The National Conference League Premier is the third level of the Northern Ireland football league system below the NIFL Premiership (level 1) and NIFL Championship (level 2). It was created in 2026, following abolishment of the NIFL Premier Intermediate League, and is operated by the Northern Amateur Football League.
History The third level in Northern Irish football was known as the Irish League Second Division from 1999 to 2003, the Irish Second Division from 2003 to 2008, the IFA Interim Intermediate League from 2008 to 2009, the IFA Championship 2 from 2009 to 2013, the NIFL Championship 2 from 2013 to 2016.
Under reforms agreed by the NIFL clubs in 2014, from 2016, when the previous Championship 1 acquired senior status, Championship 2 continued as the NIFL Premier Intermediate League, retaining its intermediate status and thus became the top intermediate league in Northern Ireland.Northern Ireland Football League (2014). NI Football League Restructure Proposal.
In May 2023, the league was expanded to 14 teams, due to licensing issues with Warrenpoint Town and PSNI not having a league they can seamlessly be relegated into. Rathfriland Rangers joined the league for the 2023-24 season, along with Coagh United.
In 2026, the NIFL Premier Intermediate League that had been operated by the Northern Ireland Football League, was replaced by the National Conference League (NCL) Premier under operation of the Northern Amateur Football League. Further NCL divisions, League One and League Two, which would become the fourth and the fifth tiers of football in Northern Ireland, are set to be created in 2027.
Current members ClubStadiumLocationBallyclare ComradesDixon ParkBallyclareBallymacash RangersThe Bluebell StadiumLisburnBanbridge TownCrystal ParkBanbridgeCoagh UnitedHagan ParkCoaghDergviewDarragh ParkCastledergDollingstownPlanters ParkDollingstownKnockbredaBreda ParkBelfastLisburn DistilleryNew Grosvenor StadiumLisburnOxford SunnysideKnockramer ParkLurganPortstewartMullaghacallPortstewartRosario Y.C.Ulidia Playing FieldsBelfastSt James' SwiftsDonegal Celtic ParkBelfast
List of third-tier champions League / DivisionSeasonChampionsIrish League Second Division 1999–00 Dundela2000–01 Dundela2001–02 Moyola Park2002–03 Ballinamallard UnitedIrish Second Division2003–04 Coagh United2004–05 Tobermore United2005–06 Portstewart2006–07 Ballyclare Comrades2007–08 DergviewIFA Interim Intermediate League2008–09 Harland & Wolff WeldersIFA Championship 22009–10 Harland & Wolff Welders2010–11 Warrenpoint Town2011–12 Coagh United2012–13 KnockbredaNIFL Championship 22013–14 Armagh City2014–15 Lurgan Celtic2015–16 Limavady UnitedNIFL PremierIntermediate League2016–17 Limavady United2017–18 Dundela2018–19 Queen's University2019–20 Annagh United2021–22 Newington2022–23 Bangor2023–24 Limavady United2024–25 Warrenpoint Town2025–26 Moyola Park
References
Links National Conference League. The official website of the Northern Amateur Football League. Northern Ireland Conference League.