| Countries | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 2004–2008 (as IFA Intermediate League First Division) 2003–2004 (as Irish League First Division) 1999–2003 (as Irish League Second Division) 1977–1999 (as Irish League B Division Section 1) 1951–1977 (as Irish League B Division) |
| Number of teams | 30 (two divisions) |
| Levels on pyramid | 2 and 3 |
| Promotion to | IFA Premiership |
| Relegation to | Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League Mid-Ulster Football League Northern Amateur League Northern Ireland Intermediate League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Irish Cup Irish League Cup IFA Intermediate Cup |
| Current champions | Carrick Rangers (2010–11) |
| 2011–12 IFA Championship | |
The IFA Championship is a football league in Northern Ireland. It is one level below the IFA Premiership, which is Northern Ireland's national league. Clubs in the Championship have intermediate status.
It was founded in 2008 to succeed the IFA Intermediate League which folded as part of the reorganisation of top-level football in Northern Ireland that saw the creation of stricter entry criteria in respect of the newly-established Premiership and Championship. In 2009, it was extended to two divisions: Championship 1 and Championship 2 with promotion and relegation between the two.[1]. The Championship is sponsored by the Belfast Telegraph and is marketed as the Belfast Telegraph Championship.[2] 'IFA' refers to the Irish Football Association.
Results from Championship 1 are featured on the Press Association vidiprinter service. However, they are rarely seen by television viewers as the Saturday results often do not appear until after 5.15pm and therefore are not featured during the reading of the classified results. The results from Championship 2 are not carried on the Press Association vidiprinter service.
Contents |
The IFA Championship is the successor to the IFA Intermediate League, the Irish Football League First Division 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 1974–75 and 1975–76), 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 for the first time. 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, 2008–09, 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 2009–10. Ten of the 12 clubs succeeded in meeting the necessary standard in 2009 and the Championship was then divided into two divisions.
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.
|
Championship 1 |
Championship 2 |
| Season | Champions | Second-level champions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irish League B Division | ||||
| 1951–52 | Linfield Swifts[note 1] | n/a | ||
| 1952–53 | Linfield Swifts[note 1] | n/a | ||
| 1953–54 | Cliftonville Olympic[note 1] | n/a | ||
| 1954–55 | Larne | n/a | ||
| 1955–56 | Banbridge Town | n/a | ||
| 1956–57 | Larne | n/a | ||
| 1957–58 | Ards II[note 1] | n/a | ||
| 1958–59 | Glentoran II[note 1] | n/a | ||
| 1959–60 | Newry Town[note 2] | n/a | ||
| 1960–61 | Ballyclare Comrades | n/a | ||
| 1961–62 | Carrick Rangers | n/a | ||
| 1962–63 | Ballyclare Comrades | n/a | ||
| 1963–64 | Larne | n/a | ||
| 1964–65 | Larne | n/a | ||
| 1965–66 | Larne | n/a | ||
| 1966–67 | Larne | n/a | ||
| 1967–68 | Dundela | n/a | ||
| 1968–69 | Larne | n/a | ||
| 1969–70 | Larne | n/a | ||
| 1970–71 | Larne | n/a | ||
| 1971–72 | Larne† | n/a | ||
| 1972–73 | Carrick Rangers | n/a | ||
| 1973–74 | Ballyclare Comrades | n/a | ||
| 1974–75 | Carrick Rangers [note 3] | n/a | ||
| 1975–76 | Linfield Swifts [note 1] [note 3] | n/a | ||
| 1976–77 | Carrick Rangers / Dundela[note 4] | n/a | ||
| Irish League B Division Section 1 | ||||
| 1977–78 | Ballyclare Comrades | n/a | ||
| 1978–79 | Carrick Rangers | n/a | ||
| 1979–80 | Ballyclare Comrades | n/a | ||
| 1980–81 | Newry Town[note 2] | n/a | ||
| 1981–82 | Dundela | n/a | ||
| 1982–83 | Carrick Rangers† | n/a | ||
| 1983–84 | Limavady United | n/a | ||
| 1984–85 | Chimney Corner | n/a | ||
| 1985–86 | Dundela | n/a | ||
| 1986–87 | RUC[note 5] | n/a | ||
| 1987–88 | Dundela | n/a | ||
| 1988–89 | Ballyclare Comrades | n/a | ||
| 1989–90 | Dundela | n/a | ||
| 1990–91 | Dundela | n/a | ||
| 1991–92 | Dundela | n/a | ||
| 1992–93 | Limavady United | n/a | ||
| 1993–94 | Dundela | n/a | ||
| 1994–95 | Loughgall | n/a | ||
| 1995–96 | Loughgall | n/a | ||
| 1996–97 | Loughgall | n/a | ||
| 1997–98 | Loughgall | n/a | ||
| 1998–99 | Chimney Corner | n/a | ||
| Irish League Second Division | ||||
| 1999–00 | Dundela | n/a | ||
| 2000–01 | Dundela | n/a | ||
| 2001–02 | Moyola Park | n/a | ||
| 2002–03 | Ballinamallard United | n/a | ||
| Irish League | ||||
| 2003–04 | Loughgall‡ | Coagh United | ||
| IFA Intermediate League | ||||
| 2004–05 | Armagh City‡ | Tobermore United | ||
| 2005–06 | Crusaders‡ | Portstewart | ||
| 2006–07 | Institute‡ | Ballyclare Comrades | ||
| 2007–08 | Loughgall | Dergview | ||
| IFA Championship | ||||
| 2008–09 | Portadown‡ | n/a | ||
| 2009–10 | Loughgall | Harland & Wolff Welders | ||
| 2010–11 | Carrick Rangers‡ | Warrenpoint Town | ||
† Elected to senior Irish Football League
‡ Promoted to Irish Premier League/IFA Premiership
| Team | Wins | Last win | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dundela | 11[note 6] | 2000–01 |
| 2 | Larne | 10 | 1971–72 |
| 3 | Carrick Rangers | 7[note 6] | 2010–11 |
| = | Loughgall | 7 | 2009–10 |
| 5 | Ballyclare Comrades | 6 | 1988–89 |
| 6 | Linfield Swifts | 3 | 1975–76 |
| 7 | Chimney Corner | 2 | 1998–99 |
| = | Limavady United | 2 | 1992–93 |
| = | Newry City [note 7] | 2 | 1980–81 |
| 10 | Ards II | 1 | 1957–58 |
| = | Armagh City | 1 | 2004–05 |
| = | Ballinamallard United | 1 | 2002–03 |
| = | Banbridge Town | 1 | 1955–56 |
| = | Cliftonville Olympic | 1 | 1953–54 |
| = | Crusaders | 1 | 2005–06 |
| = | Glentoran II | 1 | 1958–59 |
| = | Institute | 1 | 2006–07 |
| = | Moyola Park | 1 | 2001–02 |
| = | PSNI[note 8] | 1 | 1986–87 |
| = | Portadown | 1 | 2008–09 |
In 1982, a knock-out competition for members was introduced, known as the B Division Knock-out 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 2008–09, there was no knock-out competition for Championship clubs, who participated with Premiership clubs in the Irish League Cup. For 2009–10, 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 2010–11, Championship 2 clubs also competed in the Irish League Cup, and there was no separate league cup for the Championship.
Summary of winners
See also
References
General
Notes
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