National Premier League

The National Premier League, also known for sponsorship purposes as the Red Stripe Premier League,[1] is the top division for men's association football in Jamaica. Contested between 12 clubs, the two lowest placed teams are relegated to their corresponding local second division league.[2]

For other uses, see National League (disambiguation) and Premier League (disambiguation).
For the second-tier of Australian association football, see National Premier Leagues.
National Premier League
Founded1973
CountryJamaica
ConfederationCONCACAF
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toKSAFA Super League
Western Confederation Super League
Eastern Confederation Super League
South Central Confederation Super League
Domestic cup(s)JFF Champions Cup (Defunct)
International cup(s)CFU Club Championship
CONCACAF Champions League
CONCACAF League
Current championsPortmore United
(2018–19)
Most championshipsPortmore United (7 titles)
TV partnersTelevision Jamaica, Sportsmax, KLAS ESPN 89fm(Radio) (live matches)
WebsitePremierLeagueJamaica.com
Current: 2019–20 National Premier League

History

The National Premier League was formed in 1973 to serve as the top tier of Jamaican professional club football. To date, the league has produced four Caribbean champions: Portmore United (2005, 2019) and Harbour View (2004, 2007).

As of the 2020 season, no team from the league has made it past the first round of the CONCACAF Champions League. The league has been more successful in the new CONCACAF League competition with both Portmore United (2018) and Waterhouse (2019) making it to the quarterfinals.

Competition format

The competition is divided into three stages, with clubs playing each other once during each stage. Following the third stage (33 matches), the teams are divided into two groups based on point totals and enter the fourth round of league play. The top six clubs contend for the championship, with the bottom six teams fighting to avoid relegation. The bottom two finishers are replaced the next season by the top two finishers of the second division regional playoffs.

The top two finishers in a given season qualify for the CFU Club Championship, a regional club tournament held each spring. A top-four finish in the CFU Club Championship is the only route for Jamaican teams to enter the CONCACAF Champions League and the CONCACAF League.

2019–20 Clubs

A total of 12 teams contest the league in the current season, including 10 sides from the 2018–19 season and two promoted from the 2018–19 National Play-off, Vere United and Molynes United.

ClubCityStadium
Arnett GardensKingstonTony Spaulding Sports Complex
Cavalier FCKingstonStadium East Field
DunbeholdenPortmorePrison Oval, Spanish Town
Harbour ViewKingstonHarbour View Stadium
Humble LionsMay PenEffortville Community Centre
Molynes UnitedKingstonJacisera Park
Mount Pleasant F.A.Runaway BayDrax Hall Sports Complex
Portmore UnitedPortmoreFerdie Neita Sports Complex, Juici Patty Field
Tivoli GardensKingstonRailway Oval
UWIKingstonUWI Bowl
Vere UnitedHayes, ClarendonWembley Centre of Excellence
WaterhouseKingstonWaterhouse Stadium

Champions

Performance by club
Club Winners Runners-Up Championship Seasons

Portmore United
7
5
 1992–93, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2017–18, 2018–19

Arnett Gardens
5
4
 1977–78, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2014–15, 2016–17

Tivoli Gardens
5
4
 1982–83, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2008–09, 2010–11

Santos
5
1
 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1979–80

Harbour View
4
5
 1999–00, 2006–07, 2009–10, 2012–13

Montego Bay United
4
5
 1986–87, 1996–97, 2013–14, 2015–16

Boys' Town
3
5
 1983–84, 1985–86, 1988–89

Reno
3
3
 1989–90, 1990–91, 1994–95

Waterhouse
2
4
 1997–98, 2005–06

Violet Kickers
2
0
 1993–94, 1995–96

Wadadah
2
0
 1987–88, 1991–92

Cavalier
1
3
 1980–81

Jamaica Defence Force
1
0
 1984–85

Note: No championship was awarded for the 1978–79 and 1981–82 seasons.

Source: RSSSF

Top scorers
Year Player Team Goals
2002–03 Roen NelsonHazard United19
2003–04 Fabian TaylorHarbour View19
2004–05 Christopher NicholasTivoli Gardens25
2005–06 Kevin LameyWaterhouse22
2006–07 Irvino EnglishWaterhouse18
2007–08 Roen NelsonPortmore United16
2008–09 Devon HodgesRivoli United24
2009–10 Devon HodgesRivoli United18
2010–11 Kirk RamseyArnett Gardens17
2011–12 Jermaine "Tuffy" AndersonWaterhouse14
2012–13 Jermaine "Tuffy" AndersonWaterhouse21
2013–14 Brian BrownHarbour View19
2014–15 Dino WilliamsMontego Bay United F.C.
2015–16 Owayne Omar GordonMontego Bay United F.C.19
2016–17 Jermaine JohnsonTivoli Gardens F.C.16
2017–18 Craig FosterHumble Lions17

References
  1. Red Stripe to serve Jamaica better through football – Sporting Eagle
  2. KSAFA teams strong challengers for DPL title – Jamaica Observer
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.