2015–16 NIFL Premiership

NIFL Premiership 8 August 2015 – 23 April 2016 2015–16 Crusaders2nd Premiership title6th Irish title Warrenpoint Town Champions League Crusaders Europa League Glenavon (via Irish Cup)LinfieldCliftonville (via play-offs) Paul HeatleyAndrew Waterworth(22 goals each) Linfield 6–0 Dungannon Swifts(2 February 2016) Ballymena United 1–7 Glenavon(12 August 2015) Ballymena United 1–7 Glenavon(12 August 2015)Portadown 5–3 Glentoran(14 December 2015)Warrenpoint Town 2–6 Linfield(29 March 2016) 228 671 6,000http://www.irishleaguesupporters.com/attendances.php?attseason=1516 Irish League Supporters Forum – Attendances Irish League Supporters Forum 19 August 2015Glentoran 1–2 Linfield(26 December 2015) 61Warrenpoint Town 0–2 Dungannon Swifts(12 September 2015) 209,590 984 2014–15 2016–17 23 April 2016 The 2015–16 NIFL Premiership (known as the Danske Bank Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the 8th season of the NIFL Premiership, the highest level of league football in Northern Ireland, the 115th season of Irish league football overall, and the 3rd season of the league operating as part of the Northern Ireland Football League.http://www.ifapremiership.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=870&catid=3&Itemid=12 NORTHERN IRELAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE NIFL Premiership Crusaders were champions, winning the league for the 6th time and the 2nd consecutive season. Summary The season began on 8 August 2015, and concluded with the final round of fixtures on 23 April 2016. The play-offs took place in May 2016. Crusaders were the defending champions, after securing last season's title for the fifth time in the club's history on 18 April 2015 – their first title since the 1996–97 season.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32366061 Irish Premiership: Crusaders 2-0 Glentoran 18 April 2015 BBC Sport BBC 18 April 2015 They successfully defended their title, winning the top flight title for the sixth time. Changes from 2014–15 As a result of the association climbing to 44th-place in the 2015 UEFA country coefficients (which takes into account their performance in European competitions from 2010–11 to 2014–15) this season's Premiership champions will enter the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round directly instead of the first qualifying round as in previous seasons.http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/country/season=2015/index.html https://web.archive.org/web/20140929182221/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/country/season=2015/index.html dead September 29, 2014 Country coefficients 2014/15 UEFAhttp://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/data/method4/crank2015.html UEFA Country Ranking 2015 Bert Kassies Finishing in third place no longer results in automatic entry into the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds. At the end of the regular 38-game season, the clubs finishing from third to seventh position will participate in a series of play-offs. The winner of these play-offs will qualify for the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round, along with the league runners-up and the 2015–16 Irish Cup winners.http://www.nifootballleague.com/NIFLHandbook201516.pdf NIFL Regulations and Club Information – Season 2015/16 Northern Ireland Football League 13 September 2015 23 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160123041314/http://www.nifootballleague.com/NIFLHandbook201516.pdf dead Teams After finishing bottom of the table on their return to the top flight in the 2014–15 season following a four–year absence, Institute suffered relegation back to Championship 1 after only one season.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32266807 Irish Premiership: Institute 1-2 Ballymena Utd 11 April 2015 BBC Sport BBC 11 April 2015 Carrick Rangers replaced them for this season's Premiership, after winning the 2014–15 Championship 1 title to secure a return to the top flight for the first time in the three years since they were relegated in the 2011–12 season.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32466327 Carrick Rangers are promoted to Irish Premiership 25 April 2015 BBC Sport BBC 26 April 2015 Warrenpoint Town finished in 11th place – the Promotion/relegation play-off place – and faced Championship 1 runners-up Bangor over two legs for the last remaining place in this season's Premiership.