# North Belfast derby

The North Belfast derby is the name given to association football matches between Cliftonville and Crusaders who play in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The two are separated by around 1.5 miles with Cliftonville based at Solitude on Cliftonville Road and Crusaders at Seaview on the Shore Road.
The rivalry between the two clubs began in 1949 with Crusaders' ascension to senior football. For the majority of years the rivalry was simply competitive and geographical. The rivalry was heightened during The Troubles, and as the religious and political demographics within Belfast changed, Cliftonville began to develop a mainly nationalist following and Crusaders a unionist following. While there have been unsavoury incidents in the past between the clubs and the rivalry is fierce and intense on the pitch, off the pitch they have developed a strong cross-community relationship in recent years.
The two sides have met each other on over 300 occasions, and have met in three national cup finals (the 2009 Irish Cup final, 2013 League Cup final and 2014 League Cup final) and one regional cup final (the 1979 County Antrim Shield final). The two sides have also won twelve league titles between them, five of these wins coming in six seasons; Cliftonville winning in 2012–13 and 2013–14, and Crusaders winning in 2014–15, 2015–16 and 2017–18.
Both clubs also share rivalries with the Belfast 'Big Two' of Glentoran and Linfield, but the success disparity between the pairs of clubs has seen two distinct rivalries formed.

## History

Founded in 1879, Cliftonville are Ireland's oldest football team, and along with Distillery, Glentoran and Linfield were founder members of the Irish League, and are one of three teams never to have been relegated and to have competed in every top-flight season (along with Glentoran and Linfield). Although a major force in the first 20 years of Irish football their strict amateur status (not dropped until the early 1970s) meant they were also-rans for long periods once professionalism took hold. Once professional they added a cup win in 1979 and a league title in late 1990s.
Founded in 1898, Crusaders applied unsuccessfully for many years to join the Irish League and became one of the top junior sides in the country, but it was not until 1949-50 season following the resignation of Belfast Celtic they finally entered the league. They endured a tough start but became a major side during the 1960s, winning two Irish Cups, and also having successful spells in the 1970s and 1990s, winning two league titles in each decade.
The first match between the two clubs took place on 13 January 1923 in the first round of the County Antrim Shield at Solitude; this was also Crusaders first ever match in senior competition. The senior side of Cliftonville was too good for the intermediate Crusaders team, with the Reds recording a 1-0 victory. The first game between the two sides as senior teams took place in the Ulster Cup on 17 September 1949, finishing in a 2-2 draw at Solitude. The first league match and Boxing Day derby took place on 26 December 1949, with Cliftonville emerging victorious with a 5-0 victory at Seaview. In 1979 at the height of The Troubles, there were more than 1,900 police officers on duty for the Ulster Cup match on 21 September between Crusaders and Cliftonville at Seaview, more than has ever been recorded at a football match in the United Kingdom.
The sides first played each other in a cup final in 1978-79, with Cliftonville winning the County Antrim Shield in a penalty shoot-out, but with Glentoran and Linfield dominating Northern Irish football the sides did not reach a national cup final together until the 2008-09 season when they met in the final of the 2008–09 Irish Cup. Crusaders won the match 1–0 in front of 7,500 fans at Windsor Park. It would be not long before the two met again in a cup final as in the 2012-13 season with the sides first and second in the league table they played each other in the final of the 2012–13 Irish League Cup with Cliftonville emphatically winning 4–0 at Windsor Park. The following season they played again the League Cup Final but this time in a more cagey affair. Finishing 0–0 after extra time Cliftonville retained the cup with a 3–2 win on penalties.
A fixture during the 2012-13 season came to national media attention after a game was cancelled due to a Loyalist flag protest. Going into the fixture on 16 February 2013 Cliftonville led the Irish Premier League with a twelve-point lead, Crusaders in second had a game in hand and hoped a win over their rivals could see them falter. A small group of 20 flag protesters turned up half an hour before kick off and engaged in skirmishes with police. Around 2000 fans were in attendance but many supporters were unable to enter due to the protesters outside the turnstiles. The decision was made to cancel the game with condemnation of the protesters tactics and police's handling of the situation. Due to fixture congestion it was not rearranged until 22 April by which time Cliftonville had long won the title. Despite praise for both clubs during the incident further controversy emerged for the rearranged fixture when Crusaders on advice of the police only offered 200 tickets for away supporters (around 800 would be normal). Cliftonville fans issued a boycott of fixture (seven tickets were purchased, presumably to ticket stub collectors) leaving a completely empty away stand and total attendance of just 395.
In September 2018 the derby was chosen to be the first live NIFL Premiership match to be shown on BBC Two Northern Ireland, a part of a three-year deal between BBC Sport NI, the Irish Football Association and Northern Ireland Football League.

## Supporters

In the early to mid 20th century Cliftonville's support was less polarised and they were seen as a cross community team in comparison to Crusaders, who had traditionally been regarded as a Unionist club. During the Troubles the Cliftonville support came to be regarded as a nationalist club due to their location along the Cliftonville Road. With road blocks and cross community violence meaning that many away supporters no longer felt safe venturing to Solitude or Seaview. However, in recent years, with the streets safer than before, many supporters of both away teams choose to walk to their opponent's ground, given the close proximity of the grounds and the fact that both teams have largely local supports.
Despite the community differences the rivalry between supporters is fairly amicable and brings financial benefits to both clubs. A sell out league fixture can bring in an income of £30,000. As is the tradition with many other derbies in the Irish League, each season a fixture is played on Boxing Day, unless this day falls on a Sunday.

