Down Area Winter Football League

The Down Area Winter Football League (DAWFL), is an amateur association football league in County Down, Northern Ireland.^[1] The league was formed in August 1974 in Downpatrick, and currently^[when?] has over 50 clubs affiliated with it. The league runs a winter season from September to May. Teams compete in a number of divisions, as well as cup competitions.^[2][3]

A number of players within the league have gone on to play professionally. These include Northern Ireland internationals, such as Steven Davis and Keith Gillespie.^[4] NIFL teams submit their reserve teams to the league.

League format

The league is divided into divisions, with relegation and promotion. The league structure is as follows:

• Premier Division
• Division 1
• Division 2
• Reserve Division 1
• Reserve Division 2

Cup tournaments

• Billy Allen Memorial Shield^[5]
• Dennis Nash Charity Shield^[6]
• Sittlington Cup^[7]
• Frank Moore Cup
• Mervyn Bassett Cup
• Tommy Murphy Memorial Shield

List of DAWFL teams for 2025/26

Premier Division^[8]

• Ards Rangers Colts
• Ballynafeigh Breda Star
• Blackstaff
• Castle Juniors
• Comber Rec III
• Comber YM
• Corrymeela
• Millisle
• Newtownards RBL
• North Down
• Victoria Athletic

• Vision Athletic

Division 1^[9]

• 43rd Dundonald
• Abbey Villa Development Team
• Ballygowan
• Ballyhalbert United
• Bangor YM III
• Bloomfield III
• Cooke Athletic
• Holywood III
• Lagan Swifts
• Newtown Forest
• Willowfield Parish 10th OB

Division 2^[10]

• 3rd Bangor
• Bryansburn Rangers III
• Carryduff Colts III
• Clarawood
• Cloughey FC
• East Belfast III
• Groomsport III
• Queens Grads III
• Ravenhill YM II
• Tullycarnet III

Reserve 1^[11]

• 43rd Dundonald II
• Castle Juniors II
• Comber Rec IV
• Comber YM II
• Holywood IV
• Newtown Forest II
• Newtownards RBL II
• North Down II
• Victoria Athletic II
• Vision Athletic II
• Willowfield Parish 10th OB Athletic

Reserve 2^[12]

• 3rd Bangor II
• Ards Rangers Swifts
• Ballygowan II
• Ballynafeigh Breda Star II
• Blackstaff II
• Bryansburn Rangers IV
• Carryduff Colts IV
• Cloughey FC II
• Corrymeela II
• Lagan Swifts II
• Millisle II
• Queens Grads IV