Columnists

Tony Incenzo: Pathway for a new future

Unprecedented winds of change are billowing through Non-League football circles in the Republic of Ireland.

by
Tony Incenzo
25 May 2025

UP FOR THE CUP: Leicester Celtic players prepare to face Fanad United in the FAI Cup PICTURE: Gruber Images

By Tony Incenzo – Talking Points

Unprecedented winds of change are billowing through Non-League football circles in the Republic of Ireland.
While clubs involved play in regionalised Intermediate leagues, there is presently no promotion to the national League of Ireland (LOI) which comprises two divisions of 10 teams each in the Premier and First Divisions.
However, the FA of Ireland recently asked for expressions of interest from ambitious Non-League sides to form a new 20 team third tier, feeding directly into the LOI First Division.
Containing two divisions split into North and South s...

Continue reading...

Access all our premium content from as little as 14p per day!

Already a subscriber to our website? Login

Read our latest news on any of these social networks!

Tackle the News

- Sign Up for our weekly Non-League Newsletter

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

More in Columnists

Matt Badcock: Wood’s axis is a problem

Whether Abdul Abdulmalik stays or not, the rest of the National League have a Boreham Wood problem regardless.
Mark Harris: Helping clubs to meet the criteria

Few topics attract more debate in Non-League football than Stadium Accreditation. Or Ground Grading in old money.
Tony Incenzo: The ground hop goes on

TICKED OFF: This season, I’ve already taken in new visits to Anstey Town and Hemsworth Miners Welfare, inset THE life of a Non-League groundhopper is akin to painting the legendary Forth Bridge. In effect, once you achieve your self-imposed groundhopping targets it is time to start all over again. That’s...
Matt Badcock: We should embrace Non-League’s younger fans

Our NLP Editor At Large Matt Badcock reflects on his own Non-League upbringing and questions whether blanket restrictions on young fans risk alienating the next generation while clubs tackle genuine safeguarding concerns.