Cliftonville FC

 This was only my second Northern Irish ground, strangely it's easier getting to Dublin than it is Belfast. My previous visit, ironically was to today's opposition, Glentoran and the fantastic Oval ground. Solitude, the home of Cliftonville, was just a iconic and steeped in history, it being Irelands oldest club. One of my all time favourite York City players Michael Ingham started his professional career at Cliftonville, meanwhile Dan Amos lined up on the left wing for Glentoran.

I got to the ground early, the anticipation got the better of me, however be warned there isn't a lot around the ground, there is a social club open along the back of the main stand though. It's a surreal setting, down a really narrow street of terraced houses with the last houses on the row nearly touching the stadium. I also found the tightest turnstile I've ever had to shuffle through, I got through, just. My advice, take your big coat off before going in.

Inside the tickets allow you to sit or stand anywhere, there's no seat allocations, which personally I think is a much better system. I wandered around to the club shop and picked out 3 pin badges from an excellent selection of about 12. Sadly when I got back to the hotel 2 of the 3 were the wrong ones, so check what they give you before you leave the shop is the motto from that one. I'd had nothing to eat so I went for the chicken and chips £7.50, the chicken was cooked to perfection, crispy not soggy, however you only get four pieces, the chips were average.

I took my seat in the new stand behind the goal just to the right of the players tunnel.

The game started off feisty as you would expect from a local derby in front of a big crowd but it lacked any real quality. Glentoran were the team pressing the most, with Cliftonville containing them whilst showing little threat themselves. They went in goalless at half time and I was fearing the worst after my trip to Boston on Saturday and a drab goalless encounter there. The second half began and Glentoran were showing more intensity, it didn't take long and they were awarded a penalty which former Derry man Pat Hoban tucked away. The second came from a corner, free header, 2-0 and cruising. The 3rd, a magical run and curled into the bottom corner and the 4th, went through the keeper, who had had a good game but should have kept hold of this one. A crushing defeat for the home side and there's little to write about them as they offered virtually nothing until the last minute when a thunderous shot cannoned back off the bar. I found it quite amusing after the third goal as there was a mass exodus of about 1000 people behind the goal, despite there being 25 minutes left. I know it was always unlikely but to give up like that doesn't seem the way forward to me and comebacks do happen albeit not on this occasion.

I walked there and back to Solitude from the city centre, it's a good 2 mile or more. Slightly uphill on the way there, a breeze coming back downhill. There is buses run along the main Antrim road though if you prefer.  During the morning I'd took a visit to the excellent Crumlin Road Gaol (Jail) highly recommend if you have a spare couple of hours. For lunch I recommend Jeffers home Bakery just off the main road opposite city hall, where I acquired the excellent beef stew pictured below. 

https://buymeacoffee.com/davidgroundhopper