The Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) has kicked off the 2025/26 season with one biggest opening weekends ever, clocking up almost 5 million video views across its digital channels marking a staggering 257% increase on last year.
The surge in interest was matched in the stands, with over 15,000 fans turning out for matches in the Sports Direct Premiership and Playr-Fit Championship, creating an electric atmosphere from the first whistle.
With live competitive football across the leagues returning across three action packed days, fans enjoyed a true weekend of football with attendances up 26% on the same weekend last year.
Even NIFL’s live broadcast offering for the season kicked off in style on Sunday as newly promoted Bangor caused a major shock by defeating Cliftonville live on BBC Sport NI in the first of many top live Sports Direct Premiership games this season.
Regan McFarland, NIFL Sales & Marketing Manager, said:
“We couldn’t have asked for a better start. Hitting nearly 5 million views shows the incredible appetite for our leagues. The passion from the stands to the screens is unmatched, and we’re only just getting started.”
NIFL’s digital growth has been remarkable across every metric with the total Social Audience: growing to 163,071 (+40% YoY) and Social Profile Impressions: 3,245,354 (+272.55% YoY)
The league’s impact wasn’t just online with traditional media coverage continues to captivate readers, with almost 300 print articles generating an estimated €850,000 in media value.
This pulsating start on and off the pitch has already set the tone for what promises to be the most watched, most talked-about NIFL season in history.
