 | |
| Founded | 1948 |
|---|---|
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Number of teams | 53 (11 in Premier) |
| Level on pyramid | 4 (Premier only) |
| Promotion to | NIFL Premier Intermediate League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Irish Cup IFA Intermediate Cup |
| Current champions | Coagh United (2022–23) |
The Ballymena and Provincial Football League [1] is a regional football league in Northern Ireland. The league has a Premier Division with intermediate status and three junior divisions: Junior Divisions 1, 2 and 3.
The league was formed as the Ballymena and District Junior League in 1948, with twelve founding members, including Moyola Park F.C., the only original member club that still retains membership through its reserve team. In 1983, the name was changed to the Ballymena and District Premier League, and in 1990, intermediate status was granted to the top division and the league was renamed as the Ballymena and Provincial Intermediate League. The league subsequently changed its name again to the current Ballymena and Provincial Football League. [2]
In 2023, the league announced a re-structure of the league in order to expand into two tiers (a Division One and Division Two) for the start of the 2024–25 season. [3]
Currently, eighteen teams play in the Intermediate Division. The league champions can be promoted to NIFL Premier Intermediate League, providing they meet the admittance requirements. [3] [4]
Intermediate League A | Intermediate League B |
Cups that are currently available only to clubs in the Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate Leagues are:
Teams in the junior divisions can play in the Irish Junior Cup. [5]
| Season | Champions |
|---|---|
| 1948-49 | Moyola Park [6] |
| 1949-50 | Moyola Park [6] |
| 1951-1959 | unknown |
| 1959-60 | Moyola Park/ Ballymoney United [6] |
| 1961-1973 | unknown |
| 1973-74 | Moyola Park [6] |
| 1976-1976 | unknown |
| 1976-77 | Moyola Park [6] |
| 1977-78 | Moyola Park [6] |
| 1979–2006 | unknown |
| 2006–07 | Raceview |
| 2007–08 | Ballynure Old Boys |
| 2008–09 | Coleraine Crusaders |
| 2009–10 | Raceview |
| 2010–11 | Brantwood |
| 2011–12 | Raceview |
| 2012–13 | Newtowne |
| 2013–14 | Brantwood |
| 2014–15 | Ballynure Old Boys |
| 2015–16 | Newtowne |
| 2016–17 | Coagh United |
| 2017–18 | Glebe Rangers |
| 2018–19 | Bangor [7] |
| 2021–22 | St James' Swifts |
| 2022–23 | Coagh United |
Source: nifootball
Moyola Park Association Football Club is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in the NIFL Premier Intermediate League. The club, founded in 1880, hails from Castledawson, near Magherafelt, County Londonderry, and plays its home matches at Fortwilliam Park with the club groundsharing with Tobermore United following the closure of Mill Meadow. Club colours are royal blue and yellow. The club won the inaugural Irish Cup in 1881. The club is managed by Kenny Shiels.
Brantwood Football Club is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in the Ballymena & Provincial Football League. The club, founded in 1901, hails from Belfast and plays its home matches at Skegoneill Avenue. Club colours are royal blue. The current manager is Graham McConnell. In 2009, the club, which had failed to gain a place in the IFA Championship in 2008 and instead played in the IFA Interim Intermediate League, elected not to apply again for membership of the IFA Championship and announced that it would step down into the Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League for season 2009–10, ending over 50 years at national intermediate level.
Chimney Corner is a Northern Irish, intermediate football club playing in the Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League. The club, founded in 1952, hails from Antrim and plays its home matches at Allen Park. Club colours are red and white. The current manager is Mark Butler. They have a large youth set-up which was founded for the 2005–06 season.
Portstewart Football Club is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club from Portstewart, County Londonderry. The club was founded in 1968 and currently plays in the NIFL Premier Intermediate League. The club's main colours are sky blue and navy. Portstewart are nicknamed "The Seahawks". Portstewart Reserves play in the Coleraine and District Morning League. In 2019, Portstewart introduced an Under 20s team, to play in the Championship/PIL Development League.
Wakehurst Football Club are a Northern Irish, intermediate football club who currently play in the Ballymena & Provincial Football League. The club, founded in 1969, hails from Ballymena, although home matches are played at Moyola Park's ground at Mill Meadow. Wakehurst formerly played at the second pitch at the Ballymena Showgrounds, home of Ballymena United, but for 2009–10 this pitch was deemed not to meet the criteria for the Championship, and home games were played at the ground of Tobermore United in Tobermore, County Londonderry, for that season; Wakehurst moved to Castledawson for 2010–11. It is the club's intention eventually to return to Ballymena. In 2016, the club was relegated from the Northern Ireland Football League and spent a season in the Ballymena & Provincial Football League before announcing their withdrawal from the competition.
The Northern Ireland football league system is categorised into three levels: senior, intermediate and junior. Clubs attain intermediate status by fulfilling certain criteria. Senior status requires clubs to reach stricter criteria. National leagues exist at senior and intermediate level. All junior leagues and some intermediate are organised on a regional basis.
Glebe Rangers Football Club is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in the Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League. They hail from Ballymoney, County Antrim. They play their home games at the Riada Stadium, Ballymoney.
