Women's Premiership (Northern Ireland)
200px | |
Country | Northern Ireland |
---|---|
Confederation | UEFA |
Founded | 2004 |
Divisions | 1 |
Number of teams | 10 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | Women's Championship |
Domestic cup(s) | IFA Women's Challenge Cup |
International cup(s) | UEFA Women's Champions League |
Current champions | Cliftonville (1st title) (2022 Women's Premiership) |
Most championships | Glentoran Women (9 titles) |
Website | nifootballleague |
2023 Women's Premiership |
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]
Ten teams play a double round robin to crown the champion, which qualifies for a spot in the UEFA Women's Champions League. The tenth place gets relegated to the Women's Championship 1, the ninth 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 Sports Direct.
Prior to the 2023 season, the Premiership introduced professional contracts for players, as well as games on Fridays and Sundays in addition to traditional Wednesday games.[4] Five Premiership teams will also take in a new all-island competition during the summer.[5]
Sponsors
Period | Sponsor |
---|---|
2016–2022 | Danske Bank[6] |
2023– | Sports Direct[7] |
2023 Teams
The following teams make up the 2023 season.
Teams are listed in alphabetical order.
Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Ballymena United | Ballymena | Ballymena Showgrounds | 3,600 |
Cliftonville | Belfast (Oldpark) | Solitude | 2,530 |
Crusaders Strikers | Belfast (Newtownabbey) | Seaview | 3,383 |
Derry City | Derry | Brandywell Stadium | 3,700 |
Glentoran | Belfast (Sydenham) | The Oval | 26,556 |
Larne | Larne | Inver Park | 3,250 |
Linfield | Belfast (Boucher Road) | Midgley Park | n/k |
Lisburn Ladies | Lisburn | Bluebell Stadium | 1,280 |
Mid-Ulster Ladies | Cookstown | Mid-Ulster Sports Arena | n/k |
Sion Swifts | Strabane | Melvin Sports Complex | n/k |
List of champions
Before 2004 the winner of the Division 1 league was national champion. The first season was played out in 1977.[8][9]
References
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External links
- Official Site
- League at leaguewebsite.co.uk - Standings, results, fixtures
- women.soccerway.com; results, standings & fixtures
- 2013–15 Website
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- Pages with reference errors
- EngvarB from January 2014
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- Pages with broken file links
- Top level women's association football leagues in Europe
- Women's association football competitions in Northern Ireland
- Association football leagues in Northern Ireland
- Women's football leagues in the United Kingdom
- Women's sports leagues in Northern Ireland
- Women's Premiership (Northern Ireland)