0:00:02 > 0:00:06LOUD CHANTING AND SINGING
0:00:11 > 0:00:15- CROWD CHANT:- Crusaders! Crusaders!
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Today, we are playing opposition, which are, probably,
0:00:19 > 0:00:21within the four teams that I think capable of winning this league.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Crusaders Football Club from North Belfast...
0:00:25 > 0:00:28..the kingpins of Irish League football.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31- COMMENTATOR:- Listen to the noise at Seaview.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35For two years in a row, Crusaders have won the biggest prize of all,
0:00:35 > 0:00:37the Danske Bank Premiership title.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46This is a club that has fought to overcome more than most.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49It was a simple task then to run inside
0:00:49 > 0:00:51and kill the policeman from almost point-blank range.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Murder in the stadium.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Mayhem on its doorstep.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05And a journey to the brink of bankruptcy.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08At that stage it was, "If you can't produce the money, you're lights out. It's over."
0:01:08 > 0:01:11SHOUTING
0:01:12 > 0:01:16This season, Crusaders are preparing to dream the undreamable.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18- You didn't go out at all?- No.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23But although it is yet to begin...
0:01:23 > 0:01:24I love these friendly matches.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28..the battle lines are already drawn.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30It's a lateral ankle sprain.
0:01:32 > 0:01:37The dream is to win the Premiership for an historic third time in a row.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39CHANTING
0:01:39 > 0:01:43And with the fan base prepared to take loyalty to the extremes...
0:01:43 > 0:01:46You speak back to me again, you'll never play for this club again.
0:01:46 > 0:01:47I'm telling you now.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50..a manager ready to push his players to the limit...
0:01:50 > 0:01:53"Don't burn out. Keep yourself fuelled in the flame.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55"Don't quit on hard times.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57"Pray all the harder."
0:01:57 > 0:01:59..and a dressing room with faith at its core,
0:01:59 > 0:02:03Crusaders Football Club is ready for war.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06Let me tell you something, that's what it's going to be like this season.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10All our players have done well in the last year or two.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12You have targets, big targets on your back.
0:02:12 > 0:02:17We will never, ever, ever be beaten until that whistle blows.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49It's August, and Crusaders Football Club on North Belfast's Shore Road
0:02:49 > 0:02:51is getting ready for the new season.
0:02:55 > 0:02:56Argh!
0:02:56 > 0:02:58Will you give us a hug, mate?
0:02:58 > 0:03:00Give us a hug.
0:03:04 > 0:03:05This is a very homely club.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09And it always had a very loyal support.
0:03:09 > 0:03:10Hardy annuals.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14- Out!- Mac, you have to let this in. - Out!
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Hello, Eric. Pint of Guinness?
0:03:17 > 0:03:18Okey dokey, love.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Crusaders has been such a big chunk of my life.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25You couldn't beat it. Best ever.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34On those roads, with the terraced houses,
0:03:34 > 0:03:38there's a family of people whose community is the Crusaders Football Club.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43There's just that great sense of, this is our wee hub.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45This is what we are about.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53And the warmth of the people, for me, is, they would give you their last.
0:03:53 > 0:03:59Stephen Baxter has been the first-team manager at Crusaders for nearly 12 years.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04I see the heartbeat of who they are.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08And they are just a humble people, a joyful people,
0:04:08 > 0:04:10a people who have experienced hard knocks in life,
0:04:10 > 0:04:12but are all very much together.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20Crusaders are always the working class team, that will never change, though.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22That's a good thing. But we've all sorts down here.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25The working class people, like myself,
0:04:25 > 0:04:28but there's people with a bit of money, you know,
0:04:28 > 0:04:30they come down and it's great.
0:04:30 > 0:04:31It's like one big family.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37- CROWD:- OOOOOOH!
0:04:41 > 0:04:43# Local football team!
0:04:43 > 0:04:44# He's the greatest! #
0:04:44 > 0:04:47It doesn't really change from when I was, like, ten.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49And now I'm 38. You still get the same buzz.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51Come on.
0:04:51 > 0:04:52Let's go!
0:04:56 > 0:05:00The season is officially underway here in North Belfast.
0:05:00 > 0:05:01To Heatley.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06He opens his account for the season.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08Can he create another one? Yes, he can!
0:05:08 > 0:05:09CHEERING
0:05:11 > 0:05:14That's the way you start, as you mean to go on.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16Top, top-drawer stuff.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Crusaders have notched up their first victory.
0:05:19 > 0:05:24But there are still 37 games to go before the season ends in April.
0:05:27 > 0:05:28CHEERING
0:05:30 > 0:05:33Every team is going to throw the kitchen sink at you with work rate.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35What do we want to do? We want to put pressure on them.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37Owens...
0:05:38 > 0:05:41..who finds the net in injury time!
0:05:41 > 0:05:43We've dug this out today, somehow,
0:05:43 > 0:05:45now that's the mark of champions, by the way.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53Six games into the season, and Crusaders are top of the league.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58CHEERING
0:05:59 > 0:06:02You're chalking them off and chalking them off and chalking them off.
0:06:03 > 0:06:04There you are, Stephen.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11Eight games in and Crusaders haven't lost a single match.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13It's another game of football.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15It's another game on the roster.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Crush them. Crush them, crush them.
0:06:18 > 0:06:19Until the job is done.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25This group of players are achieving,
0:06:25 > 0:06:27at this moment in time, great things.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29We will not let that standard drop.
0:06:29 > 0:06:30By the end of September,
0:06:30 > 0:06:34Crusaders are five points clear at the top of the league,
0:06:34 > 0:06:38the dream of a third successive title is closer to becoming a reality.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52We're heading down to Bangor,
0:06:52 > 0:06:54to the physio.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58Just to have a bit of rehab on my ankle.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06Matthew Snoddy is still recovering from the injury he sustained in the
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Charity Shield game, before the season started.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14I can't imagine life without football.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16It's torture, sitting on the sidelines, watching.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19But I'll bounce back from it.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Four.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27Five.
0:07:27 > 0:07:28How does that feel, OK?
0:07:28 > 0:07:29- It's a bit sore, aye. - It's a bit sore?
0:07:29 > 0:07:31- Yeah.- OK, keep going.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36I grew up in a house with four sisters and one brother.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39It was crammed at times, and everyone was fighting over the mirror.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43My sisters were always using the mirror and I was always wanting to fix my hair.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Nothing's changed in that part, now anyway, with me!
0:07:45 > 0:07:48I want you to go up on your heels, and down.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Up on your heels and down.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53It was just an ordinary council estate.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57Loyalist council estate. You had your paramilitaries, obviously.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02From a young age, it was something that I was always wary of.
0:08:06 > 0:08:07Um...