## Head-to-head

In results between the two teams, Crusaders have 158 victories to Cliftonville's 91. Crusaders have won more games in the league, County Antrim Shield, Ulster Cup and the City Cup, whereas Cliftonville have won more head-to heads in the Irish Cup, League Cup, Setanta Sports Cup, Gold Cup and Belfast Charity Cup. It should also be noted that Cliftonville's amateur status meant that they were rarely competitive until the early 1970s, losing most of their games and finishing bottom of the table on several occasions.

### By competition

    As of 1 March 2025
| Outcome | League | Irish Cup | League Cup | Setanta Sports Cup | County Antrim Shield | Gold Cup | Ulster Cup | City Cup | Charity Cup | Playoffs | Total |
| Crusaders win | 99 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 28 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 158 |
| Cliftonville win | 52 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 92 |
| Draw | 47 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 68 |
| Total fixtures | 198 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 15 | 12 | 39 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 318 |
* Ulster Cup was renamed Festival of Britain Cup in 1952, so results are included in Ulster Cup total
* All games that went to penalty shoot-outs counted as wins/losses

### By venue

    As of 1 March 2025
| Outcome | Seaview | Solitude | Windsor Park | The Oval | Total |
| Crusaders win | 86 | 67 | 3 | 2 | 158 |
| Cliftonville win | 35 | 50 | 3 | 4 | 92 |
| Draw | 36 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 68 |
| Total fixtures | 157 | 149 | 6 | 6 | 318 |
* All games that went to penalty shoot-outs counted as wins/losses

## Clubs' honours
### Overall

In total, Cliftonville have won 49 senior honours to Crusaders' 32. Crusaders did not become a senior side until after World War II, and thus the only senior competitions they could enter from 1898 to 1949 were the Irish Cup (by invitation, having won the Irish Intermediate Cup or Intermediate League the season before) or the County Antrim Shield (again by invitation).
While Crusaders suffered relegation to intermediate football in 2005 for one season, Cliftonville have never lost senior status and have competed in every top-flight season since 1890.
| Competition | League titles | Irish Cup | League Cup | County Antrim Shield | Charity Shield | Setanta Sports Cup | Gold Cup | Ulster Cup | Floodlit Cup | Others$^1$ | Total |
| Cliftonville | 5* | 9 | 7 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 49 |
| Crusaders | 7 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 32 |
| Combined Total | 12* | 15 | 9 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 81 |
* $^1$ Includes other defunct senior trophies such as Belfast Charities Cup, Alhambra Cup, and Carlsberg Cup
* (*) Includes 1 shared league title

### 1949 to present

Since 1949 (when both teams commenced competing at the same level), Crusaders have won 32 honours to Cliftonville's 22.
| Competition | League titles | Irish Cup | League Cup | County Antrim Shield | Charity Shield | Setanta Sports Cup | Gold Cup | Ulster Cup | Floodlit Cup | Carlsberg Cup | Total |
| Crusaders | 7 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 32 |
| Cliftonville | 3 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 |
| Combined Total | 10 | 8 | 9 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 54 |

## Results

All time results taken from Irish Football Club Project, British Newspaper Archive, and various other sources. Attendance figures from ifapremiership.com
Key
* Cliftonville win
* Crusaders win
* Draw

