Women's Premiership (Northern Ireland)

The Women's Premiership is the top level women's football league of Northern Ireland. The league was called the NIWFA Division League 1 until 2003 and Premier League until 2015. In 2016, it was rebranded the Women's Premiership and is run by the NI Football League since.[1]

Women's Premiership
Founded2004
Country Northern Ireland
ConfederationUEFA
Divisions1
Number of teams6
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toChampionship
Domestic cup(s)IFA Women's Challenge Cup
International cup(s)UEFA Champions League
Current championsLinfield Ladies (4th title)
(2019 Women's Premiership)
Most championshipsGlentoran (7 Titles)
WebsiteWebsite
Current: 2020 Women's Premiership

Eight teams play a double round robin to crown the champion, which qualifies for a spot in the UEFA Women's Champions League. The eighth place gets relegated to the Women's Championship 1, the seventh place plays a two-legged relegation playoff against the runner up of the Women's Championship.

History

In women's football the first league season was played out in 1977.[2] Organised by the Northern Ireland Women's Football Association (NIWFA) the league was simply called the NIWFA Division League 1.

In 2004 the Division 1 was replaced by the Women's Premier League.

In 2016, after 40 years of administering and developing women's football locally, the league was rebranded the Women's Premiership and is run now by the Northern Ireland Football League.[3] The main sponsor and name giver is Danske Bank.

2020 Teams

The following teams make up the 2020 season.

Belfast
Ballymena
Newry
Strabane
Location of teams in the 2017 season
TeamLocationGround
Crusaders Newtownabbey StrikersBelfastSeaview
GlentoranBelfastThe Oval
LinfieldBelfastNew Midgely Park
Derry CityDrumahoeRiverside Stadium
Sion SwiftsStrabane3G Melvin Complex
CliftonvilleBelfastSolitude

List of champions

Before 2004 the winner of the Division 1 league was national champion. The first season was played out in 1977.[4][5]

References
  1. http://www.nifootballleague.com/womens-premiership/news/item/2016-danske-bank-women-s-premiership-launched
  2. http://www.irishfa.com/ifa-domestic/leagues/womens-football-leagues
  3. http://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/nifl-announce-new-northern-ireland-10995017
  4. "History". Northern Ireland Women's Football Association. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  5. "Northern Ireland - List of Women Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  6. "FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT FOCUS!". irishfa.com. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2014. ... and in 1999, 2000, and 2001 Lisburn Distillery Predators won the NIWFA Premier League
  7. "Glentoran take title". shekicks.net. 29 July 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  8. http://www.leaguewebsite.co.uk/northernirelandwomensfootballassociation/LeagueNews/view/28513
  9. http://www.glentoran.com/news/champions-again-0
  10. http://de.women.soccerway.com/national/northern-ireland/premier-league/2015/regular-season/r31178/
  11. http://www.linfieldfc.com/linfieldladiesnews.aspx?id=15884
  12. "Linfield Ladies retain Danske Bank Women's Premiership". goqradio.com. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  13. "#DanskeWomensPrem : Linfield take title after dramatic fightback". shekicks.net. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  14. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49834135
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