Monday Monthly: August

With the weekend formally bringing the curtain down on the 2025/26 season, cliftonvillefc.net today kicks off a new 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’ll take a chronological look back on a month from the the term just finished – with August taking centre stage today.

Having responded to their ill-deserved UEFA Conference League defeat to St Joseph’s, Cliftonville recorded friendly victories over Moyola Park, Newington and Ballyclare Comrades (above) before embarking upon an opening Sports Direct Premiership mission to Bangor.

Despite twice striking the woodwork during a first-half they largely controlled, the Reds found themselves behind at the interval only to level early in the second period through Ryan Curran.

After the newly-promoted Seasiders had restored their advantage, the woodwork came to their rescue for a third time when Bayo Fapetu rattled an upright from distance, with the hosts adding a third in the closing stages to consign Jim Magilton’s men to defeat.

A goalless draw with Coleraine followed on a day when new signing Rhyss Campbell (above) had his season ended by injury before Larne visited Solitude for an entertaining midweek encounter that saw Joe Gormley blast Cliftonville level at 1-1 before a red card for Micheal Glynn earned the visitors a late penalty that was saved by PJ Morrison (below).

A flat display during an uneventful 1-0 reverse against Linfield at Windsor Park left the Reds still seeking their first win of the season – a feat that was duly achieved against Glenavon seven days later when Gormley, Harry Wilson and Jonny Addis all got their names on the scoresheet.

Six points from a possible 15 represented a frustrating start for the Reds, whose next engagement saw them begin September by contesting their first knockout Cup action of the season…

August 2025
Bangor 3-1 Cliftonville
Curran

Cliftonville 0-0 Coleraine
Gormley, Gordon

Cliftonville 1-1 Larne
Gormley

Linfield 1-0 Cliftonville

Cliftonville 3-1 Glenavon
Gormley, Wilson, Addis

Player of the Month: PJ Morrison
Goal of the Month: Harry Wilson v Glenavon