### League

Since 1949, the two sides have played each other in the domestic league at least twice every season, except for the 2005–06 season.
| | | Cliftonville vs Crusaders | Cliftonville vs Crusaders | Cliftonville vs Crusaders | Cliftonville vs Crusaders | Crusaders vs Cliftonville | Crusaders vs Cliftonville | Crusaders vs Cliftonville | Crusaders vs Cliftonville |
| Season | Division | Date | Venue | Score | Attendance | Date | Venue | Score | Attendance |
| 1949–50 | Irish League | 18 March 1950 | Solitude | 2–7 | | 26 December 1949 | Seaview | 0–5 | |
| 1950–51 | Irish League | 25 November 1950 | Solitude | 3–2 | | 3 February 1951 | Seaview | 4–4 | |
| 1951–52 | Irish League | 22 March 1952 | Solitude | 2–1 | | 25 December 1951 | Seaview | 1–0 | |
| 1952–53 | Irish League | 24 December 1952 | Solitude | 3–1 | | 11 April 1953 | Seaview | 4–2 | |
| 1953–54 | Irish League | 23 January 1954 | Solitude | 2–3 | | 25 December 1953 | Seaview | 4–0 | |
| 1954–55 | Irish League | 24 December 1954 | Solitude | 0–1 | | 19 March 1955 | Seaview | 1–4 | |
| 1955–56 | Irish League | 17 March 1955 | Solitude | 1–1 | | 26 December 1955 | Seaview | 1–1 | |
| 1956–57 | Irish League | 17 November 1956 | Solitude | 0–2 | | 19 January 1957 | Seaview | 4–1 | |
| 1957–58 | Irish League | 18 January 1958 | Solitude | 4–3 | | 19 April 1958 | Seaview | 4–2 | |
| 1958–59 | Irish League | 27 December 1958 | Solitude | 1–3 | | 30 March 1959 | Seaview | 3–0 | |
| 1959–60 | Irish League | 19 April 1960 | Solitude | 0–1 | | 2 January 1960 | Seaview | 4–1 | |
| 1960–61 | Irish League | 3 December 1960 | Solitude | 3–1 | | 15 April 1961 | Seaview | 2–1 | |
| 1961–62 | Irish League | 7 April 1962 | Solitude | 1–2 | | 16 December 1961 | Seaview | 6–0 | |
| 1962–63 | Irish League | 19 January 1962 | Solitude | 1–5 | | 16 April 1963 | Seaview | 3–2 | |
| 1963–64 | Irish League | 14 December 1963 | Solitude | 2–1 | | 31 March 1964 | Seaview | 4–0 | |
| 1964–65 | Irish League | 24 December 1964 | Solitude | 0–3 | | 30 January 1965 | Seaview | 5–0 | |
| 1965–66 | Irish League | 27 November 1965 | Solitude | 0–4 | | 5 February 1966 | Seaview | 7–1 | |
| 1966–67 | Irish League | 17 December 1966 | Solitude | 0–0 | | 24 September 1966 | Seaview | 3–2 | |
| 1967–68 | Irish League | 28 October 1967 | Solitude | 1–3 | | 30 December 1967 | Seaview | 6–2 | |
| 1968–69 | Irish League | 19 October 1968 | Solitude | 1–3 | | 26 December 1968 | Seaview | 2–2 | |
| 1969–70 | Irish League | 8 November 1969 | Solitude | 0–2 | | 17 January 1970 | Seaview | 8–3 | |
| 1970–71 | Irish League | 6 March 1971 | Solitude | 0–2 | | 12 December 1970 | Seaview | 4–1 | |
| 1971–72 | Irish League | 11 December 1971 | Solitude | 0–1 | | 4 March 1972 | Seaview | 3–0 | |
| 1972–73 | Irish League | 12 April 1973 | Solitude | 0–1 | | 25 November 1972 | Seaview | 3–0 | |
| 1973–74 | Irish League | 3 November 1973 | Solitude | 2–1 | | 20 April 1974 | Seaview | 2–0 | |
| 1974–75 | Irish League | 21 December 1974 | Solitude | 0–4 | | 8 March 1975 | Seaview | 6–1 | |
| 1975–76 | Irish League | 22 November 1975 | Solitude | 0–2 | | 24 January 1976 | Seaview | 4–1 | |
| 1976–77 | Irish League | 29 January 1977 | Solitude | 0–3 | | 20 November 1976 | Seaview | 6–2 | |
| 1977–78 | Irish League | 26 November 1977 | Solitude | 1–0 | | 28 January 1978 | Seaview | 2–2 | |
| 1978–79 | Irish League | 10 February 1979 | Solitude | 1–0 | | 25 November 1978 | Seaview | 2–2 | |
| 1979–80 | Irish League | 10 November 1979 | Solitude | 1–0 | | 9 February 1980 | Seaview | 1–0 | |
| 1980–81 | Irish League | 7 February 1981 | Solitude | 0–0 | | 29 November 1980 | Seaview | 1–0 | |
| 1981–82 | Irish League | 2 January 1982 | Solitude | 1–2 | | 10 April 1982 | Seaview | 1–0$^1$ | |
| 1982–83 | Irish League | 9 April 1983 | Solitude | 1–0 | | 3 January 1983 | Seaview | 2–1 | |
| 1983–84 | Irish League | 22 February 1984 | Solitude | 0–1 | | 21 January 1984 | Seaview | 1–4 | |
| 1984–85 | Irish League | 12 January 1985 | Solitude | 0–0 | | 26 January 1985 | Seaview | 3–2 | |
| 1985–86 | Irish League | 29 April 1986 | Solitude | 2–1 | | 15 January 1986 | Seaview | 2–1 | |
| 1986–87 | Irish League | 11 October 1986 | Solitude | 2–1 | | 3 January 1987 | Seaview | 3–2 | |
| 1987–88 | Irish League | 5 March 1988 | Solitude | 0–0 | | 19 December 1987 | Seaview | 2–0 | |
| 1988–89 | Irish League | 10 December 1988 | Solitude | 1–0 | | 4 March 1989 | Seaview | 1–2 | |
| 1989–90 | Irish League | 26 December 1989 | Solitude | 2–2 | | 18 April 1990 | Seaview | 1–1 | |
| 1990–91 | Irish League | 17 November 1990 | Solitude | 3–1 | | 16 March 1991 | Seaview | 1–1 | |
| 1991–92 | Irish League | 29 February 1992 | Solitude | 2–2 | | 16 November 1991 | Seaview | 5–1 | |
| 1992–93 | Irish League | 24 October 1992 | Solitude | 1–2 | | 30 January 1993 | Seaview | 1–2 | |
| 1993–94 | Irish League | 27 December 1993 | Solitude | 2–1 | | 30 April 1994 | Seaview | 1–1 | |
| 1994–95 | Irish League | 29 April 1995 | Solitude | 2–2 | | 26 December 1994 | Seaview | 1–0 | |
| 1995–96 | Irish League | 26 December 1995 | Solitude | 1–4 | | 4 November 1995 | Seaview | 1–0 | |
| 1995–96 | Irish League | 20 April 1996 | Solitude | 2–1 | | 17 February 1996 | Seaview | 1–1 | |
| 1996–97 | Irish League | 26 October 1996 | Solitude | 1–1 | | 10 December 1996 | Seaview | 2–1 | |
| 1996–97 | Irish League | 1 February 1997 | Solitude | 0–2 | | 1 April 1997 | Seaview | 3–0 | |
