2011–12 IFA Championship
# 2011–12 IFA Championship

The 2011–12 IFA Championship (known as the Belfast Telegraph Championship for sponsorship reasons) 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

| Club | Stadium | Location | Capacity |
| - | - | - | - |
| 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

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Ballinamallard United (C, P) | 26 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 62 | 24 | +38 | 63 | Promotion to IFA Premiership |
| 2 | Newry City | 26 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 51 | 22 | +29 | 51 | Qualification to promotion play-off |
| 3 | Institute | 26 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 37 | 34 | +3 | 43 | |
| 4 | Bangor | 26 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 45 | 34 | +11 | 42 | |
| 5 | Ards | 26 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 39 | 31 | +8 | 39 | |
| 6 | Limavady United | 26 | 12 | 2 | 12 | 48 | 43 | +5 | 38 | |
| 7 | Loughgall | 26 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 45 | 41 | +4 | 38 | |
| 8 | Dergview | 26 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 38 | 37 | +1 | 34 | |
| 9 | Harland & Wolff Welders | 26 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 30 | 35 | −5 | 34 | |
| 10 | Larne | 26 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 37 | 47 | −10 | 32 | |
| 11 | Tobermore United | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 34 | 44 | −10 | 31 | |
| 12 | Warrenpoint Town | 26 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 34 | 37 | −3 | 28 | |
| 13 | Banbridge Town (R) | 26 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 30 | 70 | −40 | 19 | Relegation to IFA Championship 2 |
| 14 | Glebe Rangers (R) | 26 | 3 | 7 | 16 | 25 | 56 | −31 | 16 | Relegation to IFA Championship 2 |

### Results

Each team plays every other team twice (once at home, and once away) for a total of 26 games.

| Home \ Away | ARD | BMD | BBT | BGR | DGV | GBE | H&W | INS | LRN | LIM | LGL | NEW | TOB | WPT |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ards | | 0–5 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Ballinamallard United | 1–0 | | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| Banbridge Town | 2–3 | 2–7 | | 3–4 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Bangor | 0–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 1–0 |
| Dergview | 2–0 | 0–0 | 5–1 | 1–4 | | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Glebe Rangers | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | | 4–1 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 1–4 | 3–5 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–1 |
| Harland & Wolff Welders | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 |
| Institute | 2–0 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 3–4 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 0–1 | | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–3 |
| Larne | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–2 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 |
| Limavady United | 3–1 | 0–1 | 9–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–4 | 0–4 |
| Loughgall | 2–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 3–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | | 3–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
| Newry City | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | | 3–3 | 1–0 |
| Tobermore United | 1–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–0 | | 0–0 |
| Warrenpoint Town | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–4 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | |

## Championship 2

### Stadia and locations

| Club | Stadium | Location | Capacity |
| - | - | - | - |
| 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

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Coagh United (C, P) | 30 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 81 | 41 | +40 | 63 | Promotion to IFA Championship 1 |
| 2 | Dundela (P) | 30 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 79 | 46 | +33 | 62 | Promotion to IFA Championship 1 |
| 3 | Knockbreda | 30 | 19 | 4 | 7 | 70 | 31 | +39 | 61 | |
| 4 | Lurgan Celtic | 30 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 73 | 40 | +33 | 57 | |
| 5 | Queen's University | 30 | 18 | 1 | 11 | 63 | 38 | +25 | 55 | |
| 6 | Ballyclare Comrades | 30 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 60 | 46 | +14 | 52 | |
| 7 | Annagh United | 30 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 59 | 51 | +8 | 51 | |
| 8 | Wakehurst | 30 | 14 | 5 | 11 | 59 | 48 | +11 | 47 | |
| 9 | Ballymoney United | 30 | 12 | 3 | 15 | 51 | 45 | +6 | 39 | |
| 10 | Portstewart | 30 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 43 | 56 | −13 | 37 | |
| 11 | Armagh City | 30 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 39 | 52 | −13 | 33 | |
| 12 | Sport & Leisure Swifts | 30 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 46 | 59 | −13 | 32 | |
| 13 | PSNI | 30 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 36 | 67 | −31 | 29 | |
| 14 | Moyola Park | 30 | 9 | 2 | 19 | 34 | 71 | −37 | 29 | |
| 15 | Killymoon Rangers | 30 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 34 | 72 | −38 | 24 | |
| 16 | Chimney Corner | 30 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 26 | 90 | −64 | 17 | |

### Results

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

| Home \ Away | ANN | ARM | BCC | BMY | CHI | COA | DND | KMR | KNB | LGC | MOY | PST | PSNI | QUE | SLS | WAK |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Annagh United | | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 2–6 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–2 | 2–1 | 5–2 |
| Armagh City | 3–3 | | 0–4 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 |
| Ballyclare Comrades | 2–0 | 2–2 | | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 |
| Ballymoney United | 1–2 | 5–0 | 2–3 | | 6–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 5–0 | 0–2 | 4–3 | 0–2 | 5–3 | 2–3 |
| Chimney Corner | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | | 2–6 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–4 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–5 |
| Coagh United | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 7–0 | | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 4–2 |
| Dundela | 2–5 | 4–0 | 4–5 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–4 | | 3–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 |
| Killymoon Rangers | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | | 0–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 |
| Knockbreda | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 4–0 | | 2–4 | 3–0 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Lurgan Celtic | 4–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 4–4 | | 6–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 |
| Moyola Park | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–4 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–5 | | 3–1 | 5–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–3 |
| Portstewart | 1–5 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 0–4 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 |
| PSNI | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 2–7 | 1–1 | 3–2 | | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–4 |
| Queen's University | 3–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 6–1 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 5–0 | 1–2 | 4–1 | | 1–2 | 1–0 |
| Sport & Leisure Swifts | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 5–2 | 0–5 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | | 2–6 |
| Wakehurst | 3–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–4 | 2–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | |
