Roring start

Regular readers of our Matchday Magazine will know all the facts and figures behind each new week at Cliftonville Football Club, while our Twitter followers are regaled with daily delves into the archives and Saturday’s victory over Dungannon Swifts provided a number of notable milestones.

The contest, in which the Reds came from behind to triumph for the first time in the Danske Bank Premiership this season, saw the team register their first win on the road during the 2020/21 campaign.

In addition, Rory Hale (pictured) bridged a 60-year gap between his own debut and the last of his grandfather Danny’s 52 appearances for the Club between 1959-1961, while captain Chris Curran – who is closing in on his 300th outing – claimed his first League goal since the March 7 defeat of Glentoran which, as well as being the team’s previous away win, was also the last time both he and namesake Ryan were on a Premiership scoresheet together.

Just prior to Christmas, meanwhile, Ryan became the 158th player to reach 100 games for Cliftonville when he featured against Glenavon at Mourneview Park, where the 300th away League draw in Reds history was recorded courtesy of the 1-1 outcome.

Joe Gormley’s substitute appearance that same night was his 250th Premiership match for the Club, while Daire O’Connor netted Cliftonville’s 1940th away League strike just minutes before the team conceded the 3400th League goal of their travels.

Recent weeks in numbers
3400: Glenavon’s goal on December 14 was the 3400th time Cliftonville had conceded away from home in the League
1940: Daire O’Connor’s finish on the same night was the Reds’ 1940th away League goal
300: Number of away draws the Reds have been involved in on League duty
250: Joe Gormley made his 250th Premiership appearance in the game at Mourneview Park
100: Ryan Curran became the 158th player to reach 100 outings for Cliftonville when he featured against Glenavon
60: Years since Rory Hale’s grandfather, Danny, made his final appearance for the Club
2: The last time both Chris and Ryan Curran scored in the same League game was also the last time the team had triumphed away from home
1: The defeat of Dungannon Swifts was the first time the Reds had won after conceding the first goal of a League match this term