The Football League of Ireland, usually known simply as the League of Ireland or the Eircom League (from the league's sponsorship by Irish telcommunications company Eircom), is a league of football clubs in the Republic of Ireland. It should not be confused with the Irish League, which is the league in Northern Ireland. eircom Group plc is the largest telecommunications operator in the Republic of Ireland. ... Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) The Current Laws of the Game (LOTG) The Rec. ... The Irish Football League (IFL), or Irish League, is a league of football (soccer) clubs in Northern Ireland. ... Dieu et mon droit (Royal motto) (French for God and my right)3 Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Area  - Total Ranked 4th 13,843 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 4th 1,685...

The Football League of Ireland includes one club from across the border, Derry City. Derry City formerly played in the Irish Football League, but was forced to leave that league following the 1972-73 season because of safety and security concerns. Derry City joined the Republic's league at the second level in 1985, after a special dispensation from the Irish Football Association (IFA) and UEFA. It won promotion in 1987, and has stayed in the top flight ever since. No teams from the Republic play in the northern league. Derry City F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland, it is also the only club in the league from Northern Ireland. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... This article is about the year. ... The Irish Football Association (IFA) is the organising body for the sport of football (soccer) in Northern Ireland. ... UEFA logo The Union of European Football Associations, almost always referred to by the acronym UEFA (pronounced you-AY-fuh), is the administrative and controlling body for European football. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

History

Formed by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) in 1921, the league originally contained 8 teams and was first won by St. James' Gate FC. Over the next forty years the league grew to eventually twenty-two clubs. In 1985 the league split into two divisions Premier and First Division, with 12 teams in the Premier Division and 10 in the First. Clubs are promoted and relegated between the Premier and First divisions at the end of each season. Also, the club which finishes bottom of the First must reapply for league membership. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is the organising body for the sport of Association football (soccer) in the Republic of Ireland. ... 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about the year. ...

In the 1960s and 1970s the League of Ireland reached its height of popularity with clubs in Dublin commanding crowds of up to forty thousand however, in recent years, with the growing popularity of the national team and support for FA Premier League in England and the Scottish Premier League (many Irish football fans prefer to follow English or Scottish clubs' fortunes rather than their local clubs), attendances began to dwindle from thousands to hundreds in some cases. The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... Dublin (Irish: Baile Átha Cliath), is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Ireland, located near the midpoint of Irelands east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the centre of the Dublin Region. ... The Scottish Premier League (SPL for short) is the top division within the current structure of Scottish football. ...

Meanwhile the Premier Division's representatives in European competitions performed poorly with clubs from smaller European nations such as Lithuania and Iceland beating Irish oppostion easily. There were however, some highlights, Cork City's draw with Bayern Munich in front of 13,000, Derry City's entertaining Benfica and St. Patrick's Athletic narrowly going out to Glasgow Celtic. Cork City F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Bayern Munich or FC Bayern (German: FC Bayern München) is a German football club. ... Sport Lisboa e Benfica (commonly referred to as simply SL Benfica, Benfica or Benfica Lisbon; pron. ... St Patricks Athletic F.C. is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Celtic Football Club, more commonly referred to simply as Celtic (pronounced seltik), is one of the worlds most famous football clubs. ...

In the last several years a mini-revival has occurred with clubs such as Shelbourne, Bohemians and Cork City progressing in European competition. Most recently, in 2004 Shelbourne progressed to the third qualifying round of the Champions League only going out to Spanish giants, Deportivo La Coruña and Cork City qualified for the first round proper of the Uefa cup. Shelbourne F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Bohemian F.C. (Irish: An Cumann Peile Bóithéimeach) is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Cork City F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Champions League logo The UEFA Champions League is an annual club football competition for Europes most successful clubs. ... Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña, S.A.D. (abbreviated Depor) is a Spanish football club. ...

Until recently the league followed the pattern of the other leagues in the British Isles of starting their league campaigns towards the end of Summer and playing through the Winter until late Spring and playing no league games during the height of Summer. However, due to the league's seeming inability to compete with the FA Premier League and the Scottish Premier League and to a lesser extent the more favourable climate, the league has switched to playing Summer football (like the Scandinavian leagues for example). The British Isles consist of Great Britain, Ireland and a number of much smaller surrounding islands. ... Summer is a season, defined by convention in meteorology as the whole months of June, July, and August, in the Northern hemisphere, and the whole months of December, January, and February, in the Southern hemisphere. ... In many parts of the world, winter is associated with snow. ... Spring is one of the four seasons of temperate zones. ... The neutrality and factual accuracy of this article are disputed. ...

