North-West F.A.

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The North-West Football Association, abbreviated to the NWFA, or the NWIFA, commonly referred to as the North-West F.A., is one of the four regional football associations affiliated with the Irish Football Association (IFA) in Northern Ireland. [1] The other three associations covering the country are the County Antrim & District FA, Mid-Ulster F.A., and the Fermanagh & Western FA. [2]

Contents

The NWIFA currently has an affiliation base of over 80 member clubs, which includes eight women's teams. The biggest competition that the North-West Football Association govern is the North West Senior Cup. [3] [4] It was founded in 1886, originally known as the County Londonderry F.A. Cup. [5]

History

The North-West Football Association was established in 1885 as one of the four Northern Ireland football governing bodies. They organized their first competition, the County Londonderry F.A. Cup. The inaugural winners are Limavady F.C., beating St Columb's Court F.C. 5-0. In 1892, the County Londonderry F.A. Cup was renamed to the North West Cup. [6]

The North-West Football Association then established a second cup competition known as the North West City Cup. [7]

In 1980, the North-West F.A. founded the Craig Memorial Cup. It was created to acknowledge the legacy E.H. Craig, a long-term secretary of the association. [8] The competition is known colloquially as the "William Craig Cup" as a misnomer due to the initials being ambiguity of the honoree's initials. [9] The inaugural winners are Tobermore United. [10] [11]

In 1981, the NWFA renamed the North West City Cup in memory of Matt Morrison, a long-standing figure in the North-West region. It is known as the Matt Morrison Memorial Cup. [12] [13]

In November 2025, the North West Football Association celebrated their 140th anniversary at the White Horse Hotel, Derry. Attendees included IFA President Conrad Kirkwood and politician Gregory Campbell and Maurice Bradley. [14] [15] [16]

Competitions

Council and committee

The Association's business is managed by a council composed of representatives from senior, intermediate, junior, and women's football. [17] They nominate six members to represent the NWFA in the Irish Football Association Council. The council also select an annual committee for the following bodies:

This is a list of the current North-West Football Association committee:

References

  1. ↑ "Northern Ireland". Sports Interactive Community. 2017-06-20. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  2. ↑ "North West IFA". www.northwestifa.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  3. ↑ Mullan, By Damian (2023-02-08). "Mallards defeat youthful Coleraine to lift NW Cup". www.colerainechronicle.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  4. ↑ "North West Cup: Coleraine beat Ballinamallard to win trophy". BBC Sport. 2025-01-22. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  5. ↑ "North West Senior Cup". Belfast News Letter. 28 April 1938". Belfast News Letter . p. 12.
  6. ↑ "Belfast News-Letter, 29 November 1886". Belfast News-Letter .
  7. ↑ "NW Junior League - Holders claim a place in last eight". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2003-11-10. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  8. ↑ Bradley, Maurice. "Newtowne secure James Craig Memorial Cup final victory over Moyola Park - Causeway Chronicle". Causeway Chronicle - Home for local news across the north coast of Northern Ireland. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  9. ↑ "Ballymena and Provincial Football league - North West Craig Memorial Cup". bpfl.leaguerepublic.com. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  10. ↑ "Craig Memorial Cup final: Teams out to grab the festive headlines". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2013-12-22. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  11. ↑ "Convincing win for Strabane Athletic". www.strabaneweekly.co.uk. 2024-09-13. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  12. ↑ Bradley, Maurice. "Trojans win Matt Morrison Memorial North-West Junior Cup - Causeway Chronicle". Causeway Chronicle - Home for local news across the north coast of Northern Ireland. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  13. ↑ "NW Matt Morrison Memorial Cup". www.northwestifa.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  14. ↑ "140th anniversary of the North West of Ireland Football Association - Early Day Motions - UK Parliament". edm.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  15. ↑ Chronicle, Causeway. "North-West Football Association celebrates 140th Anniversary - Causeway Chronicle". Causeway Chronicle - Home for local news across the north coast of Northern Ireland. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  16. ↑ Reporter (2025-11-30). "IN PICTURES: NW Ireland Football Association 140th anniversary celebrations". www.derrynow.com. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  17. ↑ "About". www.northwestifa.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
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