 | |
| Founded | 2008 (as IFA Championship) |
|---|---|
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | NIFL Premiership |
| Relegation to | NIFL Premier Intermediate League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Irish Cup |
| League cup(s) | Northern Ireland Football League Cup |
| Current champions | Portadown (2019–20) |
| Current: 2020–21 season | |
The Northern Ireland Football League Championship (known as the Bluefin Sport Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the second level of the Northern Ireland Football League, the national football league in Northern Ireland. Clubs in the Championship can be promoted to the highest national division - the Irish Premiership, and relegated to the third level - the NIFL Premier Intermediate League.
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 IFA Premiership were replaced by a single Northern Ireland Football League, independent of the Irish Football Association (IFA).
Under reforms agreed by the Irish League clubs in 2014, from 2016–17, Championship 1 acquired senior status, continuing as the Irish League Championship, while Championship 2 continued as the Premier Intermediate League, retaining its intermediate status.[4]
Current NIFL Championship clubs (2019–20)[edit]
| Club | Stadium | Location | Capacity[5] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ards | Bangor Fuels Arena | Bangor | 1,895 (500 seated) |
| Ballinamallard United | Ferney Park | Ballinamallard | 2,000 (250 seated) |
| Ballyclare Comrades | Dixon Park | Ballyclare | 5,333 |
| Dergview | Darragh Park | Castlederg | 1,200 |
| Dundela | Wilgar Park | Belfast | 2,500 |
| Harland & Wolff Welders | Tillysburn Park | Belfast | 3,000 |
| Knockbreda | Breda Park | Belfast | 1,000 |
| Loughgall | Lakeview Park | Loughgall | 3,000 |
| Newry City | The Showgrounds | Newry | 2,275 (1,080 seated) |
| Portadown | Shamrock Park | Portadown | 3,940 (2,765 seated) |
| PSNI | Newforge Lane | Belfast | 1,500 |
| Queen's University | Upper Malone | Belfast | 1,000 (330 seated) |
See also[edit]
- NIFL Premiership
- NIFL Premier Intermediate League
- IFA Interim Intermediate League
- IFA Reserve League
- IFA Intermediate Cup
- George Wilson Cup
- Irish Cup
- Irish League Cup
- County Antrim Shield
- Steel & Sons Cup
- Mid-Ulster Cup
- Bob Radcliffe Cup
- North West Senior Cup
- Craig Memorial Cup
- Northern Ireland football league system
References[edit]
- ^ "Premier Intermediate League (PIL)". Irish Football Association. irishfa.com. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ^ "IFA Championship". Irish Football Association. irishfa.com. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ^ Ladbrokes.com Championship 2009/10
- ^ Northern Ireland Football League (2014). NI Football League Restructure Proposal.
- ^ "Championship 2019/2020 - Venues". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
External links[edit]
- Malcolm Brodie (ed.), Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook (various editions)