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32265685 Irish Premiership: Dungannon Swifts 1-1 Warrenpoint Town 11 April 2015 BBC Sport BBC 11 April 2015 Following a 2–2 draw on aggregate after extra time in the second leg, Warrenpoint Town eventually won 3–1 on penalties to avoid relegation and retain their Premiership status for this season.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32558724 Premiership play-off: Warrenpoint beat Bangor on penalties 1 May 2015 BBC Sport BBC 1 May 2015 Stadia and locations UK Northern Ireland right 350 Location of teams in the 2015–16 NIFL Premiership UK Northern Ireland 12 54.602945 -5.891278 Belfast top UK Northern Ireland 54.414427 -7.599786 bottom Ballinamallard United UK Northern Ireland 54.87016 -6.265211 top Ballymena United UK Northern Ireland 54.71974 -5.800309 right Carrick UK Northern Ireland 55.13287 -6.659904 bottom Coleraine UK Northern Ireland 54.489581 -6.745935 top Dungannon Swifts UK Northern Ireland 54.453889 -6.336389 top Glenavon UK Northern Ireland 54.41306 -6.457686 bottom Portadown UK Northern Ireland 54.11786 -6.263430 bottom Warrenpoint Town UK Northern Ireland 55.32 -8.2 TransparentPlaceholder.png Belfast teams : CliftonvilleCrusadersGlentoranLinfield Greater Belfast 350 right Location of the Belfast-based teams in the 2015–16 NIFL Premiership Greater Belfast 54.619250 -5.947383 left Cliftonville Greater Belfast 54.62428 -5.922017 top Crusaders Greater Belfast 54.60270 -5.893478 right Glentoran Greater Belfast 54.57083 -5.963302 bottom Linfield ClubStadiumLocationCapacityn1 ‡ noidhttp://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/questions/printquestionsummary.aspx?docid=79814 AQW 1178/11 18 October 2010 niassembly.gov.uk 21 December 2011http://www.sportni.net/NR/rdonlyres/5854FC89-D9B6-4B17-9C60-34D977CEBEB0/0/AnnualReview200809.pdf Sport NI Annual review 2008/09 18 sportni.net 14 May 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130928175439/http://www.sportni.net/NR/rdonlyres/5854FC89-D9B6-4B17-9C60-34D977CEBEB0/0/AnnualReview200809.pdf 28 September 2013 Ballinamallard United Ferney Park Ballinamallard 2,000 (250 seated) Ballymena United The Showgrounds Ballymena 3,050 (2,200 seated)Carrick Rangers Taylors Avenue Carrickfergus 4,500 (800 seated) Seaviewn2 † noid Belfast 3,383 (all seated) Cliftonville Solitude Belfast 2,530 (all seated) Coleraine The Showgrounds Coleraine 2,496 (1,106 seated) Crusaders Seaview Belfast 3,383 (all seated) Dungannon Swifts Stangmore Park Dungannon 5,000 (300 seated) Glenavon Mourneview Park Lurgan 4,160 (4,000 seated) Glentoran The Oval Belfast 6,054 (4,989 seated) Linfield Windsor Park Belfast 18,614 (all seated) Portadown Shamrock Park Portadown 3,940 (2,765 seated) Warrenpoint Town Milltown Warrenpoint 2,000 (250 seated) *n1 ‡Capacity numbers are approximate estimates, as no official figures have been released since 2010.*n2 †Carrick Rangers played some 'home' games at Seaview as a result of ongoing issues with their own playing surface at Taylors Avenue.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35531102 Carrick Rangers to play three 'home' games at Seaview BBC Sport 9 February 2016 16 February 2016 Personnel and kits Club Manager Kit manufacturer Sponsors Ballinamallard United NIR Whitey Anderson Nike Severfield Ballymena United NIR David Jeffrey Uhlsport McBurney Transport Carrick Rangers NIR Gary Haveron Nike Hankook Cliftonville NIR Gerard Lyttle Puma Sean Graham Coleraine NIR Oran Kearney Joma TBF Thompson Crusaders NIR Stephen Baxter Kappa Toals Dungannon Swifts NIR Rodney McAree Legea Donnelly Vauxhall Glenavon NIR Gary Hamilton Nike Bedeck Glentoran IRE Alan Kernaghan Kappa Bet McLean Linfield NIR David Healy Nike Geoghegan Conservatory Portadown NIR Pat McGibbon Uhlsport MET Steel Warrenpoint Town NIR Barry Gray Umbro Deli Lites Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentCliftonvilleNIR name Tommy BreslinResigned01 15 September 2015Tommy Breslin quits as Cliftonville manager https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34260615 BBC Sport 15 September 2015 3 November 201502 3rdNIR name Gerard Lyttle02 15 October 2015https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34538100 Gerard Lyttle succeeds Tommy Breslin as Cliftonville manager BBC Sport 15 October 2015 3 November 2015LinfieldNIR name Warren FeeneyResigned02 6 October 2015Warren Feeney quits Linfield to become Newport assistant boss