North Belfast derby explained

North Belfast derby
First Contested:
County Antrim Shield
(13 January 1923)
Most Wins:Crusaders (157)
Top Scorer:Jordan Owens (26)
Mostrecent:
NIFL Premiership
(16 April 2024)
Nextmeeting:TBC
Stadiums:Solitude (Cliftonville)
Seaview (Crusaders)
Total:314
Series:Crusaders – 157
Cliftonville – 90
Draws – 67
Largestvictory:Crusaders 8–0 Cliftonville
1972–73 City Cup
(4 November 1972)

The North Belfast derby is the name given to association football matches between Cliftonville and Crusaders who play in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The two are separated by around 1.5 miles with Cliftonville based at Solitude on Cliftonville Road and Crusaders at Seaview on the Shore Road.

The rivalry between the two clubs began in 1949 with Crusaders' ascension to senior football. For the majority of years the rivalry was simply competitive and geographical. The rivalry was heightened during The Troubles, and as the religious and political demographics within Belfast changed, Cliftonville began to develop a mainly nationalist following and Crusaders a unionist following. While there have been unsavoury incidents in the past between the clubs and the rivalry is fierce and intense on the pitch, off the pitch they have developed a strong cross-community relationship in recent years.

The two sides have met each other on over 300 occasions, and have met in three national cup finals (the 2009 Irish Cup final, 2013 League Cup final and 2014 League Cup final) and one regional cup final (the 1979 County Antrim Shield final). The two sides have also won twelve league titles between them, five of these wins coming in six seasons; Cliftonville winning in 2012–13 and 2013–14, and Crusaders winning in 2014–15, 2015–16 and 2017–18.

Both clubs also share rivalries with the Belfast 'Big Two' of Glentoran and Linfield, but the success disparity between the pairs of clubs has seen two distinct rivalries formed.

History

Founded in 1879, Cliftonville are Ireland's oldest football team, and along with Distillery, Glentoran and Linfield were founder members of the Irish League, and are one of three teams never to have been relegated and to have competed in every top-flight season (along with Glentoran and Linfield). Although a major force in the first 20 years of Irish football their strict amateur status (not dropped until the early 1970s) meant they were also-rans for long periods once professionalism took hold. Once professional they added a cup win in 1979 and a league title in late 1990s.

Founded in 1898, Crusaders applied unsuccessfully for many years to join the Irish League and became one of the top junior sides in the country, but it was not until 1949-50 season following the resignation of Belfast Celtic they finally entered the league. They endured a tough start but became a major side during the 1960s, winning two Irish Cups, and also having successful spells in the 1970s and 1990s, winning two league titles in each decade.

The first match between the two clubs took place on 13 January 1923 in the first round of the County Antrim Shield at Solitude; this was also Crusaders first ever match in senior competition. The senior side of Cliftonville was too good for the intermediate Crusaders team, with the Reds recording a 1-0 victory. The first game between the two sides as senior teams took place in the Ulster Cup on 17 September 1949, finishing in a 2-2 draw at Solitude. The first league match and Boxing Day derby took place on 26 December 1949, with Cliftonville emerging victorious with a 5-0 victory at Seaview. In 1979 at the height of The Troubles, there were more than 1,900 police officers on duty for the Ulster Cup match on 21 September between Crusaders and Cliftonville at Seaview, more than has ever been recorded at a football match in the United Kingdom.[1] [2]

The sides first played each other in a cup final in 1978-79, with Cliftonville winning the County Antrim Shield in a penalty shoot-out, but with Glentoran and Linfield dominating Northern Irish football the sides did not reach a national cup final together until the 2008-09 season when they met in the final of the 2008–09 Irish Cup. Crusaders won the match 1–0 in front of 7,500 fans at Windsor Park. It would be not long before the two met again in a cup final as in the 2012-13 season with the sides first and second in the league table they played each other in the final of the 2012–13 Irish League Cup with Cliftonville emphatically winning 4–0 at Windsor Park. The following season they played again the League Cup Final but this time in a more cagey affair. Finishing 0–0 after extra time Cliftonville retained the cup with a 3–2 win on penalties.

