NIFL Premier Intermediate League
Founded2016
CountryNorthern Ireland
Number of teams14
Level on pyramid3
Promotion toNIFL Championship
Relegation toBallymena & Provincial League
Mid-Ulster Football League
Northern Amateur League
Domestic cup(s)Irish Cup
IFA Intermediate Cup
League cup(s)Northern Ireland Football League Cup
Current championsBangor
(2022–23)
Current: 2023-24 season

The NIFL Premier Intermediate League (Known as the Playr-Fit NIFL Premier Intermediate League for sponsorship reasons) is the third level of the Northern Ireland Football League, the national association football league in Northern Ireland, and the highest intermediate division in Northern Ireland, occupying level three in the Northern Ireland football league system – below the NIFL Premiership (level 1) and NIFL Championship (level 2).

The third level in Northern Irish football was known as the Irish League Second Division from 1999 to 2003, the Irish Second Division from 2003 to 2008, the IFA Interim Intermediate League from 2008 to 2009, the IFA Championship 2 from 2009 to 2013, and the NIFL Championship 2 from 2013 to 2016.

History

Under reforms agreed by the NIFL clubs in 2014, from 2016, when the previous Championship 1 acquired senior status, Championship 2 continued as the Premier Intermediate League, retaining its intermediate status and thus became the top intermediate league in Northern Ireland.[1][2]

In May 2023, the league was expanded to 14 teams, due to licensing issues with Warrenpoint Town and PSNI not having a league they can seamlessly be relegated into. Rathfriland Rangers joined the league for the 2023-24 season, along with Coagh United.[3]

Current members

The 2023–24 NIFL Premier Intermediate League consists of 14 teams.

Club Location Stadium Capacity[4]
Armagh City Armagh Holm Park 1,500
Ballymacash Rangers Lisburn The Bluebell Stadium 1,280
Banbridge Town Banbridge Crystal Park 1,500
Coagh United Coagh Hagan Park 1,000
Dollingstown Dollingstown Planters Park 750
Limavady United Limavady The Showgrounds 1,500
Lisburn Distillery Lisburn New Grosvenor Stadium 1,500
Moyola Park Castledawson Mill Meadow 2,000
Portstewart Portstewart Seahaven 1,500
PSNI Belfast Newforge Lane 1,500
Rathfriland Rangers Rathfriland Iveagh Park 1,000
Queen's University A.F.C. Belfast Upper Malone 300 (Approx)
Tobermore United Tobermore Fortwilliam Park 1,000
Warrenpoint Town Warrenpoint Milltown 1,450

List of third-tier champions

Season Champions
Irish League Second Division
1999–00 Dundela
2000–01 Dundela
2001–02 Moyola Park
2002–03 Ballinamallard United
Irish Second Division
2003–04 Coagh United
2004–05 Tobermore United
2005–06 Portstewart
2006–07 Ballyclare Comrades
2007–08 Dergview
IFA Interim Intermediate League
2008–09 Harland & Wolff Welders
IFA Championship 2
2009–10 Harland & Wolff Welders
2010–11 Warrenpoint Town
2011–12 Coagh United
2012–13 Knockbreda
NIFL Championship 2
2013–14 Armagh City
2014–15 Lurgan Celtic
2015–16 Limavady United
NIFL Premier Intermediate League
2016–17 Limavady United
2017–18 Dundela
2018–19 Queen's University
2019–20 Annagh United
2021–22 Newington
2022–23 Bangor

References

  1. ^ "NI Football League - Restructure Proposal". Northern Ireland Football League. nifootballleague.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  2. ^ Northern Ireland Football League (2014). NI Football League Restructure Proposal.
  3. ^ "NIFL Include Warrenpoint Town and PSNI in expanded third tier". Belfast Telegraph Sport. 6 June 2023. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Venues - Premier Intermediate League - Northern Ireland - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". Archived from the original on 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
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