The Northern Ireland football league system 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. National leagues exist at senior and intermediate level. All junior leagues and some intermediate are organised on a regional basis.
20-648: The Craig Memorial Cup , also known as the William Craig Memorial Cup is an intermediate football competition in Northern Ireland run by the North West of Ireland Football Association. The competition culminates in the final which has traditionally been played on Boxing Day . The current champions are Limavady United . Northern Ireland football league system Regionally, there are four regional football associations:
40-436: A Championship Licence, they are not promoted. The NIFL Premiership Development League , which is also an intermediate league, comprises the reserve teams of the twelve senior NIFL Premiership clubs. In 2010-11, a "pyramid" system was introduced, with the possibility of promotion and relegation between the national league and the four regional intermediate leagues, namely: Clubs in these leagues may only gain promotion to
60-710: A number of clubs deciding to join other regional leagues within the league system, thus leaving three regional leagues below the Premier Intermediate League. 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 but the fact that the clubs are at amateur level. There
80-625: A pyramid system was introduced, with the possibility of promotion and relegation between the Championship and the four regional intermediate leagues. In 2013, the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) took control of the senior league and the two intermediate divisions below, as well as the Reserve League. In 2016, Championship 1 acquired senior status and was renamed the 'Championship'; Championship 2
100-881: 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 North-West Junior Cup , and the Fermanagh & Western Football Association organises
120-702: The Irish Cup and the Northern Ireland Football League Cup , although intermediate teams are entitled to enter both. At regional level, three of the four regional FAs organise their 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
140-735: The Mulhern Cup . For each division, its official name and number of clubs is given: At national level, from 1890 until 1915 there was only one league the Irish Football League , which operated at senior level. In 1915, the Irish Intermediate League was created at intermediate level. In 1951, the B Division was also created at intermediate level. By 1954, the Irish Intermediate League had become defunct as many clubs left to join
160-538: The NIFL Championship , which consists of twenty-four semi-professional clubs. Members of the Premiership must possess a domestic licence in order to retain membership and members of the Championship must possess a championship licence. Clubs that wish to be promoted to the Championship from intermediate football must attain a Championship Licence. At national level there are two senior cup competitions:
180-625: 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 . The Northern Ireland Football League , which is the national league of Northern Ireland, has two senior divisions, the NIFL Premiership and
200-981: The North East Ulster Football Association but more commonly as the County Antrim FA ) is the largest of the four regional football associations within Northern Ireland and affiliated to the Irish FA , the others being the Mid-Ulster FA , the North-West of Ireland FA and the Fermanagh & Western FA . The County Antrim FA held its inaugural meeting on 23 April 1888 at the Commercial Hotel, Donegall Street, Belfast . The founding seven member clubs were Belfast Athletics, Cliftonville , Clarence , Distillery , YMCA , Oldpark and Whiteabbey. Ballyclare, Linfield Athletics , Mountcollyer and Beechmount joined these clubs shortly thereafter. In
220-580: The North West Senior Cup . The national league has one intermediate division: the NIFL Premier Intermediate League . Two clubs are automatically promoted from the Premier Intermediate League to the Championship at the end of each season, and two clubs are relegated to the Premier Intermediate League from the Championship. In the event, however, that either of the Premier Intermediate League teams does not possess
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#1732782473568240-712: 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 . The Fermanagh & Western Football Association organised the Fermanagh & Western Intermediate Cup for three seasons, but it is now defunct. In 2023 the Northern Ireland Intermediate League announced that it would cease to exist due to
260-759: The B Division. 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
280-583: The County Antrim FA to found further competitions, the Steel & Sons Cup in 1895 and the County Antrim Junior Shield in 1900. Regular representative fixtures continued until the 1950s when financial losses incurred on trips to face the Sheffield and Hallamshire FA proved too much for the Association to bear. In 1988, to celebrate the County Antrim FA's centenary a special competition
300-540: The Premier Intermediate League if they win their respective league championship and meet the necessary criteria. If more than one league champion meets the criteria, then only one will be promoted, to be decided by a play-off or series of play-offs. At national level there is one intermediate cup competition: the Intermediate Cup . At regional level, three of the four regional FAs organise their own cup competitions. The North East Ulster Football Association runs
320-935: 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 Intermediate League replaced the IFA Intermediate League. In 2009, the IFA Championship was expanded and divided into two divisions and the IFA Interim Intermediate League folded. In 2010,
340-471: The first round draw was made in November 1888. Also organised were a fundraising match, held between Cliftonville and "The Rest", and a first representative fixture, lost 6-2 to a touring side from Canada . In the first few years of its existence County Antrim FA XIs also faced teams representing County Londonderry , Mid-Ulster and the Irish FA . Continued expansion of football in the region permitted
360-665: The intervening years, membership has grown from these eleven clubs to more than 500. In 1896, the jurisdiction of the Association was extended beyond County Antrim to include all clubs within the Parliamentary boundaries of Belfast , thus including some within County Down . Aided by a grant from the Irish FA , the County Antrim FA set about organising a competition for its members, the County Antrim Senior Challenge Shield , for which
380-561: Was organised - The County Antrim FA Centenary Chalice. The specially produced crystal trophy was won by Glentoran who defeated Ballymena United 4-2 in the final at Windsor Park , Belfast. That same season a County Antrim Select lost 6-2 to a Combined Mid-Ulster/North-West Select in a commemorative match at Windsor Park. The County Antrim FA now has over 500 member clubs, spread beyond the traditional boundaries of County Antrim into mid-, north and east County Down . Membership comes from all levels of football within Northern Ireland, from
400-562: Was renamed the 'Premier Intermediate League'; the Reserve League became the Development League. † Senior clubs' reserve teams have intermediate status and compete against other intermediate teams in many competitions. The women's system currently has six steps. Each step has only one division. There is promotion and relegation between all levels. They are: North East Ulster Football Association The County Antrim & District Football Association (also known as
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