IFA Premiership

IFA Premiership
Countries Northern Ireland
Founded 2008
succeeding Irish Premier League (2003) and
Irish Football League (1890)
Divisions 1
Number of teams 12
Levels on pyramid 1
Relegation to IFA Championship
Domestic cup(s) Irish Cup
Irish League Cup
International cup(s) Champions League (1 place)
UEFA Europa League (2 places)
Current champions Linfield
(2010–11)
Most championships Linfield (50)
TV partners Sky Sports,[1] UTV, BBC[2]
Website http://www.ifapremiership.com/
2011–12

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 semi-professional. It should not be confused with the League of Ireland, which is the football league for the Republic of Ireland.

For three seasons from 2009/10 the League will be sponsored by Carling and marketed as the Carling Premiership.[3][4] It is run by the Irish Football Association (IFA). At the end of the season, the champion club is presented with the Gibson Cup – on 26 April 2011 it was awarded to Linfield, the current holders.

The half time and full time scores are carried on the Press Association's vidiprinter service. The full time scores have featured since the start of the 1996/1997 season although the half time scores have only been carried since 2008. The Saturday results are featured in the classified results on Final Score but are not broadcast on Soccer Saturday's classified results service.

Contents

History

The Irish League is the second-oldest national league in the world, being formed a week earlier than the Scottish Football League. Only the Football League in England is older.

The Irish Football League was originally formed as the football league for all of Ireland in 1890 (although initially all of its member clubs were in fact based in what would become Northern Ireland). 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 – now called the Football Association of Ireland) – being formed for the Irish Free State (now the Republic of Ireland).

In its first season, seven of the eight teams came from Belfast, and the league – and Irish football – 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 1903. 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.

During the 1920s, however, the league expanded and soon achieved a wide geographic spread across Northern Ireland. Nonetheless, it was not until 1952 that a team from outside Belfast (Glenavon) was crowned champions. Derry City, now of the League of Ireland, played in the Irish League from 1929 until 1972 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.

From 1995–96 until 2002–03, the League was split into two divisions: the Premier Division and First Division. Since 2003, there has been a single division, albeit with relegation to intermediate leagues below.

In 2003, the Irish Football Association took direct charge of Northern Ireland's national league with the creation of the Irish Premier League (IPL). The 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.

In 2008, the Irish League was re-organised again (see 2008 Reorganisation below) and re-named as the Irish Premiership. Teams were invited to apply for membership of the new league, which was reduced to 12 clubs, and places were awarded on the basis of a complicated points system combined with a "domestic licence" scheme.

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).

Linfield are the current champions, having clinched their record 50th league title on 26 April 2011 after beating sixth placed Lisburn Distillery 4–0 to move 9 points clear with one game remaining.

League format

Each team plays each other three times, making a total of 33 fixtures per team before the "split", when the top six teams play each other for a fourth time to settle the championship and European qualification issues, and the bottom six teams play each other to settle relegation issues. This makes a total of 38 fixtures. After the "split", teams in the top six cannot finish lower than 6th place, and teams in the bottom six cannot finish higher than 7th place, regardless of the results in the final 5 games. The League campaign begins in August and continues until the first Saturday in May. Most fixtures are played on Saturday afternoons, with occasional fixtures on Friday evenings, and some mid-week games, usually on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings. Traditionally, there are Bank Holiday afternoon fixtures on Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and Easter Tuesday.

Three points are awarded for a win, and one point for a draw. The team with the most points at the end of the season wins the championship. If two teams finish level on points, goal difference is used to separate them. If teams are still level on goal difference, then the team with the most goals scored is placed highest. Points can be deducted for breaches of rules: for example, fielding an ineligible player.

The League champions qualify to represent Northern Ireland in the following season’s Champions League, and the runners-up and third-placed teams qualify for the new Europa League. If the Europa League place that is reserved for the Irish Cup winners (or runners-up, in the event that the Cup winners have also won the League championship) is taken by the team in second or third place, then the fourth-placed team is entered into the Europa League. In order to compete in any of these European competitions, however, clubs must possess a UEFA licence. In the event that a team qualifies without such a licence, lower-placed teams may take their place.

