IFA Premiership 2012 - 2013
The Irish Football Association (IFA) Premiership is the successor to the Irish Premier League (IPL) and before that the Irish Football League (IFL). It is the top-level competition in Northern Ireland made up of semi-professional clubs, currently ranked 48th (out of 53) in Europe by UEFA.
The league winners qualify for the Champions' League while the teams finishing second and third go into the Europa League. A third Europa League place goes to the winner of the Irish Cup.
2011-2012 | 2012-13 | 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 | 2015-2016
Crests are the property of the respective clubs. Danske Bank Premiership logo is the property of Danske Bank/Irish Football Association.
Ballinamallard is a village near Eniskillen in County Fermanagh. United were formed in 1975 and appear in the top tier for the first time after clinching the IFA Championship title with 12 points to spare, replacing Carrick Rangers who were relegated. The club appears to be trying to generate as much revenue as possible from kit sponsorship (there are more logos on the back.)
Ballymena were kicked out of last season's Irish Cup for fielding an ineligible player. Their new strips are provided by Kukri who have replaced Umbro this season.
Founder members of the Irish Football Association and the Irish Football League, Cliftonville are the oldest club in Northern Ireland. After finishing in third place, the Reds qualified for the Europa League. After a 1-0 win in the first leg of their qualifier against Kalmar FF, they suffered a 4-0 defeat in Sweden.
Crusaders reached the final of the Irish Cup final where they lost to Linfield. As the Belfast team were already league champions, the Crues took their place in the Europa League but were not strong enough to get past Rosenborg BK. Their new home strip has a much more traditional appearance than the predominantly red shirts worn in 2011-12.
Donegal were promoted to the top tier in 2006 via the play-offs. In place of shirt sponsorship, the team is promoting an appeal fund in aid of a local child with cancer.
Dungannon play at Stangmore Park in County Tyrone. The unpleasant lime green away strip has been ditched in favour of a much more acceptable red and black one in the same template as the home version.
Based in Lurgan, Glenavon were the first team from outside Belfast to win the Irish League in 1952. Their last senior honours came in 1992 and 1997 when they again won the Irish Cup. Their traditional colors are plain blue shirts and socks with white shorts, provided this season by Umbro.
Glentoran and their local rivals, Linfield, have long dominated football in Ulster. They have won the championship no fewer than 23 times and the Irish Cup on 20 occasions. Kukri have come up with a very striking design in the club's distinctive colours for the home kit: the away strip was revealed in the autumn.
Linfield won the league and cup double to add to their impressive trophy haul. They reached the Champions League second qualifying round this season but were eliminated by AEL Limassol in July. The new home shirt has textured shadow stripes printed into the fabric.
Distillery retained their place in the Premiership after beating Newry City in last season's relegation play-off. The team sometimes wear white shorts and socks with their home shirts.
Portadown finished as runners-up last season but were heavily defeated in their Europa League first qualifying round tie by the Croatian side, NK Slaven Koprivnica. Their new Uhlsport strips are in the same template that Distillery wore last season.