The battle for a place in senior football kicks off this weekend with the eagerly anticipated return of the Playr-Fit Premier Intermediate League.

A new name, a new structure and new teams have set this seasonup to be one of the biggest yet amongst Northern Ireland’s best Intermediate clubs, as Newry based teamwear specialists Play-Fit have joined as the title sponsors of the new look 14-team division.

Each team will play a total of 26 league matches, in a traditional home and away format with no split for the final phase of fixtures. The Premier Intermediate League champions will earn an automatic place in the Playr-Fit Championship for 2024/2025 with the runners-up facing a play-off series against the eleventh placed team in the second tier.

It all kicks off on Saturday afternoon with a big Lisburn derby clash at New Grosvenor Park, as title chasing Ballymacash Rangers make the short trip across the city to face Barry Johnston’s Lisburn Distillery in the pick of the opening round of PIL fixtures.

There is a debut in the NI Football League for Rathfriland Rangers – who have been promoted to the league for the first time in their history after winning the Amateur League last season. Rangers start life in the third tier with a home fixture against Queen’s University at Iveagh Park.

Coagh United return to the division for the first time since their relegation in 2016 and the Ballymena & Provincial League champions will kick off their campaign away to Portstewart.

The relegation of Warrenpoint Town means that the club are back at this level for the first time in 13 seasons, Barry Gray will be therefore looking for an immediate return to the Championship and they will start their journey away to Moyola Park - who will be playing at the Coleraine Showgrounds this season.

In the other games of the opening weekend, Paul Owens’ new look Limavady United start their promotion push at home to Banbridge Town, Dollingstown travel to the Dub to face PSNI and Armagh City welcome Tobermore United to Holm Park.

Playr-Fit Premier Intermediate League Fixtures

Matchday One: Saturday 26 August 2023
Armagh City v Tobermore United
Limavady United v Banbridge Town
Lisburn Distillery v Ballymacash Rangers
Moyola Park v Warrenpoint Town
Portstewart v Coagh United
PSNI v Dollingstown
Rathfriland Rangers v Queens University