Longford Town v Crusaders friendly today

[Martinho II]

well lads,

crusaders played our under 20 team today in flancare today and beat us three one. i was very impressed with their fitness i believe this was their fifteenith friendly in 2 mths! they brought a vocal drunken support for 20 -30 fans down.. where in belfast are they based ,what division and who are their top players??:)

[Mr A]

Premier division, North Belfast, wouldn't like to comment on who their top players are.

[Martinho II]

Premier division, North Belfast, wouldn't like to comment on who their top players are.

why mr a? btw are they a catholic team?

[HarpoJoyce]

why mr a? btw are they a catholic team?

Roddy Collins used to play for them. I think that puts them firmly in 'The Exorcist' territory alright.

[Longfordian]

Our current supremo Aaron Callaghan was once player manager there so I assume they're at least a little favourably disposed to southerners .

[Mr A]

why mr a? btw are they a catholic team?

Because I'm just not that sure :)

And I guess if you were really looking to categorise you'd say they would be more usually viewed as protestant than catholic. I really hate categorising though!

[Steve Bruce]

They are based on the staunchly Protestant Shore Road. But this lableing of Protestant/Catholic needs to stop.

Linfield are classed as a Protestant club yet we have 7 or 8 Catholic first teamers. We have many Catholics throughout the layers of our club.

We have a British ethos though, closing every AGM with British national anthem etc.

[Mr_Parker]

They are based on the staunchly Protestant Shore Road. But this lableing of Protestant/Catholic needs to stop.

Linfield are classed as a Protestant club yet we have 7 or 8 Catholic first teamers. We have many Catholics throughout the layers of our club.

We have a British ethos though, closing every AGM with British national anthem etc.

And a Unionist ethos as publically stated by your club. You say you have many Catholics throughout the layers of your club. I'm surprised you record such information and can I ask does that extend to the club membership and if so how many Catholics have held positions on your management committee and/or have been Office Bearers at your club?

[Steve Bruce]

And a Unionist ethos as publically stated by your club. You say you have many Catholics throughout the layers of your club. I'm surprised you record such information and can I ask does that extend to the club membership and if so how many Catholics have held positions on your management committee and/or have been Office Bearers at your club?

We do not record any such information. But it doesn't take a genius to work it out either.

We do have a unionist ethos and we are proud of it. Is that a problem ?

Also I do not know the make up of our membership and when becoming a season ticket holder or becoming a member, your religious/political background is not part of the application and a certain religious/political background is not a requirement to be a member of our club either.

So Parker stop being so pedantic and take your agenda elsewhere. You really are a peice of work sometimes.:rolleyes:

[Mr_Parker]

We do not record any such information. But it doesn't take a genius to work it out either.

We do have a unionist ethos and we are proud of it. Is that a problem ?

Also I do not know the make up of our membership and when becoming a season ticket holder or becoming a member, your religious/political background is not part of the application and a certain religious/political background is not a requirement to be a member of our club either.

So Parker stop being so pedantic and take your agenda elsewhere. You really are a peice of work sometimes.:rolleyes:

Well you have just pulled the rug from your own statement that "We have many Catholics throughout the layers of our club," thanks for clearing that one up. :rolleyes:

[Steve Bruce]

Well you have just pulled the rug from your own statement that "We have many Catholics throughout the layers of our club," thanks for clearing that one up. :rolleyes:

So because we don't record such information it makes it untrue?

:rolleyes: indeed

[Not Brazil]

btw are they a catholic team?

They are a football team.

[Mr_Parker]

So because we don't record such information it makes it untrue?

:rolleyes: indeed

So you are saying it is true you have catholics in your membership, on your management committe and catholics that do or have held positions amongst your office bearers ie "throughout the layers" of your club as you put it?

[Steve Bruce]

So you are saying it is true you have catholics in your membership, on your management committe and catholics that do or have held positions amongst your office bearers ie "throughout the layers" of your club as you put it?

I was talking about the playing side. The layers as in Linfield FC, Linfield Swifts, Linfield Rangers, Linfield youths etc etc.