https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34457765 BBC Sport 6 October 2015 3 November 201501 1stNIR name David Healy01 14 October 2015https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34531669 David Healy appointed as new Linfield manager BBC Sport 14 October 2015 3 November 2015GlentoranNIR name Eddie PattersonSacked03 17 October 2015Irish Premiership: Eddie Patterson sacked as manager of Glentoran https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34560500 BBC Sport 17 October 2015 3 November 201503 7thIRE name Alan Kernaghan04 9 November 2015https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34760782 Glentoran name Alan Kernaghan as new manager BBC Sport 9 November 2015 9 November 2015Dungannon SwiftsNIR name Darren MurphyResigned04 24 October 2015Darren Murphy resigns as Dungannon boss after defeat by Ballymena https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34627167 BBC Sport 24 October 2015 3 November 201505 11thNIR name Rodney McAree03 27 October 2015https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34646119 Rodney McAree installed as head coach of Dungannon Swifts BBC Sport 27 October 2015 3 November 2015Ballymena UnitedNIR name Glenn FergusonSacked05 29 February 2016Glenn Ferguson sacked as Ballymena United manager https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35690177 BBC Sport 29 February 2016 29 February 201604 9thNIR name David Jeffrey05 7 March 2016David Jeffrey appointed as new Ballymena manager https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35745799 BBC Sport 7 March 2016 8 March 2016PortadownNIR name Ronnie McFallResigned/retired06 5 March 2016https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35735792 Ronnie McFall: Europe's longest-serving boss resigns after 29 years BBC Sport 5 March 2016 5 March 201603 7thNIR name Pat McGibbon06 9 March 2016Portadown appoint Pat McGibbon as interim boss https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35762814 BBC Sport 9 March 2016 9 March 2016 League table main WDL RSSSF League table CRU LIN GLA CLI COL GLT DUN BYM POR CRK BMD WPT yes Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league was split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last five matches. CL2Q EL1Q EL1Q ECPO ECPO ECPO RPO REL complete 9 7 22 39 59 11 7 20 57 81 8 11 19 43 68 18 10 10 58 53 18 4 16 47 46 28 7 3 79 28 12 7 19 51 66 20 9 9 72 40 15 7 16 46 55 26 5 7 91 35 11 5 22 43 67 9 7 22 45 73 C R O O Ballinamallard United Ballymena United Carrick Rangers Cliftonville Coleraine Crusaders Dungannon Swifts Glenavon Glentoran Linfield Portadown Warrenpoint Town Dungannon Swifts were ineligible for the Europa League play-offs, as they did not apply for a UEFA licence.http://www.tyronecourier.uk.com/articles/news/51451 Fine form won't see Swifts return to Europe Tyrone Courier 23 March 2016 30 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160512094123/http://www.tyronecourier.uk.com/articles/news/51451 12 May 2016 dead dmy-all 5 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Drawing of lots.http://www.nifootballleague.com/NIFLHandbook201516.pdf NIFL Regulations and Club Information – Season 2015/16 Northern Ireland Football League 16 August 2015 23 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160123041314/http://www.nifootballleague.com/NIFLHandbook201516.pdf dead QR green1 Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round blue1 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round yellow1 Qualification for the Europa League play-offs red2 Qualification for the relegation play-off red1 Relegation to the NIFL Championship Cliftonville qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the Europa League play-offs. Glenavon qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2015–16 Irish Cup. Results Matches 1–22 During matches 1–22 each team will play every other team twice (home and away). main FBR grey BMD BYM CRK CLI COL CRU DUN GLA GLT LIN POR WPT Ballinamallard United 0–1 1–3 0–2 1–2 1–1 0–0 0–1 2–4 0–1 1–2 3–0 Ballymena United 1–1 1–1 6–1 0–2 2–4 1–0 1–7 0–1 1–3 1–1 4–2 Carrick Rangers 1–1 2–2 1–2 1–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 1–1 0–3 0–1 1–2 Cliftonville 3–1 4–2 1–0 4–0 0–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 3–3 3–0 2–1 Coleraine 2–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 0–2 1–0 1–3 4–0 2–0 Crusaders 5–0 3–2 5–0 2–2 3–1 4–0 1–0 3–0 3–0 1–2 1–0 Dungannon Swifts 2–0 2–0 1–2 0–1 0–3 1–2 1–2 