Domestically, with the advent of summer soccer both skill and attendances have improved with many clubs going professional and many former international stars returning home. However, professionalism has cost some clubs. Former greats Shamrock Rovers, without a home ground since the sale of Glenmalure Park in 1987, were put into administration in 2005 and subsequently taken over by a fans' group, the 400 Club. Rovers suffered their first ever relegation by losing a two-legged play-off 3-2 to Dublin City at the end of the 2005 season. Shamrock Rovers FC is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Glenmalure Park often simply known as Milltown, was the home to Irelands most succesful football club, Shamrock Rovers. ... ... Dublin City FC is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ...

However in the emergence and re-emergence of clubs such as Cork City, Shelbourne and Bohemians, to name a few, the future is bright for the Eircom Premier Division and league. Cork City F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Bohemian F.C. (Irish: An Cumann Peile Bóithéimeach) is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ...

Clubs in Membership

Athlone Town F.C. is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Cobh Ramblers F.C. (CRFC) is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Dundalk F.C. is an Irish football club from Dundalk, County Louth, that play in the Football League of Ireland. ... Finn Harps F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Galway United FC was founded as Galway Rovers in 1937. ... Kildare County F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Kilkenny City F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the Eircom League Divison 1. ... Limerick Football Club is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Monaghan Utd is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Shamrock Rovers Football Club is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ...

List of Winners of the League

Shamrock Rovers FC is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Bohemian FC is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Shelbourne FC is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Dundalk FC is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Sligo Rovers F.C. is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... St Patricks Athletic F.C. is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Limerick FC is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Waterford United is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Club: Cork Hibernians F.C. Cork Hibernians F.C.. Years: 1957 - 1967 City: Cork City Record Win: 10-1 Vs Transport. ... Club: Cork Celtic Cork Celtic F.C.. Years: 1951 - 1979 (1951 - 1959 as Evergreen United) City: Cork City Honours: League Championship 1973. ... Athlone Town FC is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Derry City FC is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland, it is also the only club in the league from Northern Ireland. ... Cork City FC is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ...

Footnotes

• Note 1: St. Patrick's Athletic were deducted fifteen points for use of an ineligible player; the FAI decided that Shelbourne would be awarded the title and the place in the European Champions' League, although the St Pat's players were subsequently awarded with winners medals>

See also

• Football League of Ireland Cup
• FAI Cup

The FAI League Cup is a football competition open to all Football League of Ireland clubs. ... The FAI Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland. ...

External links

• Football League of Ireland Website

Association Football in Ireland
Republic of Ireland Football Association of Ireland - National Team - Football League Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) The Current Laws of the Game (LOTG) The Rec. ... new Irish FA crest, This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is the organising body for the sport of Association football (soccer) in the Republic of Ireland. ... First International Italy 3 - 0 Republic of Ireland (Turin, Italy; 21 March 1926) Largest win Republic of Ireland 8 - 0 Malta (Dublin, Ireland; 16 November 1983) Worst defeat Brazil 7 - 0 Republic of Ireland (Uberlândia, Brazil; 27 May 1982) World Cup Appearances 3 (First in 1990) Best result Quarterfinals...
Northern Ireland Irish Football Association - National Team - Football League Dieu et mon droit (Royal motto) (French for God and my right)3 Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Area  - Total Ranked 4th 13,843 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 4th 1,685... This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... The Irish Football Association (IFA) is the organising body for the sport of football (soccer) in Northern Ireland. ... First International Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; February 18, 1882) Largest win Northern Ireland 7 - 0 Wales (Belfast, Northern Ireland; February 1, 1930) Worst defeat Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; February 18, 1882) World Cup Appearances 3 (First in 1958) Best result Quarterfinals, 1958 European Championship Appearances none... The Irish Football League (IFL), or Irish League, is a league of football (soccer) clubs in Northern Ireland. ...
Setanta Cup The Setanta Cup is a football competition featuring clubs from both political entities on the island of Ireland. ...