Cliftonville FC supporters are voting for the club's Player of the Month after a mixed opening to the new campaign. The club confirmed the vote is open until Thursday midnight.
Ben Quinn and Dean McMaster both scored on their debuts in the 2-1 victory over Crusaders on the opening night of the Boyle Sports Premiership. That positive start was followed by another win at Bangor, where Kyle McClelland and Liam McStravick found the net. However, the Reds then suffered a narrow loss to Linfield and a controversial defeat against Dungannon Swifts.
The early-season performances have given fans several strong candidates. Ben Quinn made an immediate impact by scoring on his first appearance for the club. His fellow debutant Dean McMaster matched that feat in the same match. In the subsequent victory at Bangor, defender Kyle McClelland got on the scoresheet alongside forward Liam McStravick. These contributions across the pitch will likely split the vote.
You can review the full contributions of the squad on our squad page. The club finished fifth in the final 2025 Premiership table with 47 points from 33 games, a record of 13 wins, 8 draws, and 12 losses. Their recent form at the end of that campaign was patchy, ending with two losses in their last five matches.
Attention now turns to the County Antrim Shield, where Cliftonville have a first-round tie against Knockbreda. This cup competition offers a chance to build momentum and secure silverware early in the season. The fixture schedule is about to get busy, and fans can track all upcoming matches on our fixtures list. The next Premiership fixture is a home game against third-placed Coleraine FC on December 12, 2026.
The team's attacking output has been notable, with 49 goals scored so far this season across all competitions. Defensively, they have conceded 48, giving them a narrow positive goal difference of +1. This offensive capability will be vital as they look to close the gap on the league leaders. After 33 games of the previous Premiership season, they trailed champions Larne by a significant 26 points.
The full league standings, showing Cliftonville in fifth place last term, are available on our standings page. The Player of the Month vote closes at midnight on Thursday, with the club set to announce the winner shortly after.
