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| Countries | Northern Ireland |
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| Founded | 2008 2004–2008 (as IFA Intermediate League First Division) 2003–2004 (as Irish League First Division) 1999–2003 (as Irish League Second Division) 1977–1999 (as Irish League B Division Section 1) 1951–1977 (as Irish League B Division) |
| Number of teams | 29 (two divisions) |
| Promotion to | IFA Premiership |
| Relegation to | none |
| Levels on pyramid | Level 2 and 3 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Irish Cup Irish League Cup IFA Intermediate Cup Championship 2 League Cup |
| Current champions | Portadown |
The IFA Championship is an association football league in Northern Ireland. It is one level below the IFA Premiership, which is Northern Ireland's national league. Clubs in the Championship have intermediate status.
It was founded in 2008 to succeed the IFA Intermediate League which folded as part of the reorganisation of top-level football in Northern Ireland that saw the creation of stricter entry criteria in respect of the newly-established Premiership and Championship. In 2009, it was extended to two divisions: Championship 1 and Championship 2 with promotion and relegation between the two.[1]
The Championship is sponsored by Ladbrokes and is marketed as the Ladbrokes.com Championship.[2] 'IFA' refers to the Irish Football Association.
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History
The IFA Championship is the successor to the IFA Intermediate League, the Irish Football League First Division during its last season (when it had intermediate status), and ultimately the Irish League B Division (latterly known as the Irish League Second Division).
The B Division of the Irish League was founded in 1951, and originally consisted of the reserve teams of the senior Irish League clubs alongside some of the top intermediate clubs. The B Division was split geographically into North and South sections in 1974 (with a play-off to determine the winners in 1974-75 and 1975-76), and then into Section 1 (containing the intermediate clubs) and Section 2 (the reserve teams of senior clubs) in 1977.
In 1999, the B Division Section 1 was renamed as the Irish League Second Division, and Section 2 became the Reserve League.
There was never any automatic promotion and relegation between either the B Division or Second Division and the senior Irish League.
In 2003, the Irish Premier League was formed by the top sixteen senior teams in the senior Irish League (which, since 1995 had been divided into a Premier Division and a First Division). The four remaining senior teams reverted to intermediate football, along with the top eight teams from the previous year's Second Division - in the Irish League First Division (which now became the top intermediate league), with the Second Division continuing with twelve teams. Automatic promotion and relegation between senior and intermediate football was introduced for the first time. There was also automatic promotion and relegation between the two divisions of the (now intermediate-status) Irish League.
In 2004, the Irish Football League was wound up and replaced by the IFA Intermediate League, consisting of two divisions of twelve, with promotion and relegation between the two. This continued for four seasons, until the Championship was created.
For one season only, 2008-09, there was also an IFA Interim Intermediate League for those former members of the IFA Intermediate League which had failed to meet the criteria for the Championship. These clubs were given a year to make improvements in order to join the Championship for 2009-10. Ten of the 12 clubs succeeded in meeting the necessary standard in 2009 and the Championship was then divided into two divisions.
Current Championship clubs
Championship 1
- Ards
- Armagh City
- Ballinamallard United
- Ballyclare Comrades
- Ballymoney United
- Banbridge Town
- Bangor
- Carrick Rangers
- Coagh United
- Donegal Celtic
- Glebe Rangers
- Larne
- Limavady United
- Loughgall
Championship 2
- Annagh United
- Chimney Corner
- Dergview
- Dundela
- Harland & Wolff Welders
- Killymoon Rangers
- Knockbreda Parish
- Lurgan Celtic
- Moyola Park
- Portstewart
- PSNI
- Queen's University Belfast
- Sport & Leisure Swifts
- Tobermore United
- Wakehurst
List of champions
† Elected to senior Irish Football League Summary of champions
Knock-out competitionsIn 1982, a knock-out competition for members was introduced, known as the B Division Knock-out Cup and sponsored by Smirnoff. It was discontinued after 2002, but a new IFA Intermediate League Cup was played between 2004 and 2008, sponsored in its first season by the Daily Mirror and thereafter by Carnegie. In 2008/09, there was no knock-out competition for Championship clubs, who participated with Premiership clubs in the Irish League Cup. From 2009/10, however, while Championship 1 clubs continued to participate in the Irish League Cup, a Championship 2 League Cup was inaugurated for those in Championship 2. Winners
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