North Belfast derby


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 and one regional cup 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. Although a major force in the first 20 years of Irish football their strict amateur status 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.
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 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. Cliftonville fans issued a boycott of fixture 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.

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.
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 159 victories to Cliftonville's 93. 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

OutcomeLeagueIrish CupLeague CupCounty Antrim
Shield		Setanta
Sports Cup		Gold CupUlster CupCity CupCharity CupPlayoffsTotal
Crusaders win10042903281120159
Cliftonville win52687261100193
Draw47110031060068
Total fixtures199111116212392721320

  • 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

OutcomeSeaviewSolitudeWindsor ParkThe OvalTotal
Crusaders win866832159
Cliftonville win35513493
Draw36320068
Total fixtures15715166320

  • All games that went to penalty shoot-outs counted as wins/losses

Clubs' honours

Overall

In total, Cliftonville have won 49 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 or the County Antrim Shield.
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.
CompetitionLeague titlesIrish CupLeague CupCounty Antrim ShieldCharity ShieldSetanta Sports CupGold CupUlster CupFloodlit CupOthers1Total
Cliftonville5*9711203011149
Crusaders762821230132
Combined Total12*15919415311281
1 Includes other defunct senior trophies such as Belfast Charities Cup, Alhambra Cup, and Carlsberg Cup
  • Includes 1 shared league title

1949 to present

Since 1949, Crusaders have won 32 honours to Cliftonville's 22.
CompetitionLeague titlesIrish CupLeague CupCounty Antrim ShieldCharity ShieldSetanta Sports CupGold CupUlster CupFloodlit CupCarlsberg CupTotal
Crusaders762821230132
Cliftonville327720101022
Combined Total10891541331154

Results

All time results taken from Irish Football Club Project, British Newspaper Archive, and various other sources. Attendance figures from ifapremiership.com
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.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.
SeasonDateRoundStadiumHome teamResultAway teamAttendance
1926–275 February 1927Semi-finalThe OvalCrusaders2–4Cliftonville
1970–7113 February 1971First roundSeaviewCrusaders3–1Cliftonville
1990–9116 February 1991Sixth roundSolitudeCliftonville0–0Crusaders
1990–9120 February 1991Sixth round replaySeaviewCrusaders3–2Cliftonville
1996–9715 March 1997Quarter-finalSolitudeCliftonville3–1Crusaders
2007–089 February 2008Sixth roundSolitudeCliftonville1–0Crusaders
2008–099 May 2009FinalWindsor ParkCliftonville *0–1Crusaders7,500
2012–136 April 2013Semi-finalThe OvalCrusaders *0–2Cliftonville1,700
2017–183 February 2018Sixth roundSolitudeCliftonville4–1Crusaders1,900
2021–221 April 2022Semi-finalWindsor ParkCliftonville *1–2Crusaders
2024–251 March 2025Quarter-finalSeaviewCrusaders1–2Cliftonville
* Final, Semi-final played at/as a neutral venue, nominated as home side

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
1994–9513 April 1995Semi-finalWindsor ParkCliftonville2–0Crusaders
1995–9629 August 1995Quarter-finalSolitudeCliftonville0–0 Crusaders
1998–992 March 1999Quarter-finalSeaviewCrusaders1–2 Cliftonville
2001–029 October 2001Group StageSeaviewCrusaders2–0Cliftonville
2002–0324 September 2002Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–1Crusaders
2003–0415 October 2003Semi-finalThe OvalCliftonville1–1 'Crusaders
2006–078 November 2006Semi-finalThe OvalCliftonville1–0Crusaders
2007–0818 August 2007Group StageSeaviewCrusaders1–4Cliftonville
2007–081 September 2007Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–0Crusaders
2012–1326 January 2013FinalWindsor ParkCliftonville *4–0Crusaders4,948
2013–1425 January 2014FinalSolitudeCliftonville *0–0 '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.
SeasonDateRoundStadiumHome teamResultAway teamAttendance
1922–2313 January 1923First roundSolitudeCliftonville1–0Crusaders
1953–546 March 1954Quarter-finalSolitudeCliftonville0–4Crusaders
1970–7124 March 1971Quarter-finalSeaviewCrusaders1–0Cliftonville
1973–746 May 1974Quarter-finalSeaviewCrusaders3–0Cliftonville
1975–7613 April 1976First roundSolitudeCliftonville1–4Crusaders
1978–7914 May 1979FinalSeaviewCrusaders0–0 ''Cliftonville
1983–8426 April 1984Semi-finalWindsor ParkCrusaders3–2Cliftonville
1992–9316 December 1992Quarter-finalSeaviewCrusaders1–0Cliftonville
1996–9714 January 1997Semi-finalWindsor ParkCliftonville2–1Crusaders
1998–991 December 1998First roundSolitudeCliftonville2–0Crusaders
2000–0113 December 2000Quarter-finalSeaviewCrusaders0–3Cliftonville
2001–0211 December 2001Quarter-finalSeaview1Cliftonville2–0Crusaders
2004–052 February 2005Semi-finalThe OvalCrusaders1–0Cliftonville
2017–1830 October 2017Quarter-finalSolitudeCliftonville2–3Crusaders
2018–1923 October 2018Quarter-finalSeaviewCrusaders4–3 Cliftonville
2025–262 September 2025First roundSolitudeCliftonville2–0Crusaders
1 Cliftonville nominated as home side but game took place at Seaview

