The Northern Ireland Junior national football team, commonly referred to as Northern Ireland Juniors, represents Northern Ireland in international association football matches for teams selected outside national professional leagues. Originally selected on an all-Ireland basis, the team is now limited to selecting players appearing in intermediate and junior leagues within Northern Ireland. A number of players have graduated from the Junior international side to the senior international side, notably Norman Uprichard and Dick Keith who played at the 1958 World Cup. The most recent player to graduate to the senior team was Stuart Dallas.
History Ireland Juniors played their first representative match against Scotland in 1890. The Scots became the primary opponents for Ireland Juniors through to the 1990s with only occasional matches against Wales and the Republic of Ireland for variety.
Today The main competition for junior level national teams in Europe is the UEFA Regions Cup. Northern Ireland Juniors first entered in 2000 but a change in the rules mean that since 2007 the national team has been unable to enter and a regional select has entered in its stead. Since this change the Eastern Region have been the representatives five times and the Western Region once having won a play-off.
In addition Northern Ireland Juniors regularly compete in the International Quadrangular Tournament along with Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man. Northern Ireland have won this competition three times, in 1995, 1996 and 2017.
Current squad The following players were selected for the Junior International Quadrangular Tournament held in Glasgow, Scotland from 11–14 October 2017.
Kit Number Position Name Club 1 GK Jordan Williamson PSNI 12 GK Paul Wells Limavady United 2 Dale Montgomery Loughgall 3 William Armstrong (C) Harland & Wolff Welders 4 Scott McMillan Harland & Wolff Welders 5 Dean Curry Institute 6 Ryan Deans Harland & Wolff Welders 7 Dylan Wilson PSNI 8 Jordan Gibson Lurgan Celtic 9 Warner Mullen Lurgan Celtic 10 Ryan Campbell Dergview 11 Ricky Thompson Dollingstown 13 Ryan Morrow Institute 14 Aaron Walsh Maiden City 15 Ryan Arthurs Knockbreda 16 Adam Gray Ballyclare Comrades 17 Stewart Nixon Ballyclare Comrades 18 Stephen Curry Institute 19 Mark Kelly Ballyclare Comrades 20 Craig Harris Harland & Wolff Welders
Competition Records UEFA Regions' Cup
YearRoundGPWDLGSGA1999 did not enter2001 Qualifying Round 3111842003 Qualifying Round 3102432005 Qualifying Round 31116320071 Finals – Group Stage 953111620091 Intermediate Round 31113320111 Intermediate Round 62136620131 Finals – Group Stage 9522151220151 Finals – Group Stage 641115720172 Intermediate Round 30032620191 Intermediate Round 310234Total4821101357049 Since 2007, Northern Ireland has been represented by the winner of a play-off between the Eastern Region1 and Western Region2.
Quadrangular Tournament
YearRoundPositionGPWDLGSGA 1993–94 did not enter1 1994–95Final1st211043 1995–96 Final1st220031 1996–97 Final2nd201123 1997–98 3rd place play-off4th201114 1998–99 3rd place play-off4th200218 1999–2000 3rd place play-off4th200213 2000–01 League3rd310225 2002-03 League4th301239 2004–05 League3rd311134 2007–08 League3rd302167 2009–10 League4th302124 2013–14 League3rd310236 2017–18 League1st321083Total 33810153960 1 A Mid Ulster side represented Northern Ireland
References