North Belfast derby

The North Belfast derby is the name given to 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.

North Belfast derby
LocaleBelfast, Northern Ireland
TeamsCliftonville
Crusaders
First meetingCliftonville 1–0 Crusaders
County Antrim Shield
(13 January 1923)
Latest meetingCliftonville 2–2 Crusaders
NIFL Premiership
(9 January 2021)
Next meetingCrusaders v Cliftonville
NIFL Premiership
(10 April 2021)
StadiumsSolitude (Cliftonville)
Seaview (Crusaders)
Statistics
Meetings total298
Most winsCrusaders (153)
Top scorerJordan Owens (25)
All-time seriesCrusaders – 153
Cliftonville – 85
Draws – 60
Largest victoryCrusaders 8–0 Cliftonville
1972 City Cup
(4 November 1972)

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 298 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.

Location of Solitude (left) and Seaview in North Belfast

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

Traditionally 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 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 153 victories to Cliftonville's 85. 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

As of 9 January 2021
Winner League Irish Cup League Cup Setanta
Sports Cup
Co. Antrim
Shield
Gold Cup Ulster Cup City Cup Belfast Charity Cup Total
Crusaders953209328112153
Cliftonville4758266110085
Draw3911003106060
Total fixtures1819112151239272298
  • Ulster Cup was renamed Festival of Britain Cup in 1952, so results are included in Ulster Cup total
  • All games that went to penalty shoot-outs counted as wins/losses

By venue

As of 9 January 2021
Winner Seaview Solitude Windsor Park The Oval Total
Crusaders846522153
Cliftonville31473485
Draw31290060
Total fixtures14614156298
  • All games that went to penalty shoot-outs counted as wins/losses

Clubs' honours

Overall

In total, Cliftonville have won 46 senior honours to Crusaders' 28. 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.

National Competition League titles Irish Cup League Cup County Antrim Shield Charity Shield Setanta Sports Cup Gold Cup Ulster Cup Floodlit Cup Others1 Total
Cliftonville5*8511203011146
Crusaders742801230128
Combined Total12*12718215311272
  • 1 Includes other defunct senior trophies such as Belfast Charities Cup, Alhambra Cup, and Carlsberg Cup
  • (*) Includes 1 shared league title

Post-war

Since World War II (when both teams commenced competing at the same level), Crusaders have won 28 honours to Cliftonville's 19.

National Competition League titles Irish Cup League Cup County Antrim Shield Charity Shield Setanta Sports Cup Gold Cup Ulster Cup Floodlit Cup Carlsberg Cup Total
Crusaders742801230128
Cliftonville315720101019
Combined Total10571521331147

Results

All time results taken from Irish Football Club Project, Ireland's Saturday Night, and various other sources.[5][6][7] Attendance figures from ifapremiership.com [8]

