Founded | 1890; 134 years ago (1890) (as Irish Football League) |
---|---|
Country | Northern Ireland (since 1921) Ireland (1890β1921) |
Confederation | UEFA |
Divisions | NIFL Premiership NIFL Championship NIFL Premier Intermediate League NIFL Premiership Development League NIFL Youth League NIFL Womenβs Premiership |
Number of teams | 36 |
Level on pyramid | 1β3 |
Relegation to | Ballymena & Provincial League Mid-Ulster Football League Northern Amateur League |
Domestic cup(s) | Irish Cup |
League cup(s) | Northern Ireland Football League Cup George Wilson Cup |
International cup(s) | UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa Conference League Scottish Challenge Cup |
Current champions | Larne (2nd title) (2023β24) |
Most championships | Linfield (56 titles) |
TV partners | BBC NI (highlights via BBC iPlayer) Sky Sports (5 games a season and League Cup Final) |
Website | www |
Current: 2023β24 |
The Northern Ireland Football League (abbreviated to NIFL), also known as the Irish League, is the national football league of Northern Ireland. The Irish League was originally formed in 1890, with the league in its current format created in 2013 to assume independent collective management of the top three levels of the Northern Ireland football league system; namely the Premiership, Championship and Premier Intermediate League.
In addition to the league divisions, the NIFL also operates the Northern Ireland Football League Cup for its member clubs, as well as the NIFL Development League and George Wilson Cup for their reserve teams, and the NIFL Youth League and NIFL Youth League Cup for their youth teams. Operated as a limited company, the 36 member clubs act as shareholders with one vote each. The NIFL is the successor to the Irish Football League, which, upon its formation in 1890, was historically the league for the entire island of Ireland until it became Northern Ireland's national league after the partition of Ireland in 1921.
Larne are the current champions, after winning the 2022β23 title on 14 April 2023 with a 2β0 win against Crusaders. This was the club's first league title.
History
Senior
Originally formed in 1890, the Irish Football League, is the second-oldest national league in the world, being formed a week earlier than the Scottish Football League. Only the English Football League is older. (The Dutch Football League formed properly on the same year as the Scottish and Irish leagues, making it the first league in Continental Europe. Although it did have two previous seasons, thus making it equal in duration with the EFL, these two seasons did not have an equal number of matches per club).
The Irish Football League was originally formed as the football league for, in theory, all of Ireland (although, for cultural reasons, all of its member clubs were in fact based in two zones: initially in what would become Northern Ireland, and, from 1900, in Dublin). It became the league for Northern Ireland in 1921 after partition, with a separate league and association (the Football Association of the Irish Free State β now called the Football Association of Ireland) β being formed for the Irish Free State (now the Republic of Ireland). The league's records from its days in operation as the league for all of Ireland stand as the records for Northern Ireland (as is the case for the Northern Ireland national football team).
In its first season, seven of the eight teams came from Belfast, and the league β and Irish football β continued to be dominated by Belfast clubs for many years. In 1892, Derry Olympic became the second non-Belfast side, but only lasted for one season. In 1900, Derry Celtic joined the league and, in 1901, a second Derry team, St Columb's Court, was added. St Columb's Court lasted just one season, before being replaced by the league's first Dublin team, Bohemians, in 1902. Another Dublin side, Shelbourne, was added in 1904. In 1911 Glenavon, from the County Armagh town of Lurgan replaced Bohemians, who resigned from the league, but were re-admitted in 1912. During 1912 there were three Dublin sides, with the addition of Tritonville, but, like Derry Olympic and St Columb's Court before them, they lasted just one season. Derry Celtic also dropped out in 1913, so that when the Irish League split in 1921, Glenavon was the only non-Belfast team left. No southern clubs (from what would become the Irish Free State and later the Republic of Ireland) ever won the championship. The highest place achieved by any of these clubs was second, by Shelbourne in 1906β07.
During the 1920s, however, the league expanded and soon achieved a wide geographic spread across Northern Ireland. Nonetheless, no club from outside Belfast won the League championship for the first 62 years of its existence, until Glenavon took it to County Armagh in 1951β52. In 1957β58, Ards became the first team from County Down to win the League, and in 1964β65, Derry City were the first County Londonderry club to do so. Derry City β now of the League of Ireland β played in the Irish League from 1929 until 1972 and won the title in 1965, but eventually resigned during the Troubles after the League voted narrowly to continue a ban on their home ground imposed by the security forces, even after the security forces had lifted it.
