A different take, on a very different league.
#NIFL
⚽
A podcast covering every game, goal and incident that lights up the Irish League.
🎙️
@PeterCinnamond
𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨 𝐏𝐨𝐝 ♦️
Listen▶️
@LarneFC
make history as the first
#IrishLeague
team to make it to the League Phase of the
@europacnfleague
📔
🔍 We look back at their incredible journey
📍 Preview their CL fixtures
+ Ports late draw & Jenkins wonder goal⚽️
This number used to be impressive in the top flight for non Glentoran/Linfield games. 👏
Now Bangor is hosting it three times a season in the Championship!
Football is growing throughout the leagues here, but we must continue to strive to keep improving.
🏟️ A crowd of 1️⃣2️⃣7️⃣9️⃣ came to Clandeboye Park on Tuesday night.
It’s the third time this season that we’ve a crowd bigger than 1️⃣2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣.
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 for your support.
Let’s turn up in numbers again tomorrow for our final
#PlayrFitChamp
home match of the season 💪🏻
🟡🔵
#IrishLeague
𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝟐𝟒/𝟐𝟓 ♦️
Listen ▶️
Your ultimate guide to the upcoming
@OfficialNIFL
Premiership campaign.
🔎 Every Club covered
📌 League table prediction
⚽️ Look ahead to Gameweek 1
Food and drink at Windsor a shambles.
Three people tasked with a huge crowd of people that snakes round the concourse and is barely moving.
No pre-poured beverages and minimal food supply. Really feel for the staff. A lot of frustrated fans.
#IrishCup
How far has
@OfficialNIFL
grown in popularity since the first 12-team league? 🏟️
'𝟬𝟴-𝟬𝟵
TOTAL - 188,761 | Average - 858
'𝟮𝟮-𝟮𝟯 (𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘳)
TOTAL - 105,724 | Average - 1,532
An incredible increase. 📈
What's behind the the surge❓
And how does it continue to grow❓
You've got to give NIFL credit.
They have hyped this game up non-stop for a month. (Almost too much)
This year & last year's digital push has made this competition mean so much more than before.
They've shown how they can be a positive, forward thinking force in football here.
A glass ceiling was broken tonight. Finally the
#IrishLeague
can take it's seat at the table of European competitions.
Perhaps the league will look pretty much the same in years to come - or be unrecognisable. But it was all sparked by the ambition to be more.
Congrats Larne 👏
We are 1 today! 🎂
It's offically one spin around the sun since Kicking Match announced itself onto the world.
Thanks for sticking around you bunch of football melters. 💛
#IrishLeague
#NIFootball
In Short 📎
PIL will be replaced by a 'Conference'
This will create two extra divisions between amateur football and Irish League football.
Who will run it? There's going to be an application process...could be incorporated into NIFL if they apply 🤨
🚨 due to a Tractor Run taking place in Loughgall this evening, we advise that supporters travelling to Lakeview Park leave a little bit earlier.
Thank you for your support and safe travels 👊
#COTB
This day last year
@Portadownfc
's relegation to the Championship was confirmed.
Interesting to see the contrast between the two post-match interviews 364 days later, the lows & highs of football.
2023 - Relegated
2024 - Promoted
CONFIRMED 📰
@Portadownfc
are promoted to the Premiership as CHAMPIONS at the first attempt!
This means
@NewryCityAFC
are now officially RELEGATED to the Championship, ending their two year stay in the top flight.
🇽🇰 Ballkani 0-1
@larnefc
🚢
FULL TIME
Historic night for Larne FC!
Victory in Kosovo means there's only 90 Inver Park minutes between them and progression in Europe.
They were excellent from front to back on the night.
Bonis the hero. Lusty with the Solskjær-espe poked goal.
UPDATE: At tonight's Irish FA AGM members rejected the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) proposal to alter the Sunday football rule. There were 27 votes in favour of the NIFL proposal and 104 against.
🟥 Simon Eastwood is sent off for a tackle on Pell as he breaks through on goal
Oisin Smyth will go in goal for the remainder of the game
#OUFC
| 🔵 2 - 0 🔴 | '89
𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬🤯
🔥
@larnefc
with one hand on the title after goals in the final moments across two games.
+
#Newry
's top flight tenure all but over as results rubber stamp their position as the division's bottom side.
Thrilling night in the
#IrishLeague
!
Full Time:
Loughgall 1 - 0 Larne
One of the greatest performances in the clubs history as we beat the Irish League Champions
#villagers
#SportsDirectPrem
Snide comments about how a fan base celebrates a victory or winning a competition might just be the most tedious genre of Irish League tweets.
#SourGrapes
𝗙𝗜𝗧𝗭𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗦 ✍️
Linfield are delighted to announce the signing of Matthew Fitzpatrick from Glenavon on a 2 year deal for an undisclosed fee. 🔴⚪️🔵
#COYB
#AFJ
As summer transfers go, this is a quality signing.
If you were in Portadown's position, this is the no. 1 free agent striker in the league you've snagged.
He was a solid contributer for the Glens last season. Different type of player, but look at what Gibson did for Carrick.
𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘆
Portadown Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Shay McCartan following his release from Glentoran at the conclusion of his contract
Read more ➡️
What a night it was at
#Lakeview
as we witnessed perhaps the biggest win in our club's history!
Benji, you absolute legend! Your incredible goal against Larne had us on our feet, and our hearts racing! Let's not forget to mention the incredible teamwork and loyal supporters!💙💙
There's something ironically humorous that ground hoppers love coming to our stadiums...because they look like something from the 70s.