0:08:07 > 0:08:08I hated them.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10To say the least.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13I would have done anything just for them to disappear.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18Whenever you're playing football, everything leaves your head.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22It definitely is an escape, mentally, playing football.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24Indeed, until, obviously, the final whistle goes,
0:08:24 > 0:08:26and then you start thinking again.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30Do you know, in another week or so we're going to get you onto the pitch.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32- All right, mate?- All good, yeah.
0:08:32 > 0:08:33Off you come.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00Mark, 40 quid on it.
0:09:00 > 0:09:0340 quid, pop it in!
0:09:03 > 0:09:04Yes!
0:09:05 > 0:09:06Well done.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11Eight quid.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Well, if anybody's late, they pay £2,
0:09:13 > 0:09:16and if they are more than five minutes late, they pay £5
0:09:16 > 0:09:19and if it's more than ten minutes, it's £10.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23INDISTINCT SHOUTING
0:09:23 > 0:09:26Usually you get the likes of Sean O'Neill and Colin Coates arguing how much they owe.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29But they eventually give in to me in the end, so...
0:09:29 > 0:09:30A fiver, young man.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32- What?- Four and one. Four for last week, and one...
0:09:32 > 0:09:34- Sure, I was up!- No, you weren't.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37- Sorry, there is a pound.- Aaah!
0:09:37 > 0:09:39Four quid, four quid, OK, you owe me four quid. Sorry.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45Nearly two months into the season
0:09:45 > 0:09:48and Crusaders still haven't lost a single game.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51But they are about to take on their arch-rivals.
0:09:54 > 0:09:55It's the North Belfast derby.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01This is the game that means more to every single Crues fan.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05Linfield is a big game, Glentoran is a big game, they all come around,
0:10:05 > 0:10:09big games, but this is the game that gets the blood boiling.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11It's Cliftonville!
0:10:11 > 0:10:12Once you... It's like, "Raargh"
0:10:12 > 0:10:17# ..We'll keep our good flag flying... #
0:10:17 > 0:10:19There's always a bit of rub between Cliftonville and Crusaders.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23Historically, we did get the religious, political element.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29North Belfast is a patchwork of Protestant and Catholic enclaves.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35Where people live, often influences their football allegiances.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40Because of its location in a Loyalist heartland,
0:10:40 > 0:10:42Crusaders is perceived as a Protestant club.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47Cliftonville Football Club is just a couple of miles away...
0:10:48 > 0:10:51..but because it's located in a Nationalist heartland,
0:10:51 > 0:10:53it's perceived as a Catholic club.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01When the two go head-to-head,
0:11:01 > 0:11:05fears of sectarian violence are never far away.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08We hold this unenviable record, 1979,
0:11:08 > 0:11:12of the biggest police attendance ever at any match in the UK.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17When you had, I think, 2,100 police officers for 1,900 fans.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22Crusaders and Cliftonville are, in fact, both cross-community clubs.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25But tensions occasionally still mar the game.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29ANGRY SHOUTING
0:11:32 > 0:11:38In 2013, the derby had to be called off when Loyalist protesters blocked
0:11:38 > 0:11:39the entrance to Seaview.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44Make belief here, lads. Make belief.
0:11:44 > 0:11:45Come on!
0:11:45 > 0:11:48- Big, big focus.- Do nothing, different, boys, from what we've been doing.
0:11:48 > 0:11:54On the pitch, Catholic players at Crusaders can be a target for abuse.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59# Sean O'Neill, you're a wanker, you're a wanker... #
0:11:59 > 0:12:02"Sean O'Neill's a wanker."
0:12:02 > 0:12:04That's a huge one.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07Get a lot from Cliftonville men - "You're a sell-out bastard."
0:12:07 > 0:12:10# Sean O'Neill, you're a wanker, you're a wanker. #
0:12:10 > 0:12:13They have a go because, basically, I'm a Catholic,
0:12:13 > 0:12:14playing for a Protestant team.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16It's as simple as that. All it does
0:12:16 > 0:12:19is drives me on to make sure we beat your team.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22- Crusaders! - RHYTHMIC STOMPING
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Crusaders!
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Crusaders!
0:12:26 > 0:12:29North Belfast derbies tend to produce moments of magic.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31Donnelly. Through to Daniel Hughes.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34Lovely build up from Cliftonville and a finish to match!
0:12:34 > 0:12:35They took the pee out of us!
0:12:35 > 0:12:37And we couldn't even get close to them.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Take the game to this team, and sort it out!
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Big 45, come on, big 45!
0:12:43 > 0:12:45Picked up by Harkin, 3-0!
0:12:45 > 0:12:47What a strike from Ruairi Harkin!
0:12:49 > 0:12:53It's well into the second half, and Crusaders are losing 3-0.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56Let's go.
0:12:56 > 0:12:57Come on, Crues!
0:12:59 > 0:13:00On that left foot!
0:13:02 > 0:13:03CHEERING
0:13:03 > 0:13:05Headed in, though, by Owens!
0:13:05 > 0:13:08To Richard Clarke, angled across towards Owens,
0:13:08 > 0:13:10who's found the net again!
0:13:10 > 0:13:11CHEERING
0:13:17 > 0:13:19We are in injury time.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Forsyth.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25Into the middle, towards Beverland.
0:13:25 > 0:13:26Spilled by the goalkeeper.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Still not away, and it's ended up in the back of the net!
0:13:32 > 0:13:33Is there time for a winner?
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Gavin White,
0:13:36 > 0:13:38plenty in the danger area.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42Spilled by the goalkeeper and followed up by David Cushley,
0:13:42 > 0:13:45who looks to have won it for Crusaders!
0:13:45 > 0:13:48The comeback is complete!
0:13:49 > 0:13:52We put ourselves on the ropes here today, for an hour.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54But nobody counted in the last half-hour.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58And you boys today dug that out from somewhere,
0:13:58 > 0:14:00because that's when character takes over.
0:14:00 > 0:14:01That's when desire takes over.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05That's when the want-to-win mentality kicks in.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08Let's make sure we now bank that, and on to the next one.
0:14:08 > 0:14:13But as for today. Get right into them!
0:14:13 > 0:14:15APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:14:15 > 0:14:16ALL: # I try to discover
0:14:16 > 0:14:20# A little something to make me sweeter
0:14:20 > 0:14:24# Oh, baby, refrain
0:14:24 > 0:14:27# From breaking my heart... #
0:14:43 > 0:14:45Come on.
0:14:45 > 0:14:46Finish strong.
0:14:46 > 0:14:51Sean O'Neill has had a more unusual pathway into the Irish league than most.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54A Catholic from the Falls Road in Belfast,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57his first love was Gaelic football.
0:14:59 > 0:15:00Fast 20, come on.
