The 2011–12 IFA Championship (known as the Belfast Telegraph Championship for sponsorship reasons)BELFAST TELEGRAPH SPONSOR THE IFA CHAMPIONSHIP was the fourth season since its establishment after a major overhaul of the league system in Northern Ireland. The season began on 6 August 2011, and ended on 1 May 2012.
In Championship 1, Ballinamallard United were the champions by 12 points. They achieved promotion to the top flight of Northern Irish football for the first time in their history. Newry City finished as runners-up, but were defeated 3–2 by Lisburn Distillery in the promotion/relegation play-off, losing out on promotion. Glebe Rangers and Banbridge Town finished in the bottom two and were relegated to Championship 2 for next season.
In Championship 2, Coagh United were the eventual winners, with Dundela finishing as runners-up. Both achieved promotion to next season's Championship 1. Chimney Corner avoided relegation to a lower tier regional league despite finishing bottom of Championship 2 for the third successive season. This was because none of the four regional league champions applied to enter the Championship.
Team changes from 2010–11 Carrick Rangers were last season's champions of Championship 1, achieving promotion to the 2011–12 IFA Premiership. Newry City replaced them for this season's Championship 1, after finishing in 12th place in the previous season's Premiership.
Promoted from Championship 1 to IFA Premiership Carrick Rangers (1st in Championship 1)
Relegated from IFA Premiership to Championship 1 Newry City (12th in IFA Premiership)
Promoted from Championship 2 to Championship 1 Warrenpoint Town (1st in Championship 2) Tobermore United (2nd in Championship 2)
Relegated from Championship 1 to Championship 2 Ballymoney United (13th in Championship 1) Ballyclare Comrades (14th in Championship 1)
Championship 1
Stadia and locations ClubStadiumLocationCapacity Ards Dixon Park Ballyclare 1,800 (500 seated) Ballinamallard United Ferney Park Ballinamallard 2,000 (100 seated) Banbridge Town Crystal Park Banbridge 1,500 (100 seated) Bangor Clandeboye Park Bangor 2,850 (500 seated) Dergview Darragh Park Castlederg 1,200 (100 seated) Glebe Rangers Riada Stadium Ballymoney 5,752 (218 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) Newry City The Showgrounds Newry 2,275 (1,080 seated) Tobermore United Fortwilliam Park Tobermore 1,500 (100 seated) Warrenpoint Town Milltown Playing Fields Warrenpoint 500 (100 seated)
League table
Results Each team plays every other team twice (once at home, and once away) for a total of 26 games.
Championship 2
Stadia and locations ClubStadiumLocationCapacity 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) Chimney Corner Allen Park Antrim 2,000 (100 seated) Coagh United Hagan Park Coagh 2,000 (179 seated) Dundela Wilgar Park Belfast 2,500 (100 seated) Killymoon Rangers Mid Ulster Sports Arena Cookstown 1,000 (100 seated) Knockbreda Upper Braniel Knockbreda 1,000 (100 seated) Lurgan Celtic Knockrammer Park Lurgan 1,000 (100 seated) Moyola Park Mill Meadow Castledawson 1,000 (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
Results Each team plays every other team twice (once at home, and once away) for a total of 30 games.
References