League of Ireland First Division
![]() | |
Founded | 1985 |
---|---|
Country | Republic of Ireland |
Number of teams | 10 |
Level on pyramid | 2 |
Promotion to | League of Ireland Premier Division |
Domestic cup(s) | FAI Cup |
League cup(s) | League of Ireland Cup |
Current champions | Shelbourne (2nd title) (2021) |
Most championships | Drogheda United (5) |
Website | SSEAirtricityLeague.ie |
Current: 2022 League of Ireland First Division |
The League of Ireland First Division (Irish: Céad Roinn Sraith na hÉireann), also known as the SSE Airtricity League First Division, is the second level division in both the League of Ireland and the Republic of Ireland football league system. The division was formed in 1985. It replaced the League of Ireland B Division as the League of Ireland's second level division. Since 2003 the First Division has operated as a summer league.
History[]
Inaugural season[]
In 1985 five teams – Bray Wanderers, Cobh Ramblers, Derry City, EMFA and Newcastle United – were elected to join the League of Ireland. All five subsequently participated in the inaugural 1985–86 First Division season, along with Monaghan United from the League of Ireland B Division and four clubs – Drogheda United, Finn Harps, Longford Town and Sligo Rovers – who were relegated following the 1984–85 League of Ireland season. Bray Wanderers were the inaugural First Division champions.[1][2][3]
Europe[]
As a second level division, clubs playing in the First Division cannot qualify directly for Europe. However First Division clubs have qualified for Europe after winning the FAI Cup. In 1989–90 Bray Wanderers qualified for the 1990–91 European Cup Winners' Cup after winning the 1989–90 FAI Cup final. As a result, they became the first First Division team to play in Europe. In 1993–94 Sligo Rovers qualified for the 1994–95 European Cup Winners' Cup after winning the 1993–94 FAI Cup final. Rovers were also the 1993–94 First Division champions and were promoted to the 1994–95 Premier Division. As a result, they were actually a Premier Division club when they played in Europe. Bray Wanderers qualified for the 1999–2000 UEFA Cup after winning the 1999 FAI Cup Final. However, after finishing eleventh in the 1998–99 Premier Division, they were relegated to 1999–2000 First Division and as a result they were playing in the First Division when they subsequently embarked on their European campaign.[1][2]
In 2009 Sporting Fingal qualified for the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League after winning the 2009 FAI Cup Final. They were also promoted to the 2010 Premier Division after winning the promotion/relegation play-off.[4] In 2015 UCD qualified for the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League via the UEFA Respect Fair Play ranking system. After the FAI finished third in the 2014–15 rankings, they nominated UCD for the extra European place.[5][6]
Promotion and relegation[]
A promotion and relegation system has existed between the League of Ireland Premier Division and the First Division since 1985–86. In 1992–93 a promotion/relegation play-off was also introduced. Between 2008 and 2011, A Championship teams were also eligible for promotion to the First Division. During this time both Mervue United and Salthill Devon were both promoted to the First Division from the A Championship.[7][4][2][3] There is no formal promotion and relegation relationship between the First Division and the three third level provincial leagues – the Leinster Senior League Senior Division, the Munster Senior League and the Ulster Senior League. However provincial level teams have been invited to join the division. In 1990–91 St James's Gate were invited to join and in 1996–97 they were replaced by St Francis. In 2015, Cabinteely became the most recent team to accept an invite. All three clubs were recruited from the Leinster Senior League. Treaty Utd from the Munster senior league joined the first division in 2021, replacing Shamrock Rovers second team. Leinster Senior League[8][9][3] Treaty Utd from the Munster Senior League joined the first division in 2021.