0:15:00 > 0:15:05Sean still trains at the GAA club he joined when he was just six.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Soccer was never something I was really interested in.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12Obviously, things have went a wee bit different for me.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18Football's probably, you know, it's my bread and butter now.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21You know, it's my main source of income, even though I work as well,
0:15:21 > 0:15:23you know. It's something that I enjoy doing.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Obviously, I don't enjoy this part.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33So this is the younger days - Gaelic football.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36This is me as an under-ten.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39And then, as an under-12,
0:15:39 > 0:15:43where I had flowing locks, unlike today.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Good times. Really good times.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50To be honest, I know this might sound so silly,
0:15:50 > 0:15:53but I probably had never been in
0:15:53 > 0:15:54any Protestant's company.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58I was a Gaelic, my family was Gaelic, Gaelic, Gaelic.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00There was no soccer.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03Soccer was kind of, it was called the foreign sport.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10I had Gaelic training, one day in school, and the soccer team had a game.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13And the soccer goalkeeper went home sick
0:16:13 > 0:16:15and they had no goalkeeper.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17The soccer manager asked me - would I do nets?
0:16:17 > 0:16:21And I just went into goal that day.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23We won 2-0. Kind of done really well.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29The team manager at the time, he was also manager at Green Island.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32He asked me, "Do you fancy coming to play for Green Island?"
0:16:32 > 0:16:37When I get here, when you take a left here at the end of the Green Island estate, I started to panic.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41At the time, there was obviously the UVF, UDA flags
0:16:41 > 0:16:43and you do think to yourself,
0:16:43 > 0:16:45"Oh, God, what have I got myself into?"
0:16:53 > 0:16:55Everyone was wearing Rangers' tops, and I'm
0:16:55 > 0:16:57you know, training and I'm just going to myself,
0:16:57 > 0:17:00"Oh, I don't believe this, I went for a Celtic top."
0:17:00 > 0:17:03And when I was walking across, this coach, Starzy,
0:17:03 > 0:17:06he goes like, "Oh, Celtic, you support Celtic. Good man."
0:17:06 > 0:17:08It was just football.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Just get a wee stretch. Just whatever you feel.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Hamstrings, calves, quads.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16It's something so silly, but it means a lot to me.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Catholic, Protestant, everyone's human at the end of the day.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24Everyone's the same.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26You know, it's another human being.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29So what if he supports Rangers or he blesses himself?
0:17:29 > 0:17:30Who cares?
0:17:33 > 0:17:36You come to Crusaders and you're able to play football and
0:17:36 > 0:17:39put the ball in the back of the net, that's much more important!
0:17:39 > 0:17:41Good luck, Mitchie! Come on, mate.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46YES!
0:17:46 > 0:17:48Thanks very much, mate. Thank you, partner.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52Skimmer? Shite, isn't it, mate?
0:17:52 > 0:17:53Ha-ha!
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Matthew Snoddy's ankle is recovering well.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14He's back training with the team.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21Three midfielders on the bench in my position, you know,
0:18:21 > 0:18:23it's not going to be easy to get back in the game again,
0:18:23 > 0:18:27but I've just got to put the hard work in and hopefully get my chance and take it.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30Then once you get in, it's up to you to keep hold of the shirt
0:18:30 > 0:18:32and not let it go to anyone else.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35Two weeks' time, I'll be back.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43Crusaders top the league by five points.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46They are still unbeaten.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57Plenty of players in the middle!
0:18:57 > 0:18:59And it's ended up in the back of the Ballymena net.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02All-day-long, they're looking for the ball.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04The goalkeeper mis-kicks it.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07Jordan's missed the header... by a mile.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09Going for Ballymena. Trying to get in behind!
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Flip me!
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Elementary, dear Watson!
0:19:15 > 0:19:16Kane against O'Neill.
0:19:16 > 0:19:181-1.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Only a couple of minutes of normal time left.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Kyle Owens off in the back, it's towards him.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28And he got a great head to it! It's ended up in the back of the net!
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Kyle Owens!
0:19:32 > 0:19:33And it's all over.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37For the first time this season, Crusaders have been defeated.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39- Very well played.- Thank you very much indeed.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42- Very well played, well done. - Thank you so much.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Your team battled. Your team battled so well for you. Well done.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Today, we've seen a team who wanted it more.
0:19:53 > 0:19:54They outfought you and outbattled you.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57It's the first day we've let ourselves down.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59Can I swap places with somebody in here today?
0:19:59 > 0:20:02Cos I tell you what, retired 13 years from this game,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05and I want to play more than anything else. But I can't play.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07But I tell you what, I wish I was you,
0:20:07 > 0:20:09and I wouldn't leave anything behind.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11We need to get back to our fighting best.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32The dream is, I think, from when you were, like, six,
0:20:32 > 0:20:34when you're kicking a ball up against the wall, saying,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37"I want to play. I want to be a professional footballer.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40"I want to play for Manchester United." Every schoolboy's dream.
0:20:42 > 0:20:47I remember going on trial at Nottingham Forest when I was 18.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50And I remember playing at the City Ground, in Nottingham, going,
0:20:50 > 0:20:52"This is where I'm meant to be."
0:20:52 > 0:20:53Around that time,
0:20:53 > 0:20:58I had a very stable relationship with a young girl from Belfast.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01And I'm going, "This is the girl of my dreams, I'm going to marry her."
0:21:06 > 0:21:08And then I had a bit of a crossroads' decision to make.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10You know, will I really push this one,
0:21:10 > 0:21:13or do I want to come home and settle down here?
0:21:13 > 0:21:15And the girl won.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19- What time is it?- Quarter to one. - Quarter to one.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21So we've 45 minutes...
0:21:22 > 0:21:25- For me to change my mind!- Stop it!
0:21:25 > 0:21:27I'm only joking!
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Stephen Baxter went on to marry his girlfriend, Lydia,
0:21:32 > 0:21:34and they had four children.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38Today, their daughter, Rachel, is getting married.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41I think watching all the videos of them when they won the league for
0:21:41 > 0:21:45the first time and how emotional he was, I remember at the time thinking,
0:21:45 > 0:21:47"If he doesn't cry at my wedding, I'll kill him!"
0:21:49 > 0:21:52I wasn't frightened to shut the door on Nottingham Forest and really get
0:21:52 > 0:21:54my Irish League career started.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58But it's important not to lose sight of all the people who love you so much behind the scenes,
0:21:58 > 0:22:01because they're going through it with you, albeit in a different way.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Who gives this woman to be married to this man?
0:22:06 > 0:22:09I do.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11Just stand... And kiss.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Will you join with me in a prayer of blessing?
0:22:16 > 0:22:18Let us pray. In the name...
0:22:18 > 0:22:19My whole life
0:22:19 > 0:22:22is my family, football and God.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25Amen. Amen.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28The world looks in at Christianity in all walks of life, and goes,
0:22:28 > 0:22:30"They're a rare people.
0:22:30 > 0:22:31"What are they all about?"
0:22:31 > 0:22:35When really, for me, it's the other way around.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39I look at the world saying, "You don't know what you're missing."
0:22:39 > 0:22:41And that's a good ball for Stephen Baxter.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44What a goal! What a strike by Baxter!