A fixture during the 2012-13 season came to national media attention after a game was cancelled due to a Loyalist flag protest. Going into the fixture on 16 February 2013 Cliftonville led the Irish Premier League with a twelve-point lead, Crusaders in second had a game in hand and hoped a win over their rivals could see them falter. A small group of 20 flag protesters turned up half an hour before kick off and engaged in skirmishes with police. Around 2000 fans were in attendance but many supporters were unable to enter due to the protesters outside the turnstiles. The decision was made to cancel the game with condemnation of the protesters tactics and police's handling of the situation. Due to fixture congestion it was not rearranged until 22 April by which time Cliftonville had long won the title. Despite praise for both clubs during the incident further controversy emerged for the rearranged fixture when Crusaders on advice of the police only offered 200 tickets for away supporters (around 800 would be normal). Cliftonville fans issued a boycott of fixture (seven tickets were purchased, presumably to ticket stub collectors) leaving a completely empty away stand and total attendance of just 395.

In September 2018 the derby was chosen to be the first live NIFL Premiership match to be shown on BBC Two Northern Ireland, a part of a three-year deal between BBC Sport NI, the Irish Football Association and Northern Ireland Football League.[3]

Supporters

In the early to mid 20th century Cliftonville's support was less polarised and they were seen as a cross community team in comparison to Crusaders, who had traditionally been regarded as a Unionist club. During the Troubles the Cliftonville support came to be regarded as a nationalist club due to their location along the Cliftonville Road. With road blocks and cross community violence meaning that many away supporters no longer felt safe venturing to Solitude or Seaview. However, in recent years, with the streets safer than before, many supporters of both away teams choose to walk to their opponent's ground, given the close proximity of the grounds and the fact that both teams have largely local supports.[4]

Despite the community differences the rivalry between supporters is fairly amicable and brings financial benefits to both clubs. A sell out league fixture can bring in an income of £30,000. As is the tradition with many other derbies in the Irish League, each season a fixture is played on Boxing Day, unless this day falls on a Sunday.

Head-to-head

In results between the two teams, Crusaders have 157 victories to Cliftonville's 90. Crusaders have won more games in the league, County Antrim Shield, Ulster Cup and the City Cup, whereas Cliftonville have won more head-to heads in the Irish Cup, League Cup, Setanta Sports Cup, Gold Cup and Belfast Charity Cup. It should also be noted that Cliftonville's amateur status meant that they were rarely competitive until the early 1970s, losing most of their games and finishing bottom of the table on several occasions.

By competition

OutcomeLeague Irish Cup League Cup Setanta
Sports Cup 		County Antrim
Shield 		Gold Cup Ulster Cup City Cup Charity CupPlayoffsTotal
Crusaders win 98 4 2 0 9 3 28 11 2 0 157
Cliftonville win 51 5 8 2 6 6 1 10 0 1 90
Draw 46 1 1 0 0 3 10 6 0 0 67
Total fixtures 195 10 11 2 15 12 39 27 2 1 314

By venue

OutcomeSeaview Solitude Windsor ParkThe OvalTotal
Crusaders win 85 67 3 2 157
Cliftonville win 34 49 3 4 90
Draw 35 32 0 0 67
Total fixtures 154 148 6 6 314

Clubs' honours

Overall

In total, Cliftonville have won 48 senior honours to Crusaders' 32. Crusaders did not become a senior side until after World War II, and thus the only senior competitions they could enter from 1898 to 1949 were the Irish Cup (by invitation, having won the Irish Intermediate Cup or Intermediate League the season before) or the County Antrim Shield (again by invitation).

While Crusaders suffered relegation to intermediate football in 2005 for one season, Cliftonville have never lost senior status and have competed in every top-flight season since 1890.

CompetitionIrish CupLeague CupCounty Antrim ShieldCharity ShieldSetanta Sports CupGold CupUlster CupFloodlit CupOthers1Total
Cliftonville5*9611203011148
Crusaders762821230132
Combined Total12*15819415311280

1949 to present

Since 1949 (when both teams commenced competing at the same level), Crusaders have won 32 honours to Cliftonville's 21.

