Northern Ireland national Junior football team

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.

Northern Ireland Juniors
Nickname(s)Green and White Army, Norn Iron
AssociationIrish Football Association
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachHarry McConkey
CaptainWilliam Armstrong
Most capsBrian Hylands (25)[1]
Home stadiumvarious
FIFA codeNIR
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
Appearances2 (first in 2007)
Best resultFinals Group Stage

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
Main article: UEFA Regions' Cup
Year Round GP W D L GS GA
1999[5]Did not enter
2001[6]Qualifying Round 311184
2003[7]Qualifying Round 310243
2005[8]Qualifying Round 311163
2007[9]1Finals – Group Stage 9531116
2009[10]1Intermediate Round 311133
2011[11]1Intermediate Round 621366
2013[12]1Finals – Group Stage 95221512
2015[13]1Finals – Group Stage 6411157
2017[14]2Intermediate Round 300326
2019[15]1Intermediate Round 310234
Total4821101357049

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

Quadrangular Tournament
Main article: Junior International Quadrangular Tournament
Year Round Position GP W D L GS GA
1993–94Did not enter1
1994–95Final1st211043
1995–96Final1st220031
1996–97Final2nd201123
1997–983rd place play-off4th201114
1998–993rd place play-off4th200218
1999–20003rd place play-off4th200213
2000–01League[16]3rd310225
2002-03League4th301239
2004–05League3rd311134
2007–08League3rd302167
2009–10League4th302124
2013–14League3rd310236
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. "UEFA Regions Cup 1999". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  6. "UEFA Regions Cup 2000/01". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  7. "UEFA Regions Cup 2002/03". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  8. "UEFA Regions Cup 2004/05". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  9. "UEFA Regions Cup 2006/07". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  10. "UEFA Regions Cup 2008/09". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  11. "UEFA Regions Cup 2010/11". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  12. "UEFA Regions Cup 2012/13". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  13. "UEFA Regions Cup 2014/15". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  14. "UEFA Regions Cup 2016/17". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  15. "UEFA Regions Cup: Standings". UEFA. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  16. "Non-League Scotland".
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