The Northern Ireland football league system is categorised into three levels: senior, intermediate and junior.
Senior status requires clubs to reach stricter criteria.
The Northern Ireland Football League, which is the national league of Northern Ireland, has two senior divisions, the NIFL Premiership and the NIFL Championship, which consists of twenty-four semi-professional clubs.
The North East Ulster Football Association runs the County Antrim Shield; the Mid-Ulster Football Association organises the Mid-Ulster Cup and the North West of Ireland Football Association organises the North West Senior Cup.
In the event, however, that either of the Premier Intermediate League teams does not possess a Championship Licence, they are not promoted.
The North East Ulster Football Association runs the Steel & Sons Cup; the Mid-Ulster Football Association organises the Bob Radcliffe Cup; and the North West of Ireland Football Association organises the Craig Memorial Cup.
The term "junior" is not related to the age of the players but the fact that the clubs are at amateur level.
By 1954, the Irish Intermediate League had become defunct as many clubs left to join the B Division.
In 2010, a pyramid system was introduced, with the possibility of promotion and relegation between the Championship and the four regional intermediate leagues.