Northern Ireland national football B team

The Northern Ireland national football B team is a secondary football team run occasionally as support for the Northern Ireland national football team. Primarily seen as a stepping-stone between the under-21 and full international teams, B team matches are also used to give a run-out for fringe players and to honour Irish League players who would not otherwise gain international recognition.

Northern Ireland B
Nickname(s)Green & White Army,
Norn Iron
AssociationIrish Football Association
Head coachnone
Most caps5 Pat McGibbon (1995-1999)
Top scorer3 Derek Dougan (1957-1959)
Home stadiumWindsor Park / Mourneview Park / Coleraine Showgrounds
FIFA codeNIR
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Northern Ireland 6-0, Romania B October 23, 1957
Biggest win
 Northern Ireland 6-0, Romania B October 23, 1957
Biggest defeat
France B 5-0  Northern Ireland, March 16, 1960

Matches are rarely played by Northern Ireland at this level due to their limited player pool, necessitating rapid elevation of young players to the 'Full' squad. Matches have been played against other football associations' 'B' teams and against various national "selects".

History

The Northern Ireland 'B' team made its first appearance in 1957, playing against Rumania 'B' who were not deemed worthy of a 'Full' international (note: Romania was commonly referred to as Rumania in the English language up until the 1980s). The occasion of October 23, 1957 marked the first use of the Windsor Park floodlights for an international fixture. A one sided match finished 6-0 with a hat-trick from Derek Dougan and further goals from Sammy McCrory, Sammy Chapman and Jackie Scott.

The match against Rumania was followed up with two matches against France B in 1959 and 1960 before Under-23 international matches became de rigueur in the 1960s. The 'B' format re-emerged in the 1990s as national teams focussed on Under-21 rather than Under-23 matches and thus a "stepping stone" from Under-21 to 'Full' was required.

Northern Ireland's most recent match at 'B' level was against Scotland B in May 2009.

Fixtures

None

Previous matches

Performance Record:

P W D L F A Gd
114161619-3
Date Opponent Score Venue Scorers
23 October 1957Romania B6-0Windsor Park, BelfastSammy McCrory, Sammy Chapman, Derek Dougan 3, Jackie Scott
11 November 1959France B1-1Windsor Park, BelfastHugh Barr
16 March 1960France B0-5Stade du Coteau, Annecy
10 May 1994England B2-4Hillsborough Stadium, SheffieldGeorge O'Boyle, James Quinn
21 February 1995Scotland B0-3Easter Road, Edinburgh
26 March 1996Norway Olympic football team3-0The Showgrounds, ColeraineDarren Patterson, James Quinn, Phil Mulryne
28 March 1997Portugal under-212-0Mourneview Park, LurganDanny Sonner, Steve Robinson
11 February 1998Republic of Ireland B1-0Tolka Park, DublinGeorge O'Boyle
9 February 1999Wales B0-1The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
20 May 2003Scotland Future1-2Firhill Stadium, GlasgowSteve Jones
6 May 2009Scotland B0-3Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld

Squad for most recent game

(vs. Scotland B, May 6, 2009)

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

Other previous players

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

Former coaches

(Record: Played Won-Drawn-Lost)

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References
  1. Daily Mirror Northern ireland Soccer Yearbook 2008-09 (ed. Malcolm Brodie) Page 112
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