2–4 0–1 3–1 5–1 Glenavon 5–1 3–1 2–0 0–1 3–0 1–2 3–1 0–0 3–2 1–0 1–1 Glentoran 0–2 1–3 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–2 1–0 2–1 Linfield 1–1 4–0 1–1 1–2 1–0 0–1 5–1 4–3 1–1 3–0 5–1 Portadown 0–3 3–2 3–2 0–1 1–2 1–3 3–3 2–2 5–3 2–0 2–1 Warrenpoint Town 0–3 1–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–3 0–1 0–3 2–0 Original 0–1 result recorded as 0–3, after Warrenpoint Town fielded a suspended player in the match.http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/northern-ireland/warrenpoint-town/moan-mistake-will-earn-warrenpoint-a-slap-on-wrist-31445287.html Moan mistake will earn Warrenpoint a slap on wrist Belfast Telegraph 12 August 2015 25 August 2015 complete RSSSF Matches 23–33 During matches 23–33 each team will play every other team for the third time (either at home, or away). main FBR grey BMD BYM CRK CLI COL CRU DUN GLA GLT LIN POR WPT Ballinamallard United 4–2 1–2 null null 0–1 1–1 null 1–0 null 1–0 null Ballymena United null 1–0 2–2 0–2 null 2–4 null null 0–4 null 3–1 Carrick Rangers null null null 2–1 4–3 1–0 1–5 1–2 null null 0–1 Cliftonville 2–0 null 3–3 1–3 null null null null 0–2 1–0 1–1 Coleraine 1–0 null null null 0–2 0–1 0–1 null 2–3 null null Crusaders null 0–0 null 1–0 null 2–0 1–1 4–2 null null null Dungannon Swifts null null null 2–2 null null 0–1 3–1 null 2–1 1–0 Glenavon 1–0 1–1 null 3–3 null null null 1–3 null 4–1 null Glentoran null 2–0 null 0–2 1–0 null null null null 2–1 0–4 Linfield 2–1 null 2–0 null null 2–0 6–0 1–1 3–0 null null Portadown null 3–4 0–0 null 0–1 0–1 null null null 2–1 1–3 Warrenpoint Town 3–0 null null null 3–0 1–1 null 1–3 null 2–6 null complete RSSSF Matches 34–38 During matches 34–38 each team will play every other team in their half of the table once. As this will be the fourth time that teams play each other this season, home sides will be chosen so that they will have played each other twice at home and twice away. Section A main FBR grey CLI COL CRU GLA GLT LIN Cliftonville null 1–3 3–1 0–2 null Coleraine 3–0 null null 1–1 null Crusaders null 1–0 null null 2–0 Glenavon null 3–0 0–1 null 0–1 Glentoran null null 0–1 0–1 0–4 Linfield 4–0 3–0 null null null complete RSSSF Section B main FBR grey BMD BYM CRK DUN POR WPT Ballinamallard United null null null null 2–0 Ballymena United 1–2 null null 0–2 null Carrick Rangers 2–1 0–2 null 1–2 null Dungannon Swifts 4–2 2–4 1–3 null null Portadown 0–0 null null 1–2 null Warrenpoint Town null 4–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 complete RSSSF Play-offs UEFA Europa League play-offs A new method of Europa League qualification was introduced for this season. As a result of the Irish Cup winners (Glenavon) finishing third in the league, the four remaining teams from the top seven that have not already qualified for Europe (the teams in positions 4–7) competed in a series of play-offs for the final place in the Europa League. The play-offs were seeded, with the higher-placed qualifiers given home advantage when facing the lower-placed qualifiers in the semi-finals. The two semi-final winners then met in the final. If three teams qualify for the play-offs, the highest-placed qualifier will receive a bye into the final with home advantage. Had the Irish Cup winners finished lower than seventh in the league, all five teams that finished in third to seventh would have qualified for the play-offs. This would have required an additional quarter-final match to be played by the two lowest-placed qualifiers in sixth and seventh, with the winner joining the other three clubs in the semi-finals. Dungannon Swifts finished in seventh place, but they were ineligible for the Europa League play-offs, as they did not apply for a UEFA licence.http://www.tyronecourier.uk.com/articles/news/51451 Fine form won't see Swifts return to Europe Tyrone Courier 23 March 2016 30 April 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160512094123/http://www.tyronecourier.uk.com/articles/news/51451 12 May 2016 dead dmy-all Therefore, only one semi-final match was played and fourth-placed Cliftonville were given a bye to the final.http://nifootballleague.com/danske-bank-premiership/news/item/europa-league-play-off-dates EUROPA LEAGUE PLAY-OFF DATES nifootballleague.com 29 April 2016 30 April 2016 12 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160512094125/http://nifootballleague.com/danske-bank-premiership/news/item/europa-league-play-off-dates dead Semi-final 2016 