The 2011–12

IFA Championship The Northern Ireland Football League Championship (known as the Playr-Fit Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the second level of the Northern Ireland Football League, the national football league in Northern Ireland. Clubs in the Champion ...

(known as the

Belfast Telegraph The ''Belfast Telegraph'' is a daily newspaper published in Belfast, Northern Ireland, by Independent News & Media, which also publishes the Irish Independent, the Sunday Independent and various other newspapers and magazines in Ireland. Its e ...

Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the fourth season since its establishment after a major overhaul of the league system in

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...

. 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 Lisburn Distillery Football Club is a Northern Irish intermediate football club who are based in Ballyskeagh, Lisburn. A founder member of the Irish League, they currently play in the NIFL Premier Intermediate League, the third tier of the Nor ...

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 The 2011–12 IFA Premiership (known as the Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the 4th season of the IFA Premiership, the highest level of league football in Northern Ireland, and the 111th season of Irish league football overall. ...

. 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 The NIFL Premiership, known as the Sports Direct Premiership for sponsorship purposes, and Irish Premiership colloquially, is a professional association football league which operates as the highest division of the Northern Ireland Football L ...

* Carrick Rangers (1st in Championship 1) Relegated from

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

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

League table

Results

Each team plays every other team twice (once at home, and once away) for a total of 30 games.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ifa Championship 2011-12 2011-12

North North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating Direction (geometry), direction or geography. Etymology T ...