When staturday comes: Ards

Ahead of Cliftonville’s County Antrim Shield first round clash with Ards at Solitude this evening, cliftonvillefc.net commences an occasional new series detailing the matchday facts and figures with the assistance of Club Heritage Development Officer Paul Treanor.

Tonight’s game is, for example, the Reds’ 293rd meeting with Ards and comes 101 years to the week since the sides first locked horns – a 1-1 draw on September 8, 1923.

Of those 292 prior battles, 146 have taken place at Solitude with Cliftonville winning 68 and losing 51 such tussles on home soil, outscoring Ards by 289 goals to 256.

While this is the Clubs’ first North Belfast encounter since a 4-1 victory in January 2019, it is our 18th fixture with Ards in the Shield; the Reds booking eight victories in comparison to seven for the North Down outfit, whose last triumph over Cliftonville came in January 2006, some 18 meetings ago.

As for the Shield itself, the Reds have contested 271 matches in the competition, winning 62 of 113 home ties, having made their bow in a 2-2 draw with Linfield in November 1888.

In review
293: Tonight’s match is Cliftonville’s 293rd encounter with Ards.
272: This is also the Reds’ 272nd County Antrim Shield fixture.
136: Years since Cliftonville’s first ever County Antrim Shield game; a 2-2 draw with Linfield on November 3, 1888.
101: Years since the Reds’ first meeting with Ards; a 1-1 draw at Solitude on September 8, 1923.
18: Number of meetings Cliftonville are undefeated in against Ards.
17: Amount of times the Reds have faced Ards in the County Antrim Shield.