Republic of Ireland football league system
Encyclopedia
The Republic of Ireland's football league system comprises three tiers
: the League of Ireland Premier Division and League of Ireland First Division (which together form the League of Ireland
) and the A Championship
. The A Championship consists of both League of Ireland reserve sides and lower-level senior clubs. It is split into two groups and promotion to the First Division is potentially achieved through it.
which consisted of eight clubs. However over time, as more and more clubs joined a second tier was added in 1985. This split the league of Ireland into the Premier Division and First Division. In 2008, the decision was made to add a third tier to the system; the A Championship
. This is split into two groups, North and South. Though the A Championship is not considered part of the League of Ireland it is the only league from which promotion can be achieved to it.
. Up until 2007 however, the League of Ireland was governed by the clubs themselves. All teams in the League of Ireland and A Championship play in the FAI Cup
and the League of Ireland Cup. The season runs from March to November since the introduction of summer soccer. The A Championship is split into two regionalised groups which run parallel to each other. Group 1 consists of the northern based teams while Group 2 contains southern based teams, including Dublin based sides.
The 10 teams of the Premier Division play each other 4 times, while First Division teams play each other 3 times over the course of a season. The team that finishes bottom of the Premier Division is automatically relegated to the First Division, while the team that finishes top of the First Division is promoted. The teams that finish 8th and 9th in the Premier Division then play off to decide who must face the winner of a play off between the teams who finish 2nd and 3rd in the First Division. The winner of this final play off takes their place in the Premier Division the next season. The play off final takes place over the course of two legs while in the case of the previous play offs, the team that finished higher in the league gets home advantage for the one legged encounter.
Promotion may also be achieved from the A Championship to the First Division should one of the non reserve sides that competes finish high enough in their group. In this case, the team plays a two legged play off against the team that finishes bottom of the First Division. This occurred in 2008 when Mervue United
gained promotion at the expense of Kildare County
.
Though there is currently no promotion to the A Championship, clubs may apply to the FAI if they wish. The next highest levels of football in Ireland are the Leinster Senior League
, Munster Senior League
and Ulster Senior League
. Teams from these leagues often compete against League of Ireland and A Championship sides in the FAI Cup
and the League of Ireland Cup. Many former League of Ireland clubs have reverted to or joined the Leinster Senior League since leaving senior football.
League system
A league system is a hierarchy of leagues in a sport, usually with a system of promotion and relegation between consecutive levels of the hierarchy. They are often called pyramids due to their tendency to split into an increasing number of regional divisions the further down the pyramid one descends...
: the League of Ireland Premier Division and League of Ireland First Division (which together form the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The 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...
) and the A Championship
A Championship
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 A Championship consists of both League of Ireland reserve sides and lower-level senior clubs. It is split into two groups and promotion to the First Division is potentially achieved through it.
Expansion
Initially, there was just a single tier in Irish senior football; the League of IrelandLeague of Ireland
The 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...
which consisted of eight clubs. However over time, as more and more clubs joined a second tier was added in 1985. This split the league of Ireland into the Premier Division and First Division. In 2008, the decision was made to add a third tier to the system; the A Championship
A Championship
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...
. This is split into two groups, North and South. Though the A Championship is not considered part of the League of Ireland it is the only league from which promotion can be achieved to it.
Structure
Both the League of Ireland and the A Championship are governed by the Football Association of IrelandFootball 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...
. Up until 2007 however, the League of Ireland was governed by the clubs themselves. All teams in the League of Ireland and A Championship play in the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
and the League of Ireland Cup. The season runs from March to November since the introduction of summer soccer. The A Championship is split into two regionalised groups which run parallel to each other. Group 1 consists of the northern based teams while Group 2 contains southern based teams, including Dublin based sides.
Promotion/Relegation
Promotion may also be achieved from the A Championship to the First Division should one of the non reserve sides that competes finish high enough in their group. In this case, the team plays a two legged play off against the team that finishes bottom of the First Division. This occurred in 2008 when Mervue United
Mervue United A.F.C.
Mervue United A.F.C. is an association football club from Galway in the Republic of Ireland.In November 2008, they won promotion from the A Championship to the FAI First Division...
gained promotion at the expense of Kildare County
Kildare County F.C.
Kildare County F.C. was an Irish football club that played in the League of Ireland. The club, founded in 2002, hailed from Newbridge, County Kildare and played their home matches at Station Road. Their club colours were white and black.- 2001/2002 :...
.
Current system
Level |
League(s)/Division(s) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
League of Ireland Premier Division (Airtricity Airtricity Airtricity was founded in 1997 in the Republic of Ireland and now is a renewable energy company owned by Scottish and Southern Energy... Premier Division) 10 clubs |
|||||
2 |
League of Ireland First Division (Airtricity Airtricity Airtricity was founded in 1997 in the Republic of Ireland and now is a renewable energy company owned by Scottish and Southern Energy... First Division) 12 clubs |
|||||
3 |
A Championship A Championship 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... Pool 1 (Newstalk A Championship Pool 1) 9 clubs including reserve sides |
A Championship A Championship 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... Pool 2 (Newstalk A Championship Pool 2) 9 clubs including reserve sides |
||||
Other Leagues
Republic of Ireland junior football league systems,Though there is currently no promotion to the A Championship, clubs may apply to the FAI if they wish. The next highest levels of football in Ireland are the Leinster Senior League
Leinster Senior League (association football)
The Leinster Senior League is an association football league organised by the Leinster Football Association. The league is the highest level of football outside the Republic of Ireland football league system...
, Munster Senior League
Munster Senior League (association football)
Munster Senior League is an amateur football league in the Irish province of Munster. Teams from this league also compete in Ireland's top cup competitions including the FAI Cup, the FAI Junior Cup and the FAI Intermediate Cup...
and Ulster Senior League
Ulster Senior League (association football)
The Ulster Senior League is an amateur football league in the Republic of Ireland. Despite the name, the league's membership is mainly from County Donegal. A total of fourteen clubs currently compete in the league. Teams that compete in this division also compete in the FAI Intermediate Cup and the...
. Teams from these leagues often compete against League of Ireland and A Championship sides in the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
and the League of Ireland Cup. Many former League of Ireland clubs have reverted to or joined the Leinster Senior League since leaving senior football.
See also
- Argentine football league systemArgentine football league systemThe Argentine football league system consists of two national divisions , and a series of regionalized lower divisions...
- Italian football league systemItalian football league systemThe Italian football league system is a series of interconnected leagues and national tournaments, set up by the Italian Football Federation , for football clubs in Italy with one club hailing from San Marino.-History:...
- Northern Irish football league system