The membership is something completely different. I'm sure there are Catholic members, I know there are definately catholic season ticket holders as I know a few myself. But at the end of the day, this is down to an individual person if they want to be a Linfield supporter/member.

Linfield have no control whatsover over who wants to support us and I know that if there are any catholic season ticket holders for 10 years or more (this is the requirement to be a member, serve 10 years) apply for a membership they have as good a chance of acceptance as any other person. As I said, religious background isn't a required data for membership at Linfield.

[Mr_Parker]

I was talking about the playing side.

Indeed.

[Martinho II]

why mr a? btw are they a catholic team?

apologies to all concerned it came out wrong. just was interested in their history thats all..

[HarpoJoyce]

apologies to all concerned it came out wrong. just was interested in their history thats all..

That's good of you Martinho II. Your punishment is to try and get to three of their games over the next twelve months.

[Martinho II]

That's good of you Martinho II. Your punishment is to try and get to three of their games over the next twelve months.

will try and do so harpojoyce when our seasons over ;)

[Bohemian1890]

They are based on the staunchly Protestant Shore Road. But this lableing of Protestant/Catholic needs to stop.

Linfield are classed as a Protestant club yet we have 7 or 8 Catholic first teamers. We have many Catholics throughout the layers of our club.

We have a British ethos though, closing every AGM with British national anthem etc.
That is the saddest thing i have ever read:o

[holidaysong]

We have a British ethos though, closing every AGM with British national anthem etc.


That is the saddest thing i have ever read:o

That is Bohemian FC one hundred years ago... ;)

[Bohemian1890]

That is Bohemian FC one hundred years ago... ;)


Yes in your dreams maybe,we were one of founders of the League of Ireland and are home is the home of irish football.one hundred years ago
Dundalk had an orange kit:confused::p

[Mr_Parker]

Yes in your dreams maybe,we were one of founders of the League of Ireland and are home is the home of irish football. It is? I didn't realise your home was on the Cliftonville Road in Belfast. :rolleyes:

[Bohemian1890]

It is? I didn't realise your home was on the Clifton ville Road in Belfast. :rolleyes:

I always though it was cliftonville fans with irish flag at games the flag which represents the Republic of Ireland team.

Maybe you should use your own flag if you dont know where the home of irish football is.

Apologises forgot didn't your Chairman Jim Boyce top man in the IFA the association for the Northern Ireland team stops fans coming to games with the Irish flag:o

[Mr_Parker]

I always though it was cliftonville fans with irish flag at games the flag which represents the Republic of Ireland team.

I think you should read up on your political & flag history before making a bigger fool of yourself. You might also want to check my passport and the GFA.




Maybe you should use your own flag if you dont know where the home of irish football is.

See above.


I
Apologises forgot didn't your Chairman Jim Boyce top man in the IFA the association for the Northern Ireland team stops fans coming to games with the Irish flag:o

Ex chairman. Ex top man at the IFA. (You really do need to brush up on your research). No, he didn't stop fans. The club did put up a notice saying only club colours permitted many years ago. It was never enforced and remains as a sort of 'museum piece' on a wall outside the ground.

[Bohemian1890]

You have an irish passport means nothing look at the money in your pocket your taxes and Boyce did stop them FACT enough said

[Mr_Parker]

You have an irish passport means nothing look at the money in your pocket your taxes and Boyce did stop them FACT enough said

Fact? You really believe that Boyce came out of his ivory tower on a Saturday afternoon and stopped people with tricolours or even got others to try and do it? :rolleyes: You really don't know Boyce!

And back to my passport etc. I note you conveniently ignore the context and the other points raised. Cliftonville were and still are Irelands first club. The Cliftonville Road was and is the birthplace and hom of Irish football. Get over it.

[Bohemian1890]

Fact? You really believe that Boyce came out of his ivory tower on a Saturday afternoon and stopped people with tricolours or even got others to try and do it? :rolleyes: You really don't know Boyce!

And back to my passport etc. I note you conveniently ignore the context and the other points raised. Cliftonville were and still are Irelands first club. The Cliftonville Road was and is the birthplace and hom of Irish football. Get over it.

