Northern Ireland Juniors
Nickname(s)Green and White Army, Norn Iron
AssociationIrish Football Association
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachHarry McConkey
CaptainWilliam Armstrong
Most capsBrian Hylands (25)[1]
Home stadiumvarious
FIFA codeNIR
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Ireland 0–11 Scotland 
(Glasgow; 15 February 1890)
Biggest win
 Northern Ireland 5–0 Luxembourg 
(Luxembourg; 1 October 2000)
Biggest defeat
 Ireland 0–11 Scotland 
(Glasgow; 15 February 1890)
UEFA Regions Cup
Appearances2 (first in 2007)
Best resultFinals Group Stage

The Northern Ireland Junior national football team, commonly referred to as Northern Ireland Juniors, represents Northern Ireland in international association football matches for teams selected outside national professional leagues. Originally selected on an all-Ireland basis, the team is now limited to selecting players appearing in intermediate and junior leagues within Northern Ireland. A number of players have graduated from the Junior international side to the senior international side, notably Norman Uprichard and Dick Keith who played at the 1958 World Cup. The most recent player to graduate to the senior team was Stuart Dallas.

History

Ireland Juniors played their first representative match against Scotland in 1890. The Scots became the primary opponents for Ireland Juniors through to the 1990s with only occasional matches against Wales and the Republic of Ireland for variety.[2]

Today

The main competition for junior level national teams in Europe is the UEFA Regions Cup. Northern Ireland Juniors first entered in 2000 but a change in the rules mean that since 2007 the national team has been unable to enter and a regional select has entered in its stead.[3] Since this change the Eastern Region have been the representatives five times and the Western Region once having won a play-off.

In addition Northern Ireland Juniors regularly compete in the International Quadrangular Tournament along with Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man. Northern Ireland have won this competition three times, in 1995, 1996 and 2017.

Current squad

The following players were selected for the Junior International Quadrangular Tournament held in Glasgow, Scotland from 11–14 October 2017.[4]

Kit Number Position Name Club
1 GK Jordan Williamson PSNI
12 GK Paul Wells Limavady United
2 Dale Montgomery Loughgall
3 William Armstrong (C) Harland & Wolff Welders
4 Scott McMillan Harland & Wolff Welders
5 Dean Curry Institute
6 Ryan Deans Harland & Wolff Welders
7 Dylan Wilson PSNI
8 Jordan Gibson Lurgan Celtic
9 Warner Mullen Lurgan Celtic
10 Ryan Campbell Dergview
11 Ricky Thompson Dollingstown
13 Ryan Morrow Institute
14 Aaron Walsh Maiden City
15 Ryan Arthurs Knockbreda
16 Adam Gray Ballyclare Comrades
17 Stewart Nixon Ballyclare Comrades
18 Stephen Curry Institute
19 Mark Kelly Ballyclare Comrades
20 Craig Harris Harland & Wolff Welders

Competition Records

UEFA Regions' Cup

Main article: UEFA Regions' Cup
Year Round GP W D L GS GA
1999[5] did not enter
2001[6] Qualifying Round Luxembourg 3 1 1 1 8 4
2003[7] Qualifying Round Netherlands 3 1 0 2 4 3
2005[8] Qualifying Round Slovenia 3 1 1 1 6 3
2007[9]1 Finals – Group Stage Bulgaria 9 5 3 1 11 6
2009[10]1 Intermediate Round Germany 3 1 1 1 3 3
2011[11]1 Intermediate Round North Macedonia 6 2 1 3 6 6
2013[12]1 Finals – Group Stage Italy 9 5 2 2 15 12
2015[13]1 Finals – Group Stage Republic of Ireland 6 4 1 1 15 7
2017[14]2 Intermediate Round Moldova 3 0 0 3 2 6
2019[15]1 Intermediate Round Northern Ireland 3 1 0 2 3 4
Total 48 21 10 135 70 49

Since 2007, Northern Ireland has been represented by the winner of a play-off between the Eastern Region1 and Western Region2.

Quadrangular Tournament

Main article: Junior International Quadrangular Tournament
Year Round Position GP W D L GS GA
Republic of Ireland 1993–94 did not enter1
Scotland 1994–95 Final 1st 2 1 1 0 4 3
Isle of Man 1995–96 Final 1st 2 2 0 0 3 1
Northern Ireland 1996–97 Final 2nd 2 0 1 1 2 3
Republic of Ireland 1997–98 3rd place play-off 4th 2 0 1 1 1 4
Scotland 1998–99 3rd place play-off 4th 2 0 0 2 1 8
Isle of Man 1999–2000 3rd place play-off 4th 2 0 0 2 1 3
Northern Ireland 2000–01 League[16] 3rd 3 1 0 2 2 5
Republic of Ireland 2002-03 League 4th 3 0 1 2 3 9
Scotland 2004–05 League 3rd 3 1 1 1 3 4
Isle of Man 2007–08 League 3rd 3 0 2 1 6 7
Northern Ireland 2009–10 League 4th 3 0 2 1 2 4
Republic of Ireland 2013–14 League 3rd 3 1 0 2 3 6
Scotland 2017–18 League 1st 3 2 1 0 8 3
Total 33 8 10 15 39 60

1 A Mid Ulster side represented Northern Ireland

References

  1. ^ "JUNIOR INTERNATIONAL DEFEAT IN DUBLIN". Irish FA. 12 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Northern Ireland Junior International Results (1890-1994)". NIFG. 24 March 2013.
  3. ^ "Northern Ireland in the UEFA Regions' Cup". NIFG. 24 March 2013.
  4. ^ "McConkey delighted with Northern Ireland's success at Umbro tournament". Irish FA. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  5. ^ "UEFA Regions Cup 1999". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  6. ^ "UEFA Regions Cup 2000/01". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  7. ^ "UEFA Regions Cup 2002/03". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  8. ^ "UEFA Regions Cup 2004/05". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  9. ^ "UEFA Regions Cup 2006/07". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  10. ^ "UEFA Regions Cup 2008/09". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  11. ^ "UEFA Regions Cup 2010/11". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  12. ^ "UEFA Regions Cup 2012/13". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  13. ^ "UEFA Regions Cup 2014/15". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  14. ^ "UEFA Regions Cup 2016/17". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  15. ^ "UEFA Regions Cup: Standings". UEFA. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  16. ^ "Non-League Scotland".
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