The four highest-placed teams in the Premiership also qualify automatically for the next season’s all-Ireland Setanta Cup. The fifth- and sixth-placed teams may also qualify if either or both of the winners (or runners-up, in the event that the Irish Cup winners have also finished first or second) of the Irish Cup and League Cup have qualified via the League. (The League Cup runners-up cannot qualify.)

The bottom-placed team is relegated to the IFA Championship and the second-bottom-placed team must take part in a two-legged play-off match against the second-placed team in the Championship, and is relegated if it loses. (In the event that the Championship winners do not possess a domestic licence, there is no automatic relegation and, instead, the bottom-placed team takes part in the play-off against the second-placed Championship team. In the event that neither the Championship winners nor runners-up has a domestic licence, there is no relegation.)

The twelve Premiership teams also compete for the Irish League Cup: the second-most important cup competition after the Irish Cup.

UEFA coefficient and ranking

As of 13 July 2011, the IFA Premiership's UEFA coefficient points total is 2.583. It is currently ranked by UEFA as the 45th best league in Europe out of 53.

2008 reorganisation

For the 2008–09 season, the League system for Northern Ireland was re-organised. It was renamed as the IFA Premiership, and reduced to twelve teams, included on the basis not only of their performance in the 2007–08 season, but in the previous two seasons, and other off-the-field criteria as follows. Each applicant club was assessed by an independent panel and awarded points against the following criteria:

Sporting (maximum 450 points) – based on league placings, Irish Cup, League Cup and European performances in 2005–06, 2006–07 and 2007–08; with points also awarded for running youth teams, women's teams and community development programmes.

Finance (maximum 200 points) – based on solvency, debt management and cash-flow projection.

Infrastructure (maximum 150 points) – based on stadium capacity, changing provisions, sanitary facilities, field of play, floodlighting, existence and standard of control room, first aid room, drug testing room and media facilities.

Business planning (maximum 50 points)

Personnel (maximum 100 points) – based on qualification and experience of staff

Attendances (maximum 50 points)

Portadown were relegated to the IFA Championship as a result of submitting their application for the IFA Premiership 29 minutes past the deadline for consideration.[5]

Premiership members for 2011–12

Club
Finishing position
in 2010–11
First season in
top division
First season of
current spell in
top division
Total seasons
in top division
Ballymena United 9th 1928–29 1928–29 73
Carrick Rangers 1st in IFA Championship 1983–84 2011–12 21
Cliftonville 4th 1890–91 1890–91 111
Coleraine 7th 1927–28 1996–97 77
Crusaders 2nd 1949–50 2006–07 62
Donegal Celtic 11th 2006–07 2010–11 4
Dungannon Swifts 8th 2003–04 2003–04 9
Glenavon 10th 1911–12 2005–06 89
Glentoran 3rd 1890–91 1890–91 111
Linfield 1st 1890–91 1890–91 111
Lisburn Distillery 6th 1890–91 2002–03 105
Portadown 5th 1924–25 2009–10 80

List of champions and runners-up

Irish Football League

Season Champions
(number of titles)
Runners-up Third Leading goalscorer Goals
1890–91 Linfield (1) Ulster Distillery Robert Hill (Linfield) 20
1891–92 Linfield (2) Ulster Lancashire Fusiliers Tim Morrison (Linfield) 21
1892–93 Linfield (3) Cliftonville Distillery Robert Hill (Linfield)

James Percy (Cliftonville)

9
1893–94 Glentoran (1) Linfield Cliftonville Michael McErlean (Linfield) 9
1894–95 Linfield (4) Distillery Glentoran George Gaukrodger (Linfield)

Joe McAllen (Linfield)

4
1895–96 Distillery (1) Cliftonville Linfield unknown
1896–97 Glentoran (2) Cliftonville Linfield Johnny Darling (Linfield)

Richard Peden (Linfield)