CompetitionIrish CupLeague CupCounty Antrim ShieldCharity ShieldSetanta Sports CupGold CupUlster CupFloodlit CupCarlsberg CupTotal
Crusaders762821230132
Cliftonville326720101021
Combined Total10881541331153

Results

All time results taken from Irish Football Club Project, British Newspaper Archive, and various other sources.[5] [6] [7] [8] Attendance figures from ifapremiership.com [9]

Key

Cliftonville win
Crusaders win
Draw

League

Since 1949, the two sides have played each other in the domestic league at least twice every season, except for the 2005–06 season.

Cliftonville vs CrusadersCrusaders vs Cliftonville
SeasonDivisionDateVenueScoreAttendanceDateVenueScoreAttendance
1949–50Irish League18 March 1950Solitude2–726 December 1949Seaview0–5
1950–51Irish League25 November 1950Solitude3–23 February 1951Seaview4–4
1951–52Irish League22 March 1952Solitude2–125 December 1951Seaview1–0
1952–53Irish League24 December 1952Solitude3–111 April 1953Seaview4–2
1953–54Irish League23 January 1954Solitude2–325 December 1953Seaview4–0
1954–55Irish League24 December 1954Solitude0–119 March 1955Seaview1–4
1955–56Irish League17 March 1955Solitude1–126 December 1955Seaview1–1
1956–57Irish League17 November 1956Solitude0–219 January 1957Seaview4–1
1957–58Irish League18 January 1958Solitude4–319 April 1958Seaview4–2
1958–59Irish League27 December 1958Solitude1–330 March 1959Seaview3–0
1959–60Irish League19 April 1960Solitude0–12 January 1960Seaview4–1
1960–61Irish League3 December 1960Solitude3–115 April 1961Seaview2–1
1961–62Irish League7 April 1962Solitude1–216 December 1961Seaview6–0
1962–63Irish League19 January 1962Solitude1–516 April 1963Seaview3–2
1963–64Irish League14 December 1963Solitude2–131 March 1964Seaview4–0
1964–65Irish League24 December 1964Solitude0–330 January 1965Seaview5–0
1965–66Irish League27 November 1965Solitude0–45 February 1966Seaview7–1
1966–67Irish League17 December 1966Solitude0–024 September 1966Seaview3–2
1967–68Irish League28 October 1967Solitude1–330 December 1967Seaview6–2
1968–69Irish League19 October 1968Solitude1–326 December 1968Seaview2–2
1969–70Irish League8 November 1969Solitude0–217 January 1970Seaview8–3
1970–71Irish League6 March 1971Solitude0–212 December 1970Seaview4–1
1971–72Irish League11 December 1971Solitude0–14 March 1972Seaview3–0
1972–73Irish League12 April 1973Solitude0–125 November 1972Seaview3–0
1973–74Irish League3 November 1973Solitude2–120 April 1974Seaview2–0
1974–75Irish League21 December 1974Solitude0–48 March 1975Seaview6–1
1975–76Irish League22 November 1975Solitude0–224 January 1976Seaview4–1
1976–77Irish League29 January 1977Solitude0–320 November 1976Seaview6–2
1977–78Irish League26 November 1977Solitude1–028 January 1978Seaview2–2
1978–79Irish League10 February 1979Solitude1–025 November 1978Seaview2–2
1979–80Irish League10 November 1979Solitude1–09 February 1980Seaview1–0
1980–81Irish League7 February 1981Solitude0–029 November 1980Seaview1–0
1981–82Irish League2 January 1982Solitude1–210 April 1982Seaview1–01
1982–83Irish League9 April 1983Solitude1–03 January 1983Seaview2–1
1983–84Irish League22 February 1984Solitude0–121 January 1984Seaview1–4
1984–85Irish League12 January 1985Solitude0–026 January 1985Seaview3–2
1985–86Irish League29 April 1986Solitude2–115 January 1986Seaview2–1
1986–87Irish League11 October 1986Solitude2–13 January 1987Seaview3–2
1987–88Irish League5 March 1988Solitude0–019 December 1987Seaview2–0
1988–89Irish League10 December 1988Solitude1–04 March 1989Seaview1–2
1989–90Irish League26 December 1989Solitude2–218 April 1990Seaview1–1
1990–91Irish League17 November 1990Solitude3–116 March 1991Seaview1–1
1991–92Irish League29 February 1992Solitude2–216 November 1991Seaview5–1
