2012–13 IFA Championship
Football league season
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The 2012–13 IFA Championship (known as the Belfast Telegraph Championship for sponsorship reasons)[1] was the fifth season since its establishment after a major overhaul of the league system in Northern Ireland. The season began on 10 August 2012 and ended on 4 May 2013. From next season onwards, the league would be operated by the Northern Ireland Football League, which was taking over from the Irish Football Association (IFA) for the 2013–14 season.[2]
| Season | 2012–13 |
|---|---|
← 2011–12 2013–14 → | |
In Championship 1, Ards were confirmed as the champions on 20 April 2013 after a 1–1 draw against Institute, securing promotion back to the top flight for the first time since the 2005–06 season.[3] Warrenpoint Town finished as runners-up, and qualified for the promotion/relegation play-off against Donegal Celtic. The tie ended 2–2 on aggregate with Warrenpoint Town winning on the away goals rule to reach the top flight for the first time in the club's history. Donegal Celtic were relegated to next season's Championship 1. Earlier in the season, Newry City were wound up and their IFA membership was later terminated. All of their results were also expunged.[4] As a result of Newry's expulsion from the league, only the club that finished in 13th, Tobermore United, was relegated from Championship 1, and there was no relegation from Championship 2.[5]
In Championship 2, winners Knockbreda were promoted to Championship 1, along with runners-up Ballyclare Comrades. Chimney Corner finished bottom for the fourth successive season but were saved from relegation by Newry City's demise.
Team changes from 2011–12
Ballinamallard United were last season's winners of Championship 1, achieving promotion to the 2012–13 IFA Premiership. Carrick Rangers replaced them for this season's Championship 1, after finishing in 12th place in the previous season's Premiership. Newry City missed out on promotion as they finished as runners-up, but were defeated 3–2 by Lisburn Distillery in the promotion/relegation play-off.
Promoted from Championship 1 to IFA Premiership
- Ballinamallard United (1st in Championship 1)
Relegated from IFA Premiership to Championship 1
- Carrick Rangers (12th in IFA Premiership)
Promoted from Championship 2 to Championship 1
- Coagh United (1st in Championship 2)
- Dundela (2nd in Championship 2)
Relegated from Championship 1 to Championship 2
- Banbridge Town (13th in Championship 1)
- Glebe Rangers (14th in Championship 1)
Club dissolved
Championship 1
| Champions | Ards |
|---|---|
| Promoted | Ards Warrenpoint Town |
| Relegated | Tobermore United |
| Matches | 156 |
| Goals | 507 (3.25 per match) |
| Biggest home win | Carrick Rangers 6–0 Dergview |
| Biggest away win | Larne 0–6 Carrick Rangers |
| Highest scoring | Larne 3–5 Dundela Tobermore United 2–6 Institute Tobermore United 4–4 Larne Warrenpoint Town 5–3 Dundela Dundela 5–3 Carrick Rangers Dundela 4–4 Limavady United |
← 2011–12 2013–14 → | |
Stadia and locations
| Club | Stadium | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ards | Clandeboye Park | Bangor | 2,850 (500 seated) |
| Bangor | Clandeboye Park | Bangor | 2,850 (500 seated) |
| Carrick Rangers | Taylors Avenue | Carrickfergus | 6,000 (400 seated) |
| Coagh United | Hagan Park | Coagh | 2,000 (179 seated) |
| Dergview | Darragh Park | Castlederg | 1,200 (100 seated) |
| Dundela | Wilgar Park | Belfast | 2,500 (100 seated) |
| Harland & Wolff Welders | Tillysburn Park | Belfast | 3,000 (100 seated) |
| Institute | Riverside Stadium | Drumahoe | 3,110 (1,540 seated) |
| Larne | Inver Park | Larne | 1,100 (656 seated) |
| Limavady United | The Showgrounds | Limavady | 524 (274 seated) |
| Loughgall | Lakeview Park | Loughgall | 3,000 (180 seated) |
| Tobermore United | Fortwilliam Park | Tobermore | 1,500 (100 seated) |
| Warrenpoint Town | Milltown Playing Fields | Warrenpoint | 500 (100 seated) |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ards (C, P) | 24 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 56 | 19 | +37 | 59 | Promotion to NIFL Premiership |
| 2 | Warrenpoint Town (O, P) | 24 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 46 | 23 | +23 | 50 | Qualification to promotion play-off |
| 3 | Institute | 24 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 50 | 23 | +27 | 47 | |
| 4 | Dundela | 24 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 62 | 51 | +11 | 43 | |
| 5 | Carrick Rangers | 24 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 48 | 32 | +16 | 39 | |
| 6 | Harland & Wolff Welders | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 37 | 35 | +2 | 34 | |
| 7 | Dergview | 24 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 27 | 39 | −12 | 27 | |
| 8 | Larne | 24 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 24 | 40 | −16 | 24 | |
| 9 | Coagh United | 24 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 35 | 51 | −16 | 23 | |
| 10 | Bangor | 24 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 42 | −19 | 23 | |
| 11 | Loughgall | 24 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 27 | 48 | −21 | 23 | |
| 12 | Limavady United | 24 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 34 | 49 | −15 | 21 | |
| 13 | Tobermore United (R) | 24 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 38 | 55 | −17 | 21 | Relegation to NIFL Championship 2[a] |
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scored; 4th head-to-head points; 5th head-to-head goal difference
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- As a result of Newry City dissolving, only the 13th-placed club was relegated.
