Last updated : Saturday, 29 June 2024
Northern Amateur Football League
The Northern Amateur Football League (NAFL) is an association football league in Northern Ireland. It contains 13 divisions. These comprise four intermediate sections: the Premier Division, Division 1A, Division 1B and Division 1C; three junior sections: Division 2A, Division 2B and Division 2C; and six reserve sections.
The league was founded on 4 July 1923 at a meeting of fourteen clubs at the Clarence Place Hall, Donegall Square East, Belfast, initially as a league for teams from public bodies, private associations, schools and firms. It was affiliated to the Irish Football Association (IFA) as a junior league in August. The first season was 1923/24 and by the time the first fixtures were played on 22 September, there were 16 member clubs. The Co-operative and C.P.A. were tied at the top of the table, but the Co-operative won a play-off to be crowned the first Amateur League champions.
Current champions
The current champions are Rathfriland Rangers, who won the Premier Division title in the 2022-23 season.
Domestic cups
- Irish Cup
- IFA Intermediate Cup
The NAFL champions are eligible to enter the Irish Cup, the top knockout competition in Northern Ireland. The NAFL also has its own cup competition, the IFA Intermediate Cup, which is open to teams from the Premier Division and Division 1A.
Most championships
The most successful team in the history of the NAFL is East Belfast, who have won the league title 9 times.
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