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 Crusaders Crusaders vs Cliftonville
Season Division Date Venue Score Attendance Date Venue Score Attendance
1949–50 Irish League 18.03.1950 Solitude
2 7
26.12.1949 Seaview
0 5
1950–51 Irish League 25.11.1950 Solitude
3 2
03.02.1951 Seaview
4 4
1951–52 Irish League 22.03.1952 Solitude
2 1
25.12.1951 Seaview
1 0
1952–53 Irish League 24.12.1952 Solitude
3 1
11.04.1953 Seaview
4 2
1953–54 Irish League 23.01.1954 Solitude
2 3
25.12.1953 Seaview
4 0
1954–55 Irish League 24.12.1954 Solitude
0 1
19.03.1955 Seaview
1 4
1955–56 Irish League 17.03.1955 Solitude
1 1
26.12.1955 Seaview
1 1
1956–57 Irish League 17.11.1956 Solitude
0 2
19.01.1957 Seaview
4 1
1957–58 Irish League 18.01.1958 Solitude
4 3
19.04.1958 Seaview
4 2
1958–59 Irish League 27.12.1958 Solitude
1 3
30.03.1959 Seaview
3 0
1959–60 Irish League 19.04.1960 Solitude
0 1
02.01.1960 Seaview
4 1
1960–61 Irish League 03.12.1960 Solitude
3 1
15.04.1961 Seaview
2 1
1961–62 Irish League 07.04.1962 Solitude
1 2
16.12.1961 Seaview
6 0
1962–63 Irish League 19.01.1962 Solitude
1 5
16.04.1963 Seaview
3 2
1963–64 Irish League 14.12.1963 Solitude
2 1
31.03.1964 Seaview
4 0
1964–65 Irish League 24.12.1964 Solitude
0 3
30.01.1965 Seaview
5 0
1965–66 Irish League 27.11.1965 Solitude
0 4
05.02.1966 Seaview
7 1
1966–67 Irish League 17.12.1966 Solitude
0 0
24.09.1966 Seaview
3 2
1967–68 Irish League 28.10.1967 Solitude
1 3
30.12.1967 Seaview
6 2
1968–69 Irish League 19.10.1968 Solitude
1 3
26.12.1968 Seaview
2 2
1969–70 Irish League 08.11.1969 Solitude
0 2
17.01.1970 Seaview
8 3
1970–71 Irish League 06.03.1971 Solitude
0 2
12.12.1970 Seaview
4 1
1971–72 Irish League 11.12.1971 Solitude
0 1
04.03.1972 Seaview
3 0
1972–73 Irish League 12.04.1973 Solitude
0 1
25.11.1972 Seaview
3 0
1973–74 Irish League 03.11.1973 Solitude
2 1
20.04.1974 Seaview
2 0
1974–75 Irish League 21.12.1974 Solitude
0 4
08.03.1975 Seaview
6 1
1975–76 Irish League 22.11.1975 Solitude
0 2
24.01.1976 Seaview
4 1
1976–77 Irish League 29.01.1977 Solitude
0 3
20.11.1976 Seaview
6 2
1977–78 Irish League 26.11.1977 Solitude
1 0
28.01.1978 Seaview
2 2
1978–79 Irish League 10.02.1979 Solitude
1 0
25.11.1978 Seaview
2 2
1979–80 Irish League 10.11.1979 Solitude
1 0
09.02.1980 Seaview
1 0
1980–81 Irish League 07.02.1981 Solitude
0 0
29.11.1980 Seaview
1 0
1981–82 Irish League 02.01.1982 Solitude
1 2
10.04.1982 Seaview
1 01
1982–83 Irish League 09.04.1983 Solitude
1 0
03.01.1983 Seaview
2 1
1983–84 Irish League 22.02.1984 Solitude
0 1
21.01.1984 Seaview
1 4
1984–85 Irish League 12.01.1985 Solitude
0 0
26.01.1985 Seaview
3 2
1985–86 Irish League 29.04.1986 Solitude
2 1
15.01.1986 Seaview
2 1
1986–87 Irish League 11.10.1986 Solitude
2 1
03.01.1987 Seaview
3 2
1987–88 Irish League 05.03.1988 Solitude
0 0
19.12.1987 Seaview
2 0
1988–89 Irish League 10.12.1988 Solitude
1 0
04.03.1989 Seaview
1 2
1989–90 Irish League 26.12.1989 Solitude
2 2
18.04.1990 Seaview
1 1
1990–91 Irish League 17.11.1990 Solitude
3 1
16.03.1991 Seaview
1 1
1991–92 Irish League 29.02.1992 Solitude
2 2
16.11.1991 Seaview
5 1
1992–93 Irish League 24.10.1992 Solitude
1 2
30.01.1993 Seaview
1 2
