IFA Premiership
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IFA Premiership | |
---|---|
Founded | |
2008 | |
Nation | |
Northern Ireland | |
Relegation to | |
IFA Championship | |
Number of teams | |
12 | |
Level on pyramid | |
1 | |
European qualification | |
Champions League (1 place) UEFA Cup (3 places) |
|
Champions (2007-08) | |
Linfield | |
website | |
http://www.irishpremierleague.com |
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 has historically been the league for the whole of Ireland. It should not be confused with the FAI League of Ireland, which is the league for the Republic of Ireland. At the end of the season, the champion club is presented with the Gibson Cup.
The Premiership is sponsored by JJB Sports and is marketed as the JJB Sports Premiership.
Contents |
[edit] 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 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), but 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 the south and west.
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 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 due to partition 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 (although the Irish Football League Ltd remains registered as a company).
In 2008, the Irish League was re-organised again (see 2008/09 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 IFL'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.
[edit] 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 relgation issues. This makes a total of 38 fixtures. 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 UEFA Cup. If the UEFA Cup 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 UEFA Cup. 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 two highest placed teams in the Premiership also qualify automatically for the next season’s all-Ireland Setanta Cup. The third- and fourth-placed teams may also qualify if either or both of the winners (or runners-up, in the event that the Cup winners have also finished first or second) of the Irish Cup and League Cup have qualified via the League.
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.)
For the 2008-09 season, there will also be an IFA Interim Intermediate League for those former members of the IFA Intermediate League which did not meet the criteria for membership of the Championship. These clubs will have a year to upgrade their facilities, etc., in order to join the Championship for 2009-10.
The twelve Premiership teams also compete for the Irish League Cup: the second-most important cup competition after the Irish Cup.
[edit] 2008/09 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 F.C. were relegated to the IFA Championship as a result of submitting their application for the IFA Premiership 15 minutes past the deadline for consideration. [1]
[edit] Premiership members for 2008–09
Club |
Finishing position in 2007–08 |
First season in top division |
First season of current spell in top division |
Total seasons in top division |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bangor | 3rd in Intermediate League | 1927–28 | 2008–09 | 63 |
Ballymena United | 6th | 1928–29 | 1928–29 | 70 |
Cliftonville | 3rd | 1890–91 | 1890–91 | 108 |
Coleraine | 9th | 1927–28 | 1996–97 | 74 |
Crusaders | 7th | 1949–50 | 2006–07 | 59 |
Dungannon Swifts | 10th | 2003–04 | 2003–04 | 6 |
Glenavon | 12th | 1911–12 | 2005–06 | 86 |
Glentoran | 2nd | 1890–91 | 1890–91 | 108 |
Institute | 14th | 2002–03 | 2007–08 | 6 |
Linfield | 1st | 1890–91 | 1890–91 | 108 |
Lisburn Distillery | 4th | 1890–91 | 2002–03 | 102 |
Newry City | 8th | 1923–24 | 1998–99 | 40 |
[edit] Stadia
Overall Rank |