1992–93Irish League24 October 1992Solitude1–230 January 1993Seaview1–2
1993–94Irish League27 December 1993Solitude2–130 April 1994Seaview1–1
1994–95Irish League29 April 1995Solitude2–226 December 1994Seaview1–0
1995–96Irish League26 December 1995Solitude1–44 November 1995Seaview1–0
20 April 1996Solitude2–117 February 1996Seaview1–1
1996–97Irish League26 October 1996Solitude1–110 December 1996Seaview2–1
1 February 1997Solitude0–21 April 1997Seaview3–0
1997–98Irish League30 August 1997Solitude2–21 November 1997Seaview2–2
10 February 1998Solitude0–17 March 1998Seaview0–2
1998–99Irish League14 November 1998Solitude2–35 September 1998Seaview2–1
6 March 1998Solitude1–126 December 1998Seaview1–0
1999–00Irish League30 October 1999Solitude1–131 August 1999Seaview1–1
27 December 1999Solitude1–118 March 2000Seaview1–1
2000–01Irish League28 October 2000Solitude1–126 August 2000Seaview0–4
20 March 2001Solitude0–326 December 2000Seaview1–2
2001–02Irish League26 December 2001Solitude1–131 August 2001Seaview0–2
16 March 2002Solitude3–027 October 2001Seaview1–3
2002–03Irish League12 October 2002Solitude0–126 December 2002Seaview0–0
22 March 2003Solitude0–122 April 2003Seaview1–0
2003–04Irish Premier League26 December 2003Solitude0–124 April 2004Seaview0–0
2004–05Irish Premier League23 April 2005Solitude1–027 December 2004Seaview0–2
2006–07Irish Premier League26 December 2006Solitude4–214 April 2007Seaview1–2
2007–08Irish Premier League22 April 2008Solitude0–126 December 2007Seaview1–1
2008–09IFA Premiership26 December 2008Solitude1–11,4264 October 2008Seaview3–1820
25 April 2009Solitude0–078214 March 2009Seaview4–2685
2009–10IFA Premiership17 October 2009Solitude1–293818 August 2009Seaview2–3765
8 April 2010Solitude1–090226 December 2009Seaview1–22,105
2010–11IFA Premiership27 December 2010Solitude2–11,64427 August 2010Seaview1–31,352
26 April 2011Solitude3–071919 March 2011Seaview5–01,134
2011–12IFA Premiership22 October 2011Solitude2–195417 September 2011Seaview2–2817
14 April 2012Solitude1–173226 December 2011Seaview3–22,457
2012–13IFA Premiership26 December 2012Solitude1–02,88313 October 2012Seaview3–12,079
2 April 2013Solitude3–12,22122 April 2013Seaview3–0395
2013–14NIFL Premiership5 October 2013Solitude0–21,57726 December 2013Seaview1–12,129
15 February 2014Solitude4–01,58426 April 2014Solitude[10] 2–32,687
2014–15NIFL Premiership26 December 2014Solitude0–13,0194 October 2014Seaview0–11,611
11 April 2015Solitude0–11,53215 November 2014Seaview4–12,039
2015–16NIFL Premiership5 September 2015Solitude0–11,88326 December 2015Seaview2–22,784
19 April 2016Solitude1–31,58420 February 2016Seaview1–01,975
2016–17NIFL Premiership26 December 2016Solitude0–43,1091 October 2016Seaview4–31,789
15 April 2017Solitude2–31,61221 January 2017Seaview1–01,702
2017–18NIFL Premiership26 August 2017Solitude1–21,41726 December 2017Seaview2–03,018
10 March 2018Solitude3–11,57321 April 2018Seaview1–11,683
2018–19NIFL Premiership26 December 2018Solitude1–52,3366 October 2018Seaview3–21,571
20 April 2019Solitude2–01,36116 March 2019Seaview2–01,168
2019–20NIFL Premiership17 August 2019Solitude0–21,37626 December 2019Seaview1–22,824
3 March 2020Seaview0–0 1,359
2020–21NIFL Premiership9 January 2021Solitude2–2 023 October 2020Seaview1–0323
25 May 2021Solitude1–1 50010 April 2021Seaview2–2 0
2021–22NIFL Premiership4 January 2022Solitude0–22,30511 September 2021Seaview1–1 1,945
26 February 2022Solitude3–12,03523 April 2022Seaview3–3 2,649
2022–23NIFL Premiership7 October 2022Solitude0–0 2,04626 December 2022Seaview3–03,056
22 April 2023Solitude3–3 1,58413 March 2023Seaview2–2 2,188
2023–24NIFL Premiership25 November 2023Solitude3–02,04818 September 2023Seaview0–32,614
26 December 2023Solitude2–12,35616 April 2024Seaview2–12,013