1993–94 Irish League 27.12.1993 Solitude
2 1
30.04.1994 Seaview
1 1
1994–95 Irish League 29.04.1995 Solitude
2 2
26.12.1994 Seaview
1 0
1995–96 Irish League 26.12.1995 Solitude
1 4
04.11.1995 Seaview
1 0
20.04.1996 Solitude
2 1
17.02.1996 Seaview
1 1
1996–97 Irish League 26.10.1996 Solitude
1 1
10.12.1996 Seaview
2 1
01.02.1997 Solitude
0 2
01.04.1997 Seaview
3 0
1997–98 Irish League 30.08.1997 Solitude
2 2
01.11.1997 Seaview
2 2
10.02.1998 Solitude
0 1
07.03.1998 Seaview
0 2
1998–99 Irish League 14.11.1998 Solitude
2 3
05.09.1998 Seaview
2 1
06.03.1998 Solitude
1 1
26.12.1998 Seaview
1 0
1999–00 Irish League 30.10.1999 Solitude
1 1
31.08.1999 Seaview
1 1
27.12.1999 Solitude
1 1
18.03.2000 Seaview
1 1
2000–01 Irish League 28.10.2000 Solitude
1 1
26.08.2000 Seaview
0 4
20.03.2001 Solitude
0 3
26.12.2000 Seaview
1 2
2001–02 Irish League 26.12.2001 Solitude
1 1
31.08.2001 Seaview
0 2
16.03.2002 Solitude
3 0
27.10.2001 Seaview
1 3
2002–03 Irish League 12.10.2002 Solitude
0 1
26.12.2002 Seaview
0 0
22.03.2003 Solitude
0 1
22.04.2003 Seaview
1 0
2003–04 Irish Premier League 26.12.2003 Solitude
0 1
24.04.2004 Seaview
0 0
2004–05 Irish Premier League 23.04.2005 Solitude
1 0
27.12.2004 Seaview
0 2
2006–07 Irish Premier League 26.12.2006 Solitude
4 2
14.04.2007 Seaview
1 2
2007–08 Irish Premier League 22.04.2008 Solitude
0 1
26.12.2007 Seaview
1 1
2008–09 IFA Premiership 26.12.2008 Solitude
1 1
1,426 04.10.2008 Seaview
3 1
820
25.04.2009 Solitude
0 0
782 14.03.2009 Seaview
4 2
685
2009–10 IFA Premiership 17.10.2009 Solitude
1 2
938 18.08.2009 Seaview
2 3
765
08.04.2010 Solitude
1 0
902 26.12.2009 Seaview
1 2
2,105
2010–11 IFA Premiership 27.12.2010 Solitude
2 1
1,644 27.08.2010 Seaview
1 3
1,352
26.04.2011 Solitude
3 0
719 19.03.2011 Seaview
5 0
1,134
2011–12 IFA Premiership 22.10.2011 Solitude
2 1
954 17.09.2011 Seaview
2 2
817
14.04.2012 Solitude
1 1
732 26.12.2011 Seaview
3 2
2,457
2012–13 IFA Premiership 26.12.2012 Solitude
1 0
2,883 13.10.2012 Seaview
3 1
2,079
02.04.2013 Solitude
3 1
2,221 22.04.2013 Seaview
3 0
395
2013–14 NIFL Premiership 05.10.2013 Solitude
0 2
1,577 26.12.2013 Seaview
1 1
2,129
15.02.2014 Solitude
4 0
1,584 26.04.2014 Solitude[9]
2 3
2,687
2014–15 NIFL Premiership 26.12.2014 Solitude
0 1
3,019 04.10.2014 Seaview
0 1
1,611
11.04.2015 Solitude
0 1
1,532 15.11.2014 Seaview
4 1
2,039
2015–16 NIFL Premiership 05.09.2015 Solitude
0 1
1,883 26.12.2015 Seaview
2 2
2,784
19.04.2016 Solitude
1 3
1,584 20.02.2016 Seaview
1 0
1,975
2016–17 NIFL Premiership 26.12.2016 Solitude
0 4
3,109 01.10.2016 Seaview
4 3
1,789
15.04.2017 Solitude
2 3
1,612 21.01.2017 Seaview
1 0
1,702
2017–18 NIFL Premiership 26.08.2017 Solitude
1 2
1,417 26.12.2017 Seaview
2 0
3,018
10.03.2018 Solitude
3 1
1,573 21.04.2018 Seaview
1 1
1,683
2018–19 NIFL Premiership 26.12.2018 Solitude
1 5
2,336 06.10.2018 Seaview
3 2
1,571
20.04.2019 Solitude
2 0
1,361 16.03.2019 Seaview
2 0
1,168
2019–20 NIFL Premiership 17.08.2019 Solitude
0 2
1,376 26.12.2019 Seaview
1 2
2,824
03.03.2020 Seaview
0 0
1,359
2020–21 NIFL Premiership 09.01.2021 Solitude
2 2
23.10.2020 Seaview
1 0
323
TBC Solitude 10.04.2021 Seaview
  • 1 Initial game on 2 January abandoned at 1–1

