Women's Premiership (Northern Ireland)


The Women's Premiership is the top level women's football league of Northern Ireland. The league was called the NIWFA Division League 1 until 2003 and Premier League until 2015. In 2016, it was rebranded the Women's Premiership and is run by the NI Football League since.
Eight teams play a double round robin to crown the champion, which qualifies for a spot in the UEFA Women's Champions League.
The eighth place gets relegated to the Women's Championship 1, the seventh place plays a two-legged relegation playoff against the runner up of the Women's Championship.

History

In women's football the first league season was played out in 1977. Organised by the Northern Ireland Women's Football Association the league was simply called the NIWFA Division League 1.
In 2004 the Division 1 was replaced by the Women's Premier League.
In 2016, after 40 years of administering and developing women's football locally, the league was rebranded the Women's Premiership and is run now by the Northern Ireland Football League. The main sponsor and name giver is Danske Bank.

2020 Teams

The following teams make up the 2020 season.
TeamLocationGround
Crusaders Newtownabbey StrikersBelfastSeaview
GlentoranBelfastThe Oval
LinfieldBelfastNew Midgely Park
Derry CityDrumahoeRiverside Stadium
Sion SwiftsStrabane3G Melvin Complex
CliftonvilleBelfastSolitude

List of champions

Before 2004 the winner of the Division 1 league was national champion. The first season was played out in 1977.
SeasonChampionRunner-up
1977–1998 unknown
1999Lisburn Distillery Predators
2000Lisburn Distillery Predators
2001Lisburn Distillery Predators
2002Newtownabbey Strikers
2003Newtownabbey Strikers
2004Glentoran Belfast UnitedNorthland Raiders
2005Newtownabbey StrikersGlentoran
2006Glentoran Belfast UnitedNewtownabbey Strikers
2007Glentoran Belfast UnitedNewtownabbey Strikers
2008Glentoran Belfast UnitedNewtownabbey Strikers
2009Crusaders Newtownabbey StrikersGlentoran
2010Crusaders Newtownabbey StrikersGlentoran
2011Glentoran Belfast UnitedCrusaders Strikers
2012Crusaders Newtownabbey StrikersGlentoran
2013Glentoran Belfast UnitedCrusaders Strikers
2014Glentoran Belfast UnitedLinfield Ladies
2015Newry CityLinfield Ladies
2016LinfieldCliftonville
2017LinfieldSion Swifts Ladies
2018LinfieldGlentoran Belfast United
2019LinfieldSions Swifts

TitlesTeam
7Glentoran Belfast United
6Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers
4Linfield Ladies
3Lisburn Distillery Predators
1Newry City

List does only include known titles.