Seaview

Seaview is located two miles north of Belfast City Centre, sandwiched in a thin wedge of land between the A2 Shore Road and the Belfast to Larne railway line. The stadium has seen some recent investment with new stands being constructed at each end and the St Vincents Street Terrace being made all seated in 2011.

The ground’s most striking feature is the mural that graces the corner of St Vincent Street. Looking at the St Vincents Street side first, a deep all seated stand that takes up the space between the Shore Road touchline and the centre line. There are a number of columns which could impede your view however the roof is sturdy enough to keep the rain out and keeps the sound inside the ground, helping to get a good atmosphere going. The capacity of this stand is 1,100. Looking past the pitch centre line, towards the Railway End, the club’s two storey social club building and dressing rooms take up the space to the far touchline. Opposite is the Main Stand, which sits on the centre line on by far the narrowest of the four sides of the ground. The steep concrete based cantilever stand, built in the late 1970’s was re-fitted in 2010 with new red seats. Both behind goal ends are virtually identical small all seated covered stands that were opened in 2011. Both have a capacity of 630 seats. The stadium is completed with a set of four modern floodlights.

Steve informs me; ‘The club have submitted plans for a new stadium in Duncrue, a half mile from the current stadium. The club are seeking private funding for this project after European funding was rejected. The plans are for a 6,000 capacity all seater stadium’. In an interesting move the Club have also announced that if they were to move, then the two new all seater stands at the Shore Road and Railway Ends, would be relocated to the new site.

Normally (apart from Linfield and Cliftonville matches) fans are not segregated, so visitors can take a seat in the Main Stand or even stand with the majority of Crusaders fans in the Railway End. The view of game is particularly good from the Main Stand seats and a warm welcome awaits. If segregation is in place then away fans are allocated the Wavin West (Shore Road) Stand at one end of the ground. This all seated stand is only six rows high and has a capacity of 630 seats. A burger stand and basic toilet facilities are located between the Shore Road terrace and St Vincent Street stands.

Steve informs me; ‘If there is no segregation imposed then visiting fans will be allowed onto St Vincent Street and in turn into the social club function room, which has two bars and a big screen, which shows the lunchtime kick off in England or Scotland before the game. If the club have deemed it safe enough to allow visiting fans into the club then they should have no problems with the home fans as long as any banter is kept good natured and light hearted. In such circumstances the atmosphere between fans is quite relaxed.

If, by contrast the club feel that relations between the two sets of fans makes it necessary to impose segregation then the social club will be out of bounds. The nearest safe place for a visiting fan to get a pre or post match drink, regardless of how welcome you may or may not have been made to feel at the game, is the Lansdowne Court Hotel, about half a mile from the ground. The hotel does pub grub and also has a high class Chinese restaurant, which is a bit on the expensive side’.

From Ballymena, Antrim and the North
Follow the M2 into the outskirts of North Belfast, exit Junction 1 at the Fortwilliam Roundabout. Follow signposts to the city centre and turn left into the A2 Shore Road. The Seaview ground is on the left hand side.

From Lisburn, Portadown and the South
Take the M1 into Belfast South.At the Junction 1 Roundabout continue into the A12 Westlink, then take a left turn into the A2 York Street.Once past the Yorkgate Shopping Centre the Seaview  ground is no more than 5 minutes drive on the right hand side.

From Bangor and Newtonards
Take the A2 Sydenham Bypass into East Belfast. Follow onto the M3, as the road passes over the river Lagan, turn off into Great Georges Street. At the A2 junction turn right into York Street. Once past the Yorkgate Shopping Centre the Seaview  ground is no more than 5 minutes drive on the right hand side.

Car Parking
The ground entrance along St Vincent Street has to be kept clear for emergency vehicles, and there is no parking available inside the ground so the nearest parking spaces are alongside Shore Road. There is, however, a free car park on a former warehouse site to the right hand side of York Road, 2 minutes south of the Seaview ground.

The ground is approx 1.5 miles north of Yorkgate railway station, which is on the Belfast Central to Larne line, however for those arriving at either Belfast Central or Belfast Great Victoria Street Railway Station and Europa Bus Station, catch Metro bus 2 (Shore Road) from Donegal Square West, opposite Belfast City Hall.

A return fare from Great Victoria Street to Yorkgate costs £2 and trains leave no more than 9 minutes apart from 9am on a fourteen minute journey.    The number 2 bus services run no more than 8 minutes apart all day and stops right outside the ground.

Directions from Yorkgate Railway station to the Seaview ground
Come out of the station exit and turn right into York Road. Follow the road for 10-15 minutes, Seaview will appear directly on the right hand side.

Arriving in Belfast at Great Victoria Street Railway Station & Europa Bus Station
The Seaview  ground is around 20-30 minutes walk north of the station and city centre, however, for those that would like to visit Belfast City Centre before the game, when you come out of the bus station concourse / retail shops turn left, pass the opera house, and take a right turn into Howard Street. This will lead you towards City Hall and the shops and restaurants in the heart of the City. From City Hall you have the option of either taking a taxi to the ground or catching Metro Bus 2 from Donegal Square West, opposite Belfast City Hall. This bus travels along York Street, with the ground appearing on the right hand side after a 10 minute journey.

Walking directions from Belfast City Hall to Seaview
Starting at the corner of Donegall Place, next to McDonalds, follow the shopping street north, as the road kinks to the right it becomes York Street. Follow this road past the Yorkgate  Shopping Centre and railway station. To the ground is 10-15 minutes walk from here, on the right hand side.

All areas of the Seaview Ground:
Adults £11
Concessions £7

Official Programme £2

Belfast Premier League clubs Cliftonville, Linfield and Glentoran and closer to home, near neighbours Brantwood. The rivalry with Linfield is a friendly one and the atmosphere at games is good natured.

If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Late Rooms. They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going.

Northern Ireland Premier league fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website).

2017-2018: 1,494 (Northern Ireland Premiership)
2016-2017: 1,514 (Northern Ireland Premiership)
2015-2016: 1,532 (Northern Ireland Premiership)

Official Web Site: www.crusadersfc.com

Official Social Media
Facebook: >www.facebook.com/Crusaders-Football-Club
Twitter: @CrusadersFC

If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, then please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.

Special thanks to Owen Pavey for providing the photos and stadium layout plan of  the Seaview Ground Crusaders.