Ballymena United v Crusaders

Words Greg Braniff (Crusaders Programme Editor)

BACKROOM STAFF

Jeff Spiers Assistant Manager

Charlie Murphy First Team Coach

Peter Thompson First Team Coach

Former defender who as a player had spells at Linfield, Glenavon and Bangor before ending his playing days at Crusaders after joining the club in 2002. Jeff was captain during the promotion season of 2005-06 before retiring at the end of the 2006-07 season. He then took up the role of reserve team manager for a couple of years before becoming Stephen Baxter’s assistant.

Long serving first team coach Charlie joined Stephen Baxter at Crusaders in 2005. Since then he has been one of his trusted assistants and has been an integral part of the many trophy successes over the years. Despite having ‘retired’ after the Irish Cup win in 2019, Charlie remains an important part of Baxter’s staff having been tempted back into the coaching fold a couple of years ago. A former Portadown, Glentoran, Lisburn Distillery and Bangor defender, Brian joined the club as physio in the summer of 2018. With over 20 years’ experience in the field he established his own Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic in east Belfast in 2003. During his career he has assisted as physio to Northern Ireland underage teams and also holds a UEFA A Coaching Licence. Brian Strain Physiotherapist

Former Queen’s University manager who joined the club’s backroom staff last summer with his first involvement coming in the home Europa Conference League tie with FC Basel. Thompson spent 10 years as manager of Queen’s and masterminded one of the biggest Irish Cup shocks of the modern era when the students knocked Linfield out at the fifth round stage back in 2020. David graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 2011 and now specialises in respiratory medicine. He has been a Crusaders fan since childhood and joined the staff as club doctor in 2013. His role involves the co-ordination of medical services within the club including the promotion of physical and mental health and general wellbeing within the squad. Dr David McCracken Doctor

Stephen Baxter Manager

Now officially the longest serving manager in world

football, Stephen Baxter recently took charge of his 900th game as Crusaders boss. As a player Stephen scored over 100 goals in two spells as a player at Seaview and won two league titles in the 1990s. Baxter re-joined the club as manager in 2005 with a remit to save the club from impending relegation. Although unsuccessful he used the relegation to build the foundations of a successful side which, after promotion in 2006, would go on to win the Irish Cup in 2009 and then progress to All Ireland Champions in 2012 before back-to-back league titles in 2015 and 2016. A third league title then followed in 2018 with another Irish Cup in 2019. Stephen has now won 11 senior trophies during his tenure at Seaview and signed a new contract extension following last season’s cup final win which will take him to 20 years in charge of the club. Joined the Crusaders backroom team in July 2015 as a sports therapist with the primary role of helping players with their recovery sessions, pre match preparations and recovery from injuries through sports massage. She has also experienced several different voluntary sporting roles with Ulster Rugby, IRFU and Special Olympics Ireland. Suzanne Hamilton Sports Therapist

David McClelland Goalkeeping Coach

Joined Crusaders in the summer of 2018 after previously holding a similar position at both Larne and Glentoran. A UEFA B Licence holder and an IFA Goalkeeping Coach Licence holder, David was part of the Glentoran backroom team when the Glens won the Irish Cup in 2013 and 2015.

Frankie Weir and Roy McReynolds Team Attendants

Caoimhín McNeill Sports Therapist

Ken White Sports Therapist

Originally joined the club in 2018 as sports therapist for the reserve team before joining the first team set-up in 2019. His role includes providing soft tissue treatments for the Crusaders first team squad. Caoimhín’s previous roles include assisting Northern Ireland’s futsal teams and the Armagh GAA senior football squad.

Appointed club chaplain in 2004 during Alan Dornan’s tenure and his involvement continued following Stephen Baxter’s appointment in 2005. Ken is an important part of the first team squad and assists on matchdays, combining these duties with his chaplaincy responsibilities to all the club’s staff and players.

The Crusaders players and management team are assisted by Frankie Weir and Roy McReynolds who look after all aspects of dressing room life, including kit management, assisting with pre match preparations and at training. Their tireless work ensures the Crusaders players have everything they need both on matchdays and at training.

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