Northern Ireland Football League
 | |
| Country |
 Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Divisions |
NIFL Premiership NIFL Championship 1 NIFL Championship 2 NIFL Reserve League NIFL Youth League |
| Number of teams | 41 |
| Level on pyramid | 1–3 |
| Domestic cup(s) |
Northern Ireland Football League Cup George Wilson Cup NIFL Youth League Cup |
| International cup(s) |
UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League Setanta Sports Cup |
| Website |
www |
 2014–15 NIFL Premiership2014–15 NIFL Championship | |
The Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) is the national association football league in Northern Ireland. The league was formed in 2013 to assume independent collective management of four leagues that had been under the direct management of the Irish Football Association: namely the IFA Premiership, the Premier Intermediate League (IFA Championship), the IFA Reserve League and the IFA Youth League.[1] As well as its league competitions – the top three levels of the Northern Ireland football league system, the Reserve League, and the national youth league – the NIFL also operates domestic cup competitions. The Northern Ireland Football League Cup is for the 41 members of the national leagues, the George Wilson Cup is for Reserve League teams, and the NIFL Youth League Cup is for Youth League teams.
Background
The Irish Football League was founded in 1890 as the national league for the whole of Ireland, continuing from 1921 as the national league for Northern Ireland following the withdrawal of teams from the newly-established Irish Free State. Traditionally the "Senior League", as it was often described, consisted only of one senior division, adding an intermediate 'B' Division in 1950, though with no promotion and relegation. The Senior League split into two divisions (Premier and First) in 1995 and the B Division was renamed as the Second Division. In 2003, however, the Senior League was reconstituted as the single-division Irish Premier League, with the Irish League left as a two-division intermediate league. In 2004, the Irish League dissolved and was replaced by the IFA Intermediate League. Promotion and relegation to and from the Senior League was introduced for the first time in 2003.
In 2008, the IFA took over responsibility for the Senior League under the name IFA Premiership, and the IFA Intermediate League was replaced by the Premier Intermediate League, known as the IFA Championship.[2][3] After five years under the auspices of the IFA, it was decided to create a single Northern Ireland Football League to assume responsibility for all the national leagues from the 2013–14 season.
League and corporate structure
The NIFL is a limited company, in which all member clubs have one vote.[4]
Clubs
Listed below are the 41 member clubs of the NIFL.[5]
- Ballinamallard United
- Ballymena United
- Cliftonville
- Coleraine
- Crusaders
- Dungannon Swifts
- Glenavon
- Glentoran
- Institute
- Linfield
- Portadown
- Warrenpoint Town
- NIFL Championship 1
- Ards
- Armagh City
- Ballyclare Comrades
- Bangor
- Carrick Rangers
- Dergview
- Donegal Celtic
- Dundela
- Harland & Wolff Welders
- Knockbreda
- Larne
- Lisburn Distillery
- Loughgall
- PSNI
- NIFL Championship 2
- Annagh United
- Ballymoney United
- Banbridge Town
- Coagh United
- Dollingstown
- Glebe Rangers
- Limavady United
- Lurgan Celtic
- Moyola Park
- Newington YC
- Portstewart
- Queen's University Belfast
- Sport & Leisure Swifts
- Tobermore United
- Wakehurst
References
- ↑ Irish Football Association (2013). We're Not Brazil... We're Northern Ireland: The Irish Football Association Strategic Plan 2013/18, p.16.
- ↑ "Premier Intermediate League (PIL)". Irish Football Association. irishfa.com. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ↑ "IFA Championship". Irish Football Association. irishfa.com. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ↑ Articles of Association of the Northern Ireland Football League Ltd
- ↑ http://nifootballleague.com
External links
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