NIFL Championship

NIFL 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 League Cup
Current champions Institute F.C. (2017-18)
2017–18 NIFL Championship

The Northern Ireland Football League Championship, known as the NIFL Bluefin Sport Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the second division of the Northern Ireland Football League, the national football league in Northern Ireland.

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 NIFL clubs in 2014, from 2016-17, Championship 1 acquired senior status, continuing as the NIFL Championship, while Championship 2 continued as the Premier Intermediate League, retaining its intermediate status.[4]

Current NIFL Championship clubs (2018–19)

Club Location Stadium Capacity[5]
Ballinamallard UnitedBallinamallardFerney Park2,000 (250 Seated)
Ballyclare ComradesBallyclareDixon Park1,800 (500 seated)
Carrick RangersCarrickfergusLoughshore Hotel Arena6,000 (400 seated)
DergviewCastledergDarragh Park1,200
DundelaBelfastWilgar Park2,500
Harland & Wolff WeldersBelfastTillysburn Park3,000 (500 seated)
KnockbredaBelfastBreda Park1,000
LarneLarneInver Park3,000
Limavady UnitedLimavadyLimavady Showgrounds1,500
LoughgallLoughgallLakeview Park1,500 (250 Seated)
PSNIBelfastNewforge Lane478
PortadownPortadownShamrock Park2,770

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. ↑ "Championship 2016/2017 - Venues". Scoresway. Retrieved 20 November 2016.

General

  • Malcolm Brodie (ed.), Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook (various editions)
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