Hello Irish League faithful!
Whether you’re reading this in the office pretending to “check emails” or in the pub hiding behind a pint, you’ve officially joined the first ever edition of The Irish League Newsletter for Diehards, Punters & Work Skivers.
This is the only inbox delivery guaranteed to give you:
Hard‑hitting stats (a punter’s best friend)
Fun facts & throwbacks to reignite your inner football historian
Fixture previews, predictions & tips—with the right balance of stats and blind optimism
Match recaps, league tables & injury updates—so you can argue with authority in the pub
Pub ammo & barstool banter—one‑liners that could win you a free pint
Competitions & challenges to keep the season interesting
We’re here to unite bluffers, shouters, and diehards under one glorious Irish League banner.
📊 Stat Spotlight:
Numbers That’ll Win You Pub Arguments
Dungannon Swifts
Claimed their first‑ever Irish Cup title, beating Cliftonville 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the final. A history‑making moment!
Finished 5th with 57 points, scoring 51 and conceding 48.
John McGovern led the line with 13 league goals—quietly lethal.
Linfield
Took home their 57th league title, clinching it with weeks to spare.
Meanest defence in the league: just 28 goals conceded, with 18 clean sheets.
Joel Cooper was everywhere—30 goal contributions in total.
Glentoran
Jordan Jenkins netted 12 goals, spearheading a team that scored the most away goals (33) in the league.
Portadown
Kings of the comeback: earned 16 points after the 75th minute—if they could bottle that late‑game energy, they’d be champions!
Coleraine
The team for neutrals: 22 of their games saw both teams score, which is basically a subscription to chaos. That's almost a 60% BTTS rate!
LARNE FC set club records in the 2023–24 season…
90 points, 85 goals scored, and 27 wins—all the highest in the club’s history in the NIFL era, they have been craving that kind of winning feeling again… will they be back with a vengeance this year!!
💸 BETTING TIPS
Our first ever data-driven, highly researched Betting Tip. Almost as reliable as your nan’s Sunday roast.
Gameweek One - 9th August 2025
Stake | Selection | Odds | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
2 points (ie. £20) | Glens Win vs Ports | 11/10 | £42 |
1 point (ie. £10) | Coleraine vs Larne BTTS | 10/11 | £19 |
Double Potential - (4/1) £5 stake, returns £20
The logic: Well, the Glens finished 3rd last year, Portadown 8th. The Glens also won the County Antrim Shield, reached the League Cup Final, and made the Semi’s of the Irish Cup. They were right in the thick of everything, a bloody decent season!
Coleraine, well… as covered: 22 of their games last season saw both teams score, which is basically a subscription to chaos. Gameweek one they face Larne, league challengers, who will NOT want to start the season Goalless.
But hey… what do we know. Maybe both games will finish 0-0 and we’ll have egg on our face! 🍳
Follow Our Tip Tracker, for full transparency all season long!
GambleAware.org 18+ | Odds Provided by Bet365!
📅 Upcoming Fixtures
Saturday, 9 Aug 2025 (3:00pm kick‑offs)
Crusaders vs Carrick Rangers
Glenavon vs Ballymena United
Portadown vs Glentoran
Sunday, 10 Aug 2025 (3:00pm kick‑offs)
Bangor vs Cliftonville (bbcsport)
Coleraine vs Larne
Linfield vs Dungannon Swifts
😂 Pun Central – Because We Don’t Take Ourselves Too Seriously
Ballymena United: Famous for sheep—if they start scoring in flocks, the league is in trouble.
Glenavon (Lurgan): Away days here aren’t for the faint‑hearted—even the corner flags look like they’re squaring up.
Dungannon Swifts: Their counter‑attacks are so quick, you’d think they were chased out of town by a Larne local.
Carrick Rangers: Fans say their defence is like a Buckfast cap (when you’re steaming) — hard to open.
💸 Predictor Competition - Can you call the Top 7?
Think you’re the next Nostradamus of the Irish League? Our free‑to‑enter (with an optional paid tier) Predictor Competition is now live!!
Here’s the game:
Predict the exact finishing order of the top 7 this upcoming season.
Cash prize for the winner(s)!
It sounds impossible… or is it? Every diehard fan has a hunch—why not test yours?
If you havent already, Enter now at:
Remember to Screenshot your picks! and feel free to share on Social Media (if you’re feeling confident!) 😏
🗣️ Join the Craic & Stay in the Loop
Follow us for extra banter, live stats, and midweek nonsense:
Share with your mates—office skivers, building-site bluffers, barstool ‘experts’ and diehards alike. The more of us arguing over who’s going down, the better.
🍻 Final Whistle
Thanks for signing up to The Irish League Newsletter for Diehards, Punters & Work Skivers. Expect stats sharper than a Linfield counter, puns woollier than a Ballymena sheep, and enough trivia to make you sound like the biggest fan in the pub.
Issue #2 will hit your inbox with fixture predictions, injury updates, pub ammo, and more info on our Free-to-enter Predict 7 competition!
Until then, keep your pints cold and your opinions hot.
See you pitch-side!
— The Diehards, Punters & Skivers Crew