0:22:45 > 0:22:46I became a Christian when I was 19.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49Years later and I was coming to play football
0:22:49 > 0:22:50for Crusaders Football Club
0:22:50 > 0:22:52and there was 12 Christians at the football club.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57CHEERING
0:22:57 > 0:23:00So we got labelled the God Squad, because we went on this great run.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06Stephen Baxter made his name as a top Irish League player in the 1990s.
0:23:07 > 0:23:12He and his Christian team-mates helped Crusaders win the league twice.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Glenn Hunter. A chance to cross.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Finally gets it over. Baxter could be in for a third!
0:23:19 > 0:23:21And he is!
0:23:21 > 0:23:26A football environment wasn't seen as a Christian environment and that myth,
0:23:26 > 0:23:28I felt, was blown away at that moment.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33And it nearly became an acceptable norm,
0:23:33 > 0:23:38because here's all these Christian footballers who were doing something amazing.
0:23:38 > 0:23:39Baxter.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41Oh, it could be in the top corner!
0:23:44 > 0:23:45# Jesus, Lord... #
0:23:45 > 0:23:49Crusaders are still known for their Christian ethos.
0:23:49 > 0:23:55A quarter of the dressing room have connections with the evangelical churches which pepper North Belfast.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02- We only want you sort of ten minutes, is that OK, max? - Aye, ten minutes is all right.
0:24:02 > 0:24:03OK.
0:24:04 > 0:24:11# The name of Jesus... #
0:24:11 > 0:24:16Howard Beverland boosted the Christian numbers at Crusaders when he signed this season.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20Kit man Frankie Weir has invited him to share his story at
0:24:20 > 0:24:23the evangelical church where he's a pastor.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29# The name of Jesus... #
0:24:33 > 0:24:36APPLAUSE
0:24:36 > 0:24:38Tonight, I want to just take this opportunity,
0:24:38 > 0:24:41and I've been told ten minutes by Frankie, he's really strict,
0:24:41 > 0:24:43so I'm just going to get stuck in here.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45Erm, tonight, I just want to share my testimony
0:24:45 > 0:24:46about what God has done in my life.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50Sometimes, it's about taking on a new challenge, and that's what it was for me.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Moving away from a club where I'd been for nine, ten years,
0:24:53 > 0:24:56and moving to a new team who were the league champions
0:24:56 > 0:24:57and stepping out of your comfort zone.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01With that comes seeking, "Well, God, what's your plans here, OK?
0:25:01 > 0:25:04"If I say I'm a Christian and I've laid my life down and I've taken my
0:25:04 > 0:25:07"hands off the wheel, so to speak, Lord, what do you want?"
0:25:07 > 0:25:10And for me, very quickly, there was a peace.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12Being a Christian and being a footballer,
0:25:12 > 0:25:15I feel that it gives me such a great sense of freedom to go out
0:25:15 > 0:25:19and to work hard. And, hopefully,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22win lots of trophies and league titles and cups that comes with that.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26But yet, at the same time, to impact an environment for Jesus.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35Part of my role there
0:25:35 > 0:25:39is to go out and play as part of a team and mix in
0:25:39 > 0:25:41and get to know them and build up friendships
0:25:41 > 0:25:43and be part of the family.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46Oh, mate, that's very harsh there, very harsh!
0:25:48 > 0:25:53Of course, I'd love it if all of them said to me, "Well, you know, what do you believe in?"
0:25:53 > 0:25:57Or, "How can I believe in what you believe and live my life for Jesus?"
0:25:57 > 0:26:01And that hasn't happened... yet - being the keyword.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03But, yeah, that would be absolutely amazing.
0:26:16 > 0:26:17Oh!
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Whoa!
0:26:20 > 0:26:24Crusaders are about to play one of the biggest games of the season.
0:26:24 > 0:26:25Ha-ha-ha!
0:26:25 > 0:26:26Five months in,
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Matthew Snoddy has yet to make the starting line-up.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33Hopefully, I can be in the manager's thoughts.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35You know, it'll be gutting, like, if I didn't make the squad,
0:26:35 > 0:26:38I'm not going to lie. You know, I would be absolutely gutted.
0:26:38 > 0:26:39THEY BLOW
0:26:39 > 0:26:41A wee bit harder, go!
0:26:41 > 0:26:43One... Both of us blow together!
0:26:43 > 0:26:45One, two, three...
0:26:45 > 0:26:47- Ah! Yay!- Yeah!
0:27:04 > 0:27:06It was always working towards today, for me.
0:27:06 > 0:27:11Because these are the head-to-head games that decide who wins championships.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15The team that rises to the occasion in the big games
0:27:15 > 0:27:17are the teams that go on and do it.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21Nobody beats us here.
0:27:21 > 0:27:22Nobody.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24Nobody!
0:27:25 > 0:27:27Matthew has failed to make the squad.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32It's just, I didn't want all midfielders on the bench today.
0:27:32 > 0:27:33That's when you're coming back.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37So don't be worrying about it, everything'll be grand for you. OK?
0:27:42 > 0:27:45I was coming, in my head, thinking I was in the squad.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48I thought, to be honest, definitely I'd be on the bench.
0:27:48 > 0:27:49I disagree with it,
0:27:49 > 0:27:53but that's the manager's decision and I've just got to respect it.
0:27:56 > 0:27:57FANS CHANTING
0:27:59 > 0:28:01Crusaders top the league by seven points.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05So far, the only team they haven't managed to beat at least once
0:28:05 > 0:28:06is Linfield.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09They're determined to break the stalemate.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11- COMMENTATOR:- Crusaders - top of the table,
0:28:11 > 0:28:15seven points clear of second-placed Linfield.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17It could be a festive cracker.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21And away we go.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24Burns. It's a good ball in. Oh, it's off the bar!
0:28:30 > 0:28:31Go on!
0:28:34 > 0:28:35Oh, the ball falls to Aaron Burns.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37Aaron Burns still going.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45Aaron Burns - he is still going, and how!
0:28:47 > 0:28:50It's pathetic! Absolutely pathetic!
0:28:50 > 0:28:52We look scared.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57Wants his keeper to come. Oh, it's a terrible mistake!
0:28:58 > 0:29:00Summed up by the calamity goal.
0:29:04 > 0:29:09Have a bit of confidence in who you are and what you do!
0:29:21 > 0:29:22Oh!
0:29:23 > 0:29:25Gavin Whyte. Oh, it's a good ball in.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28It's a very good ball!
0:29:30 > 0:29:32Now it is squeaky-bum time.
0:29:32 > 0:29:33Heatley.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39Now, if anybody lifts hands, they could be in trouble.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44There's a yellow card for Sean O'Neill.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47And there's a red card for Jamie Mulgrew.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52And it's over.
0:29:52 > 0:29:57And there's absolute joy and delight from the Linfield fans.