The last hold out 🙃
@outsidewrite
@KickingMatch
The older style grounds are superb. Would be a shame to tear them down and put up a 13 in a dozen stadium.
The Oval is right up there with must visit grounds in football. Everything you seek in a ground👌🏻
Solitude main stand is beautiful. Good atmosphere in the supporters bar.
'We need to move away from Irish League behaviour'.
Speaking at the
@OfficialNIFL
launch, CEO Gerard Lawlor says the
#IrishLeague
needs to have a more 'professional' attitude to how it is run.
We shot up in the Apple Podcast 'Soccer' (I know) pod charts this week.
Entering the top 100 across both the UK & Ireland.
UK 🇬🇧 - 70th
Ire 🇮🇪 - 53rd
Thanks, ye bunch of Irish League nerds. 🙏
Tiernan Lynch claims he walks his dog during rivals' games.
David Healy says he doesn't have a dog.
Okay, you got me.
#IrishLeague
managers as dog breeds. 🐶
Legs go...
Happy New Year to everyone! So many amazing moments to choose from this year, but these memories highlight one of the best years I’ve had, both on and off the pitch. Here’s to many more memories! ❤️⚽️
Portadown remain undefeated against top flight opposition this season.
If you counted all those cup games as league fixtures they would have collected more points than Newry this season, with a total of 16pts from 6 matches.
🇽🇰 Ballkani 0-1
@larnefc
🚢
'88
GOALLLLLL!
MATTTYYY LUSTY!
Ballkini switch off defensively, but it was a fantastically worked FK into the box.
Bonis with a majestic flick-on at the front post into a busy 6 yard box where Lusty was lurking and alert.
As discussed on the pod this week, the first Championship of 12 team/invite only top flight era was a VIBE!
#IrishLeague
1⃣7⃣ teams (for some reason)
5⃣ teams no longer playing in Irish League anymore
🥊
@Portadownfc
&
@donegalcelticfc
battling it out with Premiership squads
𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 🧑🤝🧑
Declan Devine has today announced the following players have been released at the expiry of their contract. We wish them well for the future.
More info:
Jim Magilton isn't shying away from the Reds' experience in Europe saying the club 'failed miserably'.
Going further he believes that teams 'can't compete against clubs in the middle of their season.'
In a day where we are sharing pics about pitches in a less fun way, take a look at Mournview Park.
#IrishLeague
Diagonal checkerboard cut 😘👌
Nice work
@bluegroundforce
at
@Glenavon_FC
🌱
✍🏻 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘂𝘀𝗼𝗻
We are delighted to confirm that Matthew Ferguson has signed a 2️⃣ year contract with the Seasiders.
The 28 year old striker finished joint top scorer of the Championship last season, finding the net 23 times.
Welcome to Bangor 👏🏻
🟡🔵
#Loughgall
have been offered
#Glenavon
's Mourneview Park as a ground designate for next season, but aim to get their home of Lakeview Park up to spec for top flight football next season.
#IrishLeague
Reporting here that Linfield are potentially wavering on their full time set up due to costs.
Thousands attending every game, healthy flow of transfer funds regularly coming their way. Surely that can sustain a full time set up?
Was great to get out to two games of this opening weekend of
#IrishLeague
football.
Looking forward to dissecting it all with
@BrownerGFC
on the upcoming podcast.
Should be with you come Tuesday Eve 🎧
I had the opportunity to go to the press launch of
@OfficialNIFL
last week. ☘️
While I was there I got the chance to have a few chats which I'm looking forward to bringing you over the next while.
Football is almost back! ⚽
Pod ▶️
This is peak David Jeffery on commentary this evening.
We've had a 'William-Joseph Burns' and an absolutely massive 'bitterly dissapointed'.
You love to see it. 🙌
#GLECRU
Great guys who put in a huge amount of time covering the league.
They always knew that fans' views were key & never shyed away from giving a strong opinion. Which is why so many people came back to hear what they had to say each week.
Hopefully it's just bye for now.🤞
Unfortunately folks, the time has come to hang up the mic. I know that I wouldn't want to listen to a guy talking for an hour solid about the Irish League on his own, so I've decided that I won't put you through it anymore. It's been a pleasure! Keep lovin' the Irish League 🫶
Getting excited about the start of next season? 🎫
Here is how Adult Season Ticket prices rank amongst
#IrishLeague
top flight sides. 💷
Will you be grabbing one to save money ahead of the league price cap rising to £15❓
Before it becomes the 'Bel-Tech' Irish League or something sensible, I like to imagine all the good craic sponsors that could and SHOULD step in.
People want the 'Veda Bread' Premiership and they want it now!🍞
They've been crying out for this. A touch up rather than evolution.
Would be good to see more clubs retool very outdated crests. Some look prehistoric in the modern digital world.
Institute FC is proud to announce the unveiling of its newly updated club crest, blending tradition and familiarity with a contemporary twist.
Words to follow>
#stute
𝗚𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘆 🐓
#Glentoran
announce they are already on the look out for his replacement.
Who do you want to be next person in the hot seat Glens fans? 👂
Kicking Match signing off until the season starts. 👋
As your boy is walking down the aisle this week. 💒
The Podcast will return next season! 🙌
See you all here for our bumper
#IrishLeague
season preview episode the first week of August 🗣️
Dates for
@OfficialNIFL
Play-Offs 📅
European Playoffs ✈️
Semi-Final(s)
Wed 1 May (kick-off: 7.45pm)
Final
Mon 6 May (kick-off: 3pm)
Premiership Promotion-Relegation Playoff 📊
1st Leg – Tues 30 April
Championship side at Home
2nd Leg – Fri 3 May
Premiership side at Home