5 6 y 19:45 BST Coleraine (5th) 1–2 SoccerwayBBC Sport Glentoran (6th) McGonigle 85 Birney 33Allen 58 The Showgrounds, Coleraine Andrew Davey Final 2016 5 10 y 19:45 BST Cliftonville (4th) 3–2 SoccerwayBBC Sport Glentoran (6th) Donnelly 11Knowles 62 pen.McDaid 80 Allen 17Magee 28 Solitude, Belfast Raymond Crangle NIFL Premiership play-off Eleventh-placed Ballinamallard United will play Institute, the play-off qualifier from the 2015–16 NIFL Championship 1 over two legs for a place in the 2016–17 NIFL Premiership. The Premiership club will play the first leg away from home, with home advantage for the second leg. The matches were originally set to be played on 6 May and 10 May 2016.http://nifootballleague.com/danske-bank-premiership/news/item/danske-bank-premiership-relegation-play-off-arrangements DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP RELEGATION PLAY-OFF ARRANGEMENTS nifootballleague.com 29 April 2016 30 April 2016 12 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160512094812/http://nifootballleague.com/danske-bank-premiership/news/item/danske-bank-premiership-relegation-play-off-arrangements dead 2016 5 6 y 19:45 BST Institute 1–2 SoccerwayBBC Sport Ballinamallard United McCrudden 26 pen. O'Flynn 22Currie 69 Riverside Stadium, Drumahoe Keith Kennedy On 9 May 2016, the IFA postponed the second leg until the conclusion of an investigation into allegations that Gary Haveron, the manager of Carrick Rangers may have failed to correctly serve a touchline ban. It is alleged that he was in the dugout at their 23 April match against Dungannon Swifts, which they won 3–1, instead sitting out another game when he was not actually banned. The possible ramifications of these allegations were that if it was found that Haveron did not properly serve the ban, the penalty would have been a minimum fine of £350 and Carrick Rangers would forfeit the game as a 0–3 loss. This three-point deduction would have moved Carrick to the bottom of the table and automatic relegation, Ballinamallard would have risen to 10th and safety and Warrenpoint town would have risen to 11th and would then face Institute in the Play-off. Carrick Rangers were formally charged with a formal breach of Article 23.1 of the IFA Disciplinary code and on 14 May Carrick Rangers announced that they will contest the charge and will make a further statement following receipt of legal advice. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36248522 BBC Sport 9 May 2016 14 May 2016 On 18 May, however, no sanctions were imposed on the club after a disciplinary hearing and the second leg of the Play-off was rescheduled for 22 June.Carrick face no sanction after hearing into Haveron charge https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36328362 BBC Sport 18 May 2016 2016 6 22 y 19:45 BSThttps://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36580332 Warrenpoint down after appeal dismissed BBC Sport 20 June 2016 Ballinamallard United 3–3 Soccerway Institute Friars 22Beacom 59Feeney 90+4 Dunne 17Brown 28McGinty 62 Ferney Park, Ballinamallard Raymond Hetherington Ballinamallard United won 5–4 on aggregate. Season statistics Top goalscorers 23 April 2016 RankScorerClubGoalshttps://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/nationalleagues/nationalleague=northern-ireland-premiership-2000000003/top-scorers/index.html https://web.archive.org/web/20140307044515/http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/nationalleagues/nationalleague=northern-ireland-premiership-2000000003/top-scorers/index.html dead March 7, 2014 FIFA.com - Danske Bank Premiership 2015/2016 Top Scorers 8 August 20151NIR Paul HeatleyCrusaders22NIR Andrew WaterworthLinfield223NIR Aaron BurnsLinfield194NIR Curtis AllenGlentoran18NIR Jordan OwensCrusaders186NIR Eoin BradleyGlenavon177NIR Stephen MurrayWarrenpoint Town158NIR Andrew MitchellDungannon Swifts149POR Miguel ChinesCarrick Rangers12NIR David McDaidCliftonville12NIR James McLaughlinColeraine12 Attendances # Club Average 1 Linfield 2,304 2 Crusaders 1,532 3 Glentoran 1,448 4 Cliftonville 1,206 5 Glenavon 1,054 6 Ballymena 958 7 Coleraine 896 8 Portadown 665 9 Carrick 514 10 Dungannon 427 11 Ballinamallard 388 12 Warrenpoint 236 Source:Attendances Northern Ireland average https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/archive/nir/avenir16.htm 2026-07-27 www.european-football-statistics.co.uk References 30em Association football Northern Ireland 2015-16 North 1