Club | Stadium | Town/city | Local authority | Capacity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Linfield | Windsor Park | Belfast | Belfast | 20,400 (14,400 seats[2]) | Windsor Park, opened in 1905, is also the national stadium for Northern Ireland. Most games for the Linfield and Northern Ireland teams are played to all seated crowds with the standing room rarely if ever used. |
2 | Glentoran | The Oval | Belfast | Belfast | 15,250 (5000 seats) | Glentoran's home since 1892, the Oval was bombed during the Second World War and the club shared Distillery's Grosvenor Park from 1941 until the Oval was fully repaired in 1949. |
3 | Ballymena United | The Showgrounds | Ballymena | Ballymena | 8,000 (4000 seats) | The Showgrounds are owned by Ballymena Borough Council. |
4 | Cliftonville | Solitude | Belfast | Belfast | 8,000 (2099 seats) | Solitude has been home to Cliftonville since 1890 and is thereby the oldest ground in the Irish Premiership. The Cage terrace is due to be replaced in 2008 by a new all-seater stand and changing rooms in line with the away stand now in place behind the opposing goal. |
5 | Lisburn Distillery | New Grosvenor Stadium | Ballyskeagh | Lisburn | 8,000 (2000 seats) | After being forced out of their traditional home, Grosvenor Park in Belfast, by arson in 1971, Distillery was homeless until moving to New Grosvenor in 1980. During that time they played home matches at Crusaders' Seaview and Brantwood's Skegoneill Avenue. |
6 | Coleraine | The Showgrounds | Coleraine | Coleraine | 6,500 (1500 seats) | The Coleraine Showgrounds are home to The Milk Cup Elite and Premier Finals. |
7 | Newry City | The Showgrounds | Newry | Newry and Mourne | 6,500 (800 seats) | The south terracing at the Showgrounds are planned for development with seats and a roof replacing them. The Showgounds have been Newry's home since 1948. |
8 | Crusaders | Seaview | Belfast | Belfast | 6,500 | Crusaders are considering a relocation to a new stadium either in partnership with Belfast City Council or Newtownabbey Borough Council.[citation needed] |
9 | Glenavon | Mourneview Park | Lurgan | Craigavon | 5,500 (4000 seats) | There are plans for an ultra-modern upgrade to Mourneview Park, which has been Glenavon's home since 1895. |
=10 | Institute | YMCA Grounds | Drumahoe | Derry | 4,000 (600 seats) | The YMCA Grounds, also known as Riverside, are owned by the local YMCA. |
=10 | Bangor | Clandeboye Park | Bangor | North Down | 4,000 | |
12 | Dungannon Swifts | Stangmore Park | Dungannon | Dungannon and South Tyrone | 3,000 (300 seats) |
[edit] List of champions and runners-up
[edit] Irish Football League
Season | Champions | Runners-up |
---|---|---|
1890-91 | Linfield | Ulster |
1891-92 | Linfield | Ulster |
1892-93 | Linfield | Cliftonville |
1893-94 | Glentoran | Linfield |
1894-95 | Linfield | Distillery |
1895-96 | Distillery | Cliftonville |
1896-97 | Glentoran | Cliftonville |
1897-98 | Linfield | Cliftonville/Glentoran |
1898-99 | Distillery | Linfield |
1899-1900 | Belfast Celtic | Distillery/Linfield |
1900-01 | Distillery | Glentoran |
1901-02 | Linfield | Glentoran |
1902-03 | Distillery | Linfield |
1903-04 | Linfield | Distillery/Glentoran |
1904-05 | Glentoran | Belfast Celtic |
1905-06 | Cliftonville/Distillery (shared) | - |
1906-07 | Linfield | Shelbourne |
1907-08 | Linfield | Cliftonville |
1908-09 | Linfield | Glentoran |
1909-10 | Cliftonville | Belfast Celtic |
1910-11 | Linfield | Glentoran |
1911-12 | Glentoran | Distillery |
1912-13 | Glentoran | Distillery |
1913-14 | Linfield | Glentoran |
1914-15 | Belfast Celtic | Glentoran |
1915-19 | no competition due to First World War | |
1919-20 | Belfast Celtic | Distillery |
1920-21 | Glentoran | Glenavon |
1921-22 | Linfield | Glentoran |
1922-23 | Linfield | Queen’s Island |
1923-24 | Queen’s Island | Distillery |
1924-25 | Glentoran | Queen’s Island |