| 1997–98 | Irish League | 30 August 1997 | Solitude | 2–2 | | 1 November 1997 | Seaview | 2–2 | |
| 1997–98 | Irish League | 10 February 1998 | Solitude | 0–1 | | 7 March 1998 | Seaview | 0–2 | |
| 1998–99 | Irish League | 14 November 1998 | Solitude | 2–3 | | 5 September 1998 | Seaview | 2–1 | |
| 1998–99 | Irish League | 6 March 1998 | Solitude | 1–1 | | 26 December 1998 | Seaview | 1–0 | |
| 1999–00 | Irish League | 30 October 1999 | Solitude | 1–1 | | 31 August 1999 | Seaview | 1–1 | |
| 1999–00 | Irish League | 27 December 1999 | Solitude | 1–1 | | 18 March 2000 | Seaview | 1–1 | |
| 2000–01 | Irish League | 28 October 2000 | Solitude | 1–1 | | 26 August 2000 | Seaview | 0–4 | |
| 2000–01 | Irish League | 20 March 2001 | Solitude | 0–3 | | 26 December 2000 | Seaview | 1–2 | |
| 2001–02 | Irish League | 26 December 2001 | Solitude | 1–1 | | 31 August 2001 | Seaview | 0–2 | |
| 2001–02 | Irish League | 16 March 2002 | Solitude | 3–0 | | 27 October 2001 | Seaview | 1–3 | |
| 2002–03 | Irish League | 12 October 2002 | Solitude | 0–1 | | 26 December 2002 | Seaview | 0–0 | |
| 2002–03 | Irish League | 22 March 2003 | Solitude | 0–1 | | 22 April 2003 | Seaview | 1–0 | |
| 2003–04 | Irish Premier League | 26 December 2003 | Solitude | 0–1 | | 24 April 2004 | Seaview | 0–0 | |
| 2004–05 | Irish Premier League | 23 April 2005 | Solitude | 1–0 | | 27 December 2004 | Seaview | 0–2 | |
| 2006–07 | Irish Premier League | 26 December 2006 | Solitude | 4–2 | | 14 April 2007 | Seaview | 1–2 | |
| 2007–08 | Irish Premier League | 22 April 2008 | Solitude | 0–1 | | 26 December 2007 | Seaview | 1–1 | |
| 2008–09 | IFA Premiership | 26 December 2008 | Solitude | 1–1 | 1,426 | 4 October 2008 | Seaview | 3–1 | 820 |
| 2008–09 | IFA Premiership | 25 April 2009 | Solitude | 0–0 | 782 | 14 March 2009 | Seaview | 4–2 | 685 |
| 2009–10 | IFA Premiership | 17 October 2009 | Solitude | 1–2 | 938 | 18 August 2009 | Seaview | 2–3 | 765 |
| 2009–10 | IFA Premiership | 8 April 2010 | Solitude | 1–0 | 902 | 26 December 2009 | Seaview | 1–2 | 2,105 |
| 2010–11 | IFA Premiership | 27 December 2010 | Solitude | 2–1 | 1,644 | 27 August 2010 | Seaview | 1–3 | 1,352 |
| 2010–11 | IFA Premiership | 26 April 2011 | Solitude | 3–0 | 719 | 19 March 2011 | Seaview | 5–0 | 1,134 |
| 2011–12 | IFA Premiership | 22 October 2011 | Solitude | 2–1 | 954 | 17 September 2011 | Seaview | 2–2 | 817 |
| 2011–12 | IFA Premiership | 14 April 2012 | Solitude | 1–1 | 732 | 26 December 2011 | Seaview | 3–2 | 2,457 |
| 2012–13 | IFA Premiership | 26 December 2012 | Solitude | 1–0 | 2,883 | 13 October 2012 | Seaview | 3–1 | 2,079 |
| 2012–13 | IFA Premiership | 2 April 2013 | Solitude | 3–1 | 2,221 | 22 April 2013 | Seaview | 3–0 | 395 |
| 2013–14 | NIFL Premiership | 5 October 2013 | Solitude | 0–2 | 1,577 | 26 December 2013 | Seaview | 1–1 | 2,129 |
| 2013–14 | NIFL Premiership | 15 February 2014 | Solitude | 4–0 | 1,584 | 26 April 2014 | Solitude | 2–3 | 2,687 |
| 2014–15 | NIFL Premiership | 26 December 2014 | Solitude | 0–1 | 3,019 | 4 October 2014 | Seaview | 0–1 | 1,611 |
| 2014–15 | NIFL Premiership | 11 April 2015 | Solitude | 0–1 | 1,532 | 15 November 2014 | Seaview | 4–1 | 2,039 |
| 2015–16 | NIFL Premiership | 5 September 2015 | Solitude | 0–1 | 1,883 | 26 December 2015 | Seaview | 2–2 | 2,784 |
| 2015–16 | NIFL Premiership | 19 April 2016 | Solitude | 1–3 | 1,584 | 20 February 2016 | Seaview | 1–0 | 1,975 |
| 2016–17 | NIFL Premiership | 26 December 2016 | Solitude | 0–4 | 3,109 | 1 October 2016 | Seaview | 4–3 | 1,789 |
| 2016–17 | NIFL Premiership | 15 April 2017 | Solitude | 2–3 | 1,612 | 21 January 2017 | Seaview | 1–0 | 1,702 |
| 2017–18 | NIFL Premiership | 26 August 2017 | Solitude | 1–2 | 1,417 | 26 December 2017 | Seaview | 2–0 | 3,018 |
| 2017–18 | NIFL Premiership | 10 March 2018 | Solitude | 3–1 | 1,573 | 21 April 2018 | Seaview | 1–1 | 1,683 |
| 2018–19 | NIFL Premiership | 26 December 2018 | Solitude | 1–5 | 2,336 | 6 October 2018 | Seaview | 3–2 | 1,571 |
| 2018–19 | NIFL Premiership | 20 April 2019 | Solitude | 2–0 | 1,361 | 16 March 2019 | Seaview | 2–0 | 1,168 |
| 2019–20 | NIFL Premiership | 17 August 2019 | Solitude | 0–2 | 1,376 | 26 December 2019 | Seaview | 1–2 | 2,824 |
| 2019–20 | NIFL Premiership | 17 August 2019 | Solitude | 0–2 | 1,376 | 3 March 2020 | Seaview | 0–0 | 1,359 |
| 2020–21 | NIFL Premiership | 9 January 2021 | Solitude | 2–2 | 0 | 23 October 2020 | Seaview | 1–0 | 323 |
| 2020–21 | NIFL Premiership | 25 May 2021 | Solitude | 1–1 | 500 | 10 April 2021 | Seaview | 2–2 | 0 |
| 2021–22 | NIFL Premiership | 4 January 2022 | Solitude | 0–2 | 2,305 | 11 September 2021 | Seaview | 1–1 | 1,945 |
| 2021–22 | NIFL Premiership | 26 February 2022 | Solitude | 3–1 | 2,035 | 23 April 2022 | Seaview | 3–3 | 2,649 |
| 2022–23 | NIFL Premiership | 7 October 2022 | Solitude | 0–0 | 2,046 | 26 December 2022 | Seaview | 3–0 | 3,056 |
| 2022–23 | NIFL Premiership | 22 April 2023 | Solitude | 3–3 | 1,584 | 13 March 2023 | Seaview | 2–2 | 2,188 |
| 2023–24 | NIFL Premiership | 25 November 2023 | Solitude | 3–0 | 2,048 | 18 September 2023 | Seaview | 0–3 | 2,614 |
| 2023–24 | NIFL Premiership | 26 December 2023 | Solitude | 2–1 | 2,356 | 16 April 2024 | Seaview | 2–1 | 2,013 |
| 2024–25 | NIFL Premiership | 1 November 2024 | Solitude | 1–0 | 2,085 | 24 August 2024 | Seaview | 1–1 | 2,316 |
| 2024–25 | NIFL Premiership | TBC | Solitude | | | 26 December 2024 | Seaview | 2–0 | 2,857 |
* $^1$ Initial game on 2 January abandoned at 1–1

