Cliftonville FC's youth team has learned its first European opponent of the season. The club's Heritage Development Officer is also appealing for information on a long-lost friendly match from 1995.
Cliftonville Strollers have been paired with SK Super Nova of Latvia in the first round of the UEFA Youth League. According to the club's official announcement, the draw took place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon on Tuesday. The two-legged tie is scheduled for September 16 and October 14.
The winners will advance to face Swedish side Hammarby in the second round. A third-round clash against either Legia Warsaw of Poland or France's Clermont awaits the victor of that contest. This marks a return to European competition for the Strollers, who qualified by winning the NIFL Under-18 Academy League last season.
The UEFA Youth League draw process saw Cliftonville's potential opponents narrowed down to a shortlist of five teams. The club reported that the Strollers were placed in Group 2 for the Domestic Champions Path draw. Their final opponent, SK Super Nova, was selected from a pool that also included Ballkani of Kosovo, HJK Helsinki from Finland, UNA Strassen from Luxembourg, and Welsh side Cardiff Met.
Conor Pepper's side will be looking for a better outcome than their last European youth adventure. Two years ago, compatriots BFC Daugavpils eliminated the Wee Reds at this same stage via a penalty shootout. The full schedule for the competition's later stages was also confirmed following the draw.
Club Heritage Development Officer Paul Treanor is seeking help to fill a gap in the archives. He is searching for any information about a friendly match against Knockbreda played on July 22, 1995. The fixture, held on Upper Braniel Road, was the first ever meeting between the two sides but no official record of the result or details exists.
"Heritage Development Officer Paul Treanor would be very grateful for any information," the club stated. He is particularly interested in the final score, the Cliftonville squad that day, and the identity of any goal scorers. All subsequent meetings between the clubs have occurred in the last 16 years, including several friendlies and four County Antrim Shield first-round ties.
While the youth side prepares for Europe, the senior Cliftonville squad finished fifth in the 2025 Premiership table. They amassed 47 points from 33 games, with a record of 13 wins, 8 draws, and 12 losses. Their goal difference was a narrow +1, having scored 49 and conceded 48 across the campaign.
The team ended the season 26 points behind champions Larne. Their final run of form was mixed, recorded as LWWLL. The next competitive fixture for the first team is a home match against Coleraine FC, currently third in the table, scheduled for December 12, 2026. Fans can track the build-up to that game on the club's fixtures page and check the latest standings.
