Northern Ireland football league system
Encyclopedia
The Northern Ireland football league system is structured as two series of interconnected football
leagues
across Northern Ireland
.
Regionally, there are four regional football associations: the North East Ulster Football Association (also known as the County Antrim & District Football Association), the Mid-Ulster Football Association, the North West of Ireland Football Association and the Fermanagh & Western Football Association.
, which is the national league of Northern Ireland, is one of three senior leagues in Northern Ireland, and consists of twelve semi-professional clubs. Each club must possess a domestic licence in order to attain or retain membership of the Premiership.
At national level there are two senior cup competitions: the Irish Cup
and the Irish League Cup, although intermediate teams are entitled to enter both.
At regional level, three of the four regional FAs organises its own senior cup competition. The North East Ulster Football Association runs the County Antrim Shield
; the Mid-Ulster Football Association organises the Mid-Ulster Cup
and the North West of Ireland Football Association organises the North West Senior Cup
.
The IFA Reserve League
, which is also an intermediate league, comprises the reserve teams of the twelve senior IFA Premiership
clubs.
As of 2010-11, a "pyramid" system has been introduced in Northern Ireland, with the possibility of promotion and relegation between the Championship and the four regional intermediate leagues, namely:
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.
At national level there is one intermediate cup competition: the Intermediate Cup. At regional level, each of the four regional FAs organises its own cup competition. The North East Ulster Football Association runs the Steel & Sons Cup
; the Mid-Ulster Football Association organises the Bob Radcliffe Cup
; the North West of Ireland Football Association organises the Craig Memorial Cup
; and the Fermanagh & Western Football Association organises the Fermanagh & Western Intermediate Cup
.
There is one national junior cup competition: the Irish Junior Cup. At regional level, each of the four regional FAs organises its own cup competition. The North East Ulster Football Association runs the County Antrim Junior Shield; the Mid-Ulster Football Association organises the Mid-Ulster Shield, the North West of Ireland Football Association organises the North-West Junior Cup, and the Fermanagh & Western Football Association organises the Mulhern Cup.
, which operated at senior level.
In 1951, the B Division was created at intermediate level.
In 1977, the B Division split into Section 1 and Section 2
.
In 1995, the Irish Football League
split into two senior divisions: the Premier Division and the First Division.
In 1999, the B Division Section 1 was renamed the Second Division and Section 2 was renamed the Reserve League.
In 2003, the Irish Premier League
was created as the single senior league in Northern Ireland. The Irish Football League First Division reverted to intermediate status alongside the Second Division.
In 2004, the IFA Intermediate League (First and Second Divisions) replaced the Irish Football League.
In 2008, the IFA Premiership
replaced the Irish Premier League, and the IFA Championship and IFA Interim Intermediate League replaced the IFA Intermediate League.
In 2009, the IFA Championship was expanded and divided into two divisions and the IFA Interim Intermediate League folded.
In 2010, a pyramid system was introduced, with the possibility of promotion and relegation between the Championship and the four regional intermediate leagues.
† Senior clubs' reserve teams have intermediate status and compete against other intermediate teams in many competitions.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
leagues
League system
A league system is a hierarchy of leagues in a sport, usually with a system of promotion and relegation between consecutive levels of the hierarchy. They are often called pyramids due to their tendency to split into an increasing number of regional divisions the further down the pyramid one descends...
across Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Structure
Northern Ireland football is categorised into three levels: senior, intermediate and junior. Clubs attain intermediate status by fulfilling certain criteria (e.g. owning or leasing its own enclosed ground). Senior status requires clubs to reach stricter criteria. National leagues exist at senior and intermediate level. All junior leagues and intermediate are organised on a national basis.Regionally, there are four regional football associations: the North East Ulster Football Association (also known as the County Antrim & District Football Association), the Mid-Ulster Football Association, the North West of Ireland Football Association and the Fermanagh & Western Football Association.