### Irish Cup

The Irish Cup saw the teams meet in a national cup final for the first time ever in 2009.
| Season | Date | Round | Stadium | Home team | Result | Away team | Attendance |
| 1926–27 | 5 February 1927 | Semi-final | The Oval | Crusaders | 2–4 | Cliftonville | |
| 1970–71 | 13 February 1971 | First round | Seaview | Crusaders | 3–1 | Cliftonville | |
| 1990–91 | 16 February 1991 | Sixth round | Solitude | Cliftonville | 0–0 | Crusaders | |
| 1990–91 | 20 February 1991 | Sixth round replay | Seaview | Crusaders | 3–2 | Cliftonville | |
| 1996–97 | 15 March 1997 | Quarter-final | Solitude | Cliftonville | 3–1 | Crusaders | |
| 2007–08 | 9 February 2008 | Sixth round | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–0 | Crusaders | |
| 2008–09 | 9 May 2009 | Final | Windsor Park | Cliftonville * | 0–1 | Crusaders | 7,500 |
| 2012–13 | 6 April 2013 | Semi-final | The Oval | Crusaders * | 0–2 | Cliftonville | 1,700 |
| 2017–18 | 3 February 2018 | Sixth round | Solitude | Cliftonville | 4–1 | Crusaders | 1,900 |
| 2021–22 | 1 April 2022 | Semi-final | Windsor Park | Cliftonville * | 1–2 | Crusaders | |
| 2024–25 | 1 March 2025 | Quarter-final | Seaview | Crusaders | 1–2 | Cliftonville | |
* $^*$ Final, Semi-final played at/as a neutral venue, nominated as home side

