Glentoran boss Mick McDermott believes Crusaders under Stephen Baxter have written one of the greatest Irish League stories of recent decades.
Seaview boss Baxter will mark his 17th year at the helm next month and it’s fair to say the 56-year-old has left an indelible mark on the North Belfast club.
Since taking over the reins in February 2005, he has helped the Crues lift 10 senior trophies, including three league titles in 2015, 2016 and 2018.
Two Irish Cups, one League Cup, three County Antrim Shields and a memorable Setanta Cup triumph in 2012 have also been delivered on his watch.
Add in multiple European campaigns and a recent transition to full-time football and it has been a period of sustained progress on and off the pitch at Seaview.
It’s all a far cry from 2005 when Baxter inherited a team that was in dire straits and battling relegation at the foot of the table.
Ahead of Friday night's league clash with the Crues at Seaview, McDermott said: “For me, what they have done over the last decade or so is the best story in the Irish League.
“To go from where they were to do what they did, win league titles and qualify for Europe so many times, it is the best story in the Irish League, I don’t care what anyone else says.
“Other teams have had financial backing, so for the Crues to do what they did off their own bat is superb and I’ve said that before.
“They are a team that needs to be respected for what they have done, but also respected for who they are now.”
While Crusaders remain outsiders to lift the Gibson Cup, a win tonight would take them to within four points of second-placed Glens with a game in hand.
And McDermott says he isn’t surprised the Shore Road men, who are unbeaten in their last five league games, are keeping pace with the frontrunners.
“I know people wrote off the Crues at the start of the season, but I never did,” he said. “I’ve said all along that they’ll be there or thereabouts at the end.
“They have good players and players of real character who have been there before when it comes to titles races.
“I hear people say ‘they’re not the Crusaders of old’. We know that, but that Crusaders team played a completely different way to this one.
“This Crusaders team plays a different way and they are still getting results. We know if we don’t show up at Seaview on Friday night, we’ll not win.”
Glentoran head to North Belfast on the back of Monday night’s impressive 2-1 win at Cliftonville, a result that saw them jump to second in the table.
A win tonight would see the Big Two giants draw level on points with derby rivals Linfield, who have a superior goal difference, at the summit.
- Friday night's game between Crusaders and Glentoran has a 7.45pm kick-off and will be shown live on the BBC iPlayer.
