Northern Ireland national under-23 football team

The Northern Ireland national under-23 football team is an association football team representing Northern Ireland featuring footballers playing in the Irish League. The team first played at this level in 2007 when entering the International Challenge Trophy for national semi-professional Under-23 sides, though previously the Northern Ireland Under-23 team offered a recognised stepping stone for all young players hoping to progress to the full Northern Ireland side.

The Original Under-23s The original Northern Ireland Under-23 side played a total of ten matches, all but three in the 1960s."List of Northern Ireland Under-23 Players and fixtures", 14 May 2008 Players to have stepped up from the Under-23 side to full international level include Pat Jennings, Bryan Hamilton, Neil Lennon and Sammy Clingan.

Results DateOpponentVenueResultScorers07-02-1962WalesWindsor Park, BelfastDrew 0–027-02-1963WalesVetch Field, SwanseaLost 1–5Jimmy McLaughlin05-02-1964WalesWindsor Park, BelfastDrew 3–3Willie Irvine (2), Jimmy McLaughlin10-02-1965WalesNinian Park, CardiffDrew 2–2Willie Irvine, Dave Clements22-02-1967WalesWindsor Park, BelfastWon 2–1Vic McKinney (2)20-03-1968WalesVetch Field, SwanseaWon 1–0Shaun Dunlop26-03-1969ItalyCommunale Stadium, BresciaLost 1–2Brendan Mullan11-04-1989Republic of IrelandDalymount Park, DublinLost 0–315-05-1990Republic of IrelandShamrock Park, PortadownLost 2–3Stephen McBride, John Devine27-04-2004Serbia & MontenegroMourneview Park, LurganDrew 0–0(billed an Under 21–23 team)Official Match Programme

The New Under-23s The Irish FA announced on 2 October 2007 that they would be entering a side in the International Challenge Trophy."NI to compete for U23 silverware ", 14 May 2008 The team was selected only from players playing in the IFA Premiership and as such it is also a successor to the Irish League representative team. For the 2007–09 International Challenge Trophy the team was managed by Linfield's David Jeffrey and for the 2009-11 International Challenge Trophy by Portadown's Ronnie McFall. On both occasions Northern Ireland failed to make it beyond the group stage, and have not entered a team since.

2007–09 International Challenge Trophy

2009–11 International Challenge Trophy

Squad Squad for the match against Portugal, 12 October 2010."U23 SQUAD ANNOUNCED", 18 December 2011 Clubs correct at time of call-up.

Competitive record

International Challenge Trophy 2009 - Group Stage 2011 - Group Stage

References

External links Irish FA Website