NIFL Premiership 2018 - 2019
Ballinamallard United finished last and were relegated to the Championship after six seasons in the top flight. Their place was taken by Institute. Newry City make their first appearance in the Premiership, promoted after beating Carrick Rangers 6-3 on aggregate in the play-off final.
<<--2017-18 |
Crests are the property of the respective clubs. Danske Bank Premiership logo is the property of Danske Bank/Northern Ireland Football League.
Ards
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Second
Designer: Joma
Sponsor: Worthingtons Solicitors
Ards' have updated their red and blue first choice strip, which now has more stripes on the shirt than the previous version. The change shirt has been worn with the first choice blue shorts and socks.
Ballymena United
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Second
Designer: Uhlsport
Sponsor: McBurney Transport
There was no repeat of the Sky Blues' brief European adventure this season. Although they did make it to the play-offs they lost in the first round to Cliftonville.
Cliftonville
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Second
Designer: Puma
Sponsor: Sean Graham
Cliftonville rotate their strips every two seasons and have introduced a new change kit for 2018-19. The fading graphic on the front of the shirt is made up of tiny shamrock shapes and has gone down very well with the supporters.
Coleraine
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Second
Europa League
Designer: CX+ Sport
Sponsor: Eventsec
Coleraine improved on their good form of 2016-17, finishing as runners-up and losing just one game before going on to win the Irish Cup. They were elminated from the Europa League at the first hurdle but at least the European strip, commissioned last season but never used, got an outing. Their first choice kit is unchanged while last season's white alternative is replaced by a new red outfit.
Crusaders
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Second
Designer: Kappa
Sponsor: Toals Bookmakers
The Crues won their seventh title in their final game having been runners-up the season before. After a heavy defeat in the Champions League First Qualifying Round they fared little better in the Europa League qualifiers, losing 6-2 on aggregate to Olimpija Ljubljana. The shirts with big crosses on them are gone and the team have returned to a more traditional look. The change strip in white and silver would look good were it not disfigured by oversize Kappa logos.
Dungannon Swifts
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Second
Designer: Uhlsport
Sponsor: T-Met
The Swifts' strips have been updated to one of Uhlsport's latest templates and T-Met now sponsor their shirts as well as shorts. Otherwise they are unchanged.
Glenavon
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Second
Designer: Nike
Sponsor: Bedeck
Third place earned Glenavon a place in the First Qualifying Round of the Europa League but they lost 6-3 to FK Molde of Norway on aggregate. Both of their strips have been held over from last season.
Glentoran
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Second
Designer: Umbro
Sponsor: Bet McLean
With no end in sight to the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the vital grant that would allow the club to upgrade The Oval remains a distant prospect.
The busy Kappa strips worn last season are mercifully discarded and a new contract has been signed with Umbro, whose offerings are altogether more sober. There is a surprise on the reverse of the black first choice shirts in the form of a green panel above the buttock area while the white tops have faint grey broken hoops on the front. The change strip has appeared with the first choice black shorts, which looked pretty good and I dare say if the need arises, the change shorts could be worn with the green/red tops as well.
Institute
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Second
Designer: Uhlsport
Sponsor: Country Comes to City Festival
Severe flooding in August 2017 destroyed the club's Riverside Stadium and they are temporarily sharing the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium with Derry City FC (who play in the League of Ireland) while plans to resurrect their ground are considered. Winning the Championship last season was, therefore, quite an achievement. Their shirts are sponsored by a Country & Western music festival, which is a lot more wholesome than the online gambling firms infesting the game in England.
Linfield
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Second
Designer: Umbro
Sponsor: Umbro.co.uk
Double winners in 2016-17, Linfield finished last season empty handed. Defeat by arch-rivals Glentoran in the Europa League play-offs denied them even the compensation of a place in Europe.
The club rotate their strips on a two-year cycle and this season it's the turn of the change strip to be replaced with a bold, halved design.
Newry City
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Second
Designer: O'Neills
Sponsor: Canal Court Hotel
Newry City AFC are a phoenix club, formed after the original Newry City FC was wound up by the High Court in September 2012. Established in February 2013, the new club were able to use their predecessor's Showground because this was owned by season ticket holders rather than the limited company and so could not be sold off by the receivers. After starting again in the fifth tier they made rapid progress through the pyramid reaching the Championship in 2017 and finishing second in their first season. When third placed Harland & Wolff Welders chose not to apply for a Premiership licence last season, Newry went straight into the play-off final where they convincingly beat Carrick Rangers to take their place in the top tier.
Warrenpoint Town
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Second
Designer: Uhlsport
Sponsor: Deli Lites
When the original Newry City went out of business six years ago many of their players joined Warrenpoint so there's a certain satisfaction that the two clubs now meet in the Premiership. The Point have switched from Adidas to Uhlsport and have a minimalist first choice kit while their change strip is once again fluorescent lime and black.