6
1897–98 Linfield (5) Cliftonville Glentoran unknown
1898–99 Distillery (2) Linfield Cliftonville unknown
1899–1900 Belfast Celtic (1) Linfield Distillery unknown
1900–01 Distillery (3) Glentoran Belfast Celtic unknown
1901–02 Linfield (6) Glentoran Distillery unknown
1902–03 Distillery (4) Linfield Glentoran unknown
1903–04 Linfield (7) Distillery Glentoran unknown
1904–05 Glentoran (3) Belfast Celtic Linfield unknown
1905–06 Cliftonville (1)

Distillery (5) (title shared)

Linfield unknown
1906–07 Linfield (8) Shelbourne Distillery unknown
1907–08 Linfield (9) Cliftonville Glentoran unknown
1908–09 Linfield (10) Glentoran Shelbourne unknown
1909–10 Cliftonville (2) Belfast Celtic Linfield unknown
1910–11 Linfield (11) Glentoran Belfast Celtic unknown
1911–12 Glentoran (4) Distillery Belfast Celtic unknown
1912–13 Glentoran (5) Distillery Linfield unknown
1913–14 Linfield (12) Glentoran Belfast Celtic unknown
1914–15 Belfast Celtic (2) Glentoran Linfield unknown
1915–19 League suspended due to the First World War
1919–20 Belfast Celtic (3) Distillery Glentoran unknown
1920–21 Glentoran (6) Glenavon Linfield unknown
1921–22 Linfield (13) Glentoran Distillery unknown
1922–23 Linfield (14) Queen’s Island Glentoran unknown
1923–24 Queen's Island (1) Distillery Linfield unknown
1924–25 Glentoran (7) Queen's Island Belfast Celtic unknown
1925–26 Belfast Celtic (4) Glentoran Larne unknown
1926–27 Belfast Celtic (5) Queen's Island Distillery Joe Bambrick (Glentoran) 28
1927–28 Belfast Celtic (6) Linfield Newry Town unknown
1928–29 Belfast Celtic (7) Linfield Glentoran Joe Bambrick (Linfield) 43
1929–30 Linfield (15) Glentoran Coleraine Joe Bambrick (Linfield) 50
1930–31 Glentoran (8) Linfield Belfast Celtic Fred Roberts (Glentoran) 55
1931–32 Linfield (16) Derry City Belfast Celtic unknown
1932–33 Belfast Celtic (8) Distillery Linfield Joe Bambrick (Linfield) 40
1933–34 Linfield (17) Belfast Celtic Glentoran unknown
1934–35 Linfield (18) Derry City Belfast Celtic unknown
1935–36 Belfast Celtic (9) Derry City Linfield unknown
1936–37 Belfast Celtic (10) Derry City Linfield unknown
1937–38 Belfast Celtic (11) Derry City Portadown unknown
1938–39 Belfast Celtic (12) Ballymena United Derry City unknown
1939–40 Belfast Celtic (13) Portadown Glentoran unknown
1940–47 League suspended due to the Second World War
1947–48 Belfast Celtic (14) Linfield Ballymena United Jimmy Jones (Belfast Celtic) 28
1948–49 Linfield (19) Belfast Celtic Glentoran Billy Simpson (Linfield) 19
1949–50 Linfield (20) Glentoran Distillery Sammy Hughes (Glentoran) 23
1950–51 Glentoran (9) Linfield Glenavon Sammy Hughes (Glentoran)

Walter Allen (Portadown)

23
1951–52 Glenavon (1) Distillery Coleraine Jimmy Jones (Glenavon) 27
1952–53 Glentoran (10) Linfield Ballymena United Sammy Hughes (Glentoran) 28
1953–54 Linfield (21) Glentoran Glenavon Jimmy Jones (Glenavon) 32
1954–55 Linfield (22) Glenavon Cliftonville Fay Coyle (Coleraine) 20
1955–56 Linfield (23) Glenavon Bangor Jimmy Jones (Glenavon) 26
1956–57 Glenavon (2) Linfield Glentoran Jimmy Jones (Glenavon) 33
1957–58 Ards (1) Glenavon Ballymena United Jackie Milburn (Linfield) 29
1958–59 Linfield (24) Glenavon Glentoran Jackie Milburn (Linfield) 26
1959–60 Glenavon (3) Glentoran Distillery Jimmy Jones (Glenavon) 29
1960–61 Linfield (25) Portadown Ards Trevor Thompson (Glentoran) 22
1961–62 Linfield (26) Portadown Ballymena United Mick Lynch (Ards) 20
1962–63 Distillery (6) Linfield Portadown Joe Meldrum (Distillery) 27
1963–64 Glentoran (11) Coleraine Derry City Trevor Thompson (Linfield) 21
1964–65 Derry City (1) Coleraine Crusaders Kenny Halliday (Coleraine)

