEFA Communications consultant, Laure James, fell in love with the Mallards while covering them the season they were promoted to the Premiership back in 2011.  She posted a picture on twitter this week in her Ballinamallard top saying she was “booking flights”. 
Marshall Gillespie, another Fermanagh native who lives in England, and a renowned football statistician is also making his way home for the big day. For a lover of football history a chance to see the first Irish Cup final involving a Fermanagh team was something not to be missed with Marshall tweeting “It’s going to be a quare day at Windsor!!”
Finally, one person very close to the squad has had to rebook flights for a wedding abroad. Mark McConkey, son of manager Harry, and a former player for Ballinamallard wasn’t going to miss the chance to see his dad manage a team in the Irish Cup final. 
“It is a once in a lifetime thing. Myself and dad have been through a few things in football and it is a family day for us all. So I just had to be there. Really looking forward to the day and there is a family bus organised for about 20 of us. We are looking forward it,” Mark said before adding that they are still going to make that wedding before the bride is down the aisle. 
“We are getting collected at 2.00am on Sunday morning and heading off then so we will be over in good time for the wedding.”
The things you do for football. The things you do see the Mallards in an Irish Cup final.