I have never seen or heard anybody call the Reds home the Home of Irish football.

The Home of irish football is Dalymount Park everybody in Ireland knows this as this is were the first game of the Irish team was played FACT start a thread on it we will see the outcome.

[EalingGreen]

I have never seen or heard anybody call the Reds home the Home of Irish football.

The Home of irish football is Dalymount Park everybody in Ireland knows this as this is were the first game of the Irish team was played FACT start a thread on it we will see the outcome.

Some random, ahem, facts:
1. Oldest football club in Ireland - Cliftonville FC. From Belfast.
2. Oldest Football Association (since 1880) in Ireland, and fourth oldest in the world - IFA. Founded in Belfast.
3. Oldest Football League (since 1890) in Ireland, and 2nd oldest in the world - IL. Founded in Belfast, from Belfast clubs.
4. First international football match played in Ireland (1882) vs England. In Belfast.
5. First competitive international football match in Ireland (1884), indeed first anywhere in the world, vs Scotland. In Belfast.
6. First 27 international football matches in Ireland - all in Belfast.
7. First five grounds to host international football - all in Belfast.
8. Largest football ground ever in Ireland - in Belfast (Windsor Park). And the second largest (Celtic Park).

So I think Mr. Parker is correct when he asserts that Cliftonville is the "home" of Irish football, to which I would add that Belfast is the "Football Capital of Ireland" ;)

Unless, of course, you don't consider Belfast to be in Ireland...:eek:

[Bohemian1890]

Some random, ahem, facts:
1. Oldest football club in Ireland - Cliftonville FC. From Belfast.
2. Oldest Football Association (since 1880) in Ireland, and fourth oldest in the world - IFA. Founded in Belfast.
3. Oldest Football League (since 1890) in Ireland, and 2nd oldest in the world - IL. Founded in Belfast, from Belfast clubs.
4. First international football match played in Ireland (1882) vs England. In Belfast.
5. First competitive international football match in Ireland (1884), indeed first anywhere in the world, vs Scotland. In Belfast.
6. First 27 international football matches in Ireland - all in Belfast.
7. First five grounds to host international football - all in Belfast.
8. Largest football ground ever in Ireland - in Belfast (Windsor Park). And the second largest (Celtic Park).

So I think Mr. Parker is correct when he asserts that Cliftonville is the "home" of Irish football, to which I would add that Belfast is the "Football Capital of Ireland" ;)

Unless, of course, you don't consider Belfast to be in Ireland...:eek:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqRexvvx1mI dont cry lads thruth hurts


Belfast to be politically correct may not be ruled from Dublin but in a few years Dublin will be the capital and we will all be happy.

Mr Paker is wrong Dalymount Park is the Home of Irish football fact.The Irish Republic got Independence from the British and used Dalymount Park as it home hence the Home of Irish football.

Don't mention it lads:)

Would you class your self as Irish?Are the Glens an irish team??

[Mr_Parker]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqRexvvx1mI dont cry lads thruth hurts


Belfast to be politically correct may not be ruled from Dublin but in a few years Dublin will be the capital and we will all be happy.

Mr Paker is wrong Dalymount Park is the Home of Irish football fact.The Irish Republic got Independence from the British and used Dalymount Park as it home hence the Home of Irish football.

Don't mention it lads:)

Would you class your self as Irish?Are the Glens an irish team??

Look, I'll make this easy for you to understand. What you are trying to say is that Dalymount is the home of the 'Republic' team. Whereas the home of Ireland and Irish football is Belfast as founded by Cliftonville F.C..

I just hope that the day Dublin becomes the capital that the Northern education system is adopted. :rolleyes:

[Bohemian1890]

Look, I'll make this easy for you to understand. What you are trying to say is that Dalymount is the home of the 'Republic' team. Whereas the home of Ireland and Irish football is Belfast as founded by Cliftonville F.C..

I just hope that the day Dublin becomes the capital that the Northern education system is adopted. :rolleyes:


Dalymount is the home of Irish football documentary you must not have watched:rolleyes:You afraid to start a thread on this??The Ireland team before the Irish Republic team was British influenced.So Cliftonville may be the home of British football not Irish.