Dennis Guy (Glenavon)

19
1965–66 Linfield (27) Derry City Glentoran Sammy Pavis (Linfield) 28
1966–67 Glentoran (12) Linfield Derry City Sammy Pavis (Linfield) 25
1967–68 Glentoran (13) Linfield Coleraine Sammy Pavis (Linfield) 30
1968–69 Linfield (28) Derry City Coleraine Danny Hale (Derry City) 21
1969–70 Glentoran (14) Coleraine Ards Des Dickson (Coleraine) 21
1970–71 Linfield (29) Glentoran Distillery Bryan Hamilton (Linfield) 18
1971–72 Glentoran (15) Portadown Ards Peter Watson (Distillery)

Des Dickson (Coleraine)

15
1972–73 Crusaders (1) Ards Portadown Des Dickson (Coleraine) 23
1973–74 Coleraine (1) Portadown Crusaders Des Dickson (Coleraine) 24
1974–75 Linfield (30) Coleraine Glentoran Martin Malone (Portadown) 15
1975–76 Crusaders (2) Glentoran Coleraine Des Dickson (Coleraine) 23
1976–77 Glentoran (16) Glenavon Linfield Ronnie McAteer (Crusaders) 20
1977–78 Linfield (31) Glentoran Glenavon Warren Feeney (Glentoran) 17
1978–79 Linfield (32) Glenavon Ards Tommy Armstrong (Ards) 21
1979–80 Linfield (33) Ballymena United Glentoran Jimmy Martin (Glentoran) 17
1980–81 Glentoran (17) Linfield Ballymena United Des Dickson (Coleraine)

Paul Malone (Ballymena United)

18
1981–82 Linfield (34) Glentoran Coleraine Gary Blackledge (Glentoran) 18
1982–83 Linfield (35) Glentoran Coleraine Jim Campbell (Ards) 15
1983–84 Linfield (36) Glentoran Cliftonville Martin McGaughey (Linfield)

Trevor Anderson (Linfield)

15
1984–85 Linfield (37) Coleraine Glentoran Martin McGaughey (Linfield) 34
1985–86 Linfield (38) Coleraine Ards Trevor Anderson (Linfield) 14
1986–87 Linfield (39) Coleraine Ards Ray McCoy (Coleraine)

Gary Macartney (Glentoran)

14
1987–88 Glentoran (18) Linfield Coleraine Martin McGaughey (Linfield) 18
1988–89 Linfield (40) Glentoran Coleraine Stephen Baxter (Linfield) 17
1989–90 Portadown (1) Glenavon Glentoran Martin McGaughey (Linfield) 19
1990–91 Portadown (2) Bangor Glentoran Stephen McBride (Glenavon) 22
1991–92 Glentoran (19) Portadown Linfield Harry McCourt (Omagh Town)

Stephen McBride (Glenavon)

18
1992–93 Linfield (41) Crusaders Bangor Steve Cowan (Portadown) 23
1993–94 Linfield (42) Portadown Glenavon Darren Erskine (Ards)

Stephen McBride (Glenavon)

22
1994–95 Crusaders (3) Glenavon Portadown Glenn Ferguson (Glenavon) 27
1995–96 Portadown (3) Crusaders Glentoran Garry Haylock (Portadown) 19
1996–97 Crusaders (4) Coleraine Glentoran Garry Haylock (Portadown) 16
1997–98 Cliftonville (3) Linfield Portadown Vinny Arkins (Portadown) 22
1998–99 Glentoran (20) Linfield Crusaders Vinny Arkins (Portadown) 19
1999–2000 Linfield (43) Coleraine Glenavon Vinny Arkins (Portadown) 29
2000–01 Linfield (44) Glenavon Glentoran Davy Larmour (Linfield) 17
2001–02 Portadown (4) Glentoran Linfield Vinny Arkins (Portadown) 30
2002–03 Glentoran (21) Portadown Coleraine Vinny Arkins (Portadown) 29

