***IMPORTANT MEMBERS NEWS***

In accordance with Club Rules there will be a Full Members Meeting of Season Ticket Holders on Thursday 25th February at 7.30pm upstairs in the Social Club. All members who are over 18 and hold a Full Season Ticket or Concession Season Ticket (Over 65) are entitled to attend.

The main business of the evening will be Financial Budgeting & Planning.

STALEMATE AT THE OVAL     08.02.10

Glentoran and Crusaders played out a scoreless draw at the Oval on a day when the only winner in the top six was Linfield. Both sides had chances in the game with Declan Caddell and Jordan Owens having the two best for Crusaders. Chris Keenan had to be alert at a Glentoran freekick but it was not to be a high scoring game.

Crusaders drop to fourth place in the league on goal difference.

Close but not close enough!!!

Match Report to follow.

RESERVES HAVE A GREAT WIN     08.02.10

Crusaders Reserves carried on with their good form in the League and Cup when they defeated Glentoran 2nds 4-1 at Seaview on Saturday Afternoon. Goals from Boylan, Harris & two from Rosatto gave them a super result over their East Belfast neighbours.

It also means they have only lost once in their last eight matches.

MINI SOCCER CELEBRATES ITS BIRTHDAY     08.02.10

Our Mini Soccer Centre (Sponsored by McDonalds Abbey Centre) held its 1st Birthday Party on Sunday 7th February,over 80 kids enjoyed what was a great day for all. We would lIke to thank Stephen Baxter, Marty Donnelly, Stephen Bell and all Crusaders Board Members who came along to show there support.

ACADEMY RESULTS     08.02.10

With three matches postponed for the Academy and one Youth fixture postponed the other three games resulted in a clean seep of victories, two of them in the Cup.

Mini Hatchets No Match

Crusaders U11's 3 St Marys 1

Crusaders U12's v Glentoran PP

Crusaders U14's v Ballymoney PP

Crusaders U15's v Holywood PP

Crusaders U16's 3 Ards 2 AET (Lisburn League Cup)

Youth Fixtures

Crusaders U17/s 2 Lisburn Youth 1 (Lisburn League Cup)

Crusaders U19/s No Match

LIVERPOOL LEGENDS TICKET INFORMATION     02.02.10

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Liverpool Legends will return once again to Seaview to play Crusaders Legends on Friday 23rd April, KO 7.45pm. A night for both Liverpool and Crusaders fans, this match for many will bring back fond memories of the famous European Champions Cup games from the 70’s.

Players including the great Alan Kennedy, Phil Neal, Rob Jones, Gary Gillespie and Mark Walters are just some of the names you can expect to see representing the Liverpool Legends. Crusaders Legends, Stephen Baxter, Glen Dunlop, Kevin McKeown, Gavin Arthur, Steven Livingstone, Michael Cash, Aaron Callaghan, Robbie Lawlor, will come up against the Liverpool heavy weights among others on the night.

Many will remember the history between the two teams; their first encounter was on Tuesday 14th September 1976 at Anfield in a first round first leg of the European Champions Cup with Liverpool winning 2-0 after a heroic display from the Irish League part timers this was Liverpool’s fourth attempt at winning the European Cup, they went on to win the trophy in 1977. The new Grandstand at Seaview was officially opened on Monday 24th August 1981 with the visit of Liverpool FC and Chairman John W Smith J.P, who officially opened the spanking new facility and played before a packed house at Seaview.

Crusaders Chairman Stephen Bell said: "We are really looking forward to having the Liverpool Legends at Seaview in April, and renewing acquaintances with some of our own Legends. It should really be quite a nostalgic night seeing a Liverpool side back at Seaview, who can ever forget their previous two visits to Seaview in 1976 and 1981?"

Liverpool Legend Alan Kennedy said: “I always remember playing Crusaders as it was the year after we won the European Cup. I will never forget the atmosphere there was at Seaview, the ground was full. I hope that we will get the same welcome all these years on and the fans still come out to support us!”

Tickets are on sale in the following outlets....

Crusaders Social Club daily from 11.30am

C&D Newsagents Shore Road, Belfast opposite ground 7am -8pm daily

Cruz Cuts Barbers Shore Road, Belfast opposite ground 9am -4.30pm Mon- Fri, 9am -12pm Saturday

Mortgage Advice Shop 3 Carnmoney Road, Newtownabbey.

Tickets also available on Crusaders online store www.crusadersfc.com shortly.

Starting at 3pm there will be a special 2 course Carvery Lunch with entertainment during the afternoon, Liverpool Players will arrive at 5pm for a light meal in the Lounge and they will also be back after the game in the Upstairs Lounge for autographs, pictures etc.

Tickets, which of course will be limited for the lunch, go on sale next week at £20 per person and this includes your entertainment, Carvery and your admittance to the evening function, which follows the match. For those not attending the afternoon Carvery tickets will be £10 for the evening function.

We are delighted to announce that two former legends at Seaview Jackie Fullerton and Liam Beckett will be joint managers of the Crusaders Legends team in the game against Liverpool.

This game will be the first of hopefully a few other games in the pipeline of which negotiations are still at an early stage.

YOUTH ACADEMY PLANS EXPANSION     27.01.10

The Crusaders Youth Academy plan a major expansion next season and are on the lookout for players in the age groups born in the year....

2001 (U10) New Team

2000 (U11) New Team

1999 (U12)

1998 (U13)

1997 (U14) New Team

1996 (U15)

1995 (U16)

We are also on the lookout for coaches at all age groups UEFA B and above preferred also Level 1 and UEFA C. If you are interested contact Billy Burns on billys@ntlworld.com or 07792712692 for more details.

SEC STANDING ORDER SCHEME    

The SEC appreciates the help all supporters give to golden goals and 50/50 draws. In order to keep a regular income coming to help Crusaders we have started a standing order scheme where anyone can donate on a regular monthly basis. There is no set amount it can be a little or as much as you wish to give. This type of scheme has proved popular and profitable at other clubs and will be a great help particularly over the summer when the SEC has nothing coming in but the bills still have to be paid. We would ask you to click on the link and print off a form to fill in. If you so wish this can be done anonymously as it is between you and your bank. So thanks in anticipation and click on the following link to print off the form.

SEC Standing order form click here