Championship of Ireland of football

The championship of Ireland of football , known under the name of FAI League off Ireland since 2007, is an annual competition putting at the catches the 22 best clubs of Football of the Ireland. The first day of the inaugural edition was held in 1921.

Knew under the name of Ligue of Ireland , then Eircom League of the name of its sponsor, the championship was completely reformed in 2007 to become off FAI League Ireland .

Contrary to the quasi totality of the European championships, and to instar of the American professional championships, the championship of Ireland is a closed championship. There are not a system of promotion/relegation with of the First Division (equivalent of the second division). The club which plays there thus have the insurance to remain there even in the event of very bad results. It is generally the national federation which indicates and revokes the clubs, for economic reasons.

History of the championship of Ireland

The championship of Ireland was creates in 1921 after the independence of the Ireland. Before this date, the clubs took part in the Irish Football League , which became after the partition of Ireland, the championship north-Irish. These changes of competition make that 3 clubs of the current championship of the Irish Republic (Derry City FC, Bohemians FC and Shelbourne FC)) are holders of the current cut of Northern Ireland.

It comprised in the beginning 8 teams, very of Dublin, and the first edition was gained by Saint James' S Gate FC. During the 40 following years, the known championship a formula with variable geometry widening to 22 clubs.

The Irish championship was very popular until the Sixties; then the public started to be lacking. Indeed, the exposure to the prestigious close leagues that are Scotland and England brought the majority of impassioned Irish football to be interested in a British team rather than with their local clubs. Thus, the media largely forsook the Irish championship and it had to be waited until 1997 so that an Irish match is diffused on a local television.

In 1985 was created the second division, First Division, with 6 clubs. There was thus D1 of 12 clubs, the First Division, and D2, First Division, of 10 clubs. Naturally, this innovation implied promotions and relegations between the two levels. The last of First Division at the time was requested to reformulate a request for adherence to the league. In 2007, First Division passed to 12 clubs.

The professionalisation of the championship

At the end of the Nineties, with the rising professionalisation of the teams of the championship, crowd started to reappear in the stages. Moreover, the recent performances out of cuts of Europe of the Bohemians, of Cork, Shelbourne and Derry led the media to being interested more in the Irish championship, the multitudes improve consequently.

Nevertheless, Irish football is always confronted with the competition of England and Scotland, but also of Rugby and the plays gaelic. Clubs like the Celtic Glasgow or Liverpool have much more fans in Ireland than the best clubs of the championship.

In Ireland, the professionalisation of the clubs also brought its batch of financial disorders. The mythical club of the Shamrock Rovers, without fixed and surendetté ground, was close to voluntary liquidation in 2005. The club was then saved by its supporters which paid a share of the debts of the club and then taken its control. Another example: the club of Dublin City (in the past Home Farm FC) cancelled its adhesion with league after the departure of the company owner of the club. At the conclusion of the season 2006, the black series continue: Shelbourne, then champion in title, is seen affublé of the same problems as their rivals of Rovers one year before. " Shels" then lose the totality of their manpower and are thus retrogressed in First Division with important budgetary restrictions. Remarkable fact: not wanting to put in danger coefficient UEFA of the championship with possible bad results, the club decided to leave its place in preliminary round of League of the Champions, however gained on the ground. It is thus the vice champion, Derry, which benefitted from this gift.

Characteristics of the championship

Calendar

Up to 2003, the championship functioned on a traditional calendar by beginning the matches the summer, by continuing the winter and while finishing in spring. But to improve the European results and to avoid the problem of the climatic conditions, the calendar changed, the matches begin in February and finish in November. There are two periods of transfers, one reserved to the Irish transfers, and another during the summer for the international transfers. It is the only European championship using this type of calendar which is neither Scandinavian, nor of Eastern Europe.

Derry City

The championship includes/understands a club of Northern Ireland, Derry City FC. Derry evolves/moves until in 1972 - 1973 in championship of Northern Ireland. This catholic club generated many disorders because of the Irish northern conflict and League prohibits the matches in Brandywell Stadium for safety reasons (1971). Constrained to dispute its home matches with Coleraine (city located at 50 km of Derry), Derry was resigned of the championship of Northern Ireland in 1972. The club made a request to evolve/move in championship of the Irish Republic. The Irish northern Federation and FIFA accepted. Incorporated in championship of D2 of Ireland in 1985, Derry reached in the First Division in 1987 and gained a historical triplet in 1989 (championship, cut and cut of League).

FAI League off Ireland

The federation of Ireland of football and the professional league of are associated to create as from the season 2007 a new competition the FAI National League. This competition falls under the continuity of the preceding championships. The composition of this new league was decided by a commission independent (Independent Assessement Group or IAG). The selection of the teams was based on the final classification of the season 2006, the performances of each team over the five last years, the infrastructures, the number of licenses and the population densities in the areas these different club the whole on planning a five years.

The new competition includes/understands 22 clubs (twenty of the old championship and two new teams Wexford Youths FC and Limerick 37 which replace late the Dublin City Football Club and Limerick FC which failed in their application) divided into two levels, the First Division (the elite) with 12 clubs and First Division with 10 teams.

Qualification for the European cuts

  • the team gaining the championship is qualified for the first turn qualifier of the Ligue of the Champions. It has thus three matches return ticket to gain to qualify itself for the competition itself.
  • Two teams are qualified for the Coupe of the UEFA:
The team arriving at the second place of the championship and the winner of the Coupe of Ireland qualify themselves for the first turn qualifier of the Cut of the UEFA. It has thus two matches return ticket to gain to qualify itself with the competition itself.
  • the classified team third of the championship is qualified for the Coupe Intertoto.

Prize list

prize list by club

(Season 2006 included) Still existing clubs in fat

Prize list of First Division

Former members

This list shows the totality of the teams which were registered in the championship since her creation and which are not present any more at the more high level:
  • Albert Rovers F.C
  • Bray Unknowns F.C
  • Brideville FC
  • Brooklyn F.C
  • Cork F.C
  • Cork Athletic F.C
  • Cork Bohemians F.C
  • Cork Celtic F.C
  • Cork Hibernians F.C
  • Cork United F.C
  • Dolphin F.C
  • Drumcondra F.C
  • Dublin City F.C
  • Dublin Transport F.C
  • Dublin United F.C
  • Frankfort F.C
  • Home Farm FC
  • Jacobs FC
  • Limerick F.C
  • Midland A.F.C
  • Newcastle West
  • Olympia F.C
  • Pioneers F.C
  • Rathmines A.F.C
  • Saint James' S Spoils FC
  • Shelbourne United
  • Thurles Town F.C
  • YMCA Dublin F.C

External bonds

  • Internet site of Football League off Ireland
  • RSSSF.com - History of the competition
  • RSSSF.com - History of the best strikers

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