Northern Ireland national Junior football team

Northern Ireland Juniors
Nickname(s) Green and White Army, Norn Iron
Association Irish Football Association
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Harry McConkey
Captain William Armstrong
Most caps Brian Hylands (25)[1]
Home stadium various
FIFA code NIR
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Ireland 0–11 Scotland 
(Glasgow; 15 February 1890)
Biggest win
 Northern Ireland 5–0 Luxembourg 
(Luxembourg; 1 October 2000)
Biggest defeat
 Ireland 0–11 Scotland 
(Glasgow; 15 February 1890)
UEFA Regions Cup
Appearances 2 (first in 2007)
Best result Finals Group Stage

The Northern Ireland Junior national football team, commonly referred to as Northern Ireland Juniors, represents Northern Ireland in international association football matches for teams selected outside national professional leagues. Originally selected on an all-Ireland basis, the team is now limited to selecting players appearing in intermediate and junior leagues within Northern Ireland. A number of players have graduated from the Junior international side to the senior international side, notably Norman Uprichard and Dick Keith who played at the 1958 World Cup. The most recent player to graduate to the senior team was Stuart Dallas.

History

Ireland Juniors played their first representative match against Scotland in 1890. The Scots became the primary opponents for Ireland Juniors through to the 1990s with only occasional matches against Wales and the Republic of Ireland for variety.[2]

Today

The main competition for junior level national teams in Europe is the UEFA Regions Cup. Northern Ireland Juniors first entered in 2000 but a change in the rules mean that since 2007 the national team has been unable to enter and a regional select has entered in its stead.[3] Since this change the Eastern Region have been the representatives five times and the Western Region once having won a play-off.

In addition Northern Ireland Juniors regularly compete in the International Quadrangular Tournament along with Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man. Northern Ireland have won this competition three times, in 1995, 1996 and 2017.

Current squad

The following players were selected for the Junior International Quadrangular Tournament held in Glasgow, Scotland from 11–14 October 2017.[4]

Kit Number Position Name Club
1GKJordan WilliamsonPSNI
12GKPaul WellsLimavady United
2Dale MontgomeryLoughgall
3William Armstrong (C)Harland & Wolff Welders
4Scott McMillanHarland & Wolff Welders
5Dean CurryInstitute
6Ryan DeansHarland & Wolff Welders
7Dylan WilsonPSNI
8Jordan GibsonLurgan Celtic
9Warner MullenLurgan Celtic
10Ryan CampbellDergview
11Ricky ThompsonDollingstown
13Ryan MorrowInstitute
14Aaron WalshMaiden City
15Ryan ArthursKnockbreda
16Adam GrayBallyclare Comrades
17Stewart NixonBallyclare Comrades
18Stephen CurryInstitute
19Mark KellyBallyclare Comrades
20Craig HarrisHarland & Wolff Welders

Competition Records

UEFA Regions' Cup

Year Round GP W D L GS GA
1999Did not enter
2001Qualifying Round311184
2003Qualifying Round310243
2005Qualifying Round311163
20071Finals – Group Stage9531116
20091Intermediate Round311133
20111Intermediate Round621366
20131Finals95221512
20151Finals6411157
20172Intermediate Round300326
Total452010137050

Since 2007 Northern Ireland has been represented by the winner of a play-off between the Eastern Region1 and Western Region2.

Quadrangular Tournament

Year Round Position GP W D L GS GA
Republic of Ireland 1993–94Did not enter1
Scotland 1994–95Final1st211043
Isle of Man 1995–96Final1st220031
Northern Ireland 1996–97Final2nd201123
Republic of Ireland 1997–983rd place play-off4th201114
Scotland 1998–993rd place play-off4th200218
Isle of Man 1999–20003rd place play-off4th200213
Northern Ireland 2000–01League[5]3rd310225
Republic of Ireland 2002-03League4th301239
Scotland 2004–05League3rd311134
Isle of Man 2007–08League3rd302167
Northern Ireland 2009–10League4th302124
Republic of Ireland 2013–14League3rd310236
Scotland 2017–18League1st321083
Total33810153960

1 A Mid Ulster side represented Northern Ireland

References

  1. ↑ "JUNIOR INTERNATIONAL DEFEAT IN DUBLIN". Irish FA. 12 June 2011.
  2. ↑ "Northern Ireland Junior International Results (1890-1994)". NIFG. 24 March 2013.
  3. ↑ "Northern Ireland in the UEFA Regions' Cup". NIFG. 24 March 2013.
  4. ↑ "McConkey delighted with Northern Ireland's success at Umbro tournament". Irish FA. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  5. ↑ "Non-League Scotland".
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