|
|
|
|
|
Football League Of IrelandThe Football League of Ireland, usually known simply as the League of Ireland or the Eircom League (from the leagues sponsorship from Irish telcom Eircom), is a league of football clubs in the Republic of Ireland. It should not be confused with the Irish Football League, which is the league in Northern Ireland. Note, however, that the Football League of Ireland includes one club from Northern Ireland, 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 concerns. Derry City joined the Republic's league at the second level in 1985, after a special dispensation from the Irish Football Association and UEFA. It won promotion in 1987, and has stayed in the top flight ever since. 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. Today the league operates on a two divisional structure (changing in 1985), with 12 teams in the Premier Division and 10 in the First. 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 in England and the Scottish Premier League (many Irish football fans prefer to follow English or Scottish clubs' fortunes rather than their local clubs) the league has switched to playing Summer football (like the Scandinavian leagues for example). Clubs are promoted and relegated between the Premier and First divisions at the end of each season. Also, the club who finishes bottom of the First must reapply for league membership. Clubs in Membership Premier Division First Division List of Winners of the League 1921-22 St James's Gate 1922-23 Shamrock Rovers 1923-24 Bohemians 1924-25 Shamrock Rovers 1925-26 Shelbourne 1926-27 Shamrock Rovers 1927-28 Bohemians 1928-29 Shelbourne 1929-30 Bohemians 1930-31 Shelbourne 1931-32 Shamrock Rovers 1932-33 Dundalk 1933-34 Bohemians 1934-35 Dolphin 1935-36 Bohemians 1936-37 Sligo Rovers 1937-38 Shamrock Rovers 1938-39 Shamrock Rovers 1939-40 St.James's Gate 1940-41 Cork United 1941-42 Cork United 1942-43 Cork United 1943-44 Shelbourne 1944-45 Cork United 1945-46 Cork United 1946-47 Shelbourne 1947-48 Drumcondra 1948-49 Drumcondra 1949-50 Cork Athletic 1950-51 Cork Athletic 1951-52 St. Patrick's Athletic 1952-53 Shelbourne 1953-54 Shamrock Rovers 1954-55 St Patrick's Athletic 1955-56 St Patrick's Athletic 1956-57 Shamrock Rovers 1957-58 Drumcondra 1958-59 Shamrock Rovers 1959-60 Limerick 1960-61 Drumcondra > align="top"| - 1961-62 Shelbourne
- 1962-63 Dundalk
- 1963-64 Shamrock Rovers
- 1964-65 Drumcondra
- 1965-66 Waterford United
- 1966-67 Dundalk
- 1967-68 Waterford
- 1968-69 Waterford
- 1969-70 Waterford
- 1970-71 Cork Hibernians
- 1971-72 Waterford
- 1972-73 Waterford
- 1973-74 Cork Celtic
- 1974-75 Bohemians
- 1975-76 Dundalk
- 1976-77 Sligo Rovers
- 1977-78 Bohemians
- 1978-79 Dundalk
- 1979-80 Limerick
- 1980-81 Athlone Town
- 1981-82 Dundalk
- 1982-83 Athlone Town
- 1983-84 Shamrock Rovers
- 1984-85 Shamrock Rovers
- 1985-86 Shamrock Rovers
- 1986-87 Shamrock Rovers
- 1987-88 Dundalk
- 1988-89 Derry City
- 1989-90 St Patrick's Athletic
- 1990-91 Dundalk
- 1991-92 Shelbourne
- 1992-93 Cork City
- 1993-94 Shamrock Rovers
- 1994-95 Dundalk
- 1995-96 St Patrick's Athletic
- 1996-97 Derry City
- 1997-98 St Patrick's Athletic
- 1998-99 St Patrick's Athletic
- 1999-2000 Shelbourne
- 2000-01 Bohemians
| valign="top"| - 2001-02 Shelbourne
- 2002-03 Bohemians
- 2003 Shelbourne
- 2004 Shelbourne
| External link
|
 |
|
| Copyright 2005-2009 OnPedia.com. All Rights Reserved |
|
|