Derry and District League

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The Derry and District League is an amateur football league in Derry. The league includes youth and senior football teams. The Senior Sunday League has two divisions, the Premier and the First Division. The Youth Leagues have one league for each age group, from under-10 up to under-17. Teams such as Don Bosco's F.C. and Tristar Boys F.C. have numerous teams competing at every level. Other senior teams include Brandywell Harps F.C., Trojans F.C. and, in the First Division, Lisahally F.C. The league has witnessed a rise in popularity in recent years, and youth teams, such as Foyle Harps Y.F.C. and the Derry and District Youth Select have competed on an international level both in China and Spain respectively. There is also a Saturday Morning League operating in Derry. The League also sends youth teams to the Foyle Cup and in 2005 the under-16 team finished runners up in the competition, losing out to Ferencvaros. Many of the players in that team have since signed professional contracts. Ruari Harkin signed with Charlton and Danny Lafferty signed with Scottish giants, Celtic. Kevin Deery, Barry Molloy and Patrick McCourt are now Derry City players, after playing youth football in the league.

1 Northwest Saturday Morning League
- 1.1 Premier Division
- 1.2 First Division
2 Senior Sunday Morning League
- 2.1 Premier Division
- 2.2 First Division
3 Youth Leagues
- 3.1 Youth Teams
4 Players to have played in the League
5 External Link
6 References

[edit] Northwest Saturday Morning League

The Northwest Saturday Morning League features two divisions, (Premier Division and First Division). Matches are played on Saturday mornings.

[edit] Premier Division

Cliftonvilla F.C.
Phoenix Swifts F.C.
Brandywell Celtic F.C.
Bohemians F.C.
Mourne Harps F.C.
Newton Heath F.C.
Magee College F.C.
Cloony YC F.C.
Gransha F.C.
Corinthians F.C.

[edit] First Division

*Westbank Utd F.C.

Tamnaherin Celtic F.C.
Du Pont F.C.
Abercorn F.C.
Oxford Utd F.C.
Foyle Harps F.C.
Benbradagh Colts F.C.
St. Columb's College F.C.
Northside Albion F.C.
Foyle Athletic F.C.
Drumahoe YCMA F.C.
West Galliagh F.C.

[edit] Senior Sunday Morning League

The Senior Sunday League of the Derry and District League features two divisions (Premier Division and First Division). The leagues include a number of sporting establishments, clubs and groups, including pub teams. In the past, the Derry and District FA had three divisions. Matches are played, as suggested on Sunday mornings.

[edit] Premier Division

Oxford United (Reserve Team)
Don Bosco's F.C.
Top of the Hill Celtic F.C.
Derry Rovers F.C.
Abercorn F.C.
Porters F.C.
Metro F.C.
Brandywell Harps F.C.
Celtic Swifts F.C.
Three Flowers F.C.
The720

[edit] First Division

Oxford Colts (Youth Team)
Bogside Inn F.C.
Don Bosco's Youths
Downey's F.C.
Carraig Bar F.C.
City Harps F.C.
Lisahally F.C.
Culmore F.C.
TriStar
Phoenix F.C.
Crescent F.C.
Currynierin F.C.
Maydown F.C.

[edit] Youth Leagues

The Derry and District League Youth team who finished runners up in the Copa Catalunya Youth Cup 2006

The Derry and District League's youth leagues feature countless teams from age groups Under-10 up until Under-17. The leagues are held in high regard by many who are associated with sport in Derry. Each year, a Derry and District League Select (in which the best players are selected from each team) appears in a number of different tournaments for example, the Foyle Cup. They also travel abroad to compete in tournaments across the globe, for example, in Spain, Denmark, Italy and England. In 2005, the youth team finished third in the Tivoli Cup in Denmark.^[1] In 2006 the Derry and District under-14 team travelled to Barcelona to challenge in the prestigious Copa Catalunya International Youth Tournament. They finished runners up. Foyle Harps travelled to China on an international relations trip. There, they visited places of cultural significance and played football against some of China's top youth teams. In 2004-5, Derry City F.C. pioneered an 'Academy' which was primarily made up of players from the Derry and District League.

[edit] Youth Teams

The following is a list of teams who either have youth football teams or operate solely as a youth team.

[edit] Players to have played in the League

The Derry and District League has produced and featured many fine footballers in the past. It serves to accommodate players who wish to further their footballing skills and possibly catch the eye of a scout. However, it also features senior players who have retired from professional football and wish to play merely for the fun of playing and to keep fit.