Northern Ireland football league system
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The Northern Ireland football league system is structured as two series of interconnected football leagues across Northern Ireland.
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[edit] 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 still. National leagues exist at senior and intermediate level. All junior leagues and most intermediate are organised on a regional 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.
[edit] Senior
The IFA Premiership, which is the national league of Northern Ireland, is the only senior league in Northern Ireland, and consists of twelve 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 the Irish Cup if they meet certain criteria.
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.
[edit] Intermediate
There are two national intermediate leagues. Directly below the Premiership is the IFA Championship (founded 2008). 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.
There is also an IFA Interim League containing clubs from the old IFA Intermediate League (created 2004 and disbanded 2008), which did not meet the criteria for the Championship. This league will continue for one season only, during which member clubs may make improvements in order to qualify for the Championship in 2009. Depending on numbers, the Championship may divide into two divisions in 2009.
The IFA Reserve League comprises the reserve teams of the twelve senior IFA Premiership clubs.
There is no "pyramid" system in Northern Ireland. In addition to these two leagues there are other independent, regional intermediate leagues which are not connected via promotion or relegation. These are:
Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League
Northern Ireland Intermediate League
At national level there is one senior cup competition: the Intermediate Cup. At regional level, three 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 and the North West of Ireland Football Association organises the Craig Memorial Cup.
[edit] 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.
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 ???, and the Fermanagh & Western Football Association organises the Mulhern Cup.
[edit] The current system
For each division, its official name, sponsorship name and number of clubs is given:
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Level |
League(s)/Division(s) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 |
Irish Premiership |
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2 |
IFA Championship |
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3 |
IFA Interim League |
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[edit] Previous systems
At national level, from 1890 until 1951 there was only one league the Irish Football League, 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 League replaced the IFA Intermediate League.
[edit] 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 2008- | IFA Premiership | IFA Championship IFA Interim Intermediate League |
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† Senior clubs' reserve teams have intermediate status and compete against other intermediate teams in many competitions.
[edit] See also
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