Finding true north

Tuesday’s Danske Bank Premiership encounter between Cliftonville and Crusaders at Solitude represents a milestone occasion in the fixture’s history as the Clubs convene for their 300th North Belfast Derby.

As Heritage Development Officer Paul Treanor notes, however, the Reds have contested a string of derby games against other local teams either side of the Crues’ formation in 1898 and elevation to senior status in 1949 – indeed, Cliftonville’s first ever competitive match was a 2-0 defeat of Oldpark on February 5, 1881.

In total – and excluding Army Regiment teams based in the area – the Reds have tackled 12 other North Belfast sides in a combined 42 competitive fixtures, while five other Clubs (Cromac Albion, Crumlin Star, Glenabank Corinthians, Malachians and Shankill United) have provided friendly opposition over the years.

Cliftonville boast a 100% win record against the eight Clubs we have faced in a single competitive tie, with Charleville, Clifton Park, Mossley, Newington, North End Athletic, Rosebank, St Mary’s and St Malachy’s College all overcome in the sides’ one and only fixture – with the latter resulting in a Club Record 10-1 victory that stood from 1886 until 2016.

‘Other’ North Belfast Derby Stats
Brantwood
P11 W7 D1 L3 F24 A8

Charleville
P1 W1 D0 L0 F3 A1

Clifton Park
P1 W1 D0 L0 F1 A0

Crusaders Reserves
P4 W1 D2 L1 F7 A7

Ligoniel
P9 W8 D1 L0 F35 A12

Mossley
P1 W1 D0 L0 F7 A0

Newington
P1 W1 D0 L0 F1 A0

North End Athletic
P1 W1 D0 L0 F4 A2

Oldpark
P10 W7 D2 L1 F30 A8

Rosebank
P1 W0 D0 L0 F4 A1

St Mary’s
P1 W1 D0 L0 F4 A1

St Malachy’s College
P1 W1 D0 L0 F10 A1