The 2012–13 IFA Championship (known as the Belfast Telegraph Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the fifth season since its establishment after a major overhaul of the league system in Northern Ireland. The season began on 10 August 2012 and ended on 4 May 2013. From next season onwards, the league would be operated by the Northern Ireland Football League, which was taking over from the Irish Football Association (IFA) for the 2013–14 season.

In Championship 1, Ards were confirmed as the champions on 20 April 2013 after a 1–1 draw against Institute, securing promotion back to the top flight for the first time since the 2005–06 season. Warrenpoint Town finished as runners-up, and qualified for the promotion/relegation play-off against Donegal Celtic. The tie ended 2–2 on aggregate with Warrenpoint Town winning on the away goals rule to reach the top flight for the first time in the club's history. Donegal Celtic were relegated to next season's Championship 1. Earlier in the season, Newry City were wound up and their IFA membership was later terminated. All of their results were also expunged. As a result of Newry's expulsion from the league, only the club that finished in 13th, Tobermore United, was relegated from Championship 1, and there was no relegation from Championship 2.

In Championship 2, winners Knockbreda were promoted to Championship 1, along with runners-up Ballyclare Comrades. Chimney Corner finished bottom for the fourth successive season but were saved from relegation by Newry City's demise.

Team changes from 2011–12

Ballinamallard United were last season's winners of Championship 1, achieving promotion to the 2012–13 IFA Premiership. Carrick Rangers replaced them for this season's Championship 1, after finishing in 12th place in the previous season's Premiership. Newry City missed out on promotion as they finished as runners-up, but were defeated 3–2 by Lisburn Distillery in the promotion/relegation play-off.

Promoted from Championship 1 to IFA Premiership

Relegated from IFA Premiership to Championship 1

Promoted from Championship 2 to Championship 1

Relegated from Championship 1 to Championship 2

Club dissolved

Championship 1

Stadia and locations

2012–13 IFA Championship is located in Northern Ireland
Location of teams in the 2012–13 IFA Championship 1
ClubStadiumLocationCapacity
ArdsClandeboye ParkBangor2,850 (500 seated)
BangorClandeboye ParkBangor2,850 (500 seated)
Carrick RangersTaylors AvenueCarrickfergus6,000 (400 seated)
Coagh UnitedHagan ParkCoagh2,000 (179 seated)
DergviewDarragh ParkCastlederg1,200 (100 seated)
DundelaWilgar ParkBelfast2,500 (100 seated)
Harland & Wolff WeldersTillysburn ParkBelfast3,000 (100 seated)
InstituteRiverside StadiumDrumahoe3,110 (1,540 seated)
LarneInver ParkLarne1,100 (656 seated)
Limavady UnitedThe ShowgroundsLimavady524 (274 seated)
LoughgallLakeview ParkLoughgall3,000 (180 seated)
Tobermore UnitedFortwilliam ParkTobermore1,500 (100 seated)
Warrenpoint TownMilltown Playing FieldsWarrenpoint500 (100 seated)

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation
1Ards (C, P)2418515619+3759Promotion to NIFL Premiership
2Warrenpoint Town (O, P)2415544623+2350Qualification to promotion play-off
3Institute2414555023+2747
4Dundela2413476251+1143
5Carrick Rangers2411674832+1639
6Harland & Wolff Welders24104103735+234
7Dergview2476112739−1227
8Larne2459102440−1624
9Coagh United2465133551−1623
10Bangor2465132342−1923
11Loughgall2465132748−2123
12Limavady United2456133449−1521
13Tobermore United (R)2463153855−1721Relegation to NIFL Championship 2

Results

Each team plays every other team twice (once at home, and once away) for a total of 24 games.

Home \ AwayARDBGRCRKCOADGVDNDH&WINSLRNLIMLGLTOBWPT
Ards1–01–02–02–05–22–11–12–14–03–22–02–0
Bangor0–21–22–31–02–30–20–33–01–12–11–00–3
Carrick Rangers1–11–22–06–03–01–02–21–12–00–05–02–1
Coagh United1–53–12–30–10–31–11–23–03–33–12–31–4
Dergview0–00–00–03–01–34–11–11–32–11–12–11–3
Dundela2–25–15–30–54–02–32–11–14–41–24–21–0
Harland & Wolff Welders2–34–11–25–13–12–10–20–02–30–22–01–1
Institute2–20–15–02–32–00–02–02–01–02–03–21–2
Larne1–20–00–60–01–13–51–20–42–00–01–01–1
Limavady United0–53–13–11–10–23–40–11–20–15–22–00–2
Loughgall0–41–12–13–10–41–44–21–32–01–10–11–4
Tobermore United0–23–14–31–14–22–31–22–64–43–33–00–1
Warrenpoint Town3–11–11–13–02–05–30–02–10–32–02–03–2