2022 clubs[]
![Map of the Republic of Ireland with the ten League of Ireland First Division teams](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Ireland_adm_location_map.svg/280px-Ireland_adm_location_map.svg.png)
![Athlone Town Athlone Town](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Cobh Ramblers Cobh Ramblers](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Cork City Cork City](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Galway United Galway United](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Waterford Waterford](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
Team | Home city/suburb | Stadium |
---|---|---|
Athlone Town | Athlone | Athlone Town Stadium |
Bray Wanderers | Bray | Carlisle Grounds |
Cobh Ramblers | Cobh | St. Colman's Park |
Cork City | Cork | Turners Cross |
Galway United | Galway | Eamonn Deacy Park |
Longford Town | Longford | Bishopsgate |
Treaty United | Limerick | Markets Field |
Waterford | Waterford | RSC |
Wexford | Crossabeg | Ferrycarrig Park |
List of winners by season[]
Season | Champions | Runners-up | Third place |
---|---|---|---|
1985–86 | Bray Wanderers | Sligo Rovers | Longford Town |
1986–87 | Derry City | Shelbourne | Drogheda United |
1987–88 | Athlone Town | Cobh Ramblers | Finn Harps |
1988–89 | Drogheda United | UCD | Bray Wanderers |
1989–90 | Waterford United | Sligo Rovers | Bray Wanderers |
1990–91 | Drogheda United | Bray Wanderers | Cobh Ramblers |
1991–92 | Limerick City | Waterford United | Cobh Ramblers |
1992–93 | Galway United | Cobh Ramblers | Monaghan United |
1993–94 | Sligo Rovers | Athlone Town | Finn Harps |
1994–95 | UCD | Drogheda United | Finn Harps |
1995–96 | Bray Wanderers | Finn Harps | Home Farm Everton |
1996–97 | Kilkenny City | Drogheda United | Waterford United |
1997–98 | Waterford United | Bray Wanderers | Limerick |
1998–99 | Drogheda United | Galway United | Cobh Ramblers |
1999–2000 | Bray Wanderers | Longford Town | Kilkenny City |
2000–01 | Dundalk | Monaghan United | Athlone Town |
2001–02 | Drogheda United | Finn Harps | Dublin City |
2002–03 | Waterford United | Finn Harps | Galway United |
2003 | Dublin City | Bray Wanderers | Finn Harps |
2004 | Finn Harps | UCD | Bray Wanderers |
2005 | Sligo Rovers | Dublin City | Cobh Ramblers |
2006 | Shamrock Rovers | Dundalk | Galway United |
2007 | Cobh Ramblers | Finn Harps | Dundalk |
2008 | Dundalk | Shelbourne | Waterford United |
2009 | UCD | Shelbourne | Sporting Fingal |
2010 | Derry City | Waterford United | Monaghan United |
2011 | Cork City | Shelbourne | Monaghan United |
2012 | Limerick | Waterford United | Longford Town |
2013 | Athlone Town | Longford Town | Mervue United |
2014 | Longford Town | Shelbourne | Galway F.C. |
2015 | Wexford Youths | Finn Harps | UCD |
2016 | Limerick | Drogheda United | UCD |
2017 | Waterford | Cobh Ramblers | UCD |
2018 | UCD | Finn Harps | Shelbourne |
2019 | Shelbourne | Drogheda United | Longford Town |
2020 | Drogheda United | Bray Wanderers | UCD |
2021 | Shelbourne | Galway United | UCD |
List of winners by club[]
Club | Titles | Seasons |
---|---|---|
Drogheda United | 5 | 1988–89, 1990–91, 1998–99, 2001–02, 2020 |
Waterford | 4 | 1989–90, 1997–98, 2002–03, 2017 |
UCD | 3 | 1994–95, 2009, 2018 |
Limerick | 3 | 1991–92, 2012, 2016 |
Bray Wanderers | 3 | 1985–86, 1995–96, 1999–00 |
Athlone Town | 2 | 1987–88, 2013 |
Derry City | 2 | 1986–87, 2010 |
Dundalk | 2 | 2000–01, 2008 |
Shelbourne | 2 | 2019, 2021 |
Sligo Rovers | 2 | 1993–94, 2005 |
Wexford Youths | 1 | 2015 |
Longford Town | 1 | 2014 |
Cork City | 1 | 2011 |