### League Cup

The Northern Ireland Football League Cup was established in 1986, with the first meeting between the sides coming in 1995, and the most recent in the 2014 final.
| Season | Date | Round | Stadium | Home team | Result | Away team | Attendance |
| 1994–95 | 13 April 1995 | Semi-final | Windsor Park | Cliftonville | 2–0 | Crusaders | |
| 1995–96 | 29 August 1995 | Quarter-final | Solitude | Cliftonville | 0–0 (0–3 pens) | Crusaders | |
| 1998–99 | 2 March 1999 | Quarter-final | Seaview | Crusaders | 1–2 (aet) | Cliftonville | |
| 2001–02 | 9 October 2001 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 2–0 | Cliftonville | |
| 2002–03 | 24 September 2002 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–1 | Crusaders | |
| 2003–04 | 15 October 2003 | Semi-final | The Oval | Cliftonville | 1–1 (4–1 pens) | Crusaders | |
| 2006–07 | 8 November 2006 | Semi-final | The Oval | Cliftonville | 1–0 | Crusaders | |
| 2007–08 | 18 August 2007 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 1–4 | Cliftonville | |
| 2007–08 | 1 September 2007 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–0 | Crusaders | |
| 2012–13 | 26 January 2013 | Final | Windsor Park | Cliftonville * | 4–0 | Crusaders | 4,948 |
| 2013–14 | 25 January 2014 | Final | Solitude | Cliftonville * | 0–0 (3–2 pens) | Crusaders | 4,300 |
* $^*$ Final, Semi-final played at/as a neutral venue, nominated as home side

### County Antrim Shield

The County Antrim Shield is a regional competition open to senior and intermediate clubs. Established in 1888, the tournament saw the first ever meeting between the sides in 1923, and the most recent meeting came in the quarter-finals in 2018.
| Season | Date | Round | Stadium | Home team | Result | Away team |
| 1922–23 | 13 January 1923 | First round | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–0 | Crusaders |
| 1953–54 | 6 March 1954 | Quarter-final | Solitude | Cliftonville | 0–4 | Crusaders |
| 1970–71 | 24 March 1971 | Quarter-final | Seaview | Crusaders | 1–0 | Cliftonville |
| 1973–74 | 6 May 1974 | Quarter-final | Seaview | Crusaders | 3–0 | Cliftonville |
| 1975–76 | 13 April 1976 | First round | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–4 | Crusaders |
| 1978–79 | 14 May 1979 | Final | Seaview | Crusaders | 0–0 (1–3 pens) | Cliftonville |
| 1983–84 | 26 April 1984 | Semi-final | Windsor Park | Crusaders | 3–2 | Cliftonville |
| 1992–93 | 16 December 1992 | Quarter-final | Seaview | Crusaders | 1–0 | Cliftonville |
| 1996–97 | 14 January 1997 | Semi-final | Windsor Park | Cliftonville | 2–1 | Crusaders |
| 1998–99 | 1 December 1998 | First round | Solitude | Cliftonville | 2–0 | Crusaders |
| 2000–01 | 13 December 2000 | Quarter-final | Seaview | Crusaders | 0–3 | Cliftonville |
| 2001–02 | 11 December 2001 | Quarter-final | Seaview$^1$ | Cliftonville | 2–0 | Crusaders |
| 2004–05 | 2 February 2005 | Semi-final | The Oval | Crusaders | 1–0 | Cliftonville |
| 2017–18 | 30 October 2017 | Quarter-final | Solitude | Cliftonville | 2–3 | Crusaders |
| 2018–19 | 23 October 2018 | Quarter-final | Seaview | Crusaders | 4–3 (aet) | Cliftonville |
* $^1$ Cliftonville nominated as home side but game took place at Seaview

### European playoffs

The two sides met each other for the first time in the NIFL Premiership European playoffs for a place in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League.
| Season | Date | Round | Stadium | Home team | Result | Away team | Attendance |
| 2020–21 | 1 June 2021 | Play-off semi-final | Solitude | Cliftonville | 0–0 (5–4 pens) | Crusaders | |

### Setanta Cup

The Setanta Sports Cup was a cross-border competition open to clubs from all over Ireland, following on from previous competitions such as the Dublin and Belfast Inter-City Cup, North-South Cup, Blaxnit Cup, Texaco Cup, Tyler Cup and Irish News Cup. Having never played each other in any of these competitions, the Setanta Cup saw the only meeting of the two sides in all-Ireland competition in 2011. Established in 2005, the Setanta Cup was last played in 2014.
| Season | Date | Round | Stadium | Home team | Result | Away team | Attendance |
| 2010–11 | 14 March 2011 | Quarter-final 1st leg | Solitude | Cliftonville | 4–2 | Crusaders | 581 |
| 2010–11 | 21 March 2011 | Quarter-final 2nd leg | Seaview | Crusaders | 4–6 | Cliftonville | 527 |

