Monday Monthly: December

Two days after Cliftonville contested their first pre-season friendly, cliftonvillefc.net continues a weekly mini-series reflecting on the good, the bad and the in-betweens of last term.

Every Monday between now and the new domestic campaign getting under way, we’re taking a chronological look back on a month from the the 2024/25 schedule – with a devastating December in today’s spotlight.

Though poor results, including a three-game losing streak, were difficult to accept, that disappointment paled in comparison to the pain of the tragic loss of Michael Newberry.

The defender, who had joined the Reds from Linfield during the summer, passed away suddenly on his 27th birthday, leaving the entire Irish League family mourning a talented and popular personality in the Solitude changing room.

His death provided perspective to a world where football results are seen as the be all and end all, with the Reds’ recent frustrating run no longer of any consequence as the Club came together to provide support to Michael’s family, friends and team-mates.

December had started with a fine performances that did not get the reward it deserved when Cliftonville were pegged back by Larne at Windsor Park. Ahead through a firm Joe Gormley finish, the Reds saw a number of chances to extend their lead come and go before the hosts snatched a point with a late leveller.

A BetMcLean Cup quarter-final trip to Armagh City bore all the hallmarks of an upset being on the cards but, amid high winds and driving rain at a bitterly cold Holm Park, second-half goals from Ryan Curran, Rory Hale and Coran Madden saw Cliftonville through to the last four.

A quick return to Mid-Ulster the following Saturday commenced a run of three consecutive losses as a nine-man Reds team which had Conor Pepper and Jonny Addis sent off in the first-half, shipped two unanswered goals to Portadown at Shamrock Park.

Things looked brighter the following weekend when Gormley broke the deadlock at home to Glentoran but the concession of a bizarre equaliser by visiting goalkeeper Daniel Gyollai laid the foundations for the away side to turn things around in the second-half, meaning Cliftonville approached their St Stephen’s Day showdown with Crusaders in desperate need three points.

An even enough first-half was followed by a disastrous opening to the second period that saw the Crues rattle in two quickfire efforts to take control of proceedings en route to a comfortable North Belfast Derby triumph at Seaview.

A December 30 assignment at home to Dungannon Swifts provided the Reds with an opportunity to end the calendar year by getting back on track, however the Club was plunged into grief on the morning of the game when, shortly after extending birthday best wishes to Newberry on social media, came news of his tragic loss.

While the meeting with the Swifts, and Linfield’s home game against Larne, were postponed as both a mark of respect to Michael and to give his shocked team-mates some time to process their emotions, tributes were paid at the other Irish League fixtures that went ahead on the night.

Suddenly, that losing streak carried no significance and, as January approached, Jim Magilton and his staff had to somehow find a way to encourage our players back on to the field of play, with fans – who had created a shrine to the much-missed Geordie at the Solitude turnstiles – waiting patiently for the chance to show their support to both a grieving dressing room and the wider Newberry family.

December 2024
Larne 1-1 Cliftonville
Gormley

Armagh City 0-3 Cliftonville
Curran, Hale, Madden

Portadown 2-0 Cliftonville

Cliftonville 1-2 Glentoran
Joe Gormley

Crusaders 2-0 Cliftonville