Northern Amateur Football League

The Northern Amateur Football League, also known as the Northern Amateur League and often simply as the Amateur League, is an association football league in Northern Ireland. It contains 13 divisions. These comprise four intermediate sections: the Premier Division, Division 1A, Division 1B and Division 1C; three junior sections: Division 2A, Division 2B and Division 2C; and six reserve sections.

Clubs in membership (2011-12)

Premier Division Albert Foundry Ards Rangers Comber Recreation Downpatrick Dromara Village Dunmurry Recreation Islandmagee Killyleagh Youth Kilmore Recreation Malachians Newington Youth Club Nortel Rosario Youth Club Shankill United

Division 1A Abbey Villa Ardglass Barn United Crumlin United Derriaghy Cricket Club Drumaness Mills Dundonald East Belfast Grove United Holywood Larne Technical Old Boys Saintfield United U.U.J. Wellington Recreation

Division 1B Ballynahinch United Ballywalter Recreation Bangor Rangers Bryansburn Rangers Crumlin Star Donard Hospital Downshire Young Men Dunmurry Young Men Lisburn Rangers Newcastle Orangefield Old Boys Rathfern Rangers Rathfriland Rangers Sirocco Works

Division 1C Bangor Amateurs 1st Bangor Old Boys Bangor Swifts Bloomfield Civil Service Dromore Amateurs Groomsport Immaculata Iveagh United Kilroot Rec. Mossley Young Men Newington Rangers 18th Newtownabbey Old Boys Short Brothers

Format

The league season lasts from August to May with each club playing the others twice, once at their home ground and once at that of their opponents. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the team that finishes in first place in the Premier division is crowned league champions.

Premier Division

There are 14 clubs in the Premier Division, each playing a total of 26 games. The two lowest-placed teams are relegated to Division 1A.

Division 1A

There are 14 clubs. The two highest-placed teams are promoted into the Premier Division whilst the two lowest-placed teams are relegated to Division 1B.

Division 1B

There are 14 clubs. The two highest-placed teams are promoted to Division 1A and the two lowest-placed teams are relegated to Division 1C.

Division 1C

This division was added to the Amateur League for the 2009/10 season. It now consists of 14 teams who will each play a total of 26 matches. The two top-placed teams at the end of the season will be promoted to Division 1B.

Second Division

There are three sections within the Second Division, which has junior status: Division 2A, Division 2B and Division 2C. The top team in Division 2A at the end of the season can be promoted into the Intermediate section as long as their grounds meet intermediate standards.

Third Division

The Third Division is for reserve sides of teams in the first and second divisions. It has six sections: 3A to 3F.

Cup competitions

There are two cup competitions at intermediate level: the Border Regiment Cup, more commonly referred to as the Border Cup, the final of which is played during the Christmas period, is a knock-out competition for First Division clubs. The Clarence Cup is a knock-out competition for all clubs (encompassing both the First and Second Divisions).

History

The League was founded 4th July 1923 at a meeting of fourteen clubs at the Clarence Place Hall, Donegall Square East, Belfast, initially as a league for teams from public bodies, private associations, schools and firms. It was affiliated to the Irish Football Association as a junior league in August. The first season was 1923/24 and by the time the first fixtures were played on 22nd September, there were 16 member clubs. The Co-operative and C.P.A. were tied at the top of the table, but the Co-operative won a play-off to be crowned the first Amateur League champions.

A knock-out competition - the Clarence Cup - was also inaugurated in the first season, and the first winners were C.P.A., who beat the Co-operative 2-1 in a replay after a 0-0 draw.

The League's first representative game was played on 26th January 1924 against the Minor League at the Oval, and was a 6-1 win for the Amateur League. In 1932, the League played its first representative match outside Northern Ireland: a 3-3 draw against the Scottish Juvenile FA at Celtic Park, Glasgow. This became an annual fixture, which lasted until 1939, only to be halted by the Second World War. Subsequently, annual fixtures have resumed, first with the Scottish Amateur League and, since 1978-79 with the Scottish Amateur F.A., competing for the Britton Rosebowl.

During the next few years, the League gained intermediate status, and a junior-status second division was added in 1926. By 1930, there were 30 clubs in membership. In 1932-33, the League's strength was demonstrated when Dunville's became the first Amateur League team to win the Irish Intermediate Cup, and in 1938-39 when Sirocco Works won the Steel & Sons Cup.

In the 1936-37 season, a new competition was introduced: the Border Regiment Cup (commonly the Border Cup), which was to become the perhaps League's most prestigious trophy as it established a traditional Christmas final. The cup was presented to the league by the team of the Border Regiment, stationed at Palace Barracks, Holywood, which had been a member of the League since 1933, and which was nearing the end of its tour of duty. The first winners were Sirocco Works, who beat Whitehouse Recreation Club 4-0 in the final.

