- Derry and District League
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The Derry and District League is an amateur football league in Derry. The league includes youth and senior football teams. The Senior Sunday League has two divisions, the Premier and the First Division. The Youth Leagues have one league for each age group, from under-10 up to under-17. Teams such as Don Bosco's and Tristar Boys have numerous teams competing at every level. Other senior teams include Brandywell Harps, Trojans and, in the First Division, Lisahally. The league has witnessed a rise in popularity in recent years, and youth teams, such as Foyle Harps and the Derry and District Youth Select have competed on an international level both in China and Spain respectively. There is also a Saturday Morning League operating in Derry. The League also sends youth teams to the Foyle Cup and in 2005 the under-16 team finished runners up in the competition, losing out to Ferencvaros. Many of the players in that team have since signed professional contracts. Kevin Deery, Barry Molloy and Patrick McCourt are now Derry City players, after playing youth football in the league.
Northside Albion are currently in the First Division of the Northwest Saturday Morning league. This team consists of a great bunch of lads and is currently run by none other, than Big Shaun. NAFC actually made a few new signings recently with Midfielder Daithi O'Mianain first to come through tough negotiations. Next on the list was a trio of young talent, Paddy Boyle, Paul Morrison and Michael Crumlish. Daithi is an all-round good footballer. He has the ball control, the strength and the vision of a good attacking midfield player. With the speed of young Paul, the finishing of Paddy and the arial threat and long range shooting ability of Michael Northside should be well on their way to the Premier Division. Rumour has it that Lionel Messi has been seen having talks with Big Shaun, so a bright future is inevitable for NAFC.
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Northwest Saturday Morning League
The Northwest Saturday Morning League features two divisions, (Premier Division and First Division). Matches are played on Saturday mornings.
Premier Division
- Cliftonvilla F.C.
- Phoenix Swifts F.C.
- Brandywell Celtic F.C.
- Bohemians F.C.
- Mourne Harps F.C.
- Newton Heath F.C.
- Magee College F.C.
- Cloony YC F.C.
- Gransha F.C.
- Corinthians F.C.
First Division
- Tamnaherin Celtic F.C.
- Du Pont F.C.
- Abercorn F.C.
- Oxford Utd F.C.
- Foyle Harps F.C.
- Benbradagh Colts F.C.
- St. Columb's College F.C.
- Northside Albion F.C.
- Foyle Athletic F.C.
- Drumahoe YCMA F.C.
- West Galliagh F.C.
- Westbank Utd F.C.
Senior Sunday Morning League
The Senior Sunday League of the Derry and District League features two divisions (Premier Division and First Division). The leagues include a number of sporting establishments, clubs and groups, including pub teams. In the past, the Derry and District FA had three divisions. Matches are played, as suggested on Sunday mornings.
Premier Division
- Oxford United (Reserve Team)
- Don Bosco's F.C.
- Top of the Hill Celtic F.C.
- Abercorn F.C.
- Porters F.C.
- Dungloe
- Brandywell Harps F.C.
- Celtic Swifts F.C.
- Three Flowers F.C.
- The Beechtree
- Bluebell Celtic
First Division
- Oxford Colts (Youth Team)
- Bogside Inn F.C.
- Don Bosco's F.C.
- Downey's F.C.
- Carraig Bar F.C.
- City Harps F.C.
- Lisahally F.C.
- Culmore F.C.
- Tristar Boys F.C.
- Phoenix F.C.
- Crescent F.C.
- Currynierin F.C.
- Maydown F.C.
- Ballymoor F.C.
Youth Leagues
The Derry and District League Youth team who finished runners up in the Copa Catalunya Youth Cup 2006
The Derry and District League's youth leagues feature countless teams from age groups Under-10 up until Under-17. The leagues are held in high regard by many who are associated with sport in Derry. Each year, a Derry and District League Select (in which the best players are selected from each team) appears in a number of different tournaments for example, the Foyle Cup. They also travel abroad to compete in tournaments across the globe, for example, in Spain, Denmark, Italy and England. In 2005, the youth team finished third in the Tivoli Cup in Denmark.[1] In 2006 the Derry and District under-14 team travelled to Barcelona to challenge in the prestigious Copa Catalunya International Youth Tournament. They finished runners up. Foyle Harps travelled to China on an international relations trip. There, they visited places of cultural significance and played football against some of China's top youth teams. In 2004-5, Derry City pioneered an 'Academy' which was primarily made up of players from the Derry and District League.
Youth Teams
The following is a list of teams who either have youth football teams or operate solely as a youth team.
- Bright Stars F.C.
- Ballymoor F.C.
- Culmore F.C.
- Don Bosco's F.C.
- Eglinton Eagles F.C.
- Foyle Harps Y.F.C.
- Newtown Y.F.C.
- Top of the Hill Celtic F.C.
- Tristar Boys F.C.
- Sion Swifts F.C
- Trojans F.C.
- Petrie Wanderers
- Oxford United Stars Youth
Players to have played in the League
- Seamus Browne
- David Campbell
- Liam Coyle
- Kevin Deery
- Matt Doherty Jr.
- Gary Fleming
- Darron Gibson
- Paul Kelly
- Peter File
- Ruaidhri Higgins
- Rick O'Shea
- Jimmy Kelly
- Sean Hargan
- Patrick McCourt
- Barry Molloy
- Sam Morrow
- David Ogilby
- Michael McCrudden
- Shane Duffy
External links
- http://www.nifootball.co.uk/league/viewleague/northwestsm.html Saturday Morning League]
References
- ^ List of Winners - Tivoli Cup retrieved 19 June 2007
Categories:- Football leagues in Northern Ireland
- Sport in Derry
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