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Billy McKibbin's Crusaders match days are, like those of so many other fans, very much a family affair. In Billy's case, he's accompanied by wife Patricia, and daughter Angela (who was also featured in this column, earlier in the season). "I'm 55 now," says Billy, "and I've been coming to Seaview since the early sixties, when I had to sneak in, as I'd no spare pocket-money! I think my first match would have been the Crues against Derry City". Down the years, he's had plenty of red-and-black heroes. "Walter McFarland, a colossus at the centre of defence. John McPolin, for so many years the key influence in our midfield. Terry Nicholson and Roy McDonald, both of them so reliable, between the sticks. Glenn Dunlop, surely one of the best-ever Irish League players, Glenn Hunter, fittingly our all-time record scorer.
And, of course, Kirk Hunter. Billy recalls, "I remember him coming on as a half-time sub, in an Irish Cup tie here, in 1996, against Linfield. The first half was goalless, and had been fairly even, but Big Kirk transformed the entire match. He really set about The Blues, and was the main reason Crusaders won 2-0. In fact he set about them so strongly that Roy Walker subbed him, before the ref's red card appeared! "Other memories, Billy? "Winning the Co Antrim Shield, at Solitude, in 1969, beating Linfield 2-1. Joe Meldrum scored our winner, from a penalty, but before he could take it, a smoke-bomb was thrown into the goalmouth! And at the end, when the Crues team were displaying the trophy, they were stoned by some of The Blues' so-called fans.” He continues, "Clinching the League Championship, at Larne, in 1976, was a great day out. I remember it well, because I wasn't long married! And the day we drew 0-0, at Seaview, against Coleraine, in 1997, to win the title for the fourth time. That was as tense a game as I can remember. We all hit the panic button when Coleraine hit the crossbar, near the end! But it was to be the Crues' day, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I was one of the many on the pitch, after the final whistle! "A much less happy memory came along in early May, 2005. Recalls Billy, "It was a really sad night, when Glenavon relegated us. The conditions, dark, cold and wet, really summed it all up. But then, under Big Stephen's guidance, we bounced straight back up!"
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