Gilford Crusaders F.C.

Gilford Crusaders Football Club, referred to as Gilford Crusaders, is an intermediate football team from Gilford, County Down, Northern Ireland.^[1] Gilford Crusaders play in the Mid-Ulster Football League.^[2][3][4] Gilford Crusaders Reserves play in the Mid-Ulster Football Reserves League.^[5] Gilford Crusaders are a member of the Mid-Ulster Football Association.

Founded in 1887, Gilford Crusaders are one of the oldest football clubs in Northern Ireland. The club compete in the Irish Cup.^[6]

Gilford Crusaders home colours are red and black. The badge depicts a Christian Crusader with a sword and shield. They play their home games at Woodlands Park.^[7]

In 1887, Gilford Crusaders was founded in the village of Gilford, County Down.

In 1921, Gilford Crusaders joined the Portadown and District League 1st Division.^[8]

Gilford Crusaders reached the Mid-Ulster Cup final for the first time in 1931, however they would be narrowly beaten by Glenavon F.C. 2–1.^[9] In 1932, they reached the Mid-Ulster Cup final for a second consecutive season. Gildford Crusaders would then be beaten again, this time by Portadown F.C. by the same 2–1 score-line.^[10]

Gilford Crusaders would then end their Mid-Ulster Cup final drought when in 1935, they went on to win the Mid-Ulster Cup, beating Portadown F.C. 7–2 at Mourneview Park.^[11]

In 1940, Gilford Crusaders reached the Alexandra Cup final for the first time and went on to win the silverware.^[12]

In the 1948–49 season, Gilford Crusaders reached the Mid-Ulster Shield final, and went on to win it for the first time. Following the Shield success, they reached the Mid-Ulster Cup final for a fourth time, but would be beaten 3–2 by Banbridge Town F.C., missing out on a cup-double. ^[13]

In May 2012, Gilford Crusaders reached the Foster Cup final. They won the match 4–2 against Stranmillis, clinching their first Foster Cup.^[14][15]

In 2024, the club's community was impacted by the tragedy of former player Conor Molloy, who fell into a coma while living in Australia. A rapid fundraising effort saw almost £30,000 raised in 24 hours to assist the Molloy family with travel expenses from Northern Ireland.^[16][17] Following his death in hospital on 8 November, Gilford Crusaders F.C. released an official tribute to their former player.^[18]

Mid-Ulster Football League

• Division 1
  • 1925–26
• Division 3
  • 2019–20

• Mid-Ulster Cup
  • 1934–35, 1963–64
  • Runners-up: 1930–31, 1931–32, 1948–49
• Mid-Ulster Shield
  • 1948–49
• Alexandra Cup
  • 1939–40
• Foster Cup
  • 2011–12