Isle of Man Premier League

Isle of Man Premier League
Founded2007–present
1896–2007 (as Division One)
CountryIsle of Man
Number of clubs13
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toDivision Two
Domestic cup(s)Isle of Man FA Cup
Current championsCorinthians
(2020–21)
Most championshipsSt Georges (9 titles)
Website[1]
Current: 2024–25 Isle of Man Premier League

The Isle of Man Premier League (also known as the Canada Life Premier League for sponsorship reasons) is the highest division of the Isle of Man Football League and the highest overall in the Isle of Man football league system. The Premier League, which was introduced for the 2007–08 season, was previously known as the First Division. Each year, the top finishing club is crowned league champion, and the two lowest placed clubs are relegated to Division Two.

In 2018–19 season, St Marys were the division champions and St Georges were the runners-up. St Johns United and Braddan were relegated to Division Two, finishing 12th and 13th place respectively.[1]

History

The Isle of Man Premier League was introduced for the 2007–08 season.

Structure of the league

Competition

The league comprises 13 clubs. Over the course of a season, which runs annually from August to the following May, a club plays each of the others in the same division twice (a double round-robin system), once at their home and once at that of their opponents. This makes for a total of 24 games played each season. Clubs gain three points for a win, one for a draw and none for a defeat. Clubs are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. At the end of the season, the first placed club in the league is crowned Premier League champions.

Promotion and relegation

A system of promotion and relegation exists between the Premier League and Division Two. At the end of each season the two lowest placed clubs in the Premier League are relegated to Division two, and the top two placed clubs from Division Two are promoted to the Premier League.

Current members

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Location of the clubs in the 2019–20 Isle of Man Premier League

The following 13 clubs are competing in the Premier League during the 2019–20 season.

Club Finishing position last season Location Stadium Capacity
Castletown Metropolitan 10th Castletown Castletown Football Stadium
Corinthians 4th Douglas Nobles Park
Douglas Athletic 6th Douglas Groves Road
Douglas HSOB 7th Onchan DHSOB Football Ground
Douglas Royal 11th Douglas Nobles Park
Laxey 9th Laxey Laxey Football Ground 1,000[2]
Marown 8th Crosby Memorial Playing Fields
Peel 3rd Peel Peel A.F.C Football Ground
Pulrose United 2nd in Division Two (Promoted) Douglas Groves Road Stadium
Ramsey 1st in Division Two (Promoted) Ramsey Ballacloan Stadium
Rushen United 5th Port Erin Croit Lowey 1,500[3]
St Georges 2nd Douglas The Campsite
St Marys 1st Douglas The Bowl 3,000[4]

Results

League champions and runners-up

Season Champions Runners-up
2007–08 Castletown 69 Peel 58
2008–09 St Georges 58 Peel 57
2009–10 Castletown 63 St Marys 58
2010–11 Castletown 68 Douglas High School Old Boys 60
2011–12 St Georges 70 Castletown 58
2012–13 Castletown 65 Laxey 52
2013–14 St Georges 70 St Marys 53
2014–15 St Georges 66 Peel 62
2015–16 St Georges 70 Peel 65
2016–17 St Georges 69 Corinthians 55
2017–18 St Georges 64 Peel 56
2018–19 St Marys 59 St Georges 52
2019–20 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2020–21 Corinthians 70 Rushen United 56
2021–22 Ayre United 56 Rushen United 47

Relegated teams (from Premier League to Division Two)

Season Clubs
2007–08 Douglas Royal (11), St Johns United (14)
2008–09 Ayre United (14), Colby (17)
2009–10 Union Mills (3), St Johns United (13)
2010–11 Douglas Royal (7), Michael United (13)
2011–12 Ayre United (3), Ramsey YCOB (11)
2012–13 Marown (7), Gymnasium (13)
2013–14 Castletown Metropolitan (8), Ramsey YCOB (9)
2014–15 Michael United (3), Gymnasium (9)
2015–16 Ramsey YCOB (5), Marown (15)
2016–17 Ayre United (-1), Union Mills (7)
2017–18 Ramsey (11), Colby (11)
2018–19 St Johns United (13), Braddan (0)
2019–20 cancelled due to COVID-19
2020–21 Douglas Athletic (15), St Johns United (12)

Top scorers

Season Top scorer Club Goals
2007–08 Isle of Man Callum Morrissey St Georges 37
2008–09 Isle of Man Callum Morrissey St Georges 30
2009–10 Isle of Man Steven Priestnal St Marys 29
2010–11 Isle of Man Steven Priestnal St Marys 28
2011–12 Isle of Man Josh Kelly Rushen United 31
2012–13 Isle of Man Steven Priestnal St Marys 37
2013–14 Isle of Man Ciaran McNulty St Georges 30
2014–15 Isle of Man Josh Kelly Peel 40
2015–16 Isle of Man Ciaran McNulty St Georges 40
2016–17 Isle of Man Ashley Webster Peel 36
2017–18 Isle of Man Ciaran McNulty St Georges 45
2018–19 Isle of Man Sean Doyle Corinthians 39

See also

References

  1. ^ "Isle of Man Senior Men's Leagues". full-time.thefa.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. ^ klaiber-it.de, Timo Klaiber. "Laxey Football Ground (Glen Road)". Europlan-Online. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  3. ^ klaiber-it.de, Timo Klaiber. "Croit Lowey". Europlan-Online. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Douglas Bowl stadium refurbishment begins". BBC News. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2017.