Crusaders Strikers FC

European stage, in the UEFA Women's Champions League, formally known as the UEFA Women's Cup. This has given the players the opportunity to travel to countries like Sweden and Croatia, to play top successful professional sides such Umea IK and FCR Duisburg. The club were the first team from Northern Ireland thus far to host the qualifying rounds of the Women's Champions League, in their attempts to promote and grow women's football locally and nationally, striving to show younger players a level they can aspire to. The club currently has two registered senior teams, with over 30 players signed; the first team in the NIFL Women's Premier League and the U19/reserve team in the reserve NIWFA league. The club places emphasis on developing and nurturing young players through their highly successful youth academy, currently having in the region of 170 girls registered, with the youngest being 4 years old. The club boasts some of the countries finest young talent, with a collective of the girls being chosen to take part in the prestigious counties excellence programmes, and also has girls representing the country at every age group on the international stage, including full senior internationals. The academy has fed players through to the senior squad for many years, with some of the girls proving to be integral players for the first team. The first team kick off their 2022 season in April the date and fixtures will be confirmed closer to the time.