Michael Newberry, 27, Passes Away; Football Community Mourns

Michael Newberry the Cliftonville defender, tragically passed away at the age of 27. Newberry, who joined the club in the summer, made 25 appearances for the Reds. The English defender started his career at Newcastle United before moving to Iceland’s Vikingur and later joining Linfield in 2021. During his three years at Linfield, he won two Irish Premiership titles and the Irish Cup and he also represented Northern Ireland at the Under-21 level.

Cliftonville expressed their devastation at the loss, offering condolences to Newberry’s family, friends, teammates and supporters. The club stated, “Rest in peace, Newbs.” They postponed both Cliftonville’s match against Dungannon Swifts and Linfield’s game with Larne, scheduled for Monday night, following the news. Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton described Newberry as a “remarkable young man” who brought passion and determination to every match and training session.

He praised Newberry’s love for the game and his close bonds with teammates. Magilton added that Newberry’s loss deeply affected Northern Ireland and the clubs he represented. Linfield also expressed their condolences, stating that their thoughts and prayers were with Newberry’s family and friends. The Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) shared their sympathy. Chairman Gerard Lawlor revealed that after consulting Newberry’s family, they decided to go ahead with the remaining four games scheduled for Monday night.

The family expressed that they believed Michael Newberry would have wanted the games to continue, and a tribute would take place before each match to honor him. Newberry’s passing has left a significant impact on the Northern Irish football community with tributes pouring in from all corners of the sport. His contributions to the game will stay with everyone who knew him.