Irish Cup

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

Season Date Round Stadium Home team Result Away team Attendance
1926–2705.02.1927Semi-finalThe OvalCrusaders
2 4
Cliftonville
1970–7113.02.1971First roundSeaviewCrusaders
3 1
Cliftonville
1990–9116.02.1991Sixth roundSolitudeCliftonville
0 0
Crusaders
20.02.1991Sixth round replaySeaviewCrusaders
3 2
Cliftonville
1996–9715.03.1997Quarter-finalSolitudeCliftonville
3 1
Crusaders
2007–0809.02.2008Sixth roundSolitudeCliftonville
1 0
Crusaders
2008–0909.05.2009FinalWindsor ParkCliftonville *
0 1
Crusaders7,500
2012–1306.04.2013Semi-finalThe OvalCrusaders *
0 2
Cliftonville1,700
2017–1803.02.2018Sixth roundSolitudeCliftonville
4 1
Crusaders1,900
  • * Final, Semi-final played at/as a neutral venue, nominated as home side

League Cup

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

Season Date Round Stadium Home team Result Away team Attendance
1994–9513.04.1995Semi-finalWindsor ParkCliftonville
2 0
Crusaders
1995–9629.08.1995Quarter-finalSolitudeCliftonville
0 0 (0 3 pens)
Crusaders
1998–9902.03.1999Quarter-finalSolitudeCliftonville
2 1
Crusaders
2001–0209.10.2001Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
2 0
Cliftonville
2002–0324.09.2002Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 1
Crusaders
2003–0415.10.2003Semi-finalThe OvalCliftonville
1 1 (4 1 pens)
Crusaders
2006–0708.11.2006Semi-finalThe OvalCliftonville
1 0
Crusaders
2007–0818.08.2007Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
1 4
Cliftonville
01.09.2007Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 0
Crusaders
2012–1326.01.2013FinalWindsor ParkCliftonville *
4 0
Crusaders4,948
2013–1425.01.2014FinalSolitudeCliftonville *
0 0 (3 2 pens)
Crusaders4,300
  • * Final, Semi-final played at/as a neutral venue, nominated as home side

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.

Season Date Round Stadium Home team Result Away team Attendance
1922–2313.01.1923First roundSolitudeCliftonville
1 0
Crusaders
1953–5406.03.1954Quarter-finalSeaviewCrusaders
4 0
Cliftonville
1970–7124.03.1971Quarter-finalSeaviewCrusaders
1 0
Cliftonville
1973–7406.05.1974Quarter-finalSeaviewCrusaders
3 0
Cliftonville
1975–7613.04.1976First roundSolitudeCliftonville
1 4
Crusaders
1978–7914.05.1979FinalSeaviewCrusaders
0 0 (1 3 pens)
Cliftonville
1983–8426.04.1984Semi-finalWindsor ParkCrusaders
3 2
Cliftonville
1992–9316.12.1992Quarter-finalSeaviewCrusaders
1 0
Cliftonville
1996–9714.01.1997Semi-finalWindsor ParkCliftonville
2 1
Crusaders
1998–9901.12.1998First roundSolitudeCliftonville
2 0
Crusaders
2000–0113.12.2000Quarter-finalSeaviewCrusaders
0 3
Cliftonville
2001–0211.12.2001Quarter-finalSeaview1Cliftonville
2 0
Crusaders
2004–0502.02.2005Semi-finalThe OvalCrusaders
1 0
Cliftonville
2017–1830.10.2017Quarter-finalSolitudeCliftonville
2 3
Crusaders
2018–1923.10.2018Quarter-finalSeaviewCrusaders
4 3 (aet)
Cliftonville
  • 1 Cliftonville nominated as home side but game took place at Seaview

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.