1925-26 | Belfast Celtic | Glentoran |
1926-27 | Belfast Celtic | Queen’s Island |
1927-28 | Belfast Celtic | Linfield |
1928-29 | Belfast Celtic | Linfield |
1929-30 | Linfield | Glentoran |
1930-31 | Glentoran | Linfield |
1931-32 | Linfield | Derry City |
1932-33 | Belfast Celtic | Distillery |
1933-34 | Linfield | Belfast Celtic |
1934-35 | Linfield | Derry City |
1935-36 | Belfast Celtic | Derry City |
1936-37 | Belfast Celtic | Derry City |
1937-38 | Belfast Celtic | Derry City |
1938-39 | Belfast Celtic | Ballymena United |
1939-40 | Belfast Celtic | Portadown |
1940-47 | no competition due to Second World War | |
1947-48 | Belfast Celtic | Linfield |
1948-49 | Linfield | Belfast Celtic |
1949-50 | Linfield | Glentoran |
1950-51 | Glentoran | Linfield |
1951-52 | Glenavon | Coleraine |
1952-53 | Glentoran | Linfield |
1953-54 | Linfield | Glentoran |
1954-55 | Linfield | Glenavon |
1955-56 | Linfield | Glenavon |
1956-57 | Glenavon | Linfield |
1957-58 | Ards | Glenavon |
1958-59 | Linfield | Glenavon |
1959-60 | Glenavon | Glentoran |
1960-61 | Linfield | Portadown |
1961-62 | Linfield | Portadown |
1962-63 | Distillery | Linfield |
1963-64 | Glentoran | Coleraine |
1964-65 | Derry City | Coleraine |
1965-66 | Linfield | Derry City |
1966-67 | Glentoran | Linfield |
1967-68 | Glentoran | Linfield |
1968-69 | Linfield | Derry City |
1969-70 | Glentoran | Coleraine |
1970-71 | Linfield | Glentoran |
1971-72 | Glentoran | Portadown |
1972-73 | Crusaders | Ards |
1973-74 | Coleraine | Portadown |
1974-75 | Linfield | Coleraine |
1975-76 | Crusaders | Glentoran |
1976-77 | Glentoran | Glenavon |
1977-78 | Linfield | Glentoran |
1978-79 | Linfield | Glenavon |
1979-80 | Linfield | Ballymena United |
1980-81 | Glentoran | Linfield |
1981-82 | Linfield | Glentoran |
1982-83 | Linfield | Glentoran |
1983-84 | Linfield | Glentoran |
1984-85 | Linfield | Coleraine |
1985-86 | Linfield | Coleraine |
1986-87 | Linfield | Coleraine |
1987-88 | Glentoran | Linfield |
1988-89 | Linfield | Glentoran |
1989-90 | Portadown | Glenavon |
1990-91 | Portadown | Bangor |
1991-92 | Glentoran | Portadown |
1992-93 | Linfield | Crusaders |
1993-94 | Linfield | Portadown |
1994-95 | Crusaders | Glenavon |
1995-96 | Portadown | Crusaders |
1996-97 | Crusaders | Coleraine |
1997-98 | Cliftonville | Linfield |
1998-99 | Glentoran | Linfield |
1999-2000 | Linfield | Coleraine |
2000-01 | Linfield | Glenavon |
2001-02 | Portadown | Glentoran |
2002-03 | Glentoran | Portadown |
[edit] Irish Premier League
Season | Champions | Runners-up |
---|---|---|
2003-04 | Linfield | Portadown |
2004-05 | Glentoran | Linfield |
2005-06 | Linfield | Glentoran |
2006-07 | Linfield | Glentoran |
2007-08 | Linfield | Glentoran |
[edit] IFA Premiership
Season | Champions | Runners-up |
---|---|---|
2008-09 |
[edit] Performance by club
Team | Wins | Last win | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Linfield | 48 | 2007/08 |
2 | Glentoran | 22 | 2004/05 |
3 | Belfast Celtic | 19 | 1947/48 |
4 | Lisburn Distillery | 5 + 1 shared | 1962/63 |
5 | Crusaders | 4 | 1996/97 |
= | Portadown | 4 | 2001/02 |
7 | Glenavon | 3 | 1959/60 |
8 | Cliftonville | 2 + 1 shared | 1997/98 |
9 | Ards | 1 | 1957/58 |
= | Coleraine | 1 | 1973/74 |
= | Derry City | 1 | 1964/65 |
= | Queen's Island | 1 | 1923/24 |
[edit] Irish Football League First Division
Season | Champions | Runners-up |
---|---|---|
1995-96 | Coleraine | Ballymena United |
1996-97 | Ballymena United | Omagh Town |
1997-98 | Newry Town | Bangor |
1998-99 | Distillery | Ards |
1999-2000 | Omagh Town | Ards |
2000-01 | Ards | Lisburn Distillery |
2001-02 | Lisburn Distillery | Institute |
2002-03 | Dungannon Swifts | Ballymena United |
[edit] History and Trivia