Irish Cup

The Irish Cup saw the teams meet in a national cup final for the first time ever in 2009.

SeasonDateRoundStadiumHome teamResultAway teamAttendance
1926–27 5 February 1927Semi-final Crusaders 2–4Cliftonville
1970–71 13 February 1971First round Crusaders 3–1Cliftonville
1990–91 16 February 1991Sixth round Cliftonville 0–0Crusaders
20 February 1991Sixth round replay Crusaders 3–2Cliftonville
1996–9715 March 1997Quarter-final Cliftonville 3–1Crusaders
2007–089 February 2008Sixth round Cliftonville 1–0Crusaders
2008–099 May 2009Final Cliftonville * 0–1Crusaders 7,500
2012–136 April 2013Semi-final Crusaders * 0–2Cliftonville 1,700
2017–183 February 2018Sixth round Cliftonville 4–1Crusaders 1,900
2021–221 April 2022Semi-final Cliftonville * 1–2 Crusaders

League Cup

The Northern Ireland Football League Cup was established in 1986, with the first meeting between the sides coming in 1995, and the most recent in the 2014 final.

SeasonDateRoundStadiumHome teamResultAway teamAttendance
1994–95 13 April 1995Semi-final Cliftonville 2–0Crusaders
1995–96 29 August 1995Quarter-final Cliftonville 0–0 (0–3 pens) Crusaders
1998–99 2 March 1999Quarter-final Crusaders 1–2 (aet)Cliftonville
2001–029 October 2001Group Stage Crusaders 2–0Cliftonville
2002–0324 September 2002Group Stage Cliftonville 1–1Crusaders
2003–0415 October 2003Semi-final Cliftonville 1–1 (4–1 pens) Crusaders
2006–078 November 2006Semi-final Cliftonville 1–0Crusaders
2007–08 18 August 2007Group Stage Crusaders 1–4Cliftonville
1 September 2007Group Stage Cliftonville 1–0Crusaders
2012–13 26 January 2013Final Cliftonville * 4–0Crusaders 4,948
2013–14 25 January 2014Final Cliftonville * 0–0 (3–2 pens) Crusaders 4,300

County Antrim Shield

The County Antrim Shield is a regional competition open to senior and intermediate clubs. Established in 1888, the tournament saw the first ever meeting between the sides in 1923, and the most recent meeting came in the quarter-finals in 2018.

SeasonDateRoundStadiumHome teamResultAway teamAttendance
1922–2313 January 1923First round Cliftonville 1–0Crusaders
1953–546 March 1954Quarter-final Cliftonville 0–4Crusaders
1970–7124 March 1971Quarter-final Crusaders 1–0Cliftonville
1973–746 May 1974Quarter-final Crusaders 3–0Cliftonville
1975–7613 April 1976First round Cliftonville 1–4Crusaders
1978–7914 May 1979Final Crusaders 0–0 (1–3 pens) Cliftonville
1983–8426 April 1984Semi-final Crusaders 3–2Cliftonville
1992–9316 December 1992Quarter-final Crusaders 1–0Cliftonville
1996–9714 January 1997Semi-final Cliftonville 2–1Crusaders
1998–991 December 1998First round Cliftonville 2–0Crusaders
2000–0113 December 2000Quarter-final Crusaders 0–3Cliftonville
2001–0211 December 2001Quarter-final Seaview1 Cliftonville 2–0Crusaders
2004–052 February 2005Semi-final Crusaders 1–0Cliftonville
2017–1830 October 2017Quarter-final Cliftonville 2–3Crusaders
2018–1923 October 2018Quarter-final Crusaders 4–3 (aet) Cliftonville

European playoffs

The two sides met each other for the first time in the NIFL Premiership European playoffs for a place in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League.

