Category: News

Note to all attending today’s game at Whitfield Park (players and supporters):

Please park inside the grounds where possible – there’s ample parking space for everyone when the entire car park – including the grass area clearly signposted – is used.

Today’s scheduled 2B league game Vs St. Saviours has been refixed for Wednesday 25th @ 7pm.

Our 4th division team hit the road on Wednesday 11th June to take on Southend @ 7pm.

Please observe all parking signs, and park inside the grounds.

A little over a year ago, as the summer of 2024 was about to bloom, a group of club members decided to formalise their volunteerism into what is affectionately (by some) now known as the “Sunday Club”. Meeting early on non-match day Sunday mornings, this rag-tag group of volunteers have utterly transformed the grounds at Whitfield Park from an overgrown and unwelcoming place to a venue which regularly attracts compliments from its many visitors.

With the help of Kieran Cheasty and his team at Butlerstown GAA, a lot of the heavy lifting was first realised and completed, including drainage works and grounds clearance and grading. Led by chairperson Michael “that tree needs to come down” McGrath, a substantial area was cleared of overgrowth, expanding the playing and training area considerably. This approach followed on to improvements elsewhere, including the toilet facilities and dressing rooms.

To date, the following areas have been either overhauled or improved:

• Main pitch
  • drainage added in areas formerly prone to flooding
  • goal posts realigned and reseated
  • new nets purchased and installed
  • surrounding area dewilded and cleared
  • ball stop net pole replaced
• Training pitch
  • country goal area cleared of overgrown trees
  • new ball stop net purchased and erected
  • seating added
  • trip hazards made safe
  • training goals rewelded and nets added
  • surrounding area cleared
• Car Park
  • parking area extended by +200%
  • signage erected and parking plan published for matchdays/training days
• Dressing Rooms
  • dressing rooms rewired and brought up to code
  • electricity supply reinstated
  • roof leaks fixed
  • roof strengthened
• Storage Rooms/Garage
  • Two skips and countless trailer loads of rubbish and no-longer-required equipment removed
  • Referee’s room revamped in preparation for a potential change of function
  • Store rooms and garage cleared and secured
• Toilets
  • new toilet block in place reusing legacy waste management function
  • gender-specific toilets now in place for the first time at Crusaders
• Sponsorship
  • Whitfield Park is now a testimony to the willingness of local business to be involved and supporting the club with dozens of advertising signs in place and more to come
  • these signs have not only signalled the intent of the club moving forward, they have also added a spark of colour to the area
• Partnership
  • Crusaders AFC is working with Butlerstown GAA to share resources and facilities on a long term basis, thus ensuring both clubs can deliver sport and fitness to their members. Our thanks to Kieran Cheasty, Francie Lonergan and all at Butlerstown GAA for their ongoing support and efforts.

There’s a lot more work to be done at Whitfield Park on many more Sunday mornings, and doubtless the Sunday Club will continue to ensure that our club members, players, spectators and others will have the best possible amenity available to them.

It is the desire of the committe to take what the Sunday Club have delivered to-date and improve upon this through a strategic plan, funded by grants from multiple sources which are now, for the first time in many years, a realistic aspiration for our club.

Our thanks again to all our sponsors. Whether supporting the club through a personal and often anonymous donation, through annual subscription to our pitchside advertising campaign, through the funding of much needed equipment for our teams (from jerseys to training equipment to matchballs) or through the provision of other products and services, without your ongoing and valued support, the Sunday Club simply couldn’t deliver on its commitment to improve the facility at Whitfield Park for future generations of Crusaders.

Azzurri Division 2B League

PORTLAW 1 – 0 CRUSADERS AFC

Our 2B squad travelled to Portlaw to face the high flying Tannery men, and gave as good as they got throughout. Comments from the home side afterwards indicated they felt they came away with more than they deserved, having underestimated the Crusaders side. In truth, the chance of the game fell to Cian O’Neill in the first half, connecting to Devin Enright’s cross with a bullet header and forcing a world class save from the home keeper who, with the help of the post and crossbar, kept them in the game. An opportunistic finish from Portlaw saw them take the lead early in the second half, very much against the run of play. The remainder of the game played out with a number of stoppages, a few knocks and fewer chances, with both sides cancelling out the other in terms of attacking, and the home side running down the clock. Many thanks to Portlaw for a great game, and we look forward to having them over to Whitfield later in the season.

Best for Crusaders were Jordan Daniels, Cian O’Neill, Paddy O’Neill and Tommy Smyth.

Azzurri 4th Division League

CRUSADERS AFC 1 – 4 KILMACOW

On a near-perfect surface, diagonally striped by Francie earlier in the day and manicured over the weekend by Willie Power and his team of landscape experts (sponsored by Geoff’s – “the alternative venue”), our 4th division entertained a strong Kilmacow side yesterday evening. With Paul Lawrence still making his way back from Bilbao (and still living in the Fergie-era), and Peter, Norman and Duckie unavailable, the elders still managed to give a good account of themselves on the night. A case of one side took their chances, and the other didn’t it seems, we finally got on the scoresheet after 55′ thanks to Patrick Egan, but after several chances had gone abegging earlier in the game, this was a case of “what might have been”. Thanks to Kilmacow for a good game, and we hope you found your way home from Butlerstown safely. ☺️

Best for the home side were Patrick Heffernan (a welcome returnee after injury), Niall Kelly (slowly regaining his prime fitness levels, Domino’s have sent a search party), Shane Hunt (on another night, could have had 2 or 3) and John Rockett 🟨.