A Championship
Encyclopedia
The A Championship was the third tier in the Republic of Ireland football league system
. It was created in 2008 by the FAI
to act as the first stop for clubs hoping to move into the League of Ireland, but cancelled at the end of the 2011 season. The title sponsor of the league from 2009 to 2011 was Newstalk.
was won by who beat 2-1 in the final, held in the UCD Bowl
on the 11th of November 2008. finished 3rd in Group 1 to enter a two-legged play-off with for a spot in the 2009 League of Ireland. won 5-2 on aggregate to win promotion to the First Division, with being relegated.
Before the 2009 season
, Newstalk were named as the title sponsors of the championship, now called the Newstalk A Championship.
failed to obtain a First Division license and were therefore relegated to the A Championship at the beginning of the 2009 season
. This gave the opportunity to remain in the First Division. were the 2009 Newstalk A Championship
champions defeating 1-0 at Drom
, Co. Galway on 31 October 2009. were promoted after were unable to fulfill the play-off fixture.
were the 2010 Newstalk A Championship
champions defeating 2-1 at the UCD Bowl
on 1 November 2010.
In 2011, won the final A Championship, beating 3-2 in the final.
. The clubs in the A Championship constantly changed due to promotion/relegation in the League of Ireland. The 2 group winners played off for the A Championship title. The highest placed first team club competed in a two-legged play-off against the bottom team in the First Division for the right to play in the First Division, provided they finished in the top 3 of their group.
, a cup competition was also launched. The A Championship Cup was a pre-season competition for A Championship clubs. With the A Championship starting later than the League of Ireland, the A Championship Cup was a warm-up competition for the clubs involved. This was discontinued after just one season.
Republic of Ireland football league system
The Republic of Ireland's football league system comprises three tiers: the League of Ireland Premier Division and League of Ireland First Division and the A Championship. The A Championship consists of both League of Ireland reserve sides and lower-level senior clubs...
. It was created in 2008 by the FAI
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
to act as the first stop for clubs hoping to move into the League of Ireland, but cancelled at the end of the 2011 season. The title sponsor of the league from 2009 to 2011 was Newstalk.
History
The inaugural season2008 A Championship
-Changes before the season:The following teams joined the 2008 A Championship in Group 1:The following teams joined the 2008 A Championship in Group 2:-Participating teams:-Changes after the season: won promotion to the 2009 First Division....
was won by who beat 2-1 in the final, held in the UCD Bowl
UCD Bowl
The UCD Bowl is a rugby union and football stadium in the Southeast of Dublin. It is the home ground of University College Dublin RFC in the AIB All Ireland League and University College Dublin A.F.C. in League of Ireland Premier Division...
on the 11th of November 2008. finished 3rd in Group 1 to enter a two-legged play-off with for a spot in the 2009 League of Ireland. won 5-2 on aggregate to win promotion to the First Division, with being relegated.
Before the 2009 season
2009 A Championship
-Changes before the season: won promotion to the 2009 First Division.The following teams joined the 2009 A Championship in Group 1:The following teams joined the 2009 A Championship in Group 2:...
, Newstalk were named as the title sponsors of the championship, now called the Newstalk A Championship.
failed to obtain a First Division license and were therefore relegated to the A Championship at the beginning of the 2009 season
2009 A Championship
-Changes before the season: won promotion to the 2009 First Division.The following teams joined the 2009 A Championship in Group 1:The following teams joined the 2009 A Championship in Group 2:...
. This gave the opportunity to remain in the First Division. were the 2009 Newstalk A Championship
2009 A Championship
-Changes before the season: won promotion to the 2009 First Division.The following teams joined the 2009 A Championship in Group 1:The following teams joined the 2009 A Championship in Group 2:...
champions defeating 1-0 at Drom
Drom Clubhouse
Drom Clubhouse is a football stadium in Ireland, the home ground of Salthill Devon, who play in the League of Ireland First Division. It was built in 1977 and has a capacity of 2,000 people. Drom also holds the Umbro Galway Cup annually....
, Co. Galway on 31 October 2009. were promoted after were unable to fulfill the play-off fixture.
were the 2010 Newstalk A Championship
2010 A Championship
-Changes before the season: won promotion to the 2010 First Division following the withdrawal of from the 2010 season. and withdrew from the A Championship, following both ceasing to exist.The following teams joined the 2010 A Championship in Group 1:...
champions defeating 2-1 at the UCD Bowl
UCD Bowl
The UCD Bowl is a rugby union and football stadium in the Southeast of Dublin. It is the home ground of University College Dublin RFC in the AIB All Ireland League and University College Dublin A.F.C. in League of Ireland Premier Division...
on 1 November 2010.