Setanta Cup

The Setanta Sports Cup was a cross-border competition open to clubs from all over Ireland, following on from previous competitions such as the Dublin and Belfast Inter-City Cup, North-South Cup, Blaxnit Cup, Texaco Cup, Tyler Cup and Irish News Cup. Having never played each other in any of these competitions, the Setanta Cup saw the only meeting of the two sides in all-Ireland competition in 2011. Established in 2005, the Setanta Cup was last played in 2014.

SeasonDateRoundStadiumHome teamResultAway teamAttendance
2010–1114 March 2011Quarter-final 1st leg Cliftonville 4–2Crusaders 581
21 March 2011Quarter-final 2nd leg Crusaders 4–6Cliftonville 527

Gold Cup

The Gold Cup was a competition which was previously open to senior clubs from 1911 to 2001. The two sides first met in this competition in 1962 with the final meeting coming in 1987.

SeasonDateRoundStadiumHome teamResultAway teamAttendance
1962–63 11 September 1962Group Stage Crusaders 3–4Cliftonville
1976–77 16 October 1976Group Stage Crusaders 0–3Cliftonville
1977–78 22 October 1977Group Stage Cliftonville 2–1Crusaders
1978–79 28 October 1978Group Stage Crusaders 1–1Cliftonville
1979–80 10 November 1979Group Stage Cliftonville 3–1Crusaders
1980–81 8 November 1980Group Stage Crusaders 3–1Cliftonville
1981–82 7 November 1981Group Stage Cliftonville 1–1Crusaders
1982–83 31 August 1982Group Stage Crusaders 1–1Cliftonville
1983–84 26 August 1983Group Stage Crusaders 0–3Cliftonville
1984–85 25 August 1984Group Stage Cliftonville 1–3Crusaders
1985–86 12 October 1985Group Stage Crusaders 3–1Cliftonville
1986–87 7 March 1987Group Stage Crusaders 0–1Cliftonville

Ulster Cup

The Ulster Cup was also a competition which was open to senior clubs from 1949 to 1997. Like the City Cup, the Ulster Cup was an annual fixture until the early 1980s (sometimes twice a season) when it was split into groups. Traditionally the opening competition of the season, this cup saw the first senior meeting of the clubs in 1949, with the last meeting between the two coming in 1997.