Historically, with relatively few league fixtures each season, the Irish League organised a number of other competitions for its members. While some of these once enjoyed considerable prestige, they have been phased out over the years due to fixture congestion caused by the expansion of the league, and reduced spectator interest. These competitions were: the City Cup; the Gold Cup; the Ulster Cup and the Irish League Floodlit Cup. In addition, clubs still compete in their respective regional cup competitions: the County Antrim Shield (for clubs within the jurisdiction of the North-East Ulster F.A., also known as the County Antrim & District F.A.); the Mid-Ulster Cup (for clubs within the jurisdiction of the Mid-Ulster F.A.); and the North West Senior Cup (for clubs within the jurisdiction of the North-Western F.A.).
From 1995β96 until 2002β03, the senior League was split into two divisions: the Premier Division and First Division. From 2003-16, there was a single division, albeit with relegation to intermediate leagues below, and from 2016 there are two senior divisions (Premiership and Championship). In 2003, the Irish Football Association took direct charge of Northern Ireland's top flight with the creation of the Irish Premier League (IPL). As in England and Scotland, the old Irish Football League retained a separate existence, but controlling only two feeder leagues: the First Division and Second Division. In 2004, the IFA took over control of the remaining IFL divisions and renamed them as the IFA Intermediate League First Division and Second Division, effectively winding up the Irish Football League after 114 years.
The first ever Irish League match to be broadcast live on television took place on 24 September 2007 when Sky Sports showed Cliftonville and Linfield draw 2β2 at Solitude. In 2008, the IFA took over responsibility for the Senior League under the name IFA Premiership, and the IFA Intermediate League was replaced by the IFA Championship. After five years under the auspices of the IFA, it was decided to create a single Northern Ireland Football League to assume responsibility for all the national leagues from the 2013β14 season.
Intermediate
The NIFL Premier Intermediate League, as the highest-level of intermediate football in Northern Ireland, is the successor to the intermediate-status IFA Championship (2008-16), IFA Intermediate League (2004-08), the Irish Football League First Division (2003-04) during its last season (when it had intermediate status), and ultimately the Irish League B Division (latterly known as the Irish League Second Division).
The B Division of the Irish League was founded in 1951, and originally consisted of the reserve teams of the senior Irish League clubs alongside some of the top intermediate clubs. The B Division was split geographically into North and South sections in 1974 (with a play-off to determine the winners in 1974β75 and 1975β76), and then into Section 1 (containing the intermediate clubs) and Section 2 (the reserve teams of senior clubs) in 1977.
In 1999, the B Division Section 1 was renamed as the Irish League Second Division, and Section 2 became the Reserve League.
There was never any automatic promotion and relegation between either the B Division or Second Division and the senior Irish League.
In 2003, the Irish Premier League was formed by the top sixteen senior teams in the senior Irish League (which, since 1995 had been divided into a Premier Division and a First Division). The four remaining senior teams reverted to intermediate football, along with the top eight teams from the previous year's Second Division - in the Irish League First Division (which now became the top intermediate league), with the Second Division continuing with twelve teams. Automatic promotion and relegation between senior and intermediate football was introduced. There was also automatic promotion and relegation between the two divisions of the (now intermediate-status) Irish League.
In 2004, the Irish Football League was wound up and replaced by the IFA Intermediate League, consisting of two divisions of twelve, with promotion and relegation between the two. This continued for four seasons, until the Championship was created.
For one season only, 2008β09, there was also an IFA Interim Intermediate League for those former members of the IFA Intermediate League which had failed to meet the criteria for the Championship. These clubs were given a year to make improvements in order to join the Championship for 2009β10. Ten of the 12 clubs succeeded in meeting the necessary standard in 2009 and the Championship was then divided into two divisions.
In 2010β11, a pyramid system was introduced, with the possibility of promotion and relegation between Championship 2 and the four regional intermediate leagues, namely the:
- Ballymena & Provincial League
- Mid-Ulster Football League
- Northern Amateur League
- Northern Ireland Intermediate League (ended in 2023)
Clubs in these leagues may only gain promotion to the Championship if they win their respective league championship and meet the necessary criteria. In the event that more than one league champion meets the criteria, only one will be promoted, to be decided by a play-off or series of play-offs. In 2023 the Northern Ireland Intermediate League announced that it would cease to exist due to a number of clubs deciding to join other regional leagues within the league system, thus leaving three regional leagues below the Premier Intermediate League.
In 2013, the Northern Ireland Football League assumed responsibility from the IFA for the Championship, which became two intermediate divisions of the NIFL and was renamed as the NIFL Championship.
In 2016, Championship 1 acquired senior status and Championship 2 was renamed as the Premier Intermediate League, thus succeeding the Championship as the top intermediate league in Northern Ireland.
2023β24 membership
Listed below are the 38 member clubs for the 2023β24 season.
