Ballymena & Provincial Football League

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.

Ballymena & Provincial Football League
Founded1948
CountryNorthern Ireland
Number of teams53 (11 in Premier)
Level on pyramid4 (Premier only)
Promotion toNIFL Premier Intermediate League
Domestic cup(s)Irish Cup
IFA Intermediate Cup
Current championsCoagh United (2022–23)

History

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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]

Intermediate clubs in membership (2023–24)

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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

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Cups that are currently available only to clubs in the Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate Leagues are:

  • Crawford Cup;
  • McReynolds Cup;
  • O'Gorman Cup;
  • Canada Trophy;
  • Linda Welshman Memorial Cup;

Teams in the junior divisions can play in the Irish Junior Cup.[5]

List of champions

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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

References

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  1. ^ Ballymena & Provincial Football League Rules[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Ballymena & Provincial League History". Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  3. ^ a b "General League Announcement". Ballymena & Provincial FootbalL League. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Tables - Ballymena & Provincial Football League".
  5. ^ "Cups". Ni Football. 3 October 2008. Archived from the original on 21 September 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Moyola Park. Club history". Moyola Park FC. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  7. ^ nifootball
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