Northern Ireland national under-23 football team

Last updated
Northern Ireland Under-23
Nickname(s) Green & White Army, Norn Iron
Association Irish Football Association
Head coach Ronnie McFall
Home stadiumVarious
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The Northern Ireland national under-23 football team is an association football team representing Northern Ireland featuring footballers playing in the Irish League. The team first played at this level in 2007 when entering the International Challenge Trophy for national semi-professional Under-23 sides, though previously the Northern Ireland Under-23 team offered a recognised stepping stone for all young players hoping to progress to the full Northern Ireland side.

Contents

The Original Under-23s

The original Northern Ireland Under-23 side played a total of ten matches, all but three in the 1960s. [1] Players to have stepped up from the Under-23 side to full international level include Pat Jennings, Bryan Hamilton, Neil Lennon and Sammy Clingan.

Results

DateOpponentVenueResultScorers
07-02-1962 Wales Windsor Park, Belfast Drew 0–0
27-02-1963 Wales Vetch Field, Swansea Lost 1–5 Jimmy McLaughlin
05-02-1964 Wales Windsor Park, Belfast Drew 3–3 Willie Irvine (2), Jimmy McLaughlin
10-02-1965 Wales Ninian Park, Cardiff Drew 2–2 Willie Irvine, Dave Clements
22-02-1967 Wales Windsor Park, Belfast Won 2–1 Vic McKinney (2)
20-03-1968 Wales Vetch Field, Swansea Won 1–0 Shaun Dunlop
26-03-1969 Italy Communale Stadium, Brescia Lost 1–2 Brendan Mullan
11-04-1989 Republic of Ireland Dalymount Park, Dublin Lost 0–3
15-05-1990 Republic of Ireland Shamrock Park, Portadown Lost 2–3 Stephen McBride, John Devine
27-04-2004 Serbia & Montenegro Mourneview Park, Lurgan Drew 0–0(billed an Under 21–23 team) [2]

The New Under-23s

The Irish FA announced on 2 October 2007 that they would be entering a side in the International Challenge Trophy. [3] The team was selected only from players playing in the IFA Premiership and as such it is also a successor to the Irish League representative team. For the 2007–09 International Challenge Trophy the team was managed by Linfield's David Jeffrey and for the 2009-11 International Challenge Trophy by Portadown's Ronnie McFall. On both occasions Northern Ireland failed to make it beyond the group stage, and have not entered a team since.

2007–09 International Challenge Trophy

Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium U-23 2–1 Ulster Banner.svg Northern Ireland U-23
58 Hubert
85 Lutun
(Report)46 Peter Thompson

Ulster Banner.svg Northern Ireland U-230–1 Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland U-23
(Report) 88 Stephen Rice

Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia U-23 1–0 Ulster Banner.svg Northern Ireland U-23
10 Skutka(Report)

2009–11 International Challenge Trophy

Ulster Banner.svg Northern Ireland U-232–2 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales Semi Pro
Jay Magee
Daryl Fordyce
(Report)
Shamrock Park, Portadown, Northern Ireland

Ulster Banner.svg Northern Ireland U-232–0 Flag of Poland.svg Poland U-23
Jordan Owens
Martin Donnelly
(Report)
The Showgrounds, Coleraine, Northern Ireland

Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal U-23 2–0 Ulster Banner.svg Northern Ireland U-23
(Report)

Squad

Squad for the match against Portugal, 12 October 2010. [4] Clubs correct at time of call-up.

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
1 GK Chris Keenan (1987-01-27) 27 January 1987 (age 37) Ulster Banner.svg Crusaders
1 GK Sean O'Neill (1988-04-11) 11 April 1988 (age 35) Ulster Banner.svg Dungannon Swifts
2 DF Chris Ramsey (1990-05-24) 24 May 1990 (age 33) Ulster Banner.svg Portadown
3 MF Billy Joe Burns (1989-08-24) 24 August 1989 (age 34) Ulster Banner.svg Linfield
2 DF Johnny Taylor (1988-06-30) 30 June 1988 (age 35) Ulster Banner.svg Glentoran
2 DF Jay Magee (1988-05-04) 4 May 1988 (age 35)1 Ulster Banner.svg Glenavon
2 DF Ross Redman (1989-11-23) 23 November 1989 (age 34) Ulster Banner.svg Portadown
2 DF Archie Stewart (1989-12-03) 3 December 1989 (age 34) Ulster Banner.svg Ballymena United
3 MF Philip Lowry (1989-07-15) 15 July 1989 (age 34) Ulster Banner.svg Linfield
3 MF Robert Garrett (1988-05-05) 5 May 1988 (age 35) Ulster Banner.svg Linfield
3 MF Jamie Mulgrew (1986-05-06) 6 May 1986 (age 37) Ulster Banner.svg Linfield
3 MF Stuart Dallas (1991-04-19) 19 April 1991 (age 32) Ulster Banner.svg Crusaders
3 MF Martin Donnelly (1988-08-28) 28 August 1988 (age 35)1 Ulster Banner.svg Crusaders
3 MF Michael Carvill (1988-04-03) 3 April 1988 (age 35) Ulster Banner.svg Linfield
4 FW Daryl Fordyce (1987-01-02) 2 January 1987 (age 37)1 Ulster Banner.svg Glentoran
4 FW Curtis Allen (1988-02-22) 22 February 1988 (age 36) Ulster Banner.svg Linfield
4 FW Jordan Owens (1989-07-09) 9 July 1989 (age 34)1 Ulster Banner.svg Crusaders
4 FW Darren Boyce (1986-01-25) 25 January 1986 (age 38) Ulster Banner.svg Coleraine

Competitive record

International Challenge Trophy

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