Irish Premier League

Season Champions
(number of titles)
Runners-up Third Leading goalscorer Goals
2003–04 Linfield (45) Portadown Lisburn Distillery Glenn Ferguson (Linfield) 25
2004–05 Glentoran (22) Linfield Portadown Chris Morgan (Glentoran) 19
2005–06 Linfield (46) Glentoran Portadown Peter Thompson (Linfield) 25
2006–07 Linfield (47) Glentoran Cliftonville Gary Hamilton (Glentoran) 27
2007–08 Linfield (48) Glentoran Cliftonville Peter Thompson (Linfield) 29

IFA Premiership

Season Champions
(number of titles)
Runners-up Third Leading goalscorer Goals
2008–09 Glentoran (23) Linfield Crusaders Curtis Allen (Lisburn Distillery) 19
2009–10 Linfield (49) Cliftonville Glentoran Rory Patterson (Coleraine) 30
2010–11 Linfield (50) Crusaders Glentoran Peter Thompson (Linfield) 23

Bold indicates Double winners – i.e. League and Irish Cup winners

Italic indicates Treble Winners – i.e. League, Irish Cup and at least one other senior trophy

Irish Football League First Division

Season Champions
(number of titles)
Runners-up Third
1995–96 Coleraine (1) Ballymena United Omagh Town
1996–97 Ballymena United (1) Omagh Town Bangor
1997–98 Newry Town (1) Bangor Distillery
1998–99 Distillery (1) Ards Bangor
1999–2000 Omagh Town (1) Ards Limavady United
2000–01 Ards (1) Lisburn Distillery Armagh City
2001–02 Lisburn Distillery (2) Institute Dungannon Swifts
2002–03 Dungannon Swifts (1) Ballymena United Limavady United

Performance by club

Club Winners Runners-up Winning years
Linfield
50
20
1890–91, 1891–92, 1892–93, 1894–95, 1897–98, 1901–02, 1903–04, 1906–07, 1907–08, 1908–09, 1910–11, 1913–14, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1929–30, 1931–32, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1958–59, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1965–66, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11
Glentoran
23
23
1893–94, 1896–97, 1904–05, 1911–12, 1912–13, 1920–21, 1924–25, 1930–31, 1950–51, 1952–53, 1963–64, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1976–77, 1980–81, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1998–99, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2008–09
Belfast Celtic
14
4
1899–1900, 1914–15, 1919–20, 1925–26, 1926–27, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1932–33, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1947–48
Lisburn Distillery
6 (inc. 1 shared)
8
1895–96, 1898–99, 1900–01, 1902–03, 1905–06, 1962–63
Portadown
4
9
1989–90, 1990–91, 1995–96, 2001–02
Crusaders
4
3
1972–73, 1975–76, 1994–95, 1996–97
Glenavon
3
10
1951–52, 1956–57, 1959–60
Cliftonville
3 (inc. 1 shared)
5
1905–06, 1909–10, 1997–98
Coleraine
1
9
1973–74
Derry City
1
7
1964–65
Queen's Island
1
3
1923–24
Ards
1
1
1957–58

Total titles won by town or city

Twelve clubs have been champions, and the overwhelming majority have been from Belfast.

