The wait is finally over as the NI Football League have announced the fixtures for the 2023/24 Sports Direct Premiership season.
This Saturday sees the annual Charity Shield curtain raiser as League champions Larne take on Irish Cup winners Crusaders, but the League action gets underway on Saturday 5 August.
There are some mouthwatering ties on the opening day.
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To kick off the first Premiership season under the new Sports Direct title sponsorship, reigning champions Larne start the defence of their first ever league title at home to Dungannon Swifts at Inver Park.
Newly promoted Loughgall return to the top-flight of football in Northern Ireland for the first time in 16 years and they make the trip to Newry City for a clash that will be Gary Boyle’s first game as manager, after the departure of long serving Darren Mullen.
In arguably the most eye-catching game of the opening weekend, another new boss in charge - Jim Magilton - takes his Cliftonville side to cross-city rivals Linfield, with both sides eager to make a winning start to their pursuit of the Premiership title.
In similar style, Ballymena United’s new manager Jim Ervin will take his new look Sky Blues straight into a big derby clash with Coleraine at the Ballycastle Road to kick off the new campaign as the big games come at us from the first whistle in the Sports Direct Premiership!
The new Warren Feeney era for Glentoran will begin with an away trip to Glenavon and Crusaders host Carrick Rangers at Seaview to cap a mouth-watering opening weekend of the Sports Direct Premiership season.
Over 360,000 fans enjoyed the thrill of live Premiership action last year and the new Sports Direct Premiership campaign can once again be enjoyed in stadiums and through season long coverage from BBC Sport NI and Sky Sports.
Twelve clubs will compete in the 33-game regular season, which kicks off eight months of twists and turns before the top and bottom half ‘split’ for the final five games - will see the winner of the prestigious Gibson Cup crowned by Saturday 27 April 2023.
The story of the summer is that no less than five new managers will take their place in the dugout for the start of another captivating campaign, and plenty of fresh new faces on the pitch too!
Opening Sports Direct Premiership Fixtures
Saturday 5 August 2023
- Coleraine v Ballymena United
- Crusaders v Carrick Rangers
- Glenavon v Glentoran
- Larne v Dungannon Swifts
- Linfield v Cliftonville
- Newry City v Loughgall
All fixtures are currently subject to change due to broadcast selection and clubs’ participation in European Club Competitions.
Key Dates
- Season Opening Weekend (GW1) – Saturday 5 August
- Boxing Day (GW23) – Tuesday 26 December 2023
- Regular Season end (GW33) – Saturday 23 March 2024
- Easter Tuesday (GW34) – Tuesday 2 April 2024
- Final day of the season (GW38) – Saturday 27 April 2024
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