Senior
The IFA PremiershipIFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
, which is the national league of Northern Ireland, is one of three senior leagues in Northern Ireland, and consists of twelve semi-professional clubs. Each club must possess a domestic licence in order to attain or retain membership of the Premiership.
At national level there are two senior cup competitions: the Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
and the Irish League Cup, although intermediate teams are entitled to enter both.
At regional level, three of the four regional FAs organises its own senior cup competition. The North East Ulster Football Association runs the County Antrim Shield
County Antrim Shield
The County Antrim Shield is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association , often plus intermediate teams who...
; the Mid-Ulster Football Association organises the Mid-Ulster Cup
Mid-Ulster Cup
The Mid-Ulster Cup is a senior football competition in Northern Ireland run by the Mid-Ulster Football Association.First held in 1887, the inaugural edition was won by Milford. For 30 seasons, from 1947/48 to 1977/78, while remaining a senior competition, senior clubs declined to take part, instead...
and the North West of Ireland Football Association organises the North West Senior Cup
North West Senior Cup
The North West Senior Cup, or North West Cup, is a senior football competition in Northern Ireland run by the North West of Ireland Football Association. Senior and intermediate teams from the North West FA's jurisdiction The North West Senior Cup, or North West Cup, is a senior football...
.
Intermediate
There is one national intermediate league. The IFA Championship has two divisions: Championship 1 and Championship 2. One club is automatically promoted from the Championship to the Premiership at the end of each season, and one club is relegated to the Championship from the Premiership. In addition, there is a play-off between the Championship runners-up and the second-bottom-placed team in the Premiership. In the event, however, that the Championship winners do not possess a domestic licence, there is no automatic promotion and, instead, there is a play-off between the runners-up and the bottom-placed Premiership team. In the event that neither the Championship winners nor the runners-up possess a domestic licence, there is no promotion.The IFA Reserve League
IFA Reserve League
The IFA Reserve League is an intermediate Association football league in Northern Ireland consisting of the reserve teams of the twelve IFA Premiership clubs.-Current members:*Ballymena United Reserves*Carrick Rangers Reserves*Cliftonville Olympic...
, which is also an intermediate league, comprises the reserve teams of the twelve senior IFA Premiership
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
clubs.
As of 2010-11, a "pyramid" system has been introduced in Northern Ireland, with the possibility of promotion and relegation between the Championship and the four regional intermediate leagues, namely:
- Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate LeagueBallymena & Provincial Intermediate LeagueThe Ballymena and Provincial Intermediate League is a regional intermediate league in Northern Ireland. The league is split into four divisions: the Premier Division and three junior divisions: Junior Divisions 1, 2 and 3.- Clubs in membership :...
- Mid-Ulster Football LeagueMid-Ulster Football LeagueThe Daily Mirror Mid-Ulster Football League, or simply referred to as the Mid-Ulster League, is an association football league in Northern Ireland. It contains 9 divisions...
- Northern Amateur LeagueNorthern Amateur Football LeagueThe Northern Amateur Football League, also known as the Northern Amateur League and often simply as the Amateur League, is an association football league in Northern Ireland. It contains 13 divisions...
- Northern Ireland Intermediate LeagueNorthern Ireland Intermediate LeagueThe Northern Ireland Intermediate League is an amateur intermediate league based in the north-west region of Northern Ireland.- Clubs in membership :* Ardstraw* Churchill United* Draperstown Celtic* Dungiven Celtic* Magherafelt Sky Blues...
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.
At national level there is one intermediate cup competition: the Intermediate Cup. At regional level, each of the four regional FAs organises its own cup competition. The North East Ulster Football Association runs the Steel & Sons Cup
Steel & Sons Cup
The Steel & Sons Cup is an intermediate football competition in Northern Ireland run by the North East Ulster Football Association . The competition culminates in the final which has traditionally been played on Christmas Day...