Kilmore Recreation Football Club, commonly known as Kilmore Rec., is a Northern Irish, intermediate football club with teams playing in Division 1A of the Northern Amateur Football League, Northern Ireland Women's Football League (NIWFL), South Belfast Youth League and Downpatrick Youth League. The club's home ground is Robert Adams Park, Crossgar, County Down.
Crumlin United Football Club is a Northern Irish, intermediate football club playing in the Premier Division of the Northern Amateur Football League. The club is based in Crumlin, County Antrim, was founded in 1968 and played in the Lisburn League, Ballymena Premier League and Dunmurry League before joining the Amateur League in 1986. In 1990, intermediate status was achieved.
Dromara Village Football Club is a Northern Irish intermediate football club based in Dromara who currently play in the Premier Division of the Northern Amateur Football League. The club has three senior teams playing in the Amateur League and the Newcastle and District League, and one under-17 youth team competing in the Lisburn Invitational League. The club joined the Newcastle and District League in 1976, and gained intermediate status upon entry to Division 1C of the Amateur League in 1986. The biggest achievement for the club in recent years was promotion to the Premier Division of the Amateur Premier League at the end of the 2007–08 season. In latter history one of the big highlights for the club was reaching the Steel & Sons cup final in 1996 when the Villagers were narrowly defeated in a cup final replay, having drawn the first tie against Ballymena United Reserves. Dromara returned to the amateur Premier Division after a record breaking 2022-23 season which saw them promoted as 1A champions.
Dunloy Football Club is a Northern Irish amateur football club based in Dunloy, County Antrim. Currently made up of three teams - First, Reserve and Development. The First Team play in the Premier Division of the Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League, with both the Reserve and Development Teams competing in the Coleraine and District Saturday Morning League 1 and 2.
Belfast Celtic Football Club is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in the Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League. The club hails from Belfast and plays its home games at Páirc Na gCeiltigh, which is in the west of the city. It was founded as Sport & Leisure Swifts in 1978, although the club views its rebranding in 2019 as the beginning of a new club, when it was rebranded as Belfast Celtic.
Newington Rangers Football Club is a Northern Irish junior-level Football Club. After leaving Division 2A other Northern Amateur Football League (NAFL) in 2019, they are now playing in the Ballymena and Provincial Football League Junior Division 2. Its home ground is Sandy Bay in Larne, County Antrim. The club joined the Amateur League in 1990. The team is currently managed by Andy Hall
Ballynure Old Boys Football Club, also known as Ballynure O.B., is an intermediate-level football club playing in the Premier division of the Ballymena & Provincial League in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1969. As well as the 1st team, the club also has 2nd team playing in the Junior Division 2 of the league. The club is based in Ballynure, County Antrim, but plays its home matches at Mossley Park, Carnmoney.
The Republic of Ireland football league system currently consists of 12 levels. Traditionally association football leagues in the Republic of Ireland have been classified as either senior, intermediate or junior. These leagues are effectively national, provincial and district leagues respectively. The two highest level leagues/divisions, the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland First Division are both national leagues. Together they make up the League of Ireland. The third level currently consists of three provincial leagues – the Leinster Senior League Senior Division, the Munster Senior League Senior Premier Division and the Ulster Senior League Senior Division.
Magherafelt Sky Blues Football Club are an amateur football club from Magherafelt, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The club, founded in 1970, plays its home matches at Spires Park. Club colours are sky blue and navy. The current manager is Brian Taylor and Sean Monaghan. The club played in the Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League until announcing their resignation from the league on the eve of the 2017-18 season. They now compete in the Coleraine & District Football League.
F. C. Ballynure was an intermediate and junior-level football club in Northern Ireland. The club was formed in 2004 and played its home matches at Parkview Hockey Club in Doagh, County Antrim.
Raceview Football Club is a junior-level club playing in the Ballymena Saturday Morning League in Northern Ireland. The club dropped into junior football from Intermediate Football for the 2013-14 season, after dissolving back to one team from two and reclaiming their place in BSML top division the club is once again moving strength to strength. Raceview previously enjoyed intermediate status and participation in the Irish Cup. One of the Clubs greatest achievements comes back in 2002 in winning the County Antrim FA Junior shield. in 2021 the club has now expanded to having a women's team Raceview FC Ladies which in the 2022 was detracted to be part of the NIWFA and will compete for the first time in the 2022 season.
Rathcoole Football Club are a junior-level football club playing in the first division of the Ballymena & Provincial League in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 2012. The club is based in Rathcoole, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, playing their home games at the Diamond, a two pitch facility that they share with Rathfern Rangers. They gained intermediate status in 2013 and competed in the Irish Cup for the first time in 2015–16, reaching the second round. However the club returned to the junior ranks for the 2016-17 season by dropping down a division. Rathcoole then folded in July 2017 and rebuilt the team and registered themselves again for the 2017-2018 season.
Sofia Farmer Football Club is an intermediate-level football club playing in the Premier division of the Ballymena & Provincial League in Northern Ireland. The club originally played at the Mid-Ulster Sports Arena, Cookstown, County Tyrone, before moving in 2016 to share Allen Park, Antrim, with Chimney Corner. The club plays in the Irish Cup.
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