The first Irish League champions were Linfield,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 Football 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 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: 118 years and 107 seasons (due to eleven suspended seasons). All the League members from 1890 until the end of the 2007-08 season (Irish Football League 1890-2003, Irish Premier League 2003-08) are as follows (current members shown in bold):
Club | From | No. of seasons | Years |
---|---|---|---|
Cliftonville | Belfast | 107 | 1890- |
Glentoran | Belfast | 107 | 1890- |
Linfield | Belfast | 107 | 1890- |
(Lisburn) Distillery(2) | Lisburn/Ballyskeagh, Co. Down(3) | 107 | 1890- |
Glenavon | Lurgan, Co. Armagh | 85 | 1911-2004, 2005- |
Portadown | Portadown, Co. Armagh | 77 | 1924-2008 |
Ards | Newtownards, Co. Down(4) | 76 | 1923-2006 |
Coleraine | Coleraine, Co. Londonderry | 74 | 1927- |
Ballymena (United)(5) | Ballymena, Co. Antrim | 73 | 1928- |
Bangor | Bangor, Co. Down | 69 | 1927-2003, 2008- |
Crusaders | Belfast | 58 | 1949-2005, 2006- |
Larne | Larne, Co. Antrim | 53 | 1923-40, 1972-2008 |
Newry Town/City(6) | Newry, Co. Down | 42 | 1923-40, 1983- |
Belfast Celtic | Belfast | 38 | 1896-1920, 1924-49 |
Derry City | Derry | 36 | 1929-72 |
Carrick Rangers | Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim | 20 | 1983-2003 |
Omagh Town | Omagh, Co. Tyrone | 15 | 1990-2005 |
Ballyclare Comrades | Ballyclare, Co. Antrim | 13 | 1990-2003 |
Bohemians | Dublin | 13 | 1902-11, 1912-20 |
Derry Celtic | Derry | 13 | 1900-13 |
Shelbourne | Dublin | 12 | 1904-20 |
Dungannon Swifts | Dungannon, Co. Tyrone | 11 | 1997- |
Limavady United | Limavady, Co. Londonderry | 11 | 1997-2008 |
Queen’s Island | Belfast | 8 | 1921-29 |
Institute | Drumahoe, Co. Londonderry | 8 | 1999-2006, 2007- |
Armagh City | Armagh, Co. Armagh | 7 | 1999-2003, 2005-08 |
Ulster | Belfast | 6 | 1890-94, 1901-03 |
Barn | Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim | 5 | 1923-28 |
Loughgall | Loughgall, Co. Armagh | 3 | 2004-07 |
North Staffordshire Regiment | Army team | 3 | 1896-99 |
Donegal Celtic | Belfast | 2 | 2006-08 |
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, Co. Armagh | 1 | 1890-91 |
Lancashire Fusiliers | Army team | 1 | 1891-92 |
Milltown | Belfast | 1 | 1891-92 |
Royal Scots | Army team | 1 | 1899-1900 |
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 was 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 (48).
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 106 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 1899-1900 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 | No. 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 24th September 2007 when Sky Television showed Cliftonville and Linfield draw 2-2 at Solitude.
[edit] Notes
- Note (1): Title shared after two play-off matches ended in draws.
- Note (2): Changed name from Distillery to Lisburn Distillery in 1999.
- Note (3): Moved from Belfast to Ballyskeagh in 1980.
- Note (4): Sold home ground in Newtownards in 2002, and subsequently played in Carrickfergus, Belfast and Bangor.
- Note (5): Known as Ballymena until 1934.
- Note (6): Changed name from Newry Town to Newry City in 2004.
[edit] See also
- Irish Cup
- Irish Football League Cup
- IFA Championship
- IFA Interim Intermediate League
- IFA Reserve League
- Setanta Sports Cup
- County Antrim Shield
- Mid-Ulster Cup
- North West Senior Cup
- Northern Ireland football league system
[edit] References
- ^ BBC SPORT | Football | Irish | Portadown out of Premier League
- ^ uefa.com - UEFA European U-19 C'ship
[edit] External links
- Irish Premier League Website
- Irish Football Club Project
- Irish FA Website
- Irish League Forums
- BBC Irish Football
- nifootball.co.uk