UEFA coefficient and ranking
Country coefficient for 2023β24:
- 40 Bosnia and Herzegovina 9.750
- 41 Iceland 9.583
- 42 Northern Ireland 9.208
- 43 Luxembourg 8.625
- 44 Lithuania 8.500
Senior
List of champions and runners-up
- Bold italic indicates team achieved a Treble β winners of league, Irish Cup and at least one other national trophy
Irish Football League (1890β1995)
Irish Football League Premier & First Division (1995β2003)
Irish Premier League (2003β2008)
# | Season | Senior champions (number of senior titles) |
Runners-up | Third | Leading goalscorer | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
103 | 2003β04 | Linfield (45) | Portadown | Lisburn Distillery | Glenn Ferguson (Linfield) | 25 |
104 | 2004β05 | Glentoran (22) | Linfield | Portadown | Chris Morgan (Glentoran) | 19 |
105 | 2005β06 | Linfield (46) | Glentoran | Portadown | Peter Thompson (Linfield) | 25 |
106 | 2006β07 | Linfield (47) | Glentoran | Cliftonville | Gary Hamilton (Glentoran) | 27 |
107 | 2007β08 | Linfield (48) | Glentoran | Cliftonville | Peter Thompson (Linfield) | 29 |
IFA Premiership (2008β2013)
# | Season | Senior champions (number of senior titles) |
Runners-up | Third | Leading goalscorer | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
108 | 2008β09 | Glentoran (23) | Linfield | Crusaders | Curtis Allen (Lisburn Distillery) | 19 |
109 | 2009β10 | Linfield (49) | Cliftonville | Glentoran | Rory Patterson (Coleraine) | 30 |
110 | 2010β11 | Linfield (50) | Crusaders | Glentoran | Peter Thompson (Linfield) | 23 |
111 | 2011β12 | Linfield (51) | Portadown | Cliftonville | Gary McCutcheon (Ballymena United) | 27 |
112 | 2012β13 | Cliftonville (4) | Crusaders | Linfield | Liam Boyce (Cliftonville) | 29 |
NIFL Premiership (2013β2016)
# | Season | Senior champions (number of senior titles) |
Runners-up | Third | Leading goalscorer | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
113 | 2013β14 | Cliftonville (5) | Linfield | Crusaders | Joe Gormley (Cliftonville) | 27 |
114 | 2014β15 | Crusaders (5) | Linfield | Glenavon | Joe Gormley (Cliftonville) | 31 |
115 | 2015β16 | Crusaders (6) | Linfield | Glenavon | Paul Heatley (Crusaders) Andrew Waterworth (Linfield) |
22 |
NIFL Premiership & Championship (2016β)
Summary of champions
Performance by club
Clubs in italics either no longer exist (Belfast Celtic, Queen's Island) or no longer compete for the title (Derry City).
Records
The first Irish League champions were Linfield, and the first runners-up were Ulster. Of the 122 completed championships, the title has only been taken out of Belfast on eleven occasions. The last club to do so was Larne in 2022β23 season. The clubs first Irish league title. 21 years since Portadown did so in 2001-02 season.
In 1921β22, Linfield famously achieved the feat of winning seven trophies; the Irish League, Irish Cup; City Cup, Gold Cup; County Antrim Shield; Belfast Charities Cup and Alhambra Cup. In 1961β62, the club achieved a similar feat, winning six trophies; the Irish League; Irish Cup; City Cup, Gold Cup; Ulster Cup and County Antrim Shield. They also lifted the North-South Cup as a seventh trophy, however that was actually the conclusion of the 1960β61 competition, as fixture congestion meant that the cup could not be completed before the end of the previous season.
The record for consecutive league titles is six, which has been achieved by two clubs. Belfast Celtic won five consecutive titles between 1935β36 and 1939β40, before the suspension of the league in 1940 due to World War II. On the resumption of the league in 1947β48 they won their sixth consecutive title, albeit eight years after the fifth. Linfield are the only club to achieve six consecutive titles without a hiatus, from 1981β82 to 1986β87. The longest gap between title wins is the 88 years separating Cliftonville's wins in 1909β10 and 1997β98. A total of 12 different clubs have won the championship, Linfield holding the record for the most wins (56).
Tiebreakers
In the 1905β06 season, the championship title was shared after Cliftonville and Distillery could not be separated after two play-off matches. This is the only occasion in the league's history that the title has been shared. Using the modern award of 3 points for a win, Distillery would have been crowned champions by one point. However, if goal difference had been used instead, Cliftonville would have won the title with a goal difference of +9 compared to Distillery's +7. In the 1992β93 season, Linfield became the first club to win the championship on goal difference, when they finished level on 66 points with Crusaders, but eight goals better with a +34 goal difference to Crusaders' +26.
