Irish Premiership: Six of the best as Stephen Baxter picks his Crusaders highlights

With 950 matches over 19 years, 12 trophies and a world record, it wasn’t an easy task for Stephen Baxter to select his favourite memories as Crusaders manager.

Since taking taking over at Seaview in 2005, Baxter has seen it all and won every trophy in the game.

“Whenever you go through 950 games and you don’t see them whizzing past you, it means you’ve enjoyed them all,” he said.

“At this moment in time it hasn’t hit home but when the final whistle blows on it, I’ll be able to say, ‘wow, what a ride’.”

Ahead of his final Irish Premiership match with Crusaders – against Glentoran on Saturday – we asked Baxter to pick his six of the best.

The Setanta Cup was a cross-border competition featuring Irish Premiership and League of Ireland sides. Derry City were big favourites, but Colin Coates scored twice as Baxter’s side, down to 10 men after Stephen McBride’s late red card, took the Candystripes to penalties. Gareth McKeown struck the winner in sudden death after Sean O’Neill saved from Dermot McCafffrey.

Stephen Baxter: “I’ve always said that beating Derry City on penalties in the Setanta Cup final is probably my standout moment. Probably with the significance of the all-island tournament.

“The southern teams were probably considered as being the best at that period. We had played Bohemians in Dublin and an incredibly-good Sligo Rovers team to get through to the final.

“We had lost to Linfield in the Irish Cup the week before and no-one gave us a prayer to beat Derry City. To go to the Oval, win that game and bring the Setanta Cup home to Seaview was just phenomenal.”

If you can’t win your first title at your home ground, then the next best thing is to do it at the ground of your rivals. That’s exactly what happened when Crusaders defeated Cliftonville to secure the 2014-15 Irish Premiership. Paul Heatley scored an early winner in a match that will forever be remembered for the iconic celebrations, when Baxter jumped up on the old wire fencing around Solitude and cut his hands as he went to greet the fans.

SB: “There is always something in firsts, so that was quite special. We won it with a little bit to spare that year. The standout moment was me jumping on a fence and ripping the hands off myself with the wire when celebrating with our fans.

“You’re just so relieved, so to share that with the supporters, having not won the title for 18 years was a phenomenal moment. That exuberance and elation of winning, you just want to celebrate. Everyone was going mental.

“I think it says a lot about the relationship between Cliftonville and Crusaders that quite a number of their fans stayed to clap us.

“A couple of years previous they had won it and I had actually switched the game at Seaview up to Solitude so they could lift the title at their own ground. I think a number of them recognised that and it shows a lot of respect between the two clubs.”

Crusaders had suffered a “mini collapse” in their pursuit of three titles in a row in 2017, but they bounced back the following year to claim the title on the final day. Taking on Ballymena United, Philip Lowry and David Cushley scored for the Crues after Cathair Friel had given the hosts the lead. The resilient win – coupled with Coleraine’s draw with Glenavon – ensured the title would end up back at Seaview.

SB: “We went a goal down that day and had to come back to win 2-1.That title went right to the last day of the season and right to the wire.

“Coleraine had a phenomenal season, but so did we. I think the team scored over 100 goals that season, it was just incredible. We probably didn’t get the recognition we deserved for it, but for me that was the best title.

“To get across the line in a 38-game campaign is some going. Thankfully we managed to do it.”

It was a famous day for Baxter and Crusaders, as Mark Dickson scored the only goal of the game at Windsor Park against Cliftonville to end the 41-year wait to regain the Irish Cup. Dickson scored early in the second half and it would be the first of four Irish Cup triumphs for Baxter, who is something of a specialist in the competition.

SB: “It was my first senior trophy. It was just incredible. Our late former chairman Jim Semple presented the trophy that day. It was a very special day for all of us.

“Cliftonville were favourites to win it, but we had a sensational day. I remember Gary Smyth and Colin Coates heading every ball out in the last 20 minutes to secure the victory. What a night of celebrations that was after we brought the Irish Cup home.

“We have had a really good run at the cups and we have enjoyed every one of them.”

After their league triumph earned Crusaders a path into 2015-16 Champions League qualifying, little was expected of the Belfast side when they were drawn with Levadia Tallinn. However, after a 0-0 draw at Seaview, they produced a superb away performance to reach the next round on away goals after Michael Carvill’s effort earned a 1-1 draw in Estonia.

SB: “It was a special night for the club. I think the party afterwards was better than the match. To get through on a tough away fixture was just fantastic. To celebrate with our fans in the square in Tallinn, in a local pub, everyone sang long into the night.

“The length of time I’ve been here, to get to know some of our fans so very personally and share those moments with them, it’s special. Even sharing flights, we’re probably the only club who would bring the fans along with us, they are part of the family and part of the ride.

“Wherever we go, we pack the wagon full. I think the fans appreciate being part of it and it builds the connection with players and staff.”

Another famous European night for the Crues came in 2019 Europa League qualifying when they were drawn with Premier League giants Wolves, who were making their first European appearance since 1980. It’s the first leg at Molineux that Baxter remembers most, as his team put in a stunning defensive display in a 2-0 defeat by Nuno Espirito Santo’s side – with Ruben Vinagre’s second goal only coming in injury-time after Diogo Jota, now of Liverpool, hit the opener.

SB: “I could never leave the Wolves game out. Wolves could have sold the ground out twice and with 32,000 the place was filled to the brim. It was rocking.

“They had superstar players and we went over there on the hottest day of the year. I thought we might be like lambs to the slaughter, but to give the performance we gave – to be 1-0 down going into the 93rd minute – and for Nuno Espirito Santo to say to me, ‘tactical masterclass, bravo!’, will always stand out.

“I thought we were brilliant. What a special night for the league and the club.”

The Irish League side actually took the lead in the reverse fixture at Seaview through Ryan Bennett’s own goal, but Raul Jimenez starred as Wolves ran out 4-1 winners in Belfast.

SB: “Paul Heatley is still trying to claim the goal to this day. We actually shook them that night. They knew they were in for a game of football that night, and we gave it to them for 15 minutes – until Raul Jimenez banged two goals in and put us out of our misery!

“It was a special moment to play a Premier League team at your ground. It’s superb.”