As for your British education system keep it as the North must be the most confused bit of land on the planet as you lot never learn.

[Mr_Parker]

Dalymount is the home of Irish football documentary you must not have watched:rolleyes:You afraid to start a thread on this??The Ireland team before the Irish Republic team was British influenced.So Cliftonville may be the home of British football not Irish.

As for your British education system keep it as the North must be the most confused bit of land on the planet as you lot never learn.

The logic of your arguement is stunning. Oh hang on a mo, is there any logic there? :o

[Not Brazil]

The Ireland team before the Irish Republic team was British influenced.


Many would say that the most successful Irish Republic teams were "British influenced" too.;)

Cliftonville FC are the oldest club on the island of Ireland - end of.

[holidaysong]

The Ireland team before the Irish Republic team was British influenced.So Cliftonville may be the home of British football not Irish.

You sound like the BBC. The official name of this state is Ireland with the Republic of Ireland being an accepted description of the type of state, but it is never the 'Irish Republic'!

As for the 'home of Irish football' debate, pre-partition Belfast was undispitably the home of Irish football. Post-partition it will obviously depend on your definition of what and where is Irish.

For me it's Dublin (Dalymount) for the home of Irish football, Belfast for the home of Northern Irish football and Belfast for the home of football in Ireland (the island).

[EalingGreen]

You sound like the BBC. The official name of this state is Ireland with the Republic of Ireland being an accepted description of the type of state, but it is never the 'Irish Republic'!
(the island).
To paraphrase Father Ted: "That would be a political matter".:cool: We are discussing football, where the official names of the two teams are "Republic of Ireland" and "Northern Ireland" (with the IFA having the right to call their team "Ireland" for non-World Cup or European Championship games, btw) :p


As for the 'home of Irish football' debate, pre-partition Belfast was undispitably the home of Irish football. Post-partition it will obviously depend on your definition of what and where is Irish.
You mean it's open to debate? Silly me, I always thought "Irish" pertained to all things connected with that little island in the Atlantic, known as, ahem, "Ireland". Or were the IRFU correct when they declared a game in Belfast to be "outside Ireland"?


For me it's Dublin (Dalymount) for the home of Irish football, Belfast for the home of Northern Irish football and Belfast for the home of football in Ireland (the island).
Ah well, we still win 2-1 on aggregate and qualify for the next round, then! :p

[gspain]

Limavady also claim to be the oldest football club on the island. However their claim is a bit more dubious than that of Cliftonville's.

[geysir]

Is there some dubious cloud over Cliftonville's claim?

[EalingGreen]

Is there some dubious cloud over Cliftonville's claim?
Not really. The IFA acknowledges Cliftonville as the oldest e.g. on its website:

Founded in the Queens Hotel, Belfast back on 18th November 1880 the Irish Football Association is the fourth oldest governing body in the world behind the other three home associations.

This inaugural meeting was at the behest of the Cliftonville club - the oldest in Ireland - who gathered clubs from Belfast and the outlying districts together with a view to creating a unifying constitution and set of rules along the lines of those adopted by their Scottish counterparts some seven years earlier.

The aims of this fledgling, but ambitious, body were to promote, foster and develop the game throughout the island.

Clubs represented at this historic gathering, alongside Cliftonville, were Avoneil, Distillery, Knock, Oldpark, Moyola Park and the Limavady-based Alexander.

Football itself first came to Ireland a couple of years earlier when Scottish clubs Queens Park and The Caledonians staged an exhibition at the Ulster Cricket Ground, Ballynafeigh after John M. McAlery, the first secretary of the new association, had discovered the game whilst on honeymoon in Edinburgh.

Major Spencer Chichester was appointed President and plans were formulated to stage a Challenge Cup competition, eventually won by Moyola Park in a 1-0 defeat of Cliftonville on 9th April 1881.