Before goal difference was introduced, if the top two teams finished the season with the same number of points, the championship title was decided by a play-off. Nine such championship play-offs took place over the years as follows:
Season | Winners | Score | Runners-up |
---|---|---|---|
1895β96 | Distillery | 2β1 | Cliftonville |
1898β99 | Distillery | 2β0 | Linfield |
1904β05 | Glentoran | 3β1 | Belfast Celtic |
1905β06 | Cliftonville | 0β0 | Distillery |
Replay | Cliftonville | 3β3 | Distillery |
1910β11 | Linfield | 3β2 | Glentoran |
1937β38 | Belfast Celtic | 2β2 | Derry City |
Replay | Belfast Celtic | 3β1 | Derry City |
1949β50 | Linfield | 2β0 | Glentoran |
1960β61 | Linfield | 2β0 | Portadown |
1961β62 | Linfield | 3β1 | Portadown |
Unbeaten seasons
On seven occasions, a team has completed a league campaign unbeaten. Linfield have done so four times, but with fewer fixtures relative to Belfast Celtic's unbeaten seasons in 1926β27 and 1928β29. Glentoran were the last club to finish an entire league season unbeaten, when they won the 1980β81 Irish League title by two points after completing 22 league games without defeat. They again came close in the 1991β92 Irish League season, losing only once in 30 league games. Linfield also came close in the 2003β04 Irish Premier League season, when they too lost just one league game all season. Across the 2005β06 and 2006β07 seasons, Linfield lost just two out of 60 league games in two seasons - one in each season. Coleraine also came close in the 2017β18 season, losing just once in 38 league games.
Season | Club | Matches played | Wins | Draws |
---|---|---|---|---|
1892β93 | Linfield | 10 | 8 | 2 |
1894β95 | Linfield | 6 | 4 | 2 |
1903β04 | Linfield | 14 | 12 | 2 |
1921β22 | Linfield | 10 | 7 | 3 |
1926β27 | Belfast Celtic | 22 | 15 | 7 |
1928β29 | Belfast Celtic | 26 | 22 | 4 |
1980β81 | Glentoran | 22 | 15 | 7 |
Senior club membership history
A total of 46 different clubs have been members of the senior league since its inception - ten of which have been members for only one season. The newest members are Warrenpoint Town, who joined the league in 2013 for the first time. That was the second consecutive season that a new member club had made its first appearance in the league, following Ballinamallard United's debut a year earlier in 2012. Three clubs β Cliftonville, Glentoran and Linfield β have retained unbroken membership since 1890: 130 years and 119 seasons (due to eleven suspended seasons).
In 1891, the league expanded to ten clubs, but shrank again after only one season to six clubs for the 1892β93 season. Only four clubs competed in 1892β93 and 1893β94, then six clubs for the following season, until a membership of eight was achieved for the 1901β02 season. With the exception of one season (1912β13) in which there were ten clubs, membership stayed at eight until the southern clubs resigned in 1920, anticipating the formation of the separate League of Ireland in what would become the Irish Free State. (The League was suspended from 1915 to 1919 because of the First World War.) Prior to the split, three southern clubs had participated in the League: Bohemians, Shelbourne and Tritonville. In the early years, Army regiments stationed in Ireland had also participated in the League: the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1891β92; the North Staffordshire Regiment for three seasons from 1896β99; the Royal Scots in 1899β1900 and the King's Own Scottish Borderers in 1903β04.
Only five and six clubs competed in 1920β21 and from 1921β23 respectively, but expansion began with the admission of four new clubs in 1923, another two in 1924 and a further two in 1927, giving a membership of fourteen from 1927 until the League was suspended in 1940 because of the Second World War. When the League resumed in 1947 it was reduced to twelve clubs, and stayed at this number until 1983 when membership was increased to fourteen.
In 1990, a further two clubs brought the membership to sixteen, and the League was divided into two divisions (the Premier and First Divisions) of eight in 1995, with promotion and relegation between the two. In 1996 the results from the Premier Division and the First Division started to be featured on the Press Association vidiprinter. In 1997, membership increased again to eighteen, with ten in the Premier Division and eight in the First Division. Between 1999 and 2003, the League had a record twenty clubs in membership. From 1999 to 2002, ten clubs each competed in the Premier and First Divisions and in 2002β03 there were twelve in the Premier Division and eight in the First Division.
