Our Annual General Meeting is nearly upon us. The AGM gives all members, playing and non-playing, an opportunity to review the club’s operations over the past year, and to have your say, contribute ideas and challenge plans for the coming season.
Formal notification of the date and venue will be shared with club members in the coming days.
Do you fondly recognise most of the images in this video?
Are you interested in losing the festive lbs, and feeling better physically better, but don’t fancy sweating in a gym while the Gen Zs pose in front of the mirror?
Our 4th Division (over 35s) squad are back in training from Tuesday 6th January on the Butlerstown GAA astro. No twisted knees, no rolling ankles, just a light game of football to get the body moving and the blood flowing.
The Waterford & District Junior League 4th division league caters exclusively for the more mature, discerning player. Over 35s only. Most grew up with Jackie’s Army, Dunphy & Giles & Herlihy, Des Lynam and backpasses. League games take place over 60 minutes, with unlimited substitutions (roll on, roll off). Everybody gets their chance, nobody goes home after a gruelling 90 minutes.
We’re recruiting players for the new season, all over 35s are welcome. Come along Tuesday 6th @ 7pm.
Date: Tuesday 6th January
Venue: Butlerstown GAA
Time: 7pm start
A new year, a new season, new hopes and ambitions!
Crusaders AFC wish all our players, club members, sponsors, supporters and neighbours a happy and healthy 2026.
Thank you to all our players, coaches, members, supporters, Butlerstown GAA and everyone else who has helped make 2025 a year to remember.
Happy Christmas to you all, and we look forward to seeing you in 2026. 
In advance of an expected knighthood in the upcoming King’s Honours List, forever-Crusader Johno Moran has relinquished his coveted 4th Division Manager role after 43 years and handed his gear bag (20 jerseys, 1 sock, 2 matchballs, 3 left-handed gloves, 3 odd shinpads and 7 cans of Deep Heat) over to Mr. Mark Kennedy, goalkeeper extraordinaire, dead ball specialist and well-known raconteur within local sporting circles.
The ceremonial handover, which formally took place last evening in the Crusaders’ Ceremonial Palace in Phil Grimes’ Pub, has been some months in the making. Club scouts trawled the length and breadth of the county since September in search of a worthy successor to a man who has earned “legend” status at Whitfield Park.
Master of Ceremonies, Chairperson McGrath, spoke fondly of Moran’s conquests over the years in a four hour soliloquy which had his audience enthralled throughout. Such pressure would weigh heavily on any one man, but Kennedy is not one for such influence. Indeed, he further strenghtened his selection as he revealed afterwards that the coaching ticket for 2026 also includes Austin Hanrahan, Interior Designer to Enoch and the Burkes by trade, and box-to-box halfway line punisher by reputation.
The ceremony was briefly interrupted as Kennedy sought confirmation of the venue for pre-season training (week commencing 6th January).
As Johno removed his helmet one last time and took his place at the round committee table, McGrath called a halt to the night’s proceedings as he proclaimed “Arise Sir Kennedy, go forth and conquer!”. 🔵🔴⚔️
What else can you get for less than €2.50 a week that offers as much enjoyment and potential as a club membership?
2025 saw a strong debut season in Division 2B, the ongoing extended run in Munster, the renewed growth of the 4th division panel and the accompanying promise for the future. Crusaders and Whitfield Park is a hot topic right now acreoss Waterford. We’ve been receiving fantastic feedback from former members, many of whom have been turning up to games, and even assisting with various initiatives in different and generous ways.
It’s worth noting, in a space of less than two years:
As the club has found its feet and begun to look ahead to the future, plans have started to take shape. The future will hopefully consist of a new clubhouse, a full size astro pitch with floodlights, fencing, more parking, a walking track, capital grants, under-age and women’s teams playing at Whitfield Park, facilities open to other codes and groups within the local community…these possibilities are exciting and actually within our grasp.
Many past members have asked about how they can rejoin the club and to play their part, either physically or financially. These requests and suggestions have come from as far away as Sydney and San Francisco, and as near as Bawnfune and Ballycashin.
The Crusaders AFC Club Membership scheme is now open to anyone who wants to help us move forward to see these plans succeed. Membership costs just €10 per month, or €100 per year if paying annually, and every single cent goes towards improving the facilities, driving the strategy, supporting our teams, and developing the next generation of players.
Club Membership also, as per the club constitution, offers members the opportunity to review the current club direction and to add their voice to the plans for the future through our Annual General Meeting each year, and through regular updates which are shared directly with members.
So, if Crusaders AFC was ever part of your story, this is an opportunity to be a part of its future.
Become a member today at https://crusadersafc.ie/registration-membership/ and help us take the next steps forward.
Read the front page of a new occasional publication, The Crusader Chronicle, below.
CLUB MEMBERSHIP
To join the club as a non-playing member for 2026, and to be kept informed of all plans and progress at Whitfield Park across the year, please visit this link and complete the appropriate section.
There was no jackpot winner this time around, which means the next draw – 16th December – will be for €2,100. A welcome Christmas gift for someone.
We recently held our annual end-of-year Awards Night in Phil Grimes Pub, recognising what has been a long season (and it’s not over yet!!). Here’s a snapshot of the winners on the night; congratulations to all. 🔵🔴🏆
Crusaders AFC 