Women's Premiership (Northern Ireland)

Women's Premiership
Founded 2004
Country  Northern Ireland
Confederation UEFA
Divisions 1
Number of teams 7
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to Championship
Domestic cup(s) IFA Women's Challenge Cup
International cup(s) UEFA Champions League
Current champions Linfield Ladies (3rd title)
(2018)
Most championships Glentoran Belfast United (7 titles)
Website Website

The Women's Premiership is the top level women's football league of Northern Ireland. The league was called the NIWFA Division League 1 until 2003 and Premier League until 2015. In 2016, it was rebranded the Women's Premiership and is run by the NI Football League since.[1]

Eight teams play a double round robin to crown the champion, which qualifies for a spot in the UEFA Women's Champions League. The eighth place gets relegated to the Women's Championship 1, the seventh place plays a two-legged relegation playoff against the runner up of the Women's Championship.

History

In women's football the first league season was played out in 1977.[2] Organised by the Northern Ireland Women's Football Association (NIWFA) the league was simply called the NIWFA Division League 1.

In 2004 the Division 1 was replaced by the Women's Premier League.

In 2016, after 40 years of administering and developing women's football locally, the league was rebranded the Women's Premiership and is run now by the Northern Ireland Football League.[3] The main sponsor and name giver is Danske Bank.

2018 Teams

The following teams make up the 2018 season.

Belfast
Ballymena
Newry
Strabane
Location of teams in the 2017 season
TeamLocationGround
Crusaders Newtownabbey StrikersBelfastSeaview
Glentoran Belfast UnitedBelfastBilly Neill Playing Field (pitch 2)
Linfield LadiesBelfastBilly Neill Playing Field (pitch 1)
Derry City Ladies F.C.DerryRiverside Stadium
Portadown Integrated Ladies FCPortadownShamrock Park
Sion Swifts LadiesStrabane
Cliftonville Ladies FCBelfastSolitude

List of champions

Before 2004 the winner of the Division 1 league was national champion. The first season was played out in 1977.[4][5]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.nifootballleague.com/womens-premiership/news/item/2016-danske-bank-women-s-premiership-launched
  2. ↑ http://www.irishfa.com/ifa-domestic/leagues/womens-football-leagues
  3. ↑ http://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/nifl-announce-new-northern-ireland-10995017
  4. ↑ "History". Northern Ireland Women's Football Association. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  5. ↑ "Northern Ireland - List of Women Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 "FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT FOCUS!". irishfa.com. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2014. ... and in 1999, 2000, and 2001 Lisburn Distillery Predators won the NIWFA Premier League
  7. ↑ "Glentoran take title". shekicks.net. 29 July 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  8. ↑ http://www.leaguewebsite.co.uk/northernirelandwomensfootballassociation/LeagueNews/view/28513
  9. ↑ http://www.glentoran.com/news/champions-again-0
  10. ↑ http://de.women.soccerway.com/national/northern-ireland/premier-league/2015/regular-season/r31178/
  11. ↑ http://www.linfieldfc.com/linfieldladiesnews.aspx?id=15884
  12. ↑ "Linfield Ladies retain Danske Bank Women's Premiership". goqradio.com. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  13. ↑ "#DanskeWomensPrem : Linfield take title after dramatic fightback". shekicks.net. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
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