In 2011, won the final A Championship, beating 3-2 in the final.
Previous Seasons
| Season | Champions | Group 1 Winner | Group 2 Winner | Promoted | Cup Winner | Top goalscorer | Highest placed non-reserve team | Team faced in Play-Off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 2008 A Championship -Changes before the season:The following teams joined the 2008 A Championship in Group 1:The following teams joined the 2008 A Championship in Group 2:-Participating teams:-Changes after the season: won promotion to the 2009 First Division.... |
Not played | |||||||
| 2009 2009 A Championship -Changes before the season: won promotion to the 2009 First Division.The following teams joined the 2009 A Championship in Group 1:The following teams joined the 2009 A Championship in Group 2:... |
Not played | |||||||
| 2010 2010 A Championship -Changes before the season: won promotion to the 2010 First Division following the withdrawal of from the 2010 season. and withdrew from the A Championship, following both ceasing to exist.The following teams joined the 2010 A Championship in Group 1:... |
None | |||||||
| 2011 2011 A Championship -Changes before the season:, , and withdrew from the A Championship. Castlebar Celtic and Tullamore Town both cited uncertainty over the future of the A Championship for influencing their respective withdrawals.... |
Not played |
Format
The league was split into two regional groups, which were made up of reserve teams of all League of Ireland Premier Division and some First Division clubs, as well as first team clubs which received an A Championship license from the FAIFootball Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
. The clubs in the A Championship constantly changed due to promotion/relegation in the League of Ireland. The 2 group winners played off for the A Championship title. The highest placed first team club competed in a two-legged play-off against the bottom team in the First Division for the right to play in the First Division, provided they finished in the top 3 of their group.
Teams
The following teams competed during the four A Championship seasons:| Team | 2008 season | 2009 season | 2010 season | 2011 season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st (Group 1) Losing finalist |
2nd (Group 2) | 1st (Group 1) Losing finalist |
5th (Group 1) | |
| 4th (Group 2) | 3rd (Group 2) | 8th (Group 2) | 1st (Group 2) Losing semi-finalist |
|
| 4th (Group 1) | 7th (Group 1) | |||
| 9th (Group 2) | 2nd (Group 2) Not promoted after play-off |
6th (Group 2) | ||
| 6th (Group 2) | ||||
| 2nd (Group 2) | 6th (Group 2) | |||
| 7th (Group 1) | 5th (Group 1) | 1st (Group 1) Winner |
||
| 4th (Group 1) | 2nd (Group 1) | 9th (Group 1) | 6th (Group 1) | |
| 7th (Group 1) | 3rd (Group 1) | 8th (Group 1) | ||
| 4th (Group 1) | ||||
| 8th (Group 2) | 5th (Group 2) | 4th (Group 2) | ||
| 2nd (Group 1) | 3rd (Group 1) | 5th (Group 1) | 7th (Group 1) | |
| 3rd (Group 2) | 9th (Group 1) | 9th (Group 2) | 8th (Group 2) | |
| 7th (Group 2) (as ) |
6th (Group 2) | 7th (Group 2) | ||
| 3rd (Group 1) Promoted |
||||
| 5th (Group 2) | 7th (Group 2) | 3rd (Group 2) | 3rd (Group 2) | |
| 8th (Group 1) | 1st (Group 1) Losing finalist, Promoted |
|||
| 5th (Group 1) | 1st (Group 2) Winner |
4th (Group 2) | 2nd (Group 2) Losing semi-finalist |
|
| 6th (Group 1) | ||||
| 6th (Group 1) | 8th (Group 1) | 4th (Group 1) | 3rd (Group 1) | |
| 4th (Group 2) | 2nd (Group 1) | |||
| 5th (Group 2) | 7th (Group 2) | 5th (Group 2) | ||
| 8th (Group 2) | 6th (Group 1) | 8th (Group 1) | ||
| 1st (Group 2) Winner |
1st (Group 2) Winner |
2nd (Group 1) Losing finalist |
Cup
In 20102010 A Championship Cup
The A Championship Cup was a pre-season competition for A Championship clubs. With the A Championship starting later than the League of Ireland, the A Championship Cup was a warm-up competition for the clubs involved....
, a cup competition was also launched. The A Championship Cup was a pre-season competition for A Championship clubs. With the A Championship starting later than the League of Ireland, the A Championship Cup was a warm-up competition for the clubs involved. This was discontinued after just one season.
See also
- Republic of Ireland football league systemRepublic of Ireland football league systemThe Republic of Ireland's football league system comprises three tiers: the League of Ireland Premier Division and League of Ireland First Division and the A Championship. The A Championship consists of both League of Ireland reserve sides and lower-level senior clubs...
- League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
- List of A Championship stadiums