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.
SeasonDateRoundStadiumHome teamResultAway teamAttendance
2020–211 June 2021Play-off semi-finalSolitudeCliftonville0–0 ''Crusaders
2020–21-------

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 legSolitudeCliftonville4–2Crusaders581
2010–1121 March 2011Quarter-final 2nd legSeaviewCrusaders4–6Cliftonville527

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
1962–6311 September 1962Group StageSeaviewCrusaders3–4Cliftonville
1976–7716 October 1976Group StageSeaviewCrusaders0–3Cliftonville
1977–7822 October 1977Group StageSolitudeCliftonville2–1Crusaders
1978–7928 October 1978Group StageSeaviewCrusaders1–1Cliftonville
1979–8010 November 1979Group StageSolitudeCliftonville3–1Crusaders
1980–818 November 1980Group StageSeaviewCrusaders3–1Cliftonville
1981–827 November 1981Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–1Crusaders
1982–8331 August 1982Group StageSeaviewCrusaders1–1Cliftonville
1983–8426 August 1983Group StageSeaviewCrusaders0–3Cliftonville
1984–8525 August 1984Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–3Crusaders
1985–8612 October 1985Group StageSeaviewCrusaders3–1Cliftonville
1986–877 March 1987Group StageSeaviewCrusaders0–1Cliftonville

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 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
1949–5017 September 1949Group StageSolitudeCliftonville2–2Crusaders
1950–5128 August 1950Group StageSeaviewCrusaders0–1Cliftonville
1951–52*13 September 1951Group StageSeaviewCrusaders3–2Cliftonville
1951–52*24 September 1951Group StageSeaviewCrusaders4–2Cliftonville
1952–5316 August 1952Group StageSeaviewCrusaders3–2Cliftonville
1952–536 September 1952Group StageSolitudeCliftonville2–2Crusaders
1953–5415 August 1953Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–3Crusaders
1953–5414 September 1953Group StageSeaviewCrusaders1–0Cliftonville
1954–5525 August 1954Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–5Crusaders
1955–5624 August 1955Group StageSeaviewCrusaders1–1Cliftonville
1956–5715 September 1956Group StageSeaviewCrusaders2–1Cliftonville
1957–5820 August 1957Group StageSeaviewCrusaders2–1Cliftonville
1958–5920 August 1958Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–2Crusaders
1959–6019 August 1959Group StageSeaviewCrusaders4–0Cliftonville
1960–6124 August 1960Group StageSeaviewCrusaders5–2Cliftonville
1961–6222 August 1961Group StageSeaviewCrusaders1–0Cliftonville
1962–6321 August 1962Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–5Crusaders
1963–6421 August 1963Group StageSeaviewCrusaders2–0Cliftonville
1964–6526 August 1964Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–3Crusaders
1965–6610 August 1965Group StageSeaviewCrusaders2–2Cliftonville
1966–6710 August 1966Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–4Crusaders
1967–6825 August 1967Group StageSeaviewCrusaders2–2Cliftonville
1968–693 August 1968Group StageSolitudeCliftonville2–3Crusaders
1969–7013 August 1969Group StageSeaviewCrusaders3–0Cliftonville
1970–7118 August 1970Group StageSolitudeCliftonville0–2Crusaders
1971–7228 September 1971Group StageSeaviewCrusaders2–2Cliftonville
1972–7322 August 1972Group StageSolitudeCliftonville0–1Crusaders
1973–7421 August 1973Group StageSeaviewCrusaders3–1Cliftonville
1974–7520 August 1974Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–1Crusaders
1975–7619 August 1975Group StageSolitude1Crusaders3–1Cliftonville
1976–7725 September 1976Group StageSeaviewCrusaders2–0Cliftonville
1977–7824 September 1977Group StageSolitudeCliftonville0–2Crusaders
1978–7923 September 1978Group StageSeaviewCrusaders1–1Cliftonville
1979–8021 August 1979Group StageSeaviewCrusaders1–1Cliftonville
1980–8119 August 1980Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–3Crusaders
1981–8219 September 1981Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–1Crusaders
1982–8330 October 1982Group StageSeaviewCrusaders1–0Cliftonville
1994–9513 August 1994Group StageSeaviewCrusaders1–0Cliftonville
1996–974 September 1996Semi-finalThe OvalCliftonville0–4Crusaders
* Tournament was renamed Festival of Britain Cup for one season1 Crusaders originally drawn at home, tie switched to Solitude to allow Seaview pitch to settle after re-turfing