After the Second World War, the league expanded its membership and the second division was split into two - Division 2A and Division 2B - in 1947. Division 2C was added in 1950. In 1961, Division 2A was elevated to intermediate status as Division 1B, with the top division renamed as Division 1A. Divisions 2B and 2C consequently became 2A and 2B respectively. The next year, 1962, the league expanded again and a new Division 2C was added, making a total of five divisions.

In 1963, it was decided that the Border Cup should be confined to teams in the First Division, and a new knock-out competition - the Cochrane Corry Cup - was instituted for the Second Division teams.

From the 1970-71 season, automatic promotion and relegation within each division was introduced, and in the following season a new Third Division was added for the reserve teams of member clubs. In 1971 Division 2C was abolished, but re-established again in 1975. In 1973 a second reserve section was formed and the Third Division was thus divided into Division 3A and Division 3B. Division 3C was added in 1980, Division 3D in 1986 and Division 3E in 1991. There is now a Division 3F.

The League had been growing, particularly since the 1960s, and the milestone of 100 teams in membership was achieved in 1981. (By 1997-98, there were 144 teams in membership.) In 1985, the League secured a sponsorship deal with Smithwick's.

In 1986, the intermediate First Division was expanded into three sections with the addition of Division 1C. From 1991 the intermediate sections were renamed as the Premier Division, Division 1A and Division 1B. Minimum standards were set for clubs' grounds as a condition of membership of the Premier Division, with promotion only available to those clubs whose facilities measured up.

List of champions

Season	Winner
1923/24	Co-operative
1924/25	N.C.C.
1925/26	N.C.C.
1926/27	Sirocco Works
1927/28	Shaftesbury
1928/29	Shaftesbury
1929/30	Holm Factory
1930/31	Dunville's
1931/32	Dunville's
1932/33	Dunville's
1933/34	Dunville's
1934/35	Sirocco Works
1935/36	Sirocco Works
1936/37	Sirocco Works
1937/38	Sirocco Works
1938/39	Sirocco Works
1939/40	Sirocco Works
1940/41	Victoria Works
1941/42	Victoria Works United
1942/43	Victoria Works United
1943/44	Shankill Young Men
1944/45	Shankill Young Men
1945/46	Shankill Young Men
1946/47	Queen's Island Woodworkers
1947/48	Sirocco Works
1948/49	Carrick Rangers
1949/50	East Belfast
1950/51	Musgrave
1951/52	Carrick Rangers
1952/53	East Belfast
1953/54	East Belfast
1954/55	East Belfast
1955/56	East Belfast
1956/57	Short Brothers & Harland
1957/58	Short Brothers & Harland
1958/59	Short Brothers & Harland
1959/60	Short Brothers & Harland
1960/61	Albert Foundry[1]
1961/62	Chimney Corner
1962/63	East Belfast
1963/64	East Belfast
1964/65	St Elizabeth's
1965/66	East Belfast
1966/67	Albert Foundry
1967/68	Islandmagee
1968/69	Chimney Corner
1969/70	Chimney Corner
1970/71	R.U.C.
1971/72	I.C.L.
1972/73	R.U.C.
1973/74	Chimney Corner
1974/75	Chimney Corner
1975/76	Barn United
1976/77	Downpatrick Rec.
1977/78	Downpatrick Rec.
1978/79	Harland & Wolff Welders
1979/80	Dunmurry Rec.
1980/81	Downpatrick Rec.
1981/82	Drumaness Mills
1982/83	S.T.C.
1983/84	Drumaness Mills
1984/85	Killyleagh Youth
1985/86	Cromac Albion
1986/87	Cromac Albion
1987/88	Dunmurry Rec.
1988/89	Drumaness Mills
1989/90	Short Brothers
1990/91	Harland & Wolff Sports
1991/92	Dunmurry Rec.
1992/93	Killyleagh Youth
1993/94	East Belfast
1994/95	Crumlin United
1995/96	Northern Telecom
1996/97	Northern Telecom
1997/98	Ards Rangers
1998/89	Dunmurry Rec.
1999/2000	Killyleagh Youth
2000/01	Killyleagh Youth
2001/02	Killyleagh Youth
2002/03	Killyleagh Youth
2003/04	Killyleagh Youth
2004/05	Killyleagh Youth
2005/06	Newington Youth Club
2006/07	Albert Foundry[2]
2007/08	Downpatrick
2008/09	Newington Youth Club
2009/10	Newington Youth Club
2010/11	Newington Youth Club

