Northern Ireland national junior football team

This article is about the team for lower leagues, known as junior leagues on Ireland. For the main low-age team, see Northern Ireland national under-21 football team.

Northern Ireland Juniors

Nickname(s)	Green and White Army, Norn Iron
Association	Irish Football Association
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Harry McConkey
Captain	William Armstrong
Most caps	Brian Hylands (25) [1]
Home stadium	various
FIFA code	NIR
First colours Second colours
First international
Ireland 0–11 Scotland   (Glasgow; 15 February 1890)
Biggest win
Northern Ireland 5–0 Luxembourg   (Luxembourg; 1 October 2000)
Biggest defeat
Ireland 0–11 Scotland   (Glasgow; 15 February 1890)
UEFA Regions Cup
Appearances	2 (first in 2007)
Best result	Finals Group Stage

The Northern Ireland Junior national football team, commonly referred to as Northern Ireland Juniors, represents Northern Ireland in international association football matches for teams selected outside national professional leagues. Originally selected on an all-Ireland basis, the team is now limited to selecting players appearing in intermediate and junior leagues within Northern Ireland. A number of players have graduated from the Junior international side to the senior international side, notably Norman Uprichard and Dick Keith who played at the 1958 World Cup. The most recent player to graduate to the senior team was Stuart Dallas.

History

Ireland Juniors played their first representative match against Scotland in 1890. The Scots became the primary opponents for Ireland Juniors through to the 1990s with only occasional matches against Wales and the Republic of Ireland for variety. ^[2]

Today

The main competition for junior level national teams in Europe is the UEFA Regions Cup. Northern Ireland Juniors first entered in 2000 but a change in the rules mean that since 2007 the national team has been unable to enter and a regional select has entered in its stead. ^[3] Since this change the Eastern Region have been the representatives five times and the Western Region once having won a play-off.

In addition Northern Ireland Juniors regularly compete in the International Quadrangular Tournament along with Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man. Northern Ireland have won this competition three times, in 1995, 1996 and 2017.

Current squad

The following players were selected for the Junior International Quadrangular Tournament held in Glasgow, Scotland from 11–14 October 2017. ^[4]

Kit Number	Position	Name	Club
1	GK	Jordan Williamson	PSNI
12	GK	Paul Wells	Limavady United
2		Dale Montgomery	Loughgall
3		William Armstrong (C)	Harland & Wolff Welders
4		Scott McMillan	Harland & Wolff Welders
5		Dean Curry	Institute
6		Ryan Deans	Harland & Wolff Welders
7		Dylan Wilson	PSNI
8		Jordan Gibson	Lurgan Celtic
9		Warner Mullen	Lurgan Celtic
10		Ryan Campbell	Dergview
11		Ricky Thompson	Dollingstown
13		Ryan Morrow	Institute
14		Aaron Walsh	Maiden City
15		Ryan Arthurs	Knockbreda
16		Adam Gray	Ballyclare Comrades
17		Stewart Nixon	Ballyclare Comrades
18		Stephen Curry	Institute
19		Mark Kelly	Ballyclare Comrades
20		Craig Harris	Harland & Wolff Welders

Competition Records

UEFA Regions' Cup

Main article: UEFA Regions' Cup

Year	Round	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
1999 [5]	did not enter
2001 [6]	Qualifying Round	3	1	1	1	8	4
2003 [7]	Qualifying Round	3	1	0	2	4	3
2005 [8]	Qualifying Round	3	1	1	1	6	3
2007 [9] 1	Finals – Group Stage	9	5	3	1	11	6
2009 [10] 1	Intermediate Round	3	1	1	1	3	3
2011 [11] 1	Intermediate Round	6	2	1	3	6	6
2013 [12] 1	Finals – Group Stage	9	5	2	2	15	12
2015 [13] 1	Finals – Group Stage	6	4	1	1	15	7
2017 [14] 2	Intermediate Round	3	0	0	3	2	6
2019 [15] 1	Intermediate Round	3	1	0	2	3	4
Total		48	21	10	135	70	49

Since 2007, Northern Ireland has been represented by the winner of a play-off between the Eastern Region¹ and Western Region².

Quadrangular Tournament

Main article: Junior International Quadrangular Tournament

Year	Round	Position	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
1993–94	did not enter1
1994–95	Final	1st	2	1	1	0	4	3
1995–96	Final	1st	2	2	0	0	3	1
1996–97	Final	2nd	2	0	1	1	2	3
1997–98	3rd place play-off	4th	2	0	1	1	1	4
1998–99	3rd place play-off	4th	2	0	0	2	1	8
1999–2000	3rd place play-off	4th	2	0	0	2	1	3
2000–01	League [16]	3rd	3	1	0	2	2	5
2002-03	League	4th	3	0	1	2	3	9
2004–05	League	3rd	3	1	1	1	3	4
2007–08	League	3rd	3	0	2	1	6	7
2009–10	League	4th	3	0	2	1	2	4
2013–14	League	3rd	3	1	0	2	3	6
2017–18	League	1st	3	2	1	0	8	3
Total			33	8	10	15	39	60

¹ A Mid Ulster side represented Northern Ireland

References

1. "JUNIOR INTERNATIONAL DEFEAT IN DUBLIN". Irish FA. 12 June 2011.
2. "Northern Ireland Junior International Results (1890-1994)". NIFG. 24 March 2013.
3. "Northern Ireland in the UEFA Regions' Cup". NIFG. 24 March 2013.
4. "McConkey delighted with Northern Ireland's success at Umbro tournament". Irish FA. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
5. "UEFA Regions Cup 1999". RSSSF . Retrieved 21 May 2019.
6. "UEFA Regions Cup 2000/01". RSSSF . Retrieved 21 May 2019.
7. "UEFA Regions Cup 2002/03". RSSSF . Retrieved 21 May 2019.
8. "UEFA Regions Cup 2004/05". RSSSF . Retrieved 21 May 2019.
9. "UEFA Regions Cup 2006/07". RSSSF . Retrieved 21 May 2019.
10. "UEFA Regions Cup 2008/09". RSSSF . Retrieved 21 May 2019.
11. "UEFA Regions Cup 2010/11". RSSSF . Retrieved 21 May 2019.
12. "UEFA Regions Cup 2012/13". RSSSF . Retrieved 21 May 2019.
13. "UEFA Regions Cup 2014/15". RSSSF . Retrieved 21 May 2019.
14. "UEFA Regions Cup 2016/17". RSSSF . Retrieved 21 May 2019.
15. "UEFA Regions Cup: Standings". UEFA. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
16. "Non-League Scotland".