FAI First Division

"'dablink|See also: Football League of Ireland for the old league system used prior to the merging of the FAI and League of Ireland. Also see FAI League of Ireland and FAI Premier Division.

Infobox football league

pixels = 140
country = Republic of Ireland
confed = UEFA
founded = 2006
teams = 10
relegation = FAI 'A' Championship
levels = 2
domest_cup = FAI Cup
FAI League Cup
confed_cup = UEFA Cup (FAI Cup Winners)
champions = Cobh Ramblers
season = 2007
website = http://www.eircomloi.ie
current = FAI League of Ireland 2008

The FAI eircom League of Ireland First Division is the second tier of the Republic of Ireland's new FAI League of Ireland created following the merging of the FAI and the League of Ireland. The successor of the League of Ireland First Division, it is part of the FAI League of Ireland, just below the FAI Premier Division.

All clubs participating in the old league were invited to apply for inclusion in the new Premier Division with the top twelve, as selected by an Independent Assessment Group, being handed a spot in the Premier Division. All the remaining ten clubs were to be placed in the First Division.

However on 19 February 2007, the FAI revoked the Premier Division licence that had been granted to Shelbourne which saw them drop into the First Division and Waterford United replaced them in the Premier Division.

The 2009 season will see 12 teams competing in the division while the Premier Division will then consist of ten clubs.

Clubs

*Athlone Town A.F.C.
*Dundalk F.C.
*Kildare County F.C.
*Limerick 37
*Longford Town F.C.
*Monaghan United F.C.
*Shelbourne F.C.
*Sporting Fingal F.C.
*Waterford United
*Wexford Youths F.C.

Past winners

:"See League of Ireland First Division Winners for a list of past winners of the Republic of Ireland's second tier competition between 1985 and 2006."

External links

* [http://www.a2zsoccer.com/index.cfm/loc/2-1/articleId/5222F4D4-DEDB-336F-71BDF561EC714164.htm 20 EL clubs granted license]
* [http://www.unison.ie/the_argus/stories.php3?ca=94&si=1733178&issue_id=14947 Foolish not to promote Dundalk - The Argus] "(free registration required)"
* [http://www.elevenaside.com/longfordtown/irish_soccer_detail.asp?newsid=25701 Wexford favourites for 22nd spot]