In 2003, with the creation of the Irish Premier League, the senior league was reduced to a single division of sixteen clubs, although for the first time with relegation to, and promotion from, a league below (a rump Irish Football League in 2003β04 and subsequently the IFA Intermediate League). In 2008, with the creation of the IFA Premiership, the league was reduced to twelve. The Northern Ireland Football League was formed in 2013 to assume independent collective management of the top three levels of the Northern Ireland football league system, which had been under the direct management of the Irish Football Association: namely the IFA Premiership and both divisions of the IFA Championship.
In 2016, the NIFL Championship was given senior status.
Membership summary
Listed below are all the senior League members from 1890 up to and including the 2022β23 season in the following competitions:
- Irish Football League (1890β1995)
- Irish Football League Premier and First Divisions (1995β2003)
- Irish Premier League (2003β2008)
- IFA Premiership (2008β2013)
- NIFL Premiership (2013β2016)
- NIFL Premiership & Championship (2016βpresent)
Club | Location | No. seasons in league | Membership years |
---|---|---|---|
Cliftonville | Belfast | 122 | 1890β |
Glentoran | Belfast | 122 | 1890β |
Linfield | Belfast | 122 | 1890β |
Lisburn Distillery | Ballyskeagh | 112 | 1890β2013 |
Glenavon | Lurgan | 100 | 1911β2004, 2005β |
Portadown | Portadown | 91 | 1924β2008, 2009β |
Coleraine | Coleraine | 89 | 1927β |
Ards | Newtownards | 84 | 1923β2006, 2013β2014, 2016β |
Ballymena United | Ballymena | 82 | 1934β |
Crusaders | Belfast | 73 | 1949β2005, 2006β |
Bangor | Bangor | 70 | 1927β2003, 2008β2009 |
Larne | Larne | 60 | 1923β1940, 1972β2008, 2016β |
Newry City | Newry | 45 | 1923β1940, 1983β2011 |
Belfast Celtic | Belfast | 38 | 1896β1920, 1924β1949 |
Derry City | Derry | 36 | 1929β1972 |
Carrick Rangers | Carrickfergus | 29 | 1983β2003, 2011β2012, 2015β |
Dungannon Swifts | Dungannon | 26 | 1997β |
Ballyclare Comrades | Ballyclare | 20 | 1990β2003, 2016β |
Institute | Drumahoe | 18 | 1999β2006, 2007β2010, 2014β2015, 2016β |
Omagh Town | Omagh | 15 | 1990β2005 |
Bohemians | Dublin | 13 | 1902β1911, 1912β1920 |
Derry Celtic | Derry | 13 | 1900β1913 |
Limavady United | Limavady | 13 | 1997β2008, 2017β2019 |
Shelbourne | Dublin | 12 | 1904β1920 |
Ballinamallard United | Ballinamallard | 11 | 2012β |
Loughgall | Loughgall | 10 | 2004β2007, 2016β |
Warrenpoint Town | Warrenpoint | 10 | 2013β |
Armagh City | Armagh | 8 | 1999β2003, 2005β2008, 2016β2017 |
Queen's Island | Belfast | 8 | 1921β1929 |
Dergview | Castlederg | 7 | 2016β |
Harland & Wolff Welders | Belfast | 7 | 2016β |
Knockbreda | Belfast | 7 | 2016β |
Ballymena | Ballymena | 6 | 1928β1934 |
Newry City AFC | Newry | 6 | 2017β |
Ulster | Belfast | 6 | 1890β1894, 1901β1903 |
Barn | Carrickfergus | 5 | 1923β1928 |
Donegal Celtic | Belfast | 5 | 2006β2008, 2010β2013 |
Dundela | Belfast | 5 | 2018β |
Annagh United | Portadown | 4 | 2016β2017, 2020β |
PSNI | Belfast | 4 | 2016β2020 |
North Staffordshire Regiment | Army team | 3 | 1896β1899 |
Queen's University | Belfast | 3 | 2019β22 |
Ligoniel | Belfast | 2 | 1891β1892, 1893β1894 |
Lurgan Celtic | Lurgan | 2 | 2016β2018 |
Oldpark | Belfast | 2 | 1890β1892 |
Clarence | Belfast | 1 | 1890β1891 |
Derry Olympic | Derry | 1 | 1892β1893 |
King's Own Scottish Borderers | Army team | 1 | 1903β1904 |
Lancashire Fusiliers | Army team | 1 | 1891β1892 |
Milford | Milford | 1 | 1890β1891 |
Milltown | Belfast | 1 | 1891β1892 |
Newington | Belfast | 1 | 2022β |
Royal Scots | Army team | 1 | 1899β1900 |
St Columb's Court | Derry | 1 | 1901β1902 |
Tritonville | Dublin | 1 | 1912β1913 |
YMCA | Belfast | 1 | 1891β1892 |
Bold β a current member
Italics β a club no longer in existence, or no longer competing in Northern Irish football
Relegation and promotion history
1995β2003 (Two senior divisions)
Between 1995β96 and 2002β03, the league was split into two divisions, with promotion and relegation between the two as follows.