0:29:58 > 0:30:02The Linfield defeat is a crushing blow.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19As the New Year begins,
0:30:19 > 0:30:22Crusaders are still four points clear at the top of the league.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40Faith is believing in something that you can't see.
0:30:42 > 0:30:43Can I see another title?
0:30:43 > 0:30:45I have faith to believe it,
0:30:45 > 0:30:48but I can't see it right now because we haven't got there yet.
0:30:52 > 0:30:53We'll not short-change anybody
0:30:53 > 0:30:56and we'll never let anybody down cos we'll always give our best.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00You know, the successes we're talking about now
0:31:00 > 0:31:02is winning leagues.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05A few years ago, the success was still being alive, you know,
0:31:05 > 0:31:08when things were really bad.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11Success was still being there, still having the gates open.
0:31:16 > 0:31:22In 2005, Crusaders was on the brink of relegation from the Premiership
0:31:22 > 0:31:24for the first time in its history.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28Stephen Baxter, whose playing career had come to an end,
0:31:28 > 0:31:32stepped in as a first-time manager for the last few games.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34It's dead simple for me - I'd walk over broken glass for them.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36So, if that's what it needed to do,
0:31:36 > 0:31:38I'll come and do it, I'm here to help.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42Crusaders took on Glenavon...
0:31:42 > 0:31:44..in a decisive relegation battle.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49Our life was on the line and we lost.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55Absolutely gutting.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57It was a real gloomy day.
0:31:57 > 0:31:59The rain was coming down
0:31:59 > 0:32:04and I remember coming in to our ground, just absolutely in tears.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06Didn't leave the house that whole weekend.
0:32:07 > 0:32:09I really had a fear for the future.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17Relegation meant much-needed Premiership funds
0:32:17 > 0:32:19disappeared overnight.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23The club was heading for financial meltdown.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28Basically, we had debts, at that time, to HMRC.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30We had a big debt to the rates.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33And we'd debt to the bank, we'd debt to the brewery.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35Probably 600-700,000 debt.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40The club managed to repay most of what it owed,
0:32:40 > 0:32:44but it was still £120,000 short.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49Our situation was, if this goes under,
0:32:49 > 0:32:52this is going to affect the lives of 200 kids.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55It's going to affect the lives of hundreds of supporters.
0:32:55 > 0:32:56This... There's no way back.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58It won't, you know...
0:32:58 > 0:33:00There is no sugar daddy coming in here.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03In desperation, the club turned to its fans
0:33:03 > 0:33:06and pleaded with them to lend money out of their own pockets -
0:33:06 > 0:33:09with no guarantee of getting it back.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11I went down to see what was in my Post Office account,
0:33:11 > 0:33:13to see if I could afford it,
0:33:13 > 0:33:16but I managed to scrape it together at the time.
0:33:16 > 0:33:21At the age of 26, Chris Wilson handed over his life savings.
0:33:21 > 0:33:22It was £500.
0:33:26 > 0:33:30But the satisfaction that £500 has actually given me...
0:33:31 > 0:33:34..erm, to see the club really, really take off and grow...
0:33:36 > 0:33:38Two League Championships,
0:33:38 > 0:33:41an All-Ireland Championship, an Irish Cup.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46See, when you look back at that night against Glenavon in 2005,
0:33:46 > 0:33:50when we got relegated, you could not have dreamt that.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58This season, more than 12 years later,
0:33:58 > 0:34:02Crusaders finally repaid the last of the 50 supporters
0:34:02 > 0:34:04who saved it from bankruptcy.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07So our first guest, Philip, Philip Hamilton.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10Philip here? Ah, there he is!
0:34:12 > 0:34:14Well done, fella.
0:34:14 > 0:34:19It gave me great satisfaction just to think that my small gesture
0:34:19 > 0:34:21was able to be part of that.
0:34:23 > 0:34:25My sincere thanks go to one and all.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28Erm, to me, youse are the heroes of this club.
0:34:28 > 0:34:33So, everything is good, we're chasing down our third title.
0:34:33 > 0:34:37Whether we win the title, or don't win the title, in my eyes,
0:34:37 > 0:34:40we're the biggest success story in the league.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42It sits very proudly on my mantelpiece, so it does.
0:34:44 > 0:34:45Pride of place.
0:34:56 > 0:34:58There's a baby boom at Crusaders.
0:34:58 > 0:35:03Sean O'Neill is one of six players about to become a father.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05This is where the baby's going to sleep.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07I'm laughing, my luggage is sitting packed ready to go.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10Sean was having anxiety that I hadn't got it packed,
0:35:10 > 0:35:11- so he made me pack...- No, no!
0:35:11 > 0:35:13No. No.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16I have anxiety about these bags.
0:35:16 > 0:35:17He says he's not carrying them!
0:35:17 > 0:35:20She's expecting me to carry this stuff to he hospital.
0:35:20 > 0:35:21Look at this! Look at it!
0:35:21 > 0:35:25Imagine me walking into the hospital going, "Here's...
0:35:25 > 0:35:27"Here's your bag. Ah, dead on!"
0:35:27 > 0:35:30Some chance! And...
0:35:30 > 0:35:32It gets better cos...
0:35:32 > 0:35:35there's actually two of them! Not one, two!
0:35:35 > 0:35:36There's not a hope in hell!
0:35:36 > 0:35:38One for me and one for the baby.
0:35:38 > 0:35:40- Her mummy...- My mummy!
0:35:40 > 0:35:41..is carrying these in.
0:35:43 > 0:35:45I'm going to take two weeks, but in terms of football...
0:35:45 > 0:35:47Oh, football.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49- There's no break there.- No.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52There's times when you do get fed up listening about it.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54Do you know, like, last Saturday...
0:35:54 > 0:35:56Oh, last Saturday.
0:35:56 > 0:35:57After the Cliftonville game.
0:35:57 > 0:36:00Where I was kind of hounded on social media.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03He was made out to be the villain, and it's annoying.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06I got really upset about it, but he was like, "Will you wise up?"
0:36:06 > 0:36:08But it upsets me.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10But that's...rivalry. That's football rivalry for you.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13- When one of them come to take a corner... - That's the beautiful game.
0:36:13 > 0:36:15- They're all going mad. - That's what makes it so...
0:36:15 > 0:36:17- He loves it.- That's what you want to play in.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20He's buzzing. See, on a Cliftonville morning or a Linfield,
0:36:20 > 0:36:21he's really up for it, like.
0:36:26 > 0:36:27You need a measuring tape.
0:36:27 > 0:36:28OK, so...
0:36:29 > 0:36:32- You can't just start drilling holes. - No, I can't.
0:36:32 > 0:36:37- Do you want it here?- Yeah, I think there's OK, isn't it?
0:36:37 > 0:36:39Do you definitely want it there? Yeah, no, that's OK.
0:36:39 > 0:36:41Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that.
0:36:41 > 0:36:43- No, no, no... - No, no, it's fine there.
