The Floodlit Cup (more commonly known as the Budweiser Floodlit Cup , Budweiser Cup or Coca-Cola Cup for sponsorship reasons) was an annual football competition organised by the Irish Football League in the late-1980s and 1990s.
6-495: By the mid-1980s all Irish League clubs had installed floodlighting at their grounds, largely through grants awarded by the Football Trust . This presented the opportunity for the founding of a new competition with the prospect of much needed sponsorship revenue. Budweiser was announced as the sponsor of this new competition, presenting a total prize fund of £12,000 for competing teams and administration. A distinctive trophy
12-455: A penalty shoot-out if required. Semi-finals and final played on a neutral ground. Top two teams from the previous season’s Irish League given a bye to the second round. Entrants increased to 16 with the inclusion of B Division teams, Omagh Town and Ballyclare Comrades (who were due to join an expanded Irish League in 1990/91). First round played on a two legged, home and away basis using the away goal rule, followed by extra-time and penalties if
18-406: The aggregate score was level. Quarter-final and semi-final matches played as a single match with extra-time and penalties, with semis and final again at a neutral venue. Final match open to a replay if scores remained level after extra-time. Reverted to original straight knock-out format but with sixteen teams. The Irish League split into two divisions for the 1995/96 season and Coca-Cola took over
24-486: The sponsorship of the Floodlit Cup. The competition remained open to the 16 Irish League clubs (8 Premier Division and 8 First Division) and reverted to a two legged first round format, with the draw seeded so Premier League teams met First Division teams. From the quarter-finals on the format remained the same as in previous years. The Irish League had expanded again, to 18 teams (10 Premier and 8 First Division), for
30-488: Was a new trophy, and in the years that followed the term "Floodlit" became less prevalent. The Coca-Cola Floodlit Cup itself lapsed in 1998/99 with the remainder of the company's six-year sponsorship deal transferring to the Irish League Cup as the number of competitions open to Irish League clubs was reduced. Open to all 14 Irish League clubs. Played on a single match, straight knock-out basis with extra-time and
36-566: Was produced, featuring the sponsor's name, and this was awarded for the first time on December 15, 1987 to Glentoran . Budweiser remained sponsor of the Floodlit Cup until 1994/95 with Portadown winning the trophy for a record third time. With Budweiser's withdrawal as sponsors the competition was immediately replaced by the Coca-Cola Floodlit Cup (the Budweiser branded trophy ended at this point). The Coca-Cola Floodlit Cup
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