Town or city Number of titles Clubs
Belfast
100
Linfield (50), Glentoran (23), Belfast Celtic (14), Distillery (6 (1 shared)), Crusaders (4), Cliftonville (3 (1 shared)), Queen's Island (1)
Portadown
4
Portadown (4)
Lurgan
3
Glenavon (3)
Coleraine
1
Coleraine (1)
Derry
1
Derry City (1)
Newtownards
1
Ards (1)

History and trivia

The first Irish League champions were Linfield, and the first runners-up were Ulster. After the first season, the league expanded to ten clubs, but shrank after only one season to six clubs for the 1892–93 season. Only four clubs competed in 1892–93 and 1893–94, then six clubs for the following season, until a membership of eight was achieved for the 1901–02 season. With the exception of one season (1912–13) 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.) Only five and six clubs competed in 1920–21 and from 1921–23 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 2002–03 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 2003–04 and subsequently the IFA Intermediate League). In 2008, with the creation of the IFA Premiership, the league was reduced to twelve.

Four clubs – Cliftonville, Glentoran, Linfield and Lisburn Distillery – have retained membership of the League since its inception in 1890: 122 years and 111 seasons (due to eleven suspended seasons). All the League members from 1890 up to and including the 2011–12 season (Irish Football League 1890–2003, Irish Premier League 2003–08, IFA Premiership 2008 to present) are as follows (current members shown in bold):

Club From No. of seasons Years
Cliftonville Belfast 111 1890–
Glentoran Belfast 111 1890–
Linfield Belfast 111 1890–
Lisburn Distillery[note 1] Lisburn[note 2] 111 1890–
Glenavon Lurgan 89 1911–2004, 2005–
Portadown Portadown 80 1924–2008, 2009–
Coleraine Coleraine 78 1927–
Ballymena United[note 3] Ballymena 77 1928–
Ards Newtownards[note 4] 76 1923–2006
Bangor Bangor 70 1927–2003, 2008–09
Crusaders Belfast 62 1949–2005, 2006–
Larne Larne 53 1923–40, 1972–2008
Newry City[note 5] Newry 45 1923–40, 1983–2011
Belfast Celtic[note 6] Belfast 38 1896–1920, 1924–49
Derry City Derry 36 1929–72
Carrick Rangers Carrickfergus 21 1983–2003, 2011–
Omagh Town Omagh 15 1990–2005
Dungannon Swifts Dungannon 15 1997–
Ballyclare Comrades Ballyclare 13 1990–2003
Bohemians Dublin 13 1902–11, 1912–20
Derry Celtic Derry 13 1900–13
Shelbourne Dublin 12 1904–20
Limavady United Limavady 11 1997–2008
Institute Drumahoe 10 1999–2006, 2007–10
Queen’s Island Belfast 8 1921–29
Armagh City Armagh 7 1999–2003, 2005–08
Ulster Belfast 6 1890–94, 1901–03
Barn Carrickfergus 5 1923–28
Donegal Celtic Belfast 4 2006–08, 2010–
Loughgall Loughgall 3 2004–07
North Staffordshire Regiment Army team 3 1896–99
Ligoneil Belfast 2 1891–92, 1893–94
Oldpark Belfast 2 1890–92
Belfast YMCA Belfast 1 1891–92
Clarence Belfast 1 1890–91
Derry Olympic Derry 1 1892–93
King's Own Scottish Borderers Army team 1 1903–04
Milford Milford 1 1890–91
Lancashire Fusiliers Army team 1 1891–92
Milltown Belfast 1 1891–92
Royal Scots Army team 1 1899–00
St Columb's Court Derry 1 1901–02
Tritonville Dublin 1 1912–13

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 follow:

Season Winners Score Runners-up
1895–96 Distillery 2–1 Cliftonville
1898–99 Distillery 2–0 Linfield
1904–05 Glentoran 3–1 Belfast Celtic
1905–06 Cliftonville 0–0 Distillery
Replay Cliftonville 3–3 Distillery
1910–11 Linfield 3–2 Glentoran
1937–38 Belfast Celtic 2–2 Derry City
Replay Belfast Celtic 3–1 Derry City
1949–50 Linfield 2–0 Glentoran
1960–61 Linfield 2–0 Portadown
1961–62 Linfield 3–1 Portadown

On one occasion (1905–06), the championship title was shared after Cliftonville and Distillery could not be separated after two play-off matches.

Linfield were the first team to win the championship on goal difference in 1992–93, when they finished level on 66 points each with Crusaders, but eight goals better with a +34 goal difference to Crusaders' +26.