0:36:43 > 0:36:44No, it's OK there.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48It's in.
0:36:48 > 0:36:50Yeah.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54Oh... You're not leaving it a bit slanty.
0:36:54 > 0:36:55I tell you what...
0:36:55 > 0:36:58- Is it slanty?- Yes, it's slanty. Of course it's slanty!
0:36:58 > 0:37:01Oh, Sean! Yeah, it's OK, yeah.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03- Jesus.- It's good, good, good.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06See, wee things like that, wouldn't it be nice?
0:37:06 > 0:37:08That would be lovely, love.
0:37:22 > 0:37:24Aye. At the end of this, you find a pot of gold.
0:37:24 > 0:37:25- Rainbow.- Yeah.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27Ah, good lad!
0:37:27 > 0:37:30- Tommy...- Hilfiger?- No.- Aaah!
0:37:33 > 0:37:37It's February, and Crusaders are a comfortable nine points clear
0:37:37 > 0:37:38at the top of the table.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40- Carrick...- Rangers?
0:37:40 > 0:37:43Yeah. And they were a group of people who are fighting,
0:37:43 > 0:37:46all different colours. A kids' TV programme.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49Oh! He knows!
0:37:49 > 0:37:52- He comes at Christmas and leaves presents.- Power Rangers?
0:37:52 > 0:37:53LAUGHTER
0:37:58 > 0:38:02They're about to take on Dungannon, but Sean O'Neill is missing.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04His partner, Niamh, has gone into labour.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10Am I OK with it? I am most definitely not OK with it.
0:38:10 > 0:38:14She could have had the baby two days ago and given us a wee bit of a break,
0:38:14 > 0:38:18but it has to be done. This is a huge day in his life, so...
0:38:18 > 0:38:21The stakes for Crusaders are huge.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23As they enter the last third of the season,
0:38:23 > 0:38:27they need to keep winning to stay ahead of Linfield,
0:38:27 > 0:38:29who have emerged as their biggest title threat.
0:38:31 > 0:38:33All of a sudden, Linfield are getting the press in.
0:38:33 > 0:38:34We know how to beat them.
0:38:34 > 0:38:37Crusaders, we are physical, and we've outfought them,
0:38:37 > 0:38:39and we know what we are about and all this, here.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41Make no mistake about it,
0:38:41 > 0:38:44every single team, at this moment in time, is gunning for you.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51Goal! Come on!
0:38:52 > 0:38:56It's three points on the road to the next one.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01Crusaders are nine points clear at the top of the league.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03The title is within sight.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05We came here to win the league.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08This is another building block.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13Put them under pressure. The pressure fucking kills people.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19Ah, he didn't need to!
0:39:29 > 0:39:31Lads, lads, lads, lads.
0:39:33 > 0:39:34Listen!
0:39:34 > 0:39:36That was an embarrassment of a performance from us.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39Linfield are coming to get you.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42You can either wilt under the pressure of all of this,
0:39:42 > 0:39:43or you're going to rise up.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47Crusaders lead has dropped by two points.
0:39:49 > 0:39:50They can take nothing for granted.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57It's inside of us, inside our heart.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00We want the game more than them. Come on!
0:40:00 > 0:40:04Crusaders players not given any kind of time on the ball.
0:40:04 > 0:40:05What are we doing here?
0:40:05 > 0:40:08Coleraine have certainly looked the more threatening so far.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13It's not good enough!
0:40:13 > 0:40:15Bradley had peeled away at the back...
0:40:16 > 0:40:18And it is adjudged that Beverland handled the ball,
0:40:18 > 0:40:21and it's going to be a penalty for the home side.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23It's Owen Bradley who's going to take the spot kick,
0:40:23 > 0:40:26and he slots it past Sean O'Neill.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30A good foot up the fucking hole, that's what we need!
0:40:30 > 0:40:33Get your fucking act together, that's including myself!
0:40:33 > 0:40:36We all need to fucking pull together here.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38We've a four-point gap, and see next week,
0:40:38 > 0:40:40we've the chance to go and pull it back to seven.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42But it's about fucking balls.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44Stevie said about heart, it's heart and balls.
0:40:44 > 0:40:45I'm telling you now, lads.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48I'd say, at the minute, we've no fucking balls.
0:41:06 > 0:41:10There's now just four points separating Crusaders and Linfield.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18The toughest test of the season is just days away.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22I'm re-emphasising right now -
0:41:22 > 0:41:25no alcohol this week.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27None. Teetotal this week.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32A bite to eat tonight, bed early.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35And...your beds as well. Keep the energy in the legs all week.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42If you win this game of football, the league is over. I promise you.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44- Yeah.- I promise you.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46But we need to be mentally,
0:41:46 > 0:41:48mentally switched on to this whole game, now.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04Billy Joe Burns has made a mistake with a back pass,
0:42:04 > 0:42:06and he's allowed Waterworth in...
0:42:06 > 0:42:09The body language of the Crusaders' players maybe telling its own story.
0:42:09 > 0:42:10Made its way to Burns...
0:42:10 > 0:42:12Oh, it's crashed off the goalposts!
0:42:12 > 0:42:15Oh, that's casual, kid.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18The delivery not the best, but it falls for Burns.
0:42:18 > 0:42:19He can't get it under control.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22Still with Burns!
0:42:23 > 0:42:24And there's the goal.
0:42:26 > 0:42:31In seven weeks, Crusaders' lead has dropped dramatically,
0:42:31 > 0:42:33from nine points to just one.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36We were hopeless.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40Shocking. As low a performance as I have ever seen, and I feel let down.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43We were nine points clear going to Portadown,
0:42:43 > 0:42:45and we haven't played from that match.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47You've got to sort it out. You've got to sort it out.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50We've three weeks, boys, to win a league title.
0:42:50 > 0:42:52You're one point ahead.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54One point!
0:42:54 > 0:42:55Three weeks.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58Three weeks to get a response.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10But Crusaders' dream is still within reach.
0:43:10 > 0:43:12If they win the next four games,
0:43:12 > 0:43:15they win the league for the third time in a row.
0:43:15 > 0:43:16If you lose that hunger...
0:43:17 > 0:43:21If somebody says to me, "Ah, Linfield are getting stronger
0:43:21 > 0:43:23"and they'll maybe push away from us,"
0:43:23 > 0:43:25then you've lost the bottle.
0:43:25 > 0:43:28Once you think you've dropped off the peg a little bit,
0:43:28 > 0:43:30Cliftonville's your example.
0:43:30 > 0:43:33Two titles, fell apart.
0:43:33 > 0:43:35Club fell apart.
0:43:36 > 0:43:40We have stood up for the last two or three years and shown determination,
0:43:40 > 0:43:45we've shown focus, we've shown attitude, we've shown everything.
0:43:45 > 0:43:48We have come a million miles down the track.
0:43:50 > 0:43:55This is the biggest charge for the line that I ever imagined.