### Gold Cup

The Gold Cup was a competition which was previously open to senior clubs from 1911 to 2001. The two sides first met in this competition in 1962 with the final meeting coming in 1987.
| Season | Date | Round | Stadium | Home team | Result | Away team |
| 1962–63 | 11 September 1962 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 3–4 | Cliftonville |
| 1976–77 | 16 October 1976 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 0–3 | Cliftonville |
| 1977–78 | 22 October 1977 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 2–1 | Crusaders |
| 1978–79 | 28 October 1978 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 1–1 | Cliftonville |
| 1979–80 | 10 November 1979 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 3–1 | Crusaders |
| 1980–81 | 8 November 1980 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 3–1 | Cliftonville |
| 1981–82 | 7 November 1981 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–1 | Crusaders |
| 1982–83 | 31 August 1982 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 1–1 | Cliftonville |
| 1983–84 | 26 August 1983 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 0–3 | Cliftonville |
| 1984–85 | 25 August 1984 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–3 | Crusaders |
| 1985–86 | 12 October 1985 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 3–1 | Cliftonville |
| 1986–87 | 7 March 1987 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 0–1 | Cliftonville |

### Ulster Cup

The Ulster Cup was also a competition which was open to senior clubs from 1949 to 1997. Like the City Cup, the Ulster Cup was an annual fixture until the early 1980s (sometimes twice a season) when it was split into groups. Traditionally the opening competition of the season, this cup saw the first senior meeting of the clubs in 1949, with the last meeting between the two coming in 1997.
| Season | Date | Round | Stadium | Home team | Result | Away team |
| 1949–50 | 17 September 1949 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 2–2 | Crusaders |
| 1950–51 | 28 August 1950 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 0–1 | Cliftonville |
| 1951–52* | 13 September 1951 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 3–2 | Cliftonville |
| 1951–52* | 24 September 1951 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 4–2 | Cliftonville |
| 1952–53 | 16 August 1952 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 3–2 | Cliftonville |
| 1952–53 | 6 September 1952 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 2–2 | Crusaders |
| 1953–54 | 15 August 1953 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–3 | Crusaders |
| 1953–54 | 14 September 1953 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 1–0 | Cliftonville |
| 1954–55 | 25 August 1954 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–5 | Crusaders |
| 1955–56 | 24 August 1955 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 1–1 | Cliftonville |
| 1956–57 | 15 September 1956 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 2–1 | Cliftonville |
| 1957–58 | 20 August 1957 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 2–1 | Cliftonville |
| 1958–59 | 20 August 1958 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–2 | Crusaders |
| 1959–60 | 19 August 1959 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 4–0 | Cliftonville |
| 1960–61 | 24 August 1960 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 5–2 | Cliftonville |
| 1961–62 | 22 August 1961 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 1–0 | Cliftonville |
| 1962–63 | 21 August 1962 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–5 | Crusaders |
| 1963–64 | 21 August 1963 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 2–0 | Cliftonville |
| 1964–65 | 26 August 1964 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–3 | Crusaders |
| 1965–66 | 10 August 1965 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 2–2 | Cliftonville |
| 1966–67 | 10 August 1966 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–4 | Crusaders |
| 1967–68 | 25 August 1967 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 2–2 | Cliftonville |
| 1968–69 | 3 August 1968 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 2–3 | Crusaders |
| 1969–70 | 13 August 1969 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 3–0 | Cliftonville |
| 1970–71 | 18 August 1970 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 0–2 | Crusaders |
| 1971–72 | 28 September 1971 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 2–2 | Cliftonville |
| 1972–73 | 22 August 1972 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 0–1 | Crusaders |
| 1973–74 | 21 August 1973 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 3–1 | Cliftonville |
| 1974–75 | 20 August 1974 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–1 | Crusaders |
| 1975–76 | 19 August 1975 | Group Stage | Solitude$^1$ | Crusaders | 3–1 | Cliftonville |
| 1976–77 | 25 September 1976 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 2–0 | Cliftonville |
| 1977–78 | 24 September 1977 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 0–2 | Crusaders |
| 1978–79 | 23 September 1978 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 1–1 | Cliftonville |
| 1979–80 | 21 August 1979 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 1–1 | Cliftonville |
| 1980–81 | 19 August 1980 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–3 | Crusaders |
| 1981–82 | 19 September 1981 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–1 | Crusaders |
| 1982–83 | 30 October 1982 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 1–0 | Cliftonville |
| 1994–95 | 13 August 1994 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 1–0 | Cliftonville |
| 1996–97 | 4 September 1996 | Semi-final | The Oval | Cliftonville | 0–4 | Crusaders |
* $^*$ Tournament was renamed Festival of Britain Cup for one season
* $^1$ Crusaders originally drawn at home, tie switched to Solitude to allow Seaview pitch to settle after re-turfing