Season Date Round Stadium Home team Result Away team Attendance
2010–1114.03.2011Quarter-final 1st legSolitudeCliftonville
4 2
Crusaders581
21.03.2011Quarter-final 2nd legSeaviewCrusaders
4 6
Cliftonville527

Gold Cup

The Gold Cup, is a now-defunct 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.

Season Date Round Stadium Home team Result Away team Attendance
1962–6311.09.1962Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
3 4
Cliftonville
1976–7716.10.1976Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
0 3
Cliftonville
1977–7822.10.1977Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
2 1
Crusaders
1978–7928.10.1978Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
1 1
Cliftonville
1979–8010.11.1979Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
3 1
Crusaders
1980–8108.11.1980Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
3 1
Cliftonville
1981–8207.11.1981Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 1
Crusaders
1982–8331.08.1982Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
1 1
Cliftonville
1983–8426.08.1983Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
0 3
Cliftonville
1984–8525.08.1984Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 3
Crusaders
1985–8612.10.1985Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
3 1
Cliftonville
1986–8707.03.1987Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
0 1
Cliftonville

Ulster Cup

The Ulster Cup is also a now-defunct 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.

Season Date Round Stadium Home team Result Away team Attendance
1949–5017.09.1949Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
2 2
Crusaders
1950–5128.08.1950Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
0 1
Cliftonville
1951–52*13.09.1951Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
3 2
Cliftonville
24.09.1951Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
4 2
Cliftonville
1952–5316.08.1952Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
3 2
Cliftonville
06.09.1952Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
2 2
Crusaders
1953–5415.08.1953Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 3
Crusaders
14.09.1953Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
1 0
Cliftonville
1954–5525.08.1954Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 5
Crusaders
1955–5624.08.1955Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
1 1
Cliftonville
1956–5715.09.1956Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
2 1
Cliftonville
1957–5820.08.1957Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
2 1
Cliftonville
1958–5920.08.1958Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 2
Crusaders
1959–6019.08.1959Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
4 0
Cliftonville
1960–6124.08.1960Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
5 2
Cliftonville
1961–6222.08.1961Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
1 0
Cliftonville
1962–6321.08.1962Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 5
Crusaders
1963–6421.08.1963Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
2 0
Cliftonville
1964–6526.08.1964Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 3
Crusaders
1965–6610.08.1965Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
2 2
Cliftonville
1966–6710.08.1966Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 4
Crusaders
1967–6825.08.1967Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
2 2
Cliftonville
1968–6903.08.1968Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
2 3
Crusaders
1969–7013.08.1969Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
3 0
Cliftonville
1970–7118.08.1970Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
0 2
Crusaders
1971–7228.09.1971Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
2 2
Cliftonville
1972–7322.08.1972Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
0 1
Crusaders
1973–7421.08.1973Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
3 1
Cliftonville
1974–7520.08.1974Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 1
Crusaders
1975–7619.08.1975Group StageSolitude1Crusaders
3 1
Cliftonville
1976–7725.09.1976Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
2 0
Cliftonville
1977–7824.09.1977Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
0 2
Crusaders
1978–7923.09.1978Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
1 1
Cliftonville
1979–8021.08.1979Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
1 1
Cliftonville
1980–8119.08.1980Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 3
Crusaders
1981–8219.09.1981Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 1
Crusaders
1982–8330.10.1982Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
1 0
Cliftonville
1994–9513.08.1994Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
1 0
Cliftonville
1996–9704.09.1996Semi-finalThe OvalCliftonville
0 4
Crusaders
  • * Tournament was renamed Festival of Britain Cup for one season
  • 1 Crusaders originally drawn at home, tie switched to Solitude to allow Seaview pitch to settle after re-turfing

City Cup

The City Cup is a now-defunct 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.