Championship 2

Stadia and locations

2012–13 IFA Championship is located in Northern Ireland
Location of teams in the 2012–13 IFA Championship 2
2012–13 IFA Championship is located in Greater Belfast
Location of the Belfast-based teams in the 2012–13 IFA Championship 2
ClubStadiumLocationCapacity
Annagh UnitedTandragee RoadPortadown1,250 (100 seated)
Armagh CityHolm ParkArmagh3,000 (330 seated)
Ballyclare ComradesDixon ParkBallyclare1,800 (500 seated)
Ballymoney UnitedRiada StadiumBallymoney5,752 (218 seated)
Banbridge TownCrystal ParkBanbridge1,500 (100 seated)
Chimney CornerAllen ParkAntrim2,000 (100 seated)
Glebe RangersRiada StadiumBallymoney5,752 (218 seated)
Killymoon RangersMid Ulster Sports ArenaCookstown1,000 (100 seated)
KnockbredaBreda ParkKnockbreda1,000 (100 seated)
Lurgan CelticKnockrammer ParkLurgan1,000 (100 seated)
Moyola ParkMill MeadowCastledawson2,000 (200 seated)
PortstewartSeahavenPortstewart1,000 (100 seated)
PSNINewforge LaneBelfast500 (112 seated)
Queen's UniversityDub StadiumBelfast1,000 (100 seated)
Sport & Leisure SwiftsGlen Road HeightsBelfast500 (215 seated)
WakehurstMill MeadowCastledawson1,000 (200 seated)

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion
1Knockbreda (C, P)30252310625+8177Promotion to NIFL Championship 1
2Ballyclare Comrades (P)3023257728+4971
3Armagh City3021368134+4766
4Lurgan Celtic3020377143+2863
5Glebe Rangers3015785841+1752
6Wakehurst30164106150+1152
7Queen's University30136116543+2245
8PSNI30141156048+1243
9Banbridge Town30117125758−140
10Ballymoney United30107135367−1437
11Annagh United3097143953−1434
12Moyola Park30610143551−1628
13Portstewart3057183770−3322
14Sport & Leisure Swifts30552041101−6020
15Killymoon Rangers3047193885−4719
16Chimney Corner30322526108−8211No Relegation

Results

Each team plays every other team twice (once at home, and once away) for a total of 30 games.

Home \ AwayANNARMBCCBMYBBTCHIGBEKMRKNBLGCMOYPSTPSNIQUESLSWAK
Annagh United1–10–20–01–42–20–12–01–40–21–13–11–31–10–11–4
Armagh City2–11–07–11–011–13–05–12–51–01–02–01–32–17–23–1
Ballyclare Comrades3–12–00–22–14–11–12–01–02–11–22–02–12–16–02–0
Ballymoney United1–11–51–42–35–11–04–11–10–21–14–01–10–54–10–4
Banbridge Town1–20–23–23–15–00–24–10–42–22–26–23–20–23–30–1
Chimney Corner1–20–42–63–21–21–22–10–30–72–11–21–60–40–60–4
Glebe Rangers3–14–12–40–06–21–04–01–10–43–14–41–02–31–11–1
Killymoon Rangers0–10–51–61–53–22–23–51–34–32–21–11–22–24–21–0
Knockbreda6–11–01–26–14–05–03–12–18–03–08–02–16–24–14–2
Lurgan Celtic2–24–12–13–13–03–02–13–10–31–05–22–11–05–02–5
Moyola Park1–40–10–26–11–13–21–10–02–40–21–01–21–13–30–1
Portstewart0–20–00–42–31–13–00–27–30–12–20–01–22–22–00–2
PSNI0–21–31–52–31–22–01–34–01–33–10–13–10–14–07–2
Queen's University1–01–22–23–10–35–00–30–01–30–15–04–11–37–03–1
Sport & Leisure Swifts1–22–60–20–52–23–21–03–31–81–21–41–32–10–42–5
Wakehurst4–31–11–31–12–22–11–32–01–02–43–01–01–24–32–1