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 StageSeaviewCrusaders3–1Cliftonville
1950–5118 November 1950Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–11Crusaders
1951–523 November 1951Group StageSeaviewCrusaders1–2Cliftonville
1952–5325 November 1952Group StageSolitudeCliftonville2–1Crusaders
1953–5414 November 1953Group StageSeaviewCrusaders2–2Cliftonville
1954–5527 November 1954Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–0Crusaders
1955–5626 November 1955Group StageSeaviewCrusaders0–0Cliftonville
1956–577 May 1957Group StageSolitudeCliftonville3–2Crusaders
1957–589 November 1957Group StageSeaviewCrusaders0–1Cliftonville
1958–598 November 1958Group StageSolitudeCliftonville2–3Crusaders
1959–607 November 1959Group StageSeaviewCrusaders2–2Cliftonville
1960–6119 November 1960Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–1Crusaders
1961–6218 November 1961Group StageSeaviewCrusaders3–0Cliftonville
1962–6317 November 1962Group StageSolitudeCliftonville3–0Crusaders
1963–6416 November 1963Group StageSeaviewCrusaders5–0Cliftonville
1964–6514 November 1964Group StageSolitudeCliftonville2–1Crusaders
1965–6625 April 1966Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–2Crusaders
1966–6725 April 1967Group StageSeaviewCrusaders6–1Cliftonville
1967–686 April 1968Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–3Crusaders
1968–6922 March 1969Group StageSeaviewCrusaders1–3Cliftonville
1969–704 October 1969Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–5Crusaders
1970–7124 December 1970Group StageSeaviewCrusaders2–3Cliftonville
1971–7216 October 1971Group StageSolitudeCliftonville0–0Crusaders
1972–734 November 1972Group StageSeaviewCrusaders8–0Cliftonville
1973–743 November 1973Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–4Crusaders
1974–752 November 1974Group StageSeaviewCrusaders2–0Cliftonville
1975–7618 October 1975Group StageSolitudeCliftonville1–0Crusaders
1 Game abandoned at 1-1 due to heavy rain, result declared complete

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 roundSolitudeCliftonville0–1Crusaders
1925–2626 April 1926Quarter-finalSolitudeCliftonville1–2Crusaders

Goalscorer records

Players with 10 or more goals in the North Belfast derby. Those in bold still with either side.
GoalscorerTeamDerby goals spanLeagueIrish CupLeague CupCounty Antrim ShieldUlster CupGold CupCity CupTotal
Jordan OwensCrusaders2008–202226——————26
Curry MulhollandCrusaders1951–196010——24—622
Joe GormleyCliftonville2011–202413522———22
Danny HaleCliftonville
Crusaders		1959–1960
1962–1966		11———4—621*
Paul HeatleyCrusaders2013–202315——3———18
Joe MeldrumCrusaders1966–19698———3—516
Kevin McGarryCliftonville1949–195814—————115
Jim WeatherupCrusaders1958–196510———1—314
Glenn HunterCrusaders1989–199793——1——13
Bobby McQuillanCrusaders1972–19755———3—412
Paul KirkCrusaders1975–197710———2—–12
Chris ScannellCliftonville1999–20118—13———12
Billy BradfordCrusaders1951–19543———7—111
Ronnie McAteerCrusaders1974–19786——211111
Ryan CurranCliftonville2018–202591—1———11
John McPolinCrusaders1967–19764——3——310
* Hale scored 18 goals for Crusaders and 3 goals for Cliftonville

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
2008–099 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 2016NIFL PremiershipSolitude3,109
2022–2326 December 2022NIFL PremiershipSeaview3,056