International football followed soon after although a 13-0 defeat at the hands of England at the Knock Ground, Bloomfield in 1882 wasn't quite the start that might have been desired.
http://www.irishfa.com/the-ifa/about-the-ifa/

I suspect the reason that some contest C'ville's claim is that although Limavady United was formed in 1884 by a merger of Limavady Alexander (originally a cricket club) and Limavady Wanderers (football club), it is possible that Alexander - present at the first meeting of the IFA in 1880 - or even the Wanderers(?) might conceivably have been playing football as a properly constituted club before C'ville, but tbh it's all very hazy.
http://limavadyunited1876.com/main/?page_id=18
http://albionroad.com/club-profiles/limavady-united.html

[geysir]

a bit more dubious than that of Cliftonville's.
That phrase implies some doubt.
Maybe Gspain just means the claim to be Ireland's oldest has dubious value.
Which is true if it's not your own club making the claim :)

[EalingGreen]

That phrase implies some doubt.
Maybe Gspain just means the claim to be Ireland's oldest has dubious value.
Which is true if it's not your own club making the claim :)

Most authorities are not in any doubt as to C'ville's position. However, there are some who contest it, considering that Limavady has the prior claim. Such evidence as these latter have is not generally taken as being persuasive.

Either way, NI is the home of football in Ireland, with Belfast the "football capital"

That's it, really. :cool:

[jinxy lilywhite]

I've just read through 2 pages of absolute dribble. Who gives a flyin f*ck?

How can NI be the home of Irish Football? It wasn't established at the time? Just a query.
This Birth of clubs mostly are highly inaccurate as no one really can put a finger on the exact date. Who knows maybe some club in the outer reaches of Rathlin Island or somewhere in east Clare was est in 1864 and could be the older but who really cares.
One thing for sure is that the British Army took the game over to these shores and it developed prominently in areas of the country where there was a barracks or Garrison.

BTW: Did longford beat Crusaders?

[EalingGreen]

I've just read through 2 pages of absolute dribble. Who gives a flyin f*ck?

Some people do, including you (it would seem), since you are taking the trouble to read this thread then post in it...:confused:

How can NI be the home of Irish Football? It wasn't established at the time? Just a query.

Think of it this way: the traditional home of Irish football is in that place which is now known as Northern Ireland. Anyone who doesn't/can't/won't recognise the concept of NI, may substitute "Belfast".

This Birth of clubs mostly are highly inaccurate as no one really can put a finger on the exact date. Who knows maybe some club in the outer reaches of Rathlin Island or somewhere in east Clare was est in 1864 and could be the older but who really cares.

Not quite. The earliest date which anyone can definitely put a finger on is 20th September 1879 when John McCredy McAlery is recorded as having founded a football club in the north Belfast district of Cliftonville.
Of course, it is possible that another football club(s) was founded even earlier, but if so, I'd say Limavady is a more likely bet than Rathlin Island or east Clare...;)


One thing for sure is that the British Army took the game over to these shores and it developed prominently in areas of the country where there was a barracks or Garrison.

The influence of the British Army, including of course, Irish Regiments, in first bringing football to certain parts of Ireland is undoubtedly correct.
However, the proximity and interaction between North East Ulster and Scotland, where the game developed very early, was also responsible for bringing the game to this island from the earliest days of the game.
Additionally, the habit of long established Cricket clubs deciding to take up the newly codified game of football, in order to give themselves something to do during the winter, was also one of the earliest influences. And, of course, Cricket is/was also traditionally stronger in the north of the island than most other parts of Ireland.


BTW: Did longford beat Crusaders?
The Hatchetmen won 3-1 down in Longford, and it seems a good time was had by all:

"CRUSADING

Saturday afternoon last and there were some really strange sights out Flancare way. At first it looked like Longford Town were playing Longford Town but the tang of the accents were a give away.

Crusaders were down from Belfast for a friendly and since the have the exact same strip, the Town played in their away gear. But the strangeness didn't end there. Playing at the back was Aron Callaghan and in midfield there was Vinny Perth. The pace may be gone but the accuracy of his passes and the tenacity of his atckling was still clearly evident.