Cobh Ramblers | 1 | 2007 |
Shamrock Rovers | 1 | 2006 |
Finn Harps | 1 | 2004 |
Dublin City | 1 | 2003 |
Kilkenny City | 1 | 1996–97 |
Galway United | 1 | 1992–93 |
Top scorers[]
Season | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1985–86 | ![]() |
Finn Harps | 11 |
![]() |
Sligo Rovers | 11 | |
1986–87 | ![]() |
Derry City | 18 |
1987–88 | ![]() |
Finn Harps | 19 |
1988–89 | ![]() |
Home Farm | 14 |
1989–90 | ![]() |
Bray Wanderers | 16 |
1990–91 | ![]() |
Monaghan United | 12 |
![]() |
Finn Harps | 12 | |
1991–92 | ![]() |
Finn Harps | 12 |
![]() |
Limerick City | 12 | |
1992–93 | ![]() |
Monaghan United | 15 |
![]() |
Longford Town | 15 | |
1993–94 | ![]() |
Home Farm | 16 |
1994–95 | ![]() |
UCD | 14 |
1994–95 | ![]() |
Home Farm | 14 |
1995–96 | ![]() |
Finn Harps | 17 |
1996–97 | ![]() |
Kilkenny City | 13 |
![]() |
Cobh Ramblers | 13 | |
1997–98 | ![]() |
Galway United | 13 |
1998–99 | ![]() |
Cobh Ramblers | 13 |
1999–00 | ![]() |
Home Farm Fingal | 17 |
![]() |
Monaghan United | 17 | |
![]() |
Longford Town | 17 | |
2000–01 | ![]() |
Athlone Town | 29 |
2001–02 | ![]() |
Finn Harps | 27 |
2002–03 | ![]() |
Cobh Ramblers | 14 |
![]() |
Finn Harps | 14 | |
2003 | ![]() |
Galway United | 21 |
2004 | ![]() |
Finn Harps | 24 |
2005 | ![]() |
Cobh Ramblers | 17 |
2006 | ![]() |
Dundalk | 21 |
2007 | ![]() |
Finn Harps | 15 |
2008 | ![]() |
Sporting Fingal | 17 |
2009 | ![]() |
Sporting Fingal | 21 |
2010 | ![]() |
Cork City | 18 |
![]() |
Derry City | 18 | |
![]() |
Waterford United | 18 | |
2011 | ![]() |
Cork City | 24 |
2012 | ![]() |
Waterford United | 13 |
![]() |
Finn Harps | 13 | |
![]() |
Wexford Youths | 13 | |
2013 | ![]() |
Longford Town | 21 |
2014 | ![]() |
Longford Town | 21 |
2015 | ![]() |
Wexford Youths | 30 |
2016 | ![]() |
UCD | 13 |
2017 | ![]() |
UCD | 17 |
2018 | ![]() |
Shelbourne | 15 |
2019 | ![]() |
Cabinteely | 17 |
2020 | ![]() |
UCD | 15 |
2021 | ![]() |
UCD | 19 |
Source:[10]
- Notes
See also[]
- League of Ireland
- League of Ireland Premier Division
- Republic of Ireland football league system
- List of foreign League of Ireland players
References[]
- ^ a b c d Graham, Alex. Football in the Republic of Ireland a Statistical Record 1921–2005. Soccer Baooks Limited. ISBN 1-86223-135-4.
- ^ a b c d e "(Republic of) Ireland League Tables - Second Level". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
- ^ a b c "What Happens (To) Teams That Enter The League of Ireland First Division?". Balls.ie. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Ireland 2009". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ^ "Ireland leading UEFA Fair Play League". SSE Airtricity League. 15 January 2015.
- ^ "UCD set for Europa League after topping Fair Play standings". The Irish Times. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ "Ireland 2008". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
- ^ "Cabinteely FC will play in First Division in 2015 after FAI awards new licence". RTE Sport. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "Cabinteely get green light to compete in League of Ireland First Division". Irish Independent. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "Ireland – List of Topscorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
External links[]
- League of Ireland First Division
- 1985 establishments in Ireland
- Association football leagues in the Republic of Ireland
- League of Ireland
- Second level football leagues in Europe
- Sports leagues established in 1985
- Summer association football leagues
- Professional sports leagues in Ireland