Season | Relegated to First Division | Promoted to Premier Division |
---|---|---|
1995β96 | Bangor | Coleraine |
1996β97 | - | Ballymena United Omagh Town |
1997β98 | Ards | Newry Town |
1998β99 | Omagh Town | Distillery |
1999β2000 | Lisburn Distillery | Omagh Town |
2000β01 | Ballymena United | Ards |
2001β02 | - | Lisburn Distillery Institute |
2003β2016 (One senior division)
At the end of the 2002β03 season, the league was reformed as the single-division Irish Premier League. Four clubs were relegated to intermediate football, and from then until 2014-15 there was relegation and promotion between a single senior Irish League division and the top intermediate league below (now NIFL Championship).
2016βpresent (Two senior divisions)
At the end of the 2015β16 season, the Championship acquired senior status and the league reverted to two senior divisions, with promotion and relegation between those divisions, and between the second senior tier (the Championship) and the top intermediate division below (now NIFL Premier Intermediate League).
Season | Relegated to Championship | Promoted to Premiership | Season | Relegated to Premier Intermediate League | Promoted to Championship |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016β17 | Portadown | Warrenpoint Town | 2016β17 | Annagh United Armagh City |
Limavady United Newry City AFC |
2017β18 | Ballinamallard United Carrick Rangers |
Institute Newry City AFC |
2017β18 | Lurgan Celtic | Dundela |
2018β19 | Ards Newry City AFC |
Carrick Rangers Larne |
2018β19 | Limavady United | Queen's University |
2019β20 | Institute | Portadown | 2019β20 | PSNI | Annagh United |
2020β21 | No promotion/relegation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland | ||||
2021β22 | Warrenpoint Town | Newry City AFC | 2021β22 | Queen's University | Newington |
2022β23 | Portadown | Loughgall | 2022β23 | Warrenpoint Town | Bangor |
Intermediate
List of champions
Irish League B Division (1951β1977)
Season | Intermediate champions (number of intermediate titles) |
---|---|
1951β52 | Linfield Swifts (3) |
1952β53 | Linfield Swifts (4) |
1953β54 | Cliftonville Olympic (1) |
1954β55 | Larne (2) |
1955β56 | Banbridge Town (1) |
1956β57 | Larne (3) |
1957β58 | Ards II (1) |
1958β59 | Glentoran II (5) |
1959β60 | Newry Town (1) |
1960β61 | Ballyclare Comrades (1) |
1961β62 | Carrick Rangers (1) |
1962β63 | Ballyclare Comrades (2) |
1963β64 | Larne (4) |
1964β65 | Larne (5) |
1965β66 | Larne (6) |
1966β67 | Larne (7) |
1967β68 | Dundela (6) |
1968β69 | Larne (8) |
1969β70 | Larne (9) |
1970β71 | Larne (10) |
1971β72 | Larneβ (11) |
1972β73 | Carrick Rangers (2) |
1973β74 | Ballyclare Comrades (3) |
1974β75 | Carrick Rangers (3) |
1975β76 | Linfield Swifts (5) |
1976β77 | Carrick Rangers (4) |
Irish League B Division Section 1 (1977β1999)
Season | Intermediate champions (number of intermediate titles) |
---|---|
1977β78 | Ballyclare Comrades (4) |
1978β79 | Carrick Rangers (5) |
1979β80 | Ballyclare Comrades (5) |
1980β81 | Newry Town (2) |
1981β82 | Dundela (7) |
1982β83 | Carrick Rangersβ (6) |
1983β84 | Limavady United (1) |
1984β85 | Chimney Corner (1) |
1985β86 | Dundela (8) |
1986β87 | RUC (1) |
1987β88 | Dundela (9) |
1988β89 | Ballyclare Comrades (6) |
1989β90 | Dundela (10) |
1990β91 | Dundela (11) |
1991β92 | Dundela (12) |
1992β93 | Limavady United (2) |
1993β94 | Dundela (13) |
1994β95 | Loughgall (1) |
1995β96 | Loughgall (2) |
1996β97 | Loughgall (3) |
1997β98 | Loughgall (4) |
1998β99 | Chimney Corner (2) |
Irish League Second Division (1999β2003)
Season | Intermediate champions (number of intermediate titles) |
---|---|
1999β2000 | Dundela (14) |
2000β01 | Dundela (15) |
2001β02 | Moyola Park (1) |
2002β03 | Ballinamallard United (1) |
Irish League First & Second Division (2003β04)
Season | Intermediate champions (number of intermediate titles) |
Second-level intermediate champions (number of second-level intermediate titles) |
---|---|---|