Linfield have won the League championship the most times (50).

From 1890 to 1921, when the Irish League was an all-Ireland competition, no southern clubs (from what would become the Irish Free State and later the Republic of Ireland) ever won the championship. During this period, three southern clubs participated in the League: Bohemians, Shelbourne and Tritonville. The highest place achieved by any of these clubs was second, by Shelbourne in 1906–07.

No club from outside Belfast won the League championship until Glenavon took it to Co. Armagh in 1951–52. In 1957–58, Ards became the first team from Co. Down to win the League, and in 1964–65, Derry City were the first Co. Londonderry team to do so. Of the 111 championships, the title has only been taken out of Belfast on ten occasions. The most successful provincial club is Portadown, with four championships.

A total of 12 different teams have won the championship.

In the early years, Army regiments stationed in Ireland participated in the League: the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1891–92; the North Staffordshire Regiment for three seasons from 1896–99; the Royal Scots in 1899–00 and the King's Own Scottish Borderers in 1903–04.

The longest gap between Irish League championships was 77 seasons (excluding the 11 suspended seasons) between Cliftonville’s wins in 1909–10 and 1997–98.

The record for consecutive titles is six, held jointly by Belfast Celtic (1935–40 and 1947–48) and Linfield (1981–87).

Historically, with relatively few league fixtures each season, the Irish League organised a number of other competitions for its members. While some of these enjoyed considerable prestige over the years, they have been phased out over recent seasons 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.).

In 1961–62, Linfield famously achieved the feat of winning seven trophies: the Irish League; Irish Cup; City Cup, Gold Cup; Ulster Cup; County Antrim Shield; and North-South Cup.

On the following occasions, teams have completed a league campaign unbeaten:

Season Team Number of games played
1892–93 Linfield 10
1894–95 Linfield 6
1903–04 Linfield 14
1921–22 Linfield 10
1926–27 Belfast Celtic 22
1928–29 Belfast Celtic 26
1980–81 Glentoran 22

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 2–2 at Solitude.

Relegation and promotion history

Between 1995/96 and 2002/03, 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
1995–96 Bangor Coleraine
1996–97 - Ballymena United
Omagh Town
1997–98 Ards Newry Town
1998–99 Omagh Town Distillery
1999–2000 Lisburn Distillery Omagh Town
2000–01 Ballymena United Ards
2001–02 - Lisburn Distillery
Institute

At the end of the 2002/03 season, the league was reformed as the single-division Irish Premier League. Four clubs were relegated to intermediate football, and thereafter there has been relegation and promotion between the senior Irish League and the top intermediate league below (now the IFA Championship).

Season Relegated Promoted
2002–03 Armagh City
Ballyclare Comrades
Bangor
Carrick Rangers
-
2003–04 Glenavon Loughgall
2004–05 Crusaders
Omagh Town
Armagh City
Glenavon
2005–06 Ards
Institute
Crusaders
Donegal Celtic
2006–07 Loughgall Institute
2007–08 Armagh City
Limavady United
Larne
Donegal Celtic
Portadown
Bangor
2008–09 Bangor Portadown
2009–10 Institute Donegal Celtic
2010–11 Newry City Carrick Rangers

Notes

  1. ^ Changed name from Distillery to Lisburn Distillery in 1999.
  2. ^ Moved from Belfast to Ballyskeagh in 1980.
  3. ^ Known as Ballymena until 1934.
  4. ^ Sold home ground in Newtownards in 2002, and subsequently played in Carrickfergus, Belfast and Bangor.
  5. ^ Changed name from Newry Town to Newry City in 2004.
  6. ^ Changed name from Celtic to Belfast Celtic in 1901.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.irishfa.com/the-ifa/news/3002/northern-ireland-football-lines-up-on-sky-sports/
  2. ^ "Irish League gets TV deal". BBC News. 2002-09-03. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/2234219.stm. 
  3. ^ Carling to sponsor Premiership
  4. ^ IFA unveils Carling as new Premiership sponsor
  5. ^ "Portadown out of Premier League". BBC News. 2008-05-13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/7398872.stm. 

External links