Results
Each team plays every other team twice (once at home, and once away) for a total of 24 games.
Championship 2
| Champions | Knockbreda |
|---|---|
| Promoted | Knockbreda Ballyclare Comrades |
| Matches | 240 |
| Goals | 905 (3.77 per match) |
| Biggest home win | Armagh City 11–1 Chimney Corner |
| Biggest away win | Sport & Leisure Swifts 1–8 Knockbreda Chimney Corner 0–7 Lurgan Celtic |
| Highest scoring | Armagh City 11–1 Chimney Corner |
← 2011–12 2013–14 → | |
Stadia and locations
| Club | Stadium | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annagh United | Tandragee Road | Portadown | 1,250 (100 seated) |
| Armagh City | Holm Park | Armagh | 3,000 (330 seated) |
| Ballyclare Comrades | Dixon Park | Ballyclare | 1,800 (500 seated) |
| Ballymoney United | Riada Stadium | Ballymoney | 5,752 (218 seated) |
| Banbridge Town | Crystal Park | Banbridge | 1,500 (100 seated) |
| Chimney Corner | Allen Park | Antrim | 2,000 (100 seated) |
| Glebe Rangers | Riada Stadium | Ballymoney | 5,752 (218 seated) |
| Killymoon Rangers | Mid Ulster Sports Arena | Cookstown | 1,000 (100 seated) |
| Knockbreda | Breda Park | Knockbreda | 1,000 (100 seated) |
| Lurgan Celtic | Knockrammer Park | Lurgan | 1,000 (100 seated) |
| Moyola Park | Mill Meadow | Castledawson | 2,000 (200 seated) |
| Portstewart | Seahaven | Portstewart | 1,000 (100 seated) |
| PSNI | Newforge Lane | Belfast | 500 (112 seated) |
| Queen's University | Dub Stadium | Belfast | 1,000 (100 seated) |
| Sport & Leisure Swifts | Glen Road Heights | Belfast | 500 (215 seated) |
| Wakehurst | Mill Meadow | Castledawson | 1,000 (200 seated) |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knockbreda (C, P) | 30 | 25 | 2 | 3 | 106 | 25 | +81 | 77 | Promotion to NIFL Championship 1 |
| 2 | Ballyclare Comrades (P) | 30 | 23 | 2 | 5 | 77 | 28 | +49 | 71 | |
| 3 | Armagh City | 30 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 81 | 34 | +47 | 66 | |
| 4 | Lurgan Celtic | 30 | 20 | 3 | 7 | 71 | 43 | +28 | 63 | |
| 5 | Glebe Rangers | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 58 | 41 | +17 | 52 | |
| 6 | Wakehurst | 30 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 61 | 50 | +11 | 52 | |
| 7 | Queen's University | 30 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 65 | 43 | +22 | 45 | |
| 8 | PSNI | 30 | 14 | 1 | 15 | 60 | 48 | +12 | 43 | |
| 9 | Banbridge Town | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 57 | 58 | −1 | 40 | |
| 10 | Ballymoney United | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 53 | 67 | −14 | 37 | |
| 11 | Annagh United | 30 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 39 | 53 | −14 | 34 | |
| 12 | Moyola Park | 30 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 35 | 51 | −16 | 28 | |
| 13 | Portstewart | 30 | 5 | 7 | 18 | 37 | 70 | −33 | 22 | |
| 14 | Sport & Leisure Swifts | 30 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 41 | 101 | −60 | 20 | |
| 15 | Killymoon Rangers | 30 | 4 | 7 | 19 | 38 | 85 | −47 | 19 | |
| 16 | Chimney Corner | 30 | 3 | 2 | 25 | 26 | 108 | −82 | 11 | No Relegation[a] |
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scored; 4th head-to-head points; 5th head-to-head goal difference
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:
- As a result of Newry City dissolving, there was no relegation from Championship 2.
Results
Each team plays every other team twice (once at home, and once away) for a total of 30 games.