Crusaders boss Declan Caddell on old Linfield rivalries, cup heartache and midfield battles

Photo shows Declan Caddell battling with Linfield's Jamie Mulgrew in 2021
-Credit: (Image: INPHO/Presseye/Stephen Hamilton)


From duelling with Jamie Mulgrew, to suffering Irish Cup heartache, Declan Caddell sampled every gamut of emotion playing against Linfield. The former midfielder racked up countless games against the Blues, and now as manager he's going into battle with David Healy.

Caddell already has a win over Linfield as boss. That came just days ago in a 3-2 County Antrim Shield win at Seaview. And on Saturday afternoon he will look to repeat the dose when the sides return to North Belfast for a crunch Irish Premiership showdown.

The 36-year-old rookie manager says the rivalry remains as intense as was, despite the ever evolving landscape of the Premiership.

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"When I came through as a young player at Crusaders in 2007, there was probably a different dynamic because we had just come up from the Championship the year before and we were probably looked at as a bottom of the league team. Stevie (Baxter) was only in the job a couple of years, he was trying to build something and he did that year upon year," Caddell said.

"When I came into the fold Linfield were the pinnacle. They were winning league after league after league every single year, nobody could get near them in those years.

"Then we saw a slight change. We were always finishing second or third by that stage, Cliftonville came to the fore and won it two years in a row with that combination of Liam Boyce and Joe Gormley up top and Janty (Barry Johnston) and (Ryan) Catney in the middle, they had a great side.

"Then we kind of took over. We won the league three out of four years and slipped up against Linfield in that third year so it's been a wee bit up and down. Linfield as a club, with their fans, their ground, their history, they're always going to be there or thereabouts, for me they're always the pinnacle but you always want to test yourself against the best.

Photo of Crues boss Declan Caddell
Declan Caddell is now in the dugout for Crusaders -Credit:INPHO/Stephen Hamilton

"Larne have obviously come to the fore in the past few years and everybody's gunning for them now. "

Caddell fondly remembers the midfield battles he had with iconic Linfield names such as Michael Gault and Mulgrew, the current Blues captain who continues to defy his 38 years by starring in the top flight.

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"I always loved the games because you were always going up against the best players in the league. You look back to the days of Jamie Mulgrew, Michael Gault, Paul McAreavey and others, and Mulgrew is still playing," Caddell said.

"They were enjoyable and I believe you should always play for as long as you can, because you will miss those days I was in the dugout for the game against Linfield on Tuesday night and you miss a game like that. You miss the atmosphere and going toe to toe with rival players."

Photo shows Declan Caddell after scoring in the 2011 Irish Cup final
Declan Caddell celebrates scoring in the 2011 Irish Cup final -Credit:INPHO/PRESSEYE/Darren Kidd

There is one game in particular Caddell remembers against Mulgrew. It came 13 years ago on the showpiece day of the season.

"I remember the 2011 Irish Cup Final against Linfield. I scored the first goal in that final, then Jamie Mulgrew came on and changed the game," he said of the 2-1 defeat.

"Linfield scored twice in the last 10 or fifteen minutes and that was a hard one to take. It was devastating but at the same time it was character building."

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