; the Mid-Ulster Football Association organises the Bob Radcliffe Cup
Bob Radcliffe Cup
The Bob Radcliffe Memorial Cup is an intermediate football competition in Northern Ireland run by the Mid-Ulster Football Association. It was introduced in 1978...
; the North West of Ireland Football Association organises the Craig Memorial Cup
Craig Memorial Cup
The Craig Memorial Cup, also known as the William Craig Memorial Cup is an intermediate football competition in Northern Ireland run by the North West of Ireland Football Association...
; and the Fermanagh & Western Football Association organises the Fermanagh & Western Intermediate Cup
Fermanagh & Western Intermediate Cup
The Fermanagh & Western Intermediate Cup is an intermediate football competition in Northern Ireland run by the Fermanagh & Western Football Association...
.
Junior
There are numerous junior leagues in Northern Ireland, including junior divisions of the Northern Amateur League and the Mid-Ulster League. The term "junior" is not related to the age of the players but the fact that the clubs are at amateur level.There is one national junior cup competition: the Irish Junior Cup. At regional level, each of the four regional FAs organises its own cup competition. The North East Ulster Football Association runs the County Antrim Junior Shield; the Mid-Ulster Football Association organises the Mid-Ulster Shield, the North West of Ireland Football Association organises the North-West Junior Cup, and the Fermanagh & Western Football Association organises the Mulhern Cup.
The current system
For each division, its official name and number of clubs is given:Level |
League(s)/Division(s) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
IFA Premiership IFA Premiership The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are... 12 clubs |
|||||
2 |
IFA Championship 1 14 clubs |
|||||
3 |
IFA Championship 2 16 clubs |
|||||
Previous systems
At national level, from 1890 until 1951 there was only one league the Irish Football LeagueIFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
, which operated at senior level.
In 1951, the B Division was created at intermediate level.
In 1977, the B Division split into Section 1 and Section 2
IFA Reserve League
The IFA Reserve League is an intermediate Association football league in Northern Ireland consisting of the reserve teams of the twelve IFA Premiership clubs.-Current members:*Ballymena United Reserves*Carrick Rangers Reserves*Cliftonville Olympic...
.
In 1995, the Irish Football League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
split into two senior divisions: the Premier Division and the First Division.
In 1999, the B Division Section 1 was renamed the Second Division and Section 2 was renamed the Reserve League.
In 2003, the Irish Premier League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
was created as the single senior league in Northern Ireland. The Irish Football League First Division reverted to intermediate status alongside the Second Division.
In 2004, the IFA Intermediate League (First and Second Divisions) replaced the Irish Football League.
In 2008, the IFA Premiership
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
replaced the Irish Premier League, and the IFA Championship and IFA Interim Intermediate League replaced the IFA Intermediate League.
In 2009, the IFA Championship was expanded and divided into two divisions and the IFA Interim Intermediate League folded.
In 2010, a pyramid system was introduced, with the possibility of promotion and relegation between the Championship and the four regional intermediate leagues.
National league system since 1890
| Years | Senior | Intermediate | Reserves† |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890-1951 | Irish Football League | none | |
| 1951-1977 | Irish Football League B Division | ||
| 1977-1995 | Irish Football League B Division Section 1 | Irish Football League B Division Section 2 | |
| 1995-1999 | Irish Football League Premier Division Irish Football League First Division |
||
| 1999-2003 | Irish Football League Second Division | Irish Football League Reserve League | |
| 2003-2004 | Irish Premier League | Irish Football League First Division Irish Football League Second Division |
IFA Reserve League |
| 2004-2008 | IFA Intermediate League First Division IFA Intermediate League Second Division |
||
| 2008-2009 | IFA Premiership | IFA Championship IFA Interim Intermediate League |
|
| 2009- | IFA Championship 1 IFA Championship 2 |
||
† Senior clubs' reserve teams have intermediate status and compete against other intermediate teams in many competitions.