Performance by club

	Team	Wins	Last win
1	East Belfast	9	1993/94
2	Killyleagh Youth	8	2004/05
=	Sirocco Works	8	1947/48
4	Dunville's**	6	1933/34
5	Chimney Corner	5	1974/75
=	Short Brothers†	5	1989/90
7	Dunmurry Rec.	4	1998/99
=	Newington Youth Club	4	2010/11
9	Downpatrick Rec.	3	1980/81
=	Drumaness Mills	3	1988/89
=	Nortel‡	3	1996/97
=	Shankill Young Men	3	1945/46
=	Victoria Works United*	3	1942/43
14	Carrick Rangers	2	1951/52
=	Cromac Albion	2	1986/87
=	N.C.C.	2	1925/26
=	R.U.C.	2	1972/73
18	Albert Foundry (1)	2	1960/61
=	Ards Rangers	1	1997/98
=	Barn United	1	1923/24
=	Co-operative	1	1923/24
=	Crumlin United	1	1994/95
=	Downpatrick	1	2007/08
=	Harland & Wolff Welders	1	1978/79
=	Harland & Wolff Sports	1	1990/91
=	Islandmagee	1	1967/68
=	Musgrave	1	1950/51
=	Holm Factory	1	1929/30
=	I.C.L.	1	1971/72
=	Queen's Island Woodworkers	1	1946/47
=	St Elizabeth's	1	1964/65

* Including one as Victoria Works.
** Including two as Shaftesbury.
† Including four as Short Brothers & Harland.
‡ One as S.T.C. and two as Northern Telecom.

List of Clarence Cup winners

Season	Winner
1923/24	C.P.A.
1924/25	Ophir
1925/26	Sirocco Works
1926/27	Sirocco Works
1927/28	Shaftesbury
1928/29	Shaftesbury
1929/30	Shaftesbury
1930/31	Dunville's
1931/32	Ewarts
1932/33	Cliftonville Strollers
1933/34	49th (Scouts) Old Boys
1934/35	Border Regiment
1935/36	Willowfield
1936/37	Whitehouse Rec.
1937/38	Whitehouse Rec.
1938/39	Sirocco Works
1939/40	Aircraft Works II
1940/41	Victoria Works
1941/42	Victoria Works United
1942/43	Victoria Works United
1943/44	Sirocco Works
1944/45	Shankill Young Men
1945/46	Sirocco Works
1946/47	East Belfast
1947/48	Sirocco Works
1948/49	Cogry Mills
1949/50	East Belfast
1950/51	East Belfast
1951/52	East Belfast
1952/53	Wolfhill Rec.
1953/54	Balmoral Rec.
1954/55	Balmoral R.C.
1955/56	Chimney Corner
1956/57	East Belfast
1957/58	Comber Rec.
1958/59	Ewarts
1959/60	Harland & Wolff S.M.D.
1960/61	R.U.C.
1961/62	Comber Rec.
1962/63	Bethel Young Men
1963/64	Albert Foundry[1]
1964/65	Lisburn Rangers
1965/66	St Elizabeth's
1966/67	Albert Foundry[1]
1967/68	Dundonald
1968/69	Harland & Wolff Welders 'A'
1969/70	Chimney Corner
1970/71	Cup withheld[3]
1971/72	R.N.A.Y.
1972/73	Lisburn Rangers
1973/74	S.T.C.
1974/75	Downpatrick Rec.
1975/76	Barn United
1976/77	Balmoral Rec.
1977/78	Cromac Albion
1978/79	Downpatrick Rec.
1979/80	Cromac Albion
1980/81	Ballyclare Comrades Reserves
1981/82	Civil Service
1982/83	Ballyclare Comrades Reserves
1983/84	Ballyclare Comrades Reserves
1984/85	Carreras Rothmans
1985/86	S.T.C.
1986/87	Harland & Wolff Sports
1987/88	Grove United
1988/89	Harland & Wolff Sports
1989/90	Rooftop
1990/91	Abbey Villa
1991/92	Harland & Wolff Sports
1992/93	Drumaness Mills
1993/94	Drumaness Mills
1994/95	Barn United
1995/96	Cup withheld[4]
1996/97	Ballynahinch United
1997/98	Killyleagh Youth
1998/99	Comber Rec.
1999/2000	?
2000/01	Killyleagh Youth
2001/02	Killyleagh Youth
2002/03	Bangor Amateurs
2003/04	Kilmore Rec.
2004/05	Kilmore Rec.
2005/06	Barn United
2006/07	East Belfast
2007/08	Islandmagee
2008/09	Immaculata
2009/10	Albert Foundry
2010/11	Immaculata

