NIFL Championship
Founded2008 (as IFA Championship)
CountryNorthern Ireland
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toNIFL Premiership
Relegation toNIFL Premier Intermediate League
Domestic cup(s)Irish Cup
League cup(s)Northern Ireland Football League Cup
Current championsLoughgall (1st title)
(2022–23)
Current: 2023–24 Season

The Northern Ireland Football League Championship (known as the Playr-Fit Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the second level of the Irish League, the national football league in Northern Ireland. Clubs in the Championship can be promoted to the highest national division – the NIFL Premiership, and relegated to the third level – the NIFL Premier Intermediate League.

In its current format, it was founded in 2008 as the Premier Intermediate League for members of the previous IFA Intermediate League that met the new stricter membership criteria,[1] though was marketed as the IFA Championship.[2] In 2009, it was extended to two divisions: Championship 1 and Championship 2 with promotion and relegation between the two.[3] In 2013, the Championship and Premiership became part of the Northern Ireland Football League, independent of the Irish Football Association (IFA).

Under reforms agreed by the Irish League clubs in 2014, Championship 1 acquired senior status from the 2016–17 season onwards, continuing as the NIFL Championship. Championship 2 became the NIFL Premier Intermediate League, retaining its intermediate status.[4]

History

The B Division of the Irish League was founded in 1951, and originally consisted of the reserve teams of the senior Irish League clubs alongside some of the top intermediate clubs. The B Division was split geographically into North and South sections in 1974 (with a play-off to determine the winners in 1974–75 and 1975–76), and then into Section 1 (containing the intermediate clubs) and Section 2 (the reserve teams of senior clubs) in 1977. There was no promotion to the senior Irish League, although clubs could be elected to the senior league; Larne were elected in 1972 to replace Derry City, Carrick Rangers and Newry City were elected in 1983 when the Irish League expanded from 12 to 14 clubs, and Ballyclare Comrades and Omagh Town in 1990 when the league expanded to 16 clubs.

A new second tier was created in 1995 when the Irish League split into a Premier Division and First Division, each with eight clubs and automatic promotion and relegation introduced. In 2003 the Irish Football League was wound up, with the top division becoming the Irish Premier League and the second division becoming the Intermediate League First Division. This continued for four seasons, until the NIFL Championship was created.

Restructuring

Under reforms agreed by the NIFL clubs in 2014, from 2016, the current Championship 1 will acquire senior status, continuing as the NIFL Championship, while Championship 2 will continue as the Premier Intermediate League, retaining its intermediate status and will thus become the top intermediate league in Northern Ireland.[5][6]

Current NIFL Championship clubs

Club Stadium Location Capacity[7]
Annagh UnitedBMG ArenaPortadown1,250 (100 seated)
ArdsBangor Fuels ArenaBangor1,895 (500 seated)
Ballinamallard UnitedFerney ParkBallinamallard2,000 (250 seated)
Ballyclare ComradesDixon ParkBallyclare2,400
BangorBangor Fuels ArenaBangor1,895
DergviewDarragh ParkCastlederg1,200
DundelaWilgar ParkBelfast1,200
Harland & Wolff WeldersBlanchflower StadiumBelfast1,100
InstituteRyan McBride Brandywell StadiumDerry3,700
KnockbredaBreda ParkBelfast1,000
NewingtonInver ParkLarne3,000
PortadownShamrock ParkPortadown2,770

List of second-tier champions

Season Champions
Irish League B Division
1951–52Linfield Swifts
1952–53Linfield Swifts
1953–54Cliftonville Olympic
1954–55Larne
1955–56Banbridge Town
1956–57Larne
1957–58Ards II
1958–59Glentoran II
1959–60Newry Town
1960–61Ballyclare Comrades
1961–62Carrick Rangers
1962–63Ballyclare Comrades
1963–64Larne
1964–65Larne
1965–66Larne
1966–67Larne
1967–68Dundela
1968–69Larne
1969–70Larne
1970–71Larne
1971–72Larne (elected to Irish League)
1972–73Carrick Rangers
1973–74Ballyclare Comrades
1974–75Carrick Rangers (north/south play-off winners)
1975–76Linfield Swifts (north/south play-off winners)
1976–77Carrick Rangers and Dundela (shared)
Irish League B Division Section 1
1977–78Ballyclare Comrades
1978–79Carrick Rangers
1979–80Ballyclare Comrades
1980–81Newry Town
1981–82Dundela
1982–83Carrick Rangers (elected to Irish League)
1983–84Limavady United
1984–85Chimney Corner
1985–86Dundela
1986–87RUC
1987–88Dundela
1988–89Ballyclare Comrades
1989–90Dundela
1990–91Dundela
1991–92Dundela
1992–93Limavady United
1993–94Dundela
1994–95Loughgall
Irish League First Division
1995–96Coleraine
1996–97Ballymena United
1997–98Newry Town
1998–99Distillery
1999–2000Omagh Town
2000–01Ards
2001–02Lisburn Distillery
2002–03Dungannon Swifts
Intermediate League First Division
2003–04Loughgall
2004–05Armagh City
2005–06Crusaders
2006–07Institute
2007–08Loughgall (not promoted)
IFA Championship
2008–09Portadown
2009–10Loughgall (not promoted)
2010–11Carrick Rangers
2011–12Ballinamallard United
2012–13Ards
2013–14Institute
2014–15Carrick Rangers
2015–16Ards
2016–17Warrenpoint Town
2017–18Institute
2018–19Larne
2019–20Portadown F.C.
2021–22Newry City
2022–23Loughgall

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Premier Intermediate League (PIL)". Irish Football Association. irishfa.com. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "IFA Championship". Irish Football Association. irishfa.com. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Ladbrokes.com Championship 2009/10
  4. ↑ Northern Ireland Football League (2014). NI Football League Restructure Proposal.
  5. ↑ "NI Football League – Restructure Proposal". Northern Ireland Football League. nifootballleague.com. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Northern Ireland Football League (2014). NI Football League Restructure Proposal.
  7. ↑ "Championship 2019/2020 – Venues". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  • Malcolm Brodie (ed.), Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook (various editions)
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