### City Cup

The City Cup was a competition which ran from 1894 to 1976. Like the Ulster Cup, this was a fixture every season, and the sides played each other every season from 1949 until 1976.
| Season | Date | Round | Stadium | Home team | Result | Away team |
| 1949–50 | 19 November 1949 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 3–1 | Cliftonville |
| 1950–51 | 18 November 1950 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–1$^1$ | Crusaders |
| 1951–52 | 3 November 1951 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 1–2 | Cliftonville |
| 1952–53 | 25 November 1952 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 2–1 | Crusaders |
| 1953–54 | 14 November 1953 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 2–2 | Cliftonville |
| 1954–55 | 27 November 1954 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–0 | Crusaders |
| 1955–56 | 26 November 1955 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 0–0 | Cliftonville |
| 1956–57 | 7 May 1957 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 3–2 | Crusaders |
| 1957–58 | 9 November 1957 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 0–1 | Cliftonville |
| 1958–59 | 8 November 1958 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 2–3 | Crusaders |
| 1959–60 | 7 November 1959 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 2–2 | Cliftonville |
| 1960–61 | 19 November 1960 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–1 | Crusaders |
| 1961–62 | 18 November 1961 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 3–0 | Cliftonville |
| 1962–63 | 17 November 1962 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 3–0 | Crusaders |
| 1963–64 | 16 November 1963 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 5–0 | Cliftonville |
| 1964–65 | 14 November 1964 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 2–1 | Crusaders |
| 1965–66 | 25 April 1966 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–2 | Crusaders |
| 1966–67 | 25 April 1967 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 6–1 | Cliftonville |
| 1967–68 | 6 April 1968 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–3 | Crusaders |
| 1968–69 | 22 March 1969 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 1–3 | Cliftonville |
| 1969–70 | 4 October 1969 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–5 | Crusaders |
| 1970–71 | 24 December 1970 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 2–3 | Cliftonville |
| 1971–72 | 16 October 1971 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 0–0 | Crusaders |
| 1972–73 | 4 November 1972 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 8–0 | Cliftonville |
| 1973–74 | 3 November 1973 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–4 | Crusaders |
| 1974–75 | 2 November 1974 | Group Stage | Seaview | Crusaders | 2–0 | Cliftonville |
| 1975–76 | 18 October 1975 | Group Stage | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–0 | Crusaders |
* $^1$ Game abandoned at 1-1 due to heavy rain, result declared complete

### Belfast Charity Cup

The Belfast Charity Cup was a competition which ran from 1883 to 1941, and was based on a similar tournament in Scotland, the Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup. The competition was open to senior sides from Belfast and while Cliftonville could enter every year, Crusaders could only enter this competition by winning an intermediate tournament or by invitation.
| Season | Date | Round | Stadium | Home team | Result | Away team | Attendance |
| 1922–23 | 18 April 1923 | First round | Solitude | Cliftonville | 0–1 | Crusaders | |
| 1925–26 | 26 April 1926 | Quarter-final | Solitude | Cliftonville | 1–2 | Crusaders | |

## Goalscorer records

Players with 10 or more goals in the North Belfast derby. Those in bold still with either side.
    As of 1 March 2025
| Goalscorer | Team(s) | Derby goals span | League | Irish Cup | League Cup | County Antrim Shield | Ulster Cup | Gold Cup | City Cup | Total |
| Jordan Owens | Crusaders | 2008–2022 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 26 |
| Curry Mulholland | Crusaders | 1951–1960 | 10 | — | — | 2 | 4 | — | 6 | 22 |
| Joe Gormley | Cliftonville | 2011–2024 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 22 |
| Danny Hale | Cliftonville Crusaders | 1959–1960 1962–1966 | 11 | — | — | — | 4 | — | 6 | 21* |
| Paul Heatley | Crusaders | 2013–2023 | 15 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 18 |
| Joe Meldrum | Crusaders | 1966–1969 | 8 | — | — | — | 3 | — | 5 | 16 |
| Kevin McGarry | Cliftonville | 1949–1958 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 15 |
| Jim Weatherup | Crusaders | 1958–1965 | 10 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | 14 |
| Glenn Hunter | Crusaders | 1989–1997 | 9 | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 13 |
| Bobby McQuillan | Crusaders | 1972–1975 | 5 | — | — | — | 3 | — | 4 | 12 |
| Paul Kirk | Crusaders | 1975–1977 | 10 | — | — | — | 2 | — | – | 12 |
| Chris Scannell | Cliftonville | 1999–2011 | 8 | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | 12 |
| Billy Bradford | Crusaders | 1951–1954 | 3 | — | — | — | 7 | — | 1 | 11 |
| Ronnie McAteer | Crusaders | 1974–1978 | 6 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| Ryan Curran | Cliftonville | 2018–2025 | 9 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 11 |
| John McPolin | Crusaders | 1967–1976 | 4 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | 10 |
* $^*$ Hale scored 18 goals for Crusaders and 3 goals for Cliftonville

## Largest attendances

Since the reorganisation of Irish football in 2008 clubs are required to publish attendances. Attendances in the 1960s and 1970s may have been considerably higher.
| Season | Date | Competition | Stadium | Attendance |
| 2008–09 | 9 May 2009 | Irish Cup Final | Windsor Park | 7,500 |
| 2012–13 | 26 January 2013 | Irish League Cup Final | Windsor Park | 4,948 |
| 2013–14 | 25 January 2014 | Irish League Cup Final | Solitude | 4,300 |
| 2016–17 | 26 December 2016 | NIFL Premiership | Solitude | 3,109 |
| 2022–23 | 26 December 2022 | NIFL Premiership | Seaview | 3,056 |