0:44:17 > 0:44:21- Morning.- Morning. How are we?- Here's your wee run today.
0:44:21 > 0:44:24- That's just your...your normal run. - Good man. A handy one, I hope.- Yep.
0:44:24 > 0:44:26For you, yep.
0:44:27 > 0:44:31As semi-professionals, Irish League players are paid a salary,
0:44:31 > 0:44:33but only on a part-time basis.
0:44:33 > 0:44:37Most supplement their income with day jobs.
0:44:37 > 0:44:40- This is the heart of Linfield territory, isn't it?- Yep. - Enemy lines.
0:44:40 > 0:44:42Enemy lines, we're crossing.
0:44:42 > 0:44:45I should really be wearing a hat or something to disguise me.
0:44:45 > 0:44:48- We're down this one here, Snoddy? - Yes, there.
0:45:03 > 0:45:05There we are, Paul. Theatre of dreams.
0:45:05 > 0:45:09- Yep.- Where all the magic happens. - That's it.
0:45:09 > 0:45:12- It happens in there.- Good memories and bad memories.- Yep.
0:45:18 > 0:45:23It's eight and a half months since Matthew Snoddy was injured.
0:45:23 > 0:45:25He's yet to make the starting line-up.
0:45:26 > 0:45:29The lowest point would have been the point
0:45:29 > 0:45:32when I didn't make the squad against Linfield.
0:45:32 > 0:45:33That was the end of the world for me.
0:45:33 > 0:45:36And I was thinking, I'm just a reject.
0:45:36 > 0:45:40The injury came at a time when he was struggling with his personal life.
0:45:43 > 0:45:47I had a really, really bad gambling addiction.
0:45:47 > 0:45:50I would have went to the bookmakers and stood from nine o'clock in the
0:45:50 > 0:45:51morning to nine o'clock at night.
0:45:53 > 0:45:54It drove me to the point where...
0:45:56 > 0:45:58..I considered suicide, almost, like.
0:46:01 > 0:46:07I remember going up the hill on the estate, and crying my eyes out.
0:46:07 > 0:46:11I had lost big amounts of money that day, and I had no money to my name.
0:46:13 > 0:46:15I was standing on top of a hill and I went,
0:46:15 > 0:46:16"You jump off here, this is it.
0:46:16 > 0:46:20"You don't need to... There's no worries any more, that's it all done. It's gone."
0:46:22 > 0:46:25And see when I was just standing there, my phone went.
0:46:25 > 0:46:27I pulled the phone out of my pocket,
0:46:27 > 0:46:30and it was a picture of my son on the phone. My screensaver.
0:46:30 > 0:46:34And I just felt so much guilt. I was going, "What are you doing up here?
0:46:34 > 0:46:36"Are you serious? You have a son now.
0:46:36 > 0:46:38I says, "How selfish are you, standing here doing this,
0:46:38 > 0:46:40"even considering this?"
0:46:42 > 0:46:45Matthew considered suicide two weeks
0:46:45 > 0:46:49before the injury that has blighted his entire season.
0:46:49 > 0:46:52I remember actually going, "I am trying to sort myself out."
0:46:52 > 0:46:55I remember in my head going, "Who is doing this to me?
0:46:55 > 0:46:57"There's 22 players out on that pitch.
0:46:57 > 0:46:59"Why did that have to happen to me?"
0:46:59 > 0:47:02But little did I know that it was all for a reason, and all for a cause.
0:47:02 > 0:47:03I didn't know this.
0:47:04 > 0:47:09Matthew has just become a born-again Christian.
0:47:09 > 0:47:14It took God to remove football out of my life, for me to go looking for him.
0:47:14 > 0:47:16From now, I've been saved.
0:47:16 > 0:47:17I can say now that I have a hope.
0:47:18 > 0:47:22You can't describe the peace of heart you get when you become a Christian.
0:47:23 > 0:47:27I'll be honest, the first couple of days, I was shy on telling everybody.
0:47:28 > 0:47:31I think it would have been tough just if Howard hadn't been there.
0:47:31 > 0:47:33He's been a real breath of fresh air to me.
0:47:33 > 0:47:34He just always says the right things.
0:47:34 > 0:47:38God's put him in my path for a reason, to help me along the way.
0:47:38 > 0:47:41God's give him me now, to be a brother just as much as to him as what he is to me.
0:47:43 > 0:47:46Football was my God, but now I've got a God who...
0:47:47 > 0:47:50I can't describe what he does for you.
0:47:50 > 0:47:53He just gives you ultimate fulfilment in your heart.
0:47:53 > 0:47:55And knowing that he has a plan for you...
0:47:55 > 0:47:57I believe I have a purpose here,
0:47:57 > 0:48:01and I'm not going to shy away from telling God's good news.
0:48:01 > 0:48:03Thank you very much. Thanks.
0:48:03 > 0:48:05APPLAUSE
0:48:14 > 0:48:17I still have a passion to play football, yes, I do.
0:48:17 > 0:48:19I just keep my faith with God and...
0:48:20 > 0:48:21..he'll do the work.
0:48:33 > 0:48:35It's the penultimate week of the season.
0:48:35 > 0:48:4012 Irish League clubs are jostling for their final place in the Premiership,
0:48:40 > 0:48:43and the title is still up for grabs.
0:48:43 > 0:48:46Owens has found space... Oh!
0:48:46 > 0:48:51Crusaders have maintained their one-point lead ahead of Linfield.
0:48:51 > 0:48:55If they win today and Linfield lose against Coleraine, they win the league.
0:48:58 > 0:48:591-0, Linfield are getting beat.
0:48:59 > 0:49:01McLaughlin.
0:49:01 > 0:49:05And the word is starting to filter through the ground that
0:49:05 > 0:49:08Coleraine may well have taken the lead against Linfield.
0:49:08 > 0:49:10Stay calm, stay calm.
0:49:11 > 0:49:13Suddenly, there's fight from the champions.
0:49:15 > 0:49:18Free kick against Hateley.
0:49:18 > 0:49:211-1. Ah, Aaron. One each.
0:49:21 > 0:49:23Still free... Driven across goal,
0:49:23 > 0:49:25and Ballymena have taken the lead!
0:49:26 > 0:49:31How big a goal could that be in the race for the title?
0:49:31 > 0:49:32What's the score?
0:49:32 > 0:49:343-1, Linfield. Have a go. Give me two goals.
0:49:34 > 0:49:37Ballymena struggling a little bit here.
0:49:37 > 0:49:39Pinned very, very deep in their own half.
0:49:42 > 0:49:45Very risky from Sean O'Neill. Too risky from Sean O'Neill.
0:49:45 > 0:49:48What a mistake from him as Cathair Friel makes it two.
0:49:48 > 0:49:52And things have just gone from bad to worse for Crusaders.