Season Date Round Stadium Home team Result Away team Attendance
1949–5019.11.1949Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
3 1
Cliftonville
1950–5118.11.1950Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 11
Crusaders
1951–5203.11.1951Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
1 2
Cliftonville
1952–5325.11.1952Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
2 1
Crusaders
1953–5414.11.1953Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
2 2
Cliftonville
1954–5527.11.1954Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 0
Crusaders
1955–5626.11.1955Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
0 0
Cliftonville
1956–5707.05.1957Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
3 2
Crusaders
1957–5809.11.1957Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 0
Crusaders
1958–5908.11.1958Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
2 3
Crusaders
1959–6007.11.1959Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
2 2
Cliftonville
1960–6119.11.1960Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 1
Crusaders
1961–6218.11.1961Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
3 0
Cliftonville
1962–6317.11.1962Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
3 0
Crusaders
1963–6416.11.1963Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
5 0
Cliftonville
1964–6514.11.1964Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
2 1
Crusaders
1965–6625.04.1966Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 2
Crusaders
1966–6725.04.1967Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
6 1
Cliftonville
1967–6806.04.1968Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 3
Crusaders
1968–6922.03.1969Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
1 3
Cliftonville
1969–7004.10.1969Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 5
Crusaders
1970–7124.12.1970Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
2 3
Cliftonville
1971–7216.10.1971Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
0 0
Crusaders
1972–7304.11.1972Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
8 0
Cliftonville
1973–7403.11.1973Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 4
Crusaders
1974–7502.11.1974Group StageSeaviewCrusaders
2 0
Cliftonville
1975–7618.10.1975Group StageSolitudeCliftonville
1 0
Crusaders
  • 1 Game abandoned at 1-1 due to heavy rain, result declared complete

Belfast Charity Cup

The Belfast Charity Cup is a now-defunct 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.

Season Date Round Stadium Home team Result Away team Attendance
1922–2318.04.1923First roundSolitudeCliftonville
0 1
Crusaders
1925–2626.04.1926First roundSolitudeCliftonville
1 2
Crusaders

Goalscorer records

Players with 7 or more goals in the North Belfast derby. (League and cup fixtures since 1970-71 season) Those in bold still with either side.

See talk page for required pre 1982 goalscorers

As of 23 October 2020
Scorer Team(s) League Irish
Cup
League
Cup
Setanta Sports Cup County Antrim Shield Ulster
Cup
Gold
Cup
City
Cup
Total
Jordan OwensCrusaders25-------25
Joe GormleyCliftonville942-2---17
Paul HeatleyCrusaders11---3---14
Glenn HunterCrusaders93---1--13
Paul KirkCrusaders10----2--12
Ronnie McAteerCrusaders7---2-2112
Bobby McQuillanCrusaders5----3-412
Chris ScannellCliftonville7-1-3---11
Stephen BaxterCrusaders6----3--9
Liam BoyceCliftonville9-------9
George McMullanCliftonville5112----9
John McPolinCrusaders4---3--18
John PlattCliftonville4----1218
Colin CoatesCrusaders7-------7
Kirk HunterCrusaders7-------7

Attendance records

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

Season Date Competition Stadium Attendance
2008-099 May 2009Irish Cup FinalWindsor Park7,500
2012-1326 January 2013Irish League Cup FinalWindsor Park4,948
2013-1425 January 2014Irish League Cup FinalSolitude4,300
2016-1726 December 2016PremiershipSolitude3,109
2014-1526 December 2014PremiershipSolitude3,019

References

  1. "Memories of Belfast Celtic re-awakened as IFA tries to soothe old wounds". community-relations.org.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  2. "The emergence of Cliftonville's Red Army resistance: identity and football in 1970s North Belfast". redblackredwhitegreenwhite.wordpress.com. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  3. "BBC Sport NI signs new three-year live football deal with the Irish FA and NIFL". BBC. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  4. "Sport and Community Relations in Northern Ireland". cain.ulst.ac.uk. 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  5. "RSSSF". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  6. "Irish Football Club Project". Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  7. Alexander Graham. Football in Northern Ireland - A Statistical Record 1881-2005. 4Edge Limited.
  8. "IFA Premiership". www.ifapremiership.com. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  9. "Cliftonville and Crusaders agree to switch league clash to Solitude". Belfast Telegraph. p. 18. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
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