Last updated : Friday, 28 June 2024
Introduction
The IFA League is an amateur football league in Northern Ireland. It is organized by the Irish Football Association (IFA), the governing body for association football in Northern Ireland.
The IFA League consists of 12 teams, divided into two divisions: the Premier Division and the Championship. The Premier Division is the top division, and the Championship is the second division.
The IFA League season runs from August to May. Each team plays each other team twice, once at home and once away. The top two teams in the Premier Division at the end of the season are promoted to the NIFL Premiership, the top professional football league in Northern Ireland. The bottom two teams in the Premier Division are relegated to the Championship.
The winners of the IFA League Cup qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League.
History
The IFA League was founded in 1890. The first season was won by Cliftonville.
The IFA League has been won by a total of 24 different teams. The most successful team is Linfield, which has won the league 55 times.
Current season
The current season is the 2022-2023 season. The teams competing in the Premier Division are:
- Cliftonville
- Linfield
- Glentoran
- Ballinamallard United
- Coleraine
- Dungannon Swifts
- Larne
- Newry City
- Portadown
- Warrenpoint Town
- Institute
The teams competing in the Championship are:
- Ballymena United
- Crusaders
- Dungannon United
- Glenavon
- Newcastle United
- North Belfast United
- Tobermore United
Sources
- IFA League - Wikipedia
- IFA Domestic Leagues - Irish Football Association
- IFA British Cup Draws 2023/24 - The IFA Supporters Football League