0:49:54 > 0:49:57At many stages throughout the season, it looked like
0:49:57 > 0:49:59Crusaders had this league wrapped up.
0:50:01 > 0:50:04Mick Murray's onside, has Friel in the middle.
0:50:04 > 0:50:07Cathair Friel... Will he make it three? Yes, he will!
0:50:07 > 0:50:10CHEERING
0:51:14 > 0:51:18With one game to go, Linfield have taken the lead.
0:51:19 > 0:51:22I was annoyed for 24 hours,
0:51:22 > 0:51:25then I went from feeling sorry for myself and down about it for you guys,
0:51:25 > 0:51:27to then sort of going...
0:51:27 > 0:51:30"Rrr, right, come on, let's prepare for the next game."
0:51:30 > 0:51:33The title is all but out of Crusaders' control.
0:51:33 > 0:51:36But there's one tiny glimmer of hope,
0:51:36 > 0:51:40and it all rests with derby rivals Cliftonville.
0:51:40 > 0:51:43The only thing that we can control, is what we do.
0:51:45 > 0:51:47We owe this...
0:51:47 > 0:51:49..to them fans
0:51:49 > 0:51:52that have supported us all year,
0:51:52 > 0:51:54everywhere we have went.
0:51:54 > 0:51:58I want to see a performance better than any performance that we have
0:51:58 > 0:52:00given over the whole season...
0:52:02 > 0:52:03..because we owe it to them.
0:52:06 > 0:52:09To have any chance of winning the league,
0:52:09 > 0:52:11Crusaders must beat Glenavon today,
0:52:11 > 0:52:15but Cliftonville must also defeat Linfield.
0:52:15 > 0:52:17The final battle lines are drawn.
0:52:27 > 0:52:30I want you to remember back to the opening day of the season,
0:52:30 > 0:52:33in a Charity Shield game that didn't mean an awful lot.
0:52:33 > 0:52:35They fought you
0:52:35 > 0:52:39like they were playing a cup final or the league decider, to beat you.
0:52:39 > 0:52:43Absolutely horrendous what happened that day, and I haven't forgot it.
0:52:45 > 0:52:50We've played 37 games of football, and today is the end of the road.
0:52:52 > 0:52:55But I'm asking for more, because you just never know.
0:52:55 > 0:52:57In football, you just never know.
0:53:02 > 0:53:08SUPPORTERS CHANT
0:53:08 > 0:53:12We're underway at Seaview. Lovely pass.
0:53:12 > 0:53:14And Crusaders...
0:53:16 > 0:53:18..have opened the scoring.
0:53:18 > 0:53:20Come on!
0:53:20 > 0:53:24Important that they got off to a good start today, if they are to
0:53:24 > 0:53:26have any chance of winning the title.
0:53:26 > 0:53:29- Oh, I think they scored! - What?- Yes!
0:53:29 > 0:53:32INDISTINCT
0:53:35 > 0:53:38The early news of Cliftonville going ahead,
0:53:38 > 0:53:42has raised the volume of the crowd here at Seaview.
0:53:42 > 0:53:44Come on, lift the gears again here.
0:53:44 > 0:53:45Come on!
0:53:49 > 0:53:51There is the second goal.
0:53:51 > 0:53:55The Crusaders are very much keeping up their end of the bargain.
0:53:55 > 0:53:56Get up!
0:53:56 > 0:54:00Carvill wants it more, he's got in and he's got his second.
0:54:03 > 0:54:07As things stand, Crusaders would be top of the table.
0:54:07 > 0:54:09Focus on our game, that's all we can do.
0:54:09 > 0:54:12Not interested in Linfield now, not interested one bit.
0:54:12 > 0:54:15COMMENTARY
0:54:21 > 0:54:23One each.
0:54:25 > 0:54:27It's gone very quiet here,
0:54:27 > 0:54:31perhaps because news is filtering through that Linfield have equalised,
0:54:31 > 0:54:33which means, as things stand,
0:54:33 > 0:54:35they would finish on top of the table.
0:54:45 > 0:54:492-1? 2-1, Linfield?
0:54:52 > 0:54:54Well, we gave it our best.
0:54:56 > 0:54:59His players have done him proud today,
0:54:59 > 0:55:03but Linfield's performance at Solitude looks set to wrap up the title.
0:55:08 > 0:55:10Just before the final whistle,
0:55:10 > 0:55:13Matthew Snoddy finally gets his chance to shine.
0:55:21 > 0:55:23And there is a sixth for Crusaders.
0:55:23 > 0:55:24Matthew Snoddy.
0:55:26 > 0:55:30Matthew scores Crusaders' very last goal of the season.
0:55:35 > 0:55:39But Crusaders has lost the league to Linfield by two points.
0:56:36 > 0:56:39Well, it was disappointing in the end,
0:56:39 > 0:56:41but when you look at where we've come from,
0:56:41 > 0:56:43them players gave everything,
0:56:43 > 0:56:45so they certainly didn't let me down.
0:56:48 > 0:56:51The fan base is always, for me, what it's all about.
0:56:51 > 0:56:54Playing's brilliant, but you're playing to give them happiness.
0:56:54 > 0:56:56To see them smile.
0:56:58 > 0:57:00We'll get it next time. We'll get it next time.
0:57:00 > 0:57:04- Look at this.- Wa-hey.
0:57:04 > 0:57:07If life was perfect, there would be no character-building,
0:57:07 > 0:57:08there would be no learning.
0:57:08 > 0:57:14You use the disappointments of having not won the league, to spur on a greater hunger.
0:57:14 > 0:57:18Howard Beverland has been named Crusaders' Player of the Year.
0:57:18 > 0:57:21Part of God's plan, that he has for me, was Crusaders,
0:57:21 > 0:57:24and I've been assured of that.
0:57:24 > 0:57:27For me, it's looking back and saying, "Well, I'm well able for this."
0:57:29 > 0:57:33This season, I am grateful for all the pain and suffering I went through,
0:57:33 > 0:57:37because now I have the life experience to go out and hopefully inspire a lot of people.
0:57:38 > 0:57:40So, we lost the league. You know,
0:57:40 > 0:57:46this group of players are strong enough to come back and put things right next year.
0:57:46 > 0:57:48We fell a little bit short.
0:57:48 > 0:57:50A hair short.
0:57:50 > 0:57:52That'll not happen again because see next year,
0:57:52 > 0:57:54we're coming back bigger and stronger.
0:57:54 > 0:57:58Raise a glass and say "Congratulations, everybody, what a great year."
0:57:58 > 0:58:00Thank you, thank you.
0:58:01 > 0:58:02No surrender.
0:58:07 > 0:58:12If you have faith, then you can achieve your dreams.
0:58:13 > 0:58:15Keep the faith, don't lose it.
0:58:38 > 0:58:42The good times outweigh the bad times, that's what it's all about.
0:58:42 > 0:58:43It's worth it.
0:58:50 > 0:58:52HE SIGHS