Season | 2016β17 |
---|---|
Dates | 13 August 2016 β 29 April 2017 |
Champions | Warrenpoint Town |
Promoted | Warrenpoint Town |
Relegated |
Armagh City Annagh United |
Matches played | 192 |
Goals scored | 665 (3.46 per match) |
β
2015β16
2017β18 β |
The 2016β17 NIFL Championship was the first season of the second-tier Irish League since gaining senior status. The fixtures were announced on 7 July 2016. [1] The season began on 13 August 2016 and concluded on 29 April 2017.
On 1 April 2017, Warrenpoint Town came from 0β2 down to defeat Institute 3β2 to clinch the league title and an instant return to the NIFL Premiership for the 2017β18 season. [2]
The 2016β17 NIFL Championship consisted of 12 teams. Ards were champions of Championship 1 in the previous season and were promoted to the 2016β17 NIFL Premiership. [3] The next highest place team eligible for promotion, fifth-placed finishers Institute were defeated by Ballinamallard United in the Premiership play-off; therefore failing to achieve promotion.
The bottom two teams from the previous season, Lisburn Distillery and Donegal Celtic were relegated to the third-tier NIFL Premier Intermediate League; they were joined by Bangor after they failed to gain the Championship Licence, required for playing at second-tier level. They were replaced by PSNI, runners-up of the (now defunct) Championship 2 in the previous season; champions Limavady United were ineligible for promotion after failing to gain the required licence.
Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity [4] |
---|---|---|---|
Annagh United | Portadown | Tandragee Road | 1,250 |
Armagh City | Armagh | Holm Park | 3,000 |
Ballyclare Comrades | Ballyclare | Dixon Park | 5,333 |
Dergview | Castlederg | Darragh Park | 1,200 |
Harland & Wolff Welders | Belfast | Tillysburn Park | 3,000 |
Institute | Drumahoe | YMCA Grounds | 1,570 |
Knockbreda | Belfast | Breda Park | 1,000 |
Larne | Larne | Inver Park | 3,000 |
Loughgall | Loughgall | Lakeview Park | 3,000 |
Lurgan Celtic | Lurgan | Knockramer Park | 1,000 |
PSNI | Belfast | Newforge Lane | 1,500 |
Warrenpoint Town | Warrenpoint | Milltown | 1,280 |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation [a] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Warrenpoint Town (C, P) | 32 | 22 | 6 | 4 | 78 | 35 | +43 | 72 | Promotion to the NIFL Premiership |
2 | Institute | 32 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 64 | 39 | +25 | 57 | Qualification for the promotion play-offs |
3 | Ballyclare Comrades | 32 | 15 | 6 | 11 | 64 | 56 | +8 | 51 | |
4 | PSNI | 32 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 49 | 44 | +5 | 49 | |
5 | Dergview | 32 | 12 | 6 | 14 | 67 | 55 | +12 | 42 | |
6 | Loughgall | 32 | 12 | 3 | 17 | 54 | 59 | −5 | 39 | |
7 | Harland & Wolff Welders | 32 | 15 | 6 | 11 | 52 | 41 | +11 | 51 | |
8 | Knockbreda | 32 | 14 | 4 | 14 | 56 | 52 | +4 | 46 | |
9 | Larne | 32 | 11 | 7 | 14 | 52 | 51 | +1 | 40 | |
10 | Lurgan Celtic | 32 | 12 | 3 | 17 | 56 | 71 | −15 | 39 | |
11 | Armagh City (R) | 32 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 41 | 55 | −14 | 34 | Qualification for the relegation play-off |
12 | Annagh United (R) | 32 | 4 | 7 | 21 | 32 | 107 | −75 | 19 | Relegation to the NIFL Premier Intermediate League |
During matches 1β22 each team played every other team twice (home-and-away).
During matches 23β32 each team played every other team in their half of the table twice (home-and-away).
The second and third-placed teams from the Championship, Institute and Ballyclare Comrades respectively, took part in the Premiership play-off semi-final. The winners will then play Carrick Rangers in the play-off final; the winners of this tie will play in the top-flight next season.
The eleventh-placed team from the Championship, Armagh City, played the runners-up from the 2016β17 Premier Intermediate League, Newry City, over two legs for one spot in the 2017β18 NIFL Championship.
Armagh City | 1β3 | Newry City |
---|---|---|
Newry City won 7β1 on aggregate and are promoted to the 2017β18 NIFL Championship; Armagh City are relegated to the 2017β18 NIFL Premier Intermediate League.