1996–97 Irish League

The 1996–97 Irish League was the 96th edition of the Irish League, the highest level of league competition in Northern Irish football. The league consisted of 8 teams, and Crusaders won the championship.

Irish League Premier Division
Season1996–97
ChampionsCrusaders
4th Irish title
Matches played112
Goals scored274 (2.45 per match)
Top goalscorerGary Haylock (16)

Premier Division

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Location of teams in the 1996–97 Irish League Premier Division
Location of the Belfast-based teams in the 1996–97 Irish League Premier Division

League standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or Relegation
1 Crusaders (C) 28 12 10 6 39 26 +13 46 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 Coleraine 28 10 13 5 37 31 +6 43 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first qualifying round
3 Glentoran 28 10 11 7 36 30 +6 41
4 Portadown 28 10 8 10 36 32 +4 38
5 Linfield 28 10 8 10 35 33 +2 38
6 Glenavon 28 8 11 9 35 34 +1 35 Qualification for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup qualifying round
7 Cliftonville 28 7 9 12 23 38 −15 30
8 Ards 28 5 10 13 33 50 −17 25 Promotion/relegation play-off and Intertoto Cup group stage
Source: rsssf.com
(C) Champions

Results

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First Division

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Irish League First Division
ChampionsBallymena United
PromotedBallymena United
Omagh Town
Matches played112
Goals scored298 (2.66 per match)
Location of teams in the 1996–97 Irish League First Division

League standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or Promotion
1 Ballymena United (C, P) 28 21 2 5 49 17 +32 65 Promotion to the Premier Division
2 Omagh Town (P) 28 15 5 8 40 39 +1 50
3 Bangor 28 15 4 9 42 29 +13 49 Qualification for the promotion/relegation play-off
4 Ballyclare Comrades 28 11 4 13 44 42 +2 37
5 Newry Town 28 10 5 13 32 35 −3 35
6 Distillery 28 10 4 14 31 37 −6 34
7 Larne 28 9 5 14 34 48 −14 32
8 Carrick Rangers 28 5 3 20 26 51 −25 18
Source: rsssf.com
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Promotion/relegation play-off

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Omagh Town, who finished in the relegation play-off place, faced Bangor, the 2nd-placed team in the First Division, in a two-legged tie for a place in next season's Irish League Premier Division.

Bangor0 – 1Ards

Ards won 2–0 on aggregate

References

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