English Premier League & UK Leagues
The Football Association of England is the oldest Soccer Association in the World.
FA England
Football Association Premier League
FA English Premier League (Seasons):
English Soccer Organisation:
The Football League 1888-1991
English Football League & Non-League Champions (Seasons):
1980-81 Champions: Aston Villa FC
Irish Player: Eamonn Deacy (Aston Villa FC)
Preseason Tournaments
Watney Preseason Cup (Derby – Editions):
Minor Leagues
Picture Credit: Frank Stapleton, Arsenal, Manchester Utd and Ireland Birthday Card – Author’s Personal Collection
Celtic National Leagues
Celtic Nations; Scandinavian & Baltic Nations; FA Premier League;
Celtic & Atlantic Nations
UEFA Celtic Nations Leagues Final Tables (Seasons):
Scottish Football League Timeline:
Welsh Premier League Final Tables (IRL & NIR Players)
Italy Serie A & Mediterranean National Leagues
Picture Credit: Frank Stapleton, Arsenal, Manchester Utd and Ireland Birthday Card – Author’s Personal Collection
Italy Serie A & Mediterranean National Leagues
Celtic Nations; Scandinavian & Baltic Nations; FA Premier League;
Mediterranean Nations
UEFA Mediterranean National Leagues Final Tables (Seasons):
Spain La Liga & Iberia
Picture Credit: Frank Stapleton, Arsenal, Manchester Utd and Ireland Birthday Card – Author’s Personal Collection
Spain La Liga & Iberia
Celtic Nations; Scandinavian & Baltic Nations; FA Premier League;
FEFA Basque Provinces Champions lists
FEFA Spain North Region / Basque Country Champions Lists
France Ligue 1-4
Picture Credit: Frank Stapleton, Arsenal, Manchester Utd and Ireland Birthday Card – Author’s Personal Collection
France Soccer Leagues 1-4
Celtic Nations; Scandinavian & Baltic Nations; FA Premier League
French Soccer Leagues Champions (Seasons):
Germany Bundesliga, Central & Northern European Leagues
Picture Credit: Frank Stapleton, Arsenal, Manchester Utd and Ireland Birthday Card – Author’s Personal Collection
Central & Northern European National Leagues
Celtic Nations; Scandinavian & Baltic Nations; FA Premier League;
Scandinavia & Baltic Nations
UEFA Scandinavian & Baltic National Leagues Final Tables (Seasons):
Central European Nations
UEFA Central European National Leagues Final Tables (Seasons):
Russian Premier Liga & CIS National leagues
As well as the Continental Associations and Regional Zones within them, there are Inter-Continental Competitions such as Pan-American Competitions (North, Central and South America); Arab Cups (North Africa and West Asia), and Commonwealth of Independent States (Russia, Kazakhstan and the other 9 Independent States which make up the CIS).
FIFA CIS Commonwealth Cup
Pan-American Games; CIS Cups; Pan-Arab Competitions; Idian Ocean Games
USSR & CIS Competitions
USSR Soccer League Champions (Levels 1-4) (Seasons):
Central Asian Football Associations (CAFA) National Leagues (Seasons):
Major League Soccer & CONCACAF National Leagues
NAFU North American Football Union
North American Football Union
Campeones Cup; Leagues Cup
NAFU National League Final Tables (Seasons):
North American Major Leagues (USA & Canada)
Major League Soccer [D1] (Seasons):
Irish Players: Derrick Williams (LA Galaxy); Jon Gallagher (Austin FC); Jake Mullraney (Atlanta United).
Major League Soccer (Preseasons):
USSF United States Soccer Federation
United States Soccer Federation
USSF Leagues; MLS; USL; NPSL
United States Soccer Leagues (USA):
USSF Divisions 1-5
United Soccer League Championship [D2] (Seasons):
USL Championship 2022: 7 Irish Players
United Soccer League 1 [D3] (Seasons):
United Soccer League 2 [D4] (Seasons):
National Premier Soccer League [D5] (Seasons):
Other USSF Competitions
US Soccer Werner Fricker Cup (Seasons):
Soccer Canada
Soccer Canada
Soccer Canada
Canadian Soccer Association
Canadian Championship [Major Premier Cup] (Seasons):
Canadian Premier League [D1] (Seasons):
UNCAF Central America
UNCAF Central America
UNCAF; CFU; Soccer Canada
UNCAF (Union Centroamericano de Futbol)
UNCAF Central American National Leagues (Seasons):
CFU Caribbean Football Union
CFU (Caribbean Football Union)
Both Montserrat and Barbados have populations partly descended from Irish captives enslaved by Oliver Cromwell. Montserrat is the only other country in the world where St. Patrick’s Day is a National Holiday, and the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Barbados is St. Patrick’s Cathedral. [References: 3,4]
[3] Go Barbados (2022) St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral [Internet] Available from: https://barbados.org/churches/stpatrick.htm#.YlKtYpHMI2w [Accessed 10 April 2022]
[4] Irish America (2022) The Irish of Barbados [Internet] Available from: https://www.irishamerica.com/2015/10/the-irish-of-barbados-photos/#:~:text=Captain%20West%20was%20instructed%20to%20return%20to%20London,sold%20in%20Barbados%20for%20between%20%C2%A310%20and%20%C2%A335. [Accessed 10 April 2022]
CFU Caribbean Football Union
CFU Caribbean Cup
Haiti Championnat National Division Ligue 1
CONMEBOL (Confederation Sudamericana de Futbol)
Confederation Sudamericana de Futbol (CSF) or more popularly known as CONMEBOL is the Governing Body for Football (Soccer) in South America (excluding Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname). CONMEBOL’s Primary Competitions are the Copa America (South American Nations Championship – now including two North or Central American Countries), and the Libertadores Cup (South American Club Championship). The Football Leagues of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuala and the Brazilian State Leagues are included where an Irish connection has been found.
South American National Leagues
Preseason Tournaments; CBF Brazilian State Leagues
Argentina FA Final Tables
Velez Sarsfield – named after Irish-Argentine Patriot.
FF de Chile Final Tables
O’Higgins – named after General O’Higgins Liberator and son of Irish emigrant
Chile 2020-21: O’Higgins finished 10th in Primera Division
Venezuela FA Final Tables
Galicia – named after Atlantic Celtic Region of NW Spain.
Brazilian State Championships
Maranhao State Championship
Expressinho – Founded on St. Patrick’s Day 1975 and play in Green.
Rio & Sao Paulo State Championships (Seasons):
Japan J-League & Asian National Leagues
South Africa NSL & African National Leagues
There has been an Irish presence in numerous African National Leagues.
Bloemfontein, South Africa
G
Royalty-free stock photo ID: 1704541288
CAF Africa
CECAFA East & Central Africa National Leagues
Numerous Irish-named players playing for both National team and Premier League teams
COSAFA Southern Africa National Leagues
COSAFA Castle Cup (Editions): 2000 1997
South Africa
National Soccer League Castle League (Top Division)
Bloemfontein Celtic, with the name of the famous Glasgow Irish Soccer Club played in the National Soccer League.
Australia A-League & Oceania National Leagues
Flag of New Zealand – Isolated by Enda Mulcahy for Eirball from Vector Contributor: grebeshkovmaximall world countries national flags [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/all-world-countries-national-flags-1610621497 [Accessed 12 July 2022]
Soccer New Zealand
SNZ
Soccer New Zealand
1962 League Champions: Northern (Dunedin), 1962 Cup Champions: Hamilton Technical Old Boys, 1962 Irish Connection: Shamrock (Christchurch)