2003β04 | Loughgallβ‘ (5) | Coagh United (1) |
IFA Intermediate League First & Second Division (2004β2008)
Season | Intermediate champions (number of intermediate titles) |
Second-level intermediate champions (number of second-level intermediate titles) |
---|---|---|
2004β05 | Armagh Cityβ‘ (1) | Tobermore United (1) |
2005β06 | Crusadersβ‘ (10) | Portstewart (1) |
2006β07 | Instituteβ‘ (1) | Ballyclare Comrades (1) |
2007β08 | Loughgall (6) | Dergview (1) |
IFA Championship & Interim Intermediate League (2008β09)
Season | Intermediate champions (number of intermediate titles) |
Second-level intermediate champions (number of second-level intermediate titles) |
---|---|---|
2008β09 | Portadownβ‘ (1) | Harland & Wolff Welders (1) |
IFA Championship 1 & 2 (2009β2013)
Season | Intermediate champions (number of intermediate titles) |
Second-level intermediate champions (number of second-level intermediate titles) |
---|---|---|
2009β10 | Loughgall (7) | Harland & Wolff Welders (2) |
2010β11 | Carrick Rangersβ‘ (7) | Warrenpoint Town (1) |
2011β12 | Ballinamallard Unitedβ‘ (2) | Coagh United (2) |
2012β13 | Ardsβ‘ (2) | Knockbreda (1) |
NIFL Championship 1 & 2 (2013β2016)
Season | Intermediate champions (number of intermediate titles) |
Second-level intermediate champions (number of second-level intermediate titles) |
---|---|---|
2013β14 | Instituteβ‘ (2) | Armagh City (1) |
2014β15 | Carrick Rangersβ‘ (8) | Lurgan Celtic (1) |
2015β16 | Ardsβ‘ (3) | Limavady United (1) |
β Elected to senior football
β‘ Promoted to senior football
NIFL Premier Intermediate League (2016β)
Season | Intermediate champions (number of intermediate titles) |
---|---|
2016β17 | Limavady Unitedβ‘ (3) |
2017β18 | Dundelaβ‘ (16) |
2018β19 | Queen's Universityβ‘ (1) |
2019β20 | Annagh Unitedβ‘ (1) |
2020β21 | Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland |
2021β22 | Newingtonβ‘ (1) |
2022β23 | Bangorβ‘ (1) |
β‘ Promoted to senior football
Summary of champions
Club | Wins | Winning seasons |
---|---|---|
Dundela | 11 | 1967β68, 1981β82, 1985β86, 1987β88, 1989β90, 1990β91, 1991β92, 1993β94, 1999β2000, 2000β01, 2017β18 |
Larne | 10 | 1954β55, 1956β57, 1963β64, 1964β65, 1965β66, 1966β67, 1986β69, 1969β70, 1970β71, 1971β72 |
Carrick Rangers | 8 | 1961β62, 1972β73, 1974β75, 1976β77, 1978β79, 1982β83, 2010β11, 2014β15 |
Loughgall | 7 | 1994β95, 1995β96, 1996β97, 1997β98, 2003β04, 2007β08, 2009β10 |
Ballyclare Comrades | 6 | 1960β61, 1962β63, 1973β74, 1977β78, 1979β80, 1988β89 |
Linfield Swifts | 3 | 1951β52, 1952β53, 1975β76 |
Limavady United | 3 | 1983β84, 1992β93, 2016β17 |
Ards | 2 | 2012β13, 2015β16 |
Ballinamallard United | 2 | 2002β03, 2011β12 |
Chimney Corner | 2 | 1984β85, 1998β99 |
Institute | 2 | 2006β07, 2013β14 |
Newry Town | 2 | 1959β60, 1980β81 |
Annagh United | 1 | 2019β20 |
Ards II | 1 | 1957β58 |
Armagh City | 1 | 2004β05 |
Banbridge Town | 1 | 1955β56 |
Cliftonville Olympic | 1 | 1953β54 |
Crusaders | 1 | 2005β06 |
Glentoran II | 1 | 1958β59 |
Moyola Park | 1 | 2001β02 |
Newington | 1 | 2021β22 |
RUC | 1 | 1986β87 |
Portadown | 1 | 2008β09 |
Queen's University | 1 | 2018β19 |
Bangor | 1 | 2022β23 |
Knock-out competitions
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In 1982, a knockout competition for members was introduced, known as the B Division Knockout Cup and sponsored by Smirnoff. It was discontinued after 2002, but a new IFA Intermediate League Cup was played between 2004 and 2008, sponsored in its first season by the Daily Mirror and thereafter by Carnegie. In 2008β09, there was no knockout competition for Championship clubs, who participated with Premiership clubs in the Irish League Cup. In the 2009β10 season only, however, while Championship 1 clubs continued to participate in the Irish League Cup, a Championship 2 League Cup was inaugurated for those in Championship 2. From 2010β11 onwards, all Championship clubs from divisions 1 and 2 also competed in the Irish League Cup, and the Championship 2 League Cup was abolished.
