The NIFL Premier Intermediate League (Known as the Playr-Fit NIFL Premier Intermediate League for sponsorship reasons) is the third level of the Northern Ireland Football League, the national association football league in Northern Ireland, and the highest intermediate division in Northern Ireland, occupying level three in the Northern Ireland football league system – below the NIFL Premiership (level 1) and NIFL Championship (level 2).

The third level in Northern Irish football was known as the Irish League Second Division from 1999 to 2003, the Irish Second Division from 2003 to 2008, the IFA Interim Intermediate League from 2008 to 2009, the IFA Championship 2 from 2009 to 2013, and the NIFL Championship 2 from 2013 to 2016. The league is set to be replaced at the start of the 2026 season by a new conference league format.

History

Under reforms agreed by the NIFL clubs in 2014, from 2016, when the previous Championship 1 acquired senior status, Championship 2 continued as the Premier Intermediate League, retaining its intermediate status and thus became the top intermediate league in Northern Ireland.

In May 2023, the league was expanded to 14 teams, due to licensing issues with Warrenpoint Town and PSNI not having a league they can seamlessly be relegated into. Rathfriland Rangers joined the league for the 2023-24 season, along with Coagh United.

Current members

The 2025–26 NIFL Premier Intermediate League, which will the final season of the competition under its current format consists of 14 teams. The top four teams will be promoted to the NIFL Championship for the 2026-2027 seaason, while the Premier Internmediate League will be reconstituted in a conference format.

ClubStadiumLocationCapacity
Ballyclare ComradesDixon ParkBallyclare2398 (538 seated)
Ballymacash RangersThe Bluebell StadiumLisburn1,280
Banbridge TownCrystal ParkBanbridge1,500
Coagh UnitedHagan ParkCoagh1,000 (150 seated)
DergviewDarragh ParkCastlederg1,280
DollingstownPlanter's ParkDollingstown1,000
KnockbredaBreda ParkBelfast1,000
Lisburn DistilleryNew Grosvenor StadiumLisburn1,500 (790 seated)
Moyola ParkFortwilliam ParkTobermore2,000 (100 seated)
Newry CityThe ShowgroundsNewry2,275
Oxford SunnysideKnockramer ParkLurgan1,600
PortstewartMullaghacallPortstewart1,000
Rathfriland RangersIveagh ParkRathfriland1,000
Strabane AthleticMelvin Sports ArenaStrabane1,000

List of third-tier champions

SeasonChampions
Irish League Second Division
1999–00Dundela
2000–01Dundela
2001–02Moyola Park
2002–03Ballinamallard United
Irish Second Division
2003–04Coagh United
2004–05Tobermore United
2005–06Portstewart
2006–07Ballyclare Comrades
2007–08Dergview
IFA Interim Intermediate League
2008–09Harland & Wolff Welders
IFA Championship 2
2009–10Harland & Wolff Welders
2010–11Warrenpoint Town
2011–12Coagh United
2012–13Knockbreda
NIFL Championship 2
2013–14Armagh City
2014–15Lurgan Celtic
2015–16Limavady United
NIFL Premier Intermediate League
2016–17Limavady United
2017–18Dundela
2018–19Queen's University
2019–20Annagh United
2021–22Newington
2022–23Bangor
2023–24Limavady United
2024–25Warrenpoint Town