Performance by club

	Team	Wins	Last win
1	Sirocco Works	6	1947/48
=	East Belfast	6	2006/07
3	Dunville's*	4	1930/31
4	Albert Foundry[1]	3	2009/10
=	Ballyclare Comrades Reserves	3	1983/84
=	Balmoral Rec.	3	1976/77
=	Barn United	3	2005/06
=	Comber Rec.	3	1999/2000
=	Harland & Wolff Sports	3	1991/92
=	Killyleagh Youth	3	2001/02
=	Victoria Works United**	3	1942/43
12	Chimney Corner	2	1969/70
=	Cromac Albion	2	1979/80
=	Downpatrick Rec.	2	1978/79
=	Drumaness Mills	2	1993/94
=	Ewarts	2	1958/59
=	Immaculata	2	2010/11
=	Kilmore Rec.	2	2004/05
=	Lisburn Rangers	2	1972/73
=	S.T.C.	2	1985/86
=	Whitehouse R.C.	2	1937/38
23	49th (Scouts) Old Boys	1	1933/34
=	Abbey Villa	1	1990/91
=	Aircraft Works II	1	1939/40
=	Ballynahinch United	1	1996/97
=	Bangor Amateurs	1	2002/03
=	Bethel Young Men	1	1962/63
=	Border Regiment	1	1934/35
=	C.P.A.	1	1923/24
=	Carreras Rothmans	1	1984/85
=	Civil Service	1	1981/82
=	Cogry Mills	1	1948/49
=	Cliftonville Strollers	1	1932/33
=	Dundonald	1	1967/68
=	Grove United	1	1987/88
=	Harland & Wolff S.M.D.	1	1959/60
=	Harland & Wolff Welders 'A'	1	1968/69
=	Islandmagee	1	2007/08
=	Ophir	1	1924/25
=	R.N.A.Y.	1	1971/72
=	Rooftop	1	1989/90
=	R.U.C.	1	1960/61
=	St Elizabeth's	1	1965/66
=	Shankill Young Men	1	1944/45
=	Willowfield	1	1935/36
=	Wolfhill Rec.	1	1952/53

* Including three as Shaftesbury.
** Including one as Victoria Works.

List of Border Cup winners

Season	Winner
1990/91	STC
1991/92	Dunmurry Rec.
1992/93	Abbey Villa
1993/94	? (FC Enkalon or 1st Liverpool RR?)
1994/95	1st Shankill Northern Ireland Supporters Club
1995/96	Coagh United
1996/97	Killyleagh Youth
1997/98	Larne Technical Old Boys
1998/99	Islandmagee
1999/2000	Northern Telecom
2000/01	Crumlin United
2001/02	Larne Technical Old Boys
2002/03	Killyleagh Youth
2003/04	Killyleagh Youth
2004/05	Knockbreda Parish
2005/06	Newington Y.C.
2006/07	Dunmurry Rec.
2007/08	Abbey Villa
2008/09	Sport & Leisure Swifts
2009/10	Grove United
2010/11	Dromara Village

Performance by club

	Team	Wins	Last win
1	Killyleagh Youth	3	2003/04
2	Abbey Villa	2	2007/08
=	Dunmurry Rec.	2	2006/07
=	Larne Technical Old Boys	2	2001/02
=	Nortel	2	1999/2000
6	Albert Foundry	1	1994/95
=	Coagh United	1	1995/96
=	Crumlin United	1	2000/01
=	Dromara Village	1	2010/11
=	Grove United	1	2009/10
=	Islandmagee	1	1998/99
=	Knockbreda Parish	1	2004/05
=	Newington Y.C.	1	2005/06
=	Sport & Leisure Swifts	1	2008/09

Sources

• H. Johnstone & G. Hamilton (n.d.) A Memorable Milestone: 75 Years of the Northern Amateur Football League
• M. Brodie (ed.) (n.d.) The Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 1999/2000.
• M. Brodie (ed.) (n.d.) The Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 2000/01.
• M. Brodie (ed.) (n.d.) The Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 2001/02.
• M. Brodie (ed.) (n.d.) The Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 2002/03.
• M. Brodie (ed.) (n.d.) The Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 2003/04.
• M. Brodie (ed.) (n.d.) The Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 2004/05.
• M. Brodie (ed.) (n.d.) The Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 2006/07.
• M. Brodie (ed.) (n.d.) The Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 2007/08.
• M. Brodie (ed.) (n.d.) The Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 2008/2009. Belfast:Ulster Tatler Publications
• Newington Youth Club F.C. Thursday 14th May 2009- Newington are the champions! Newington Football Club. Accessed 15-05-09.
• Northern Amateur Football League

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d} The original Albert Foundry club folded in 1978.
2. ^ The current Albert Foundry club was founded in 1981.
3. ^ Competition not completed after Irish Football Association upheld an appeal against the dismissal of two semi-finalists, but the final was subsequently not played.
4. ^ Coagh United won the final, but had to return the cup after it was discovered that they had fielded an ineligible player.

External links

• The Northern Amateur Football League Official site - (For fixtures, results and tables of all Northern Ireland amateur football)
• nifootball.co.uk - (For fixtures, results and tables of all Northern Ireland amateur football leagues)