SeasonDateRoundStadiumHome teamResultAway teamAttendance
1949–50 17 September 1949Group Stage Cliftonville 2–2Crusaders
1950–51 28 August 1950Group Stage Crusaders 0–1Cliftonville
1951–52
13 September 1951Group Stage SeaviewCrusaders 3–2Cliftonville
24 September 1951Group Stage Crusaders 4–2Cliftonville
1952–53 16 August 1952Group Stage Crusaders 3–2Cliftonville
6 September 1952Group Stage Cliftonville 2–2Crusaders
1953–54 15 August 1953Group Stage Cliftonville 1–3Crusaders
14 September 1953Group Stage Crusaders 1–0Cliftonville
1954–55 25 August 1954Group Stage Cliftonville 1–5Crusaders
1955–56 24 August 1955Group Stage Crusaders 1–1Cliftonville
1956–57 15 September 1956Group Stage Crusaders 2–1Cliftonville
1957–58 20 August 1957Group Stage Crusaders 2–1Cliftonville
1958–59 20 August 1958Group Stage Cliftonville 1–2Crusaders
1959–60 19 August 1959Group Stage Crusaders 4–0Cliftonville
1960–61 24 August 1960Group Stage Crusaders 5–2Cliftonville
1961–62 22 August 1961Group Stage Crusaders 1–0Cliftonville
1962–63 21 August 1962Group Stage Cliftonville 1–5Crusaders
1963–64 21 August 1963Group Stage Crusaders 2–0Cliftonville
1964–65 26 August 1964Group Stage Cliftonville 1–3Crusaders
1965–66 10 August 1965Group Stage Crusaders 2–2Cliftonville
1966–67 10 August 1966Group Stage Cliftonville 1–4Crusaders
1967–68 25 August 1967Group Stage Crusaders 2–2Cliftonville
1968–69 3 August 1968Group Stage Cliftonville 2–3Crusaders
1969–70 13 August 1969Group Stage Crusaders 3–0Cliftonville
1970–71 18 August 1970Group Stage Cliftonville 0–2Crusaders
1971–72 28 September 1971Group Stage Crusaders 2–2Cliftonville
1972–73 22 August 1972Group Stage Cliftonville 0–1Crusaders
1973–74 21 August 1973Group Stage SeaviewCrusaders 3–1Cliftonville
1974–75 20 August 1974Group Stage Cliftonville 1–1Crusaders
1975–76 19 August 1975Group Stage Solitude1 Crusaders 3–1Cliftonville
1976–77 25 September 1976 Group Stage Crusaders 2–0Cliftonville
1977–78 24 September 1977Group Stage Cliftonville 0–2Crusaders
1978–79 23 September 1978Group Stage Crusaders 1–1Cliftonville
1979–80 21 August 1979 Group Stage Crusaders 1–1Cliftonville
1980–81 19 August 1980Group Stage Cliftonville 1–3Crusaders
1981–82 19 September 1981Group Stage Cliftonville 1–1Crusaders
1982–83 30 October 1982Group Stage Crusaders 1–0Cliftonville
1994–9513 August 1994Group Stage Crusaders 1–0Cliftonville
1996–974 September 1996Semi-final Cliftonville 0–4Crusaders

City Cup

The City Cup was a competition which ran from 1894 to 1976. Like the Ulster Cup, this was a fixture every season, and the sides played each other every season from 1949 until 1976.

SeasonDateRoundStadiumHome teamResultAway teamAttendance
1949–5019 November 1949Group Stage Crusaders 3–1Cliftonville
1950–5118 November 1950Group Stage Cliftonville 1–11 Crusaders
1951–523 November 1951Group Stage Crusaders 1–2Cliftonville
1952–5325 November 1952Group Stage Cliftonville 2–1Crusaders
1953–5414 November 1953Group Stage Crusaders 2–2Cliftonville
1954–5527 November 1954Group Stage Cliftonville 1–0Crusaders
1955–5626 November 1955Group Stage Crusaders 0–0Cliftonville
1956–577 May 1957Group Stage Cliftonville 3–2Crusaders
1957–589 November 1957Group Stage Crusaders 0–1Cliftonville
1958–598 November 1958Group Stage Cliftonville 2–3Crusaders
1959–607 November 1959Group Stage Crusaders 2–2Cliftonville
1960–6119 November 1960Group Stage Cliftonville 1–1Crusaders
1961–6218 November 1961Group Stage Crusaders 3–0Cliftonville
1962–6317 November 1962Group Stage Cliftonville 3–0Crusaders
1963–6416 November 1963Group Stage Crusaders 5–0Cliftonville
1964–6514 November 1964Group Stage Cliftonville 2–1Crusaders
1965–6625 April 1966Group Stage Cliftonville 1–2Crusaders
1966–6725 April 1967Group Stage Crusaders 6–1Cliftonville
1967–686 April 1968Group Stage Cliftonville 1–3Crusaders
1968–6922 March 1969Group Stage Crusaders 1–3Cliftonville
1969–704 October 1969Group Stage Cliftonville 1–5Crusaders
1970–7124 December 1970Group Stage Crusaders 2–3Cliftonville
1971–7216 October 1971Group Stage Cliftonville 0–0Crusaders
1972–734 November 1972Group Stage Crusaders 8–0Cliftonville
1973–743 November 1973Group Stage Cliftonville 1–4Crusaders
1974–752 November 1974Group Stage Crusaders 2–0Cliftonville
1975–7618 October 1975Group Stage Cliftonville 1–0Crusaders

Belfast Charity Cup

The Belfast Charity Cup was a competition which ran from 1883 to 1941, and was based on a similar tournament in Scotland, the Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup. The competition was open to senior sides from Belfast and while Cliftonville could enter every year, Crusaders could only enter this competition by winning an intermediate tournament or by invitation.