Season | Winners | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
B Division Knockout Cup | ||||
1982β83 | RUC | |||
1983β84 | Ballyclare Comrades | |||
1984β85 | RUC | |||
1985β86 | RUC | |||
1986β87 | Chimney Corner | |||
1987β88 | Dundela | |||
1988β89 | Ballyclare Comrades | |||
1989β90 | Omagh Town | |||
1990β91 | Dundela | |||
1991β92 | Dundela | |||
1992β93 | Limavady United | |||
1993β94 | Dungannon Swifts | |||
1994β95 | Dundela | |||
1995β96 | Limavady United | |||
1996β97 | Institute | |||
1997β98 | Harland & Wolff Welders | |||
1998β99 | Ballymoney United | |||
1999β2000 | Moyola Park | |||
2000β01 | Harland & Wolff Welders | |||
2001β02 | Harland & Wolff Welders | |||
2002β03 | No competition | |||
2003β04 | No competition | |||
IFA Intermediate League Cup | ||||
2004β05 | Bangor | |||
2005β06 | Crusaders | |||
2006β07 | Institute | |||
2007β08 | Loughgall | |||
2008β09 | No competition | |||
Championship 2 League Cup | ||||
2009β10 | Harland & Wolff Welders |
Summary of winners
Club | Wins | Winning seasons |
---|---|---|
Dundela | 4 | 1987β88, 1990β91, 1991β92, 1994β95 |
Harland & Wolff Welders | 4 | 1997β98, 2000β01, 2001β02, 2009β10 |
RUC | 3 | 1982β83, 1984β85, 1985β86 |
Ballyclare Comrades | 2 | 1983β84, 1988β89 |
Institute | 2 | 1996β97, 2006β07 |
Limavady United | 2 | 1992β93, 1995β96 |
Ballymoney United | 1 | 1998β99 |
Bangor | 1 | 2004β05 |
Chimney Corner | 1 | 1986β87 |
Crusaders | 1 | 2005β06 |
Dungannon Swifts | 1 | 1993β94 |
Loughgall | 1 | 2007β08 |
Moyola Park | 1 | 1999β2000 |
Omagh Town | 1 | 1989β90 |
Notes
- ^ The 1905β06 league title was shared when Cliftonville and Distillery could not be separated after two play-off matches β the only season in the Irish League's history in which the title has been shared.
- ^ Including one shared title
- ^ Champions declared on average points per game after the season was curtailed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Changed name from Distillery to Lisburn Distillery in 1999.
- Moved from Belfast to Ballyskeagh in 1980.
- Sold home ground in Newtownards in 2002, and has subsequently played in Carrickfergus, Belfast and Bangor.
- ^ Ballymena United F.C. were formed immediately after Ballymena F.C. dissolved in 1934, following expulsion from the league. Generally, Ballymena United assume the history of the previous club, however technically they were two different entities.
- ^ Changed name from Newry Town to Newry City in 2004, and was dissolved in 2012 following financial problems.
- Changed name from Celtic to Belfast Celtic in 1901. Club was dissolved in 1949.
- ^ Reserve team of senior club
- ^ After play-off between winners of North and South sections
- ^ Now PSNI
References
- "The Irish League Show now on BBC iPlayer". Northern Ireland Football League. nifootballleague.com. 11 December 2014. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- "Newsletter". Archived from the original on 2019-06-19. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
- "ITV". Archived from the original on 2017-04-19. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
- "Northern Ireland Football - latest NI football news - BBC Sport". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2023-07-29.
- "Regulations and club information: Season 2015/16" (PDF). Northern Ireland Football League. nifootballleague.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- "About the NIFL". Northern Ireland Football League. nifootballleague.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- "Premier Intermediate League (PIL)". Irish Football Association. irishfa.com. Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- "IFA Championship". Irish Football Association. irishfa.com. Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- "The Northern Ireland Intermediate League calls it a day". wearetyrone.com. 22 June 2023. Archived from the original on 6 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- "We're Not Brazil... We're Northern Ireland: The Irish Football Association Strategic Plan 2013/2018" (PDF). Irish Football Association. irishfa.com. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2015.