The rest of the team was made up largely of U20s hopefuls and even one talented sixteen year old. The Malones did a super job on the sidelines with their flags and never once did they make a wrong decision !Archie Bell though went AWOL from his post at the gate and lost thousands in revenue as punters had no option but to climb over the turnstiles to watch the action.

Every club is rightly proud of its hard core support but what the Crusaders Supprters' Club .

They arrived at the grounds two hours early and then returned after a tour of the town, hung up their banners , took up position in the stand and sang happily all afternoon long. The last time a team from the north visited we had the riot squad on stand by, Garda dogs, a Garda van with cctv and even an eye in the sky. This time, there wasn't even a word about the entire affair. Changed times.

By the way, just in case you want to know the link between ourselves and Crusaders...Aron Callaghan soldiered up there for a while while he a wandering minstrel"
http://www.ltfc.ie/news/article/?id=5f341f13-02fe-478a-92da-e83240c3cf90

[kingdomkerry]

They are based on the staunchly Protestant Shore Road. But this lableing of Protestant/Catholic needs to stop.

Linfield are classed as a Protestant club yet we have 7 or 8 Catholic first teamers. We have many Catholics throughout the layers of our club.

We have a British ethos though, closing every AGM with British national anthem etc.
That is the saddest thing i have ever read:o

Agree 100%. Unionists are brainwashed.

[ifk101]

Celtic Park? - is that the former ground of Belfast Celtic? And what happened to this ground?

I noticed that Cliftonville played Cork in Celtic Park last night. I presume this is another Celtic Park - Donegal Celtic's ground?

[Not Brazil]

Celtic Park? - is that the former ground of Belfast Celtic? And what happened to this ground?

I noticed that Cliftonville played Cork in Celtic Park last night. I presume this is another Celtic Park - Donegal Celtic's ground?

The old Celtic Park (home of Belfast Celtic) is now a shopping centre.

Cliftonville played Cork at Donegal Celtic's ground last night - Donegal Celtic Park, on the Suffolk Road.

Cliftonville are using DC's ground for "home" games, whilst some refurbishments are completed at Solitude, including a new stand.

[jinxy lilywhite]

As a matter of interest how many clubs in your premiership are based in Balfast?

[Not Brazil]

As a matter of interest how many clubs in your premiership are based in Balfast?

Linfield
Glentoran
Cliftonville
Crusaders

[jinxy lilywhite]

Thanks N B. Thought there was alot more

[gspain]

That phrase implies some doubt.
Maybe Gspain just means the claim to be Ireland's oldest has dubious value.
Which is true if it's not your own club making the claim :)

It is in dispute. I'm not backing Limavady's claim just mentioning it.

Cliftonville were definitely founded in 1879.

Limavady claim to be the oldest - 1875 I think. There are details of the claim in their clubhouse. I was at a game there a few years back before we played Derry City at the Brandywell. The claim is a bit more dubious than cliftonville's.

Distillery also claim to be the oldest professional club. The Reds being all amateur up to the 1960's.

[Mr_Parker]

It is in dispute. I'm not backing Limavady's claim just mentioning it.

Cliftonville were definitely founded in 1879.

Limavady claim to be the oldest - 1875 I think. There are details of the claim in their clubhouse. I was at a game there a few years back before we played Derry City at the Brandywell. The claim is a bit more dubious than cliftonville's.

Distillery also claim to be the oldest professional club. The Reds being all amateur up to the 1960's.

Limavadys' "1876" on their badge is a reference to a Cricket Club. There is no direct correlation between this cricket club and the team Limavady United. There was a team from that area called Alexander who were one of the founding members of the league who would have had ties to the Cricket Club. Again Limavady United have no direct correlation to this football club either. No one from Limavady United has ever been able to show any links between these various clubs despite numerous debates on the subject. As was discussed on here some time back, by someone who has specialised in researching the history of football here, even if a linkage could be demonstrated, it would still be back to the cricket club not a football club. And on that basis too, Cliftonville would be as entitled to therefore claim a date of 1870 as their founding date, as this was the founding date of their 'parent' cricket club.

It is not "in dispute" and all authorities on this matter have clearly stated Cliftonvilles position as the first football club in Ireland and the founders of football in Ireland.