2014–15 NIFL Championship


The 2014–15 NIFL Championship was the seventh season since its establishment after a major overhaul of the league system in Northern Ireland, and the second season that the league is being operated by the Northern Ireland Football League, which took over from the Irish Football Association for the 2013–14 season onwards. The season began on 8 August 2014 and concluded on 2 May 2015.
Carrick Rangers won the Championship 1 title, winning promotion back to the top flight for the first time since their relegation in the 2011–12 season. Bangor finished as runners-up – the Promotion/relegation play-off place – and faced Warrenpoint Town from the Premiership for a place in next season's Premiership. After a 2–2 draw on aggregate after extra time, Warrenpoint Town won 3–1 on penalties and retained their Premiership status for next season. In the bottom two, Dundela and PSNI were relegated to Championship 2. Lurgan Celtic and Annagh United replaced them in Championship 1, after finishing first and second in Championship 2. For the second successive season, a club was relegated to regional football. Ballymoney United finished bottom of Championship 2 and were relegated to a regional division for the following season.

Changes from 2013–14

Competition changes

League restructure proposals to be introduced over a three-season period were approved by the NIFL on 25 June 2014. The first phase, coming into effect this season, amended the Championship rules:
won the Championship 1 title, winning promotion back to the top flight for the first time since the 2009–10 season. They were replaced by Ards, after they had finished bottom of the NIFL Premiership. In the bottom two, Limavady United and Coagh United were relegated to Championship 2. Armagh City and PSNI replaced them in Championship 1, after finishing first and second in Championship 2. For the first time since the Championship was inaugurated in 2008, a club was relegated to regional football. Killymoon Rangers finished bottom of Championship 2 and were relegated to the Ballymena & Provincial League for the following season. Mid-Ulster Football League Intermediate A side Dollingstown took their place in Championship 2, after winning the promotion play-off against Brantwood 6–4 on aggregate. Also leaving Championship 2 was Chimney Corner. In July 2014, the club announced that they would be resigning from the Championship to join the Ballymena & Provincial League for the 2014–15 season. No club replaced them in Championship 2, which meant that the division was reduced in size to 15 clubs.
Promoted from Championship 1 to the Premiership
Relegated from the Premiership to Championship 1
Promoted from Championship 2 to Championship 1
Relegated from Championship 1 to Championship 2
Promoted from Mid-Ulster Football League to Championship 2
Relegated from Championship 2 to Ballymena & Provincial League

Stadia and locations

ClubStadiumLocationCapacity
ArdsClandeboye ParkBangor2,850
Armagh CityHolm ParkArmagh3,000
Ballyclare ComradesDixon ParkBallyclare1,800
BangorClandeboye ParkBangor2,850
Carrick RangersTaylors AvenueCarrickfergus6,000
DergviewDarragh ParkCastlederg1,200
Donegal CelticDonegal Celtic ParkBelfast2,330
DundelaWilgar ParkBelfast2,500
Harland & Wolff WeldersTillysburn ParkBelfast3,000
KnockbredaBreda ParkKnockbreda1,000
LarneInver ParkLarne1,100
Lisburn DistilleryNew Grosvenor StadiumBallyskeagh7,000
LoughgallLakeview ParkLoughgall3,000
PSNINewforge LaneBelfast500

League table

Results

Each team will play every other team twice for a total of 26 games.

Championship 2

Stadia and locations

ClubStadiumLocationCapacity
Annagh UnitedTandragee RoadPortadown1,250
Ballymoney UnitedRiada StadiumBallymoney5,752
Banbridge TownCrystal ParkBanbridge1,500
Coagh UnitedHagan ParkCoagh2,000
DollingstownPlanters ParkLurgan1,000
Glebe RangersRiada StadiumBallymoney5,752
Limavady UnitedThe ShowgroundsLimavady1,000
Lurgan CelticKnockrammer ParkLurgan1,000
Moyola ParkMill MeadowCastledawson1,000
Newington YCSeaviewBelfast3,383
PortstewartSeahavenPortstewart1,000
Queen's UniversityDub StadiumBelfast1,000
Sport & Leisure SwiftsGlen Road HeightsBelfast500
Tobermore UnitedFortwilliam ParkTobermore1,500
WakehurstMill MeadowCastledawson1,000

League table

Results

Each team plays every other team twice for a total of 28 games.