SeasonDateRoundStadiumHome teamResultAway teamAttendance
1922–2318 April 1923First round Cliftonville 0–1Crusaders
1925–2626 April 1926Quarter-final Cliftonville 1–2Crusaders

Goalscorer records

Players with 10 or more goals in the North Belfast derby. Those in bold still with either side.

GoalscorerTeam(s)Goalscoring span (derby)LeagueIrish CupLeague CupCounty Antrim ShieldUlster CupGold CupCity CupTotal
Jordan Owens Crusaders 2008–2022 26 — — — — — — 26
Crusaders 1951–1960 10 — — 2 4 — 6 22
Danny Hale Cliftonville
Crusaders 		1959–1960
1962–1966 		11 — — — 4 — 6 21*
Cliftonville 2011–2024 12 5 2 2 — — — 21
Paul Heatley Crusaders 2013–2023 15 — — 3 — — — 18
Joe Meldrum Crusaders 1966–1969 8 — — — 3 — 5 16
Cliftonville 1949–1958 14 — — — — — 1 15
Jim Weatherup Crusaders 1958–1965 10 — — — 1 — 3 14
Crusaders 1989–1997 9 3 — — 1 — — 13
Bobby McQuillan Crusaders 1972–1975 5 — — — 3 — 4 12
Paul Kirk Crusaders 1975–1977 10 — — — 2 — — 12
Cliftonville 1999–2011 8 — 1 3 — — — 12
Billy Bradford Crusaders 1951–1954 3 — — — 7 — 1 11
Ronnie McAteer Crusaders 1974–1978 6 — — 2 1 1 1 11
John McPolin Crusaders 1967–1976 4 — — 3 — — 3 10

Largest attendances

Since the reorganisation of Irish football in 2008 clubs are required to publish attendances. Attendances in the 1960s and 1970s may have been considerably higher.

SeasonDateCompetitionStadiumAttendance
2008–09 9 May 2009 Irish Cup Final Windsor Park 7,500
2012–13 26 January 2013 Irish League Cup Final Windsor Park 4,948
2013–14 25 January 2014 Irish League Cup Final Solitude 4,300
2016–17 26 December 2016 NIFL Premiership Solitude 3,109
2022–23 26 December 2022 NIFL Premiership Seaview 3,056

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Memories of Belfast Celtic re-awakened as IFA tries to soothe old wounds. community-relations.org.uk. 21 March 2013. 2 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140202114155/http://www.community-relations.org.uk/about-us/news/item/686/memories-of-belfast-celtic-reawakened-as-ifa-tries-to-soothe-old-wounds. dead.
  2. Web site: The emergence of Cliftonville's Red Army resistance: identity and football in 1970s North Belfast. redblackredwhitegreenwhite.wordpress.com. 22 March 2013.
  3. Web site: BBC Sport NI signs new three-year live football deal with the Irish FA and NIFL. BBC. 6 October 2018.
  4. Web site: Sport and Community Relations in Northern Ireland. cain.ulst.ac.uk . 2012-01-14 . 2012-02-26.
  5. Web site: The British Newspaper Archive. The British Newspaper Archive. 27 April 2022.
  6. Web site: RSSSF . . 26 December 2012.
  7. Web site: Irish Football Club Project. 21 May 2015.
  8. Book: Alexander Graham. 4Edge Limited. Football in Northern Ireland - A Statistical Record 1881-2005.
  9. Web site: IFA Premiership . www.ifapremiership.com . 26 December 2012.
  10. Web site: Cliftonville and Crusaders agree to switch league clash to Solitude. 18. Belfast Telegraph. 26 April 2014.

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