CIS to Sponsor Irish Soccer’s League Cup

Insurance giant Co-operative Insurance Society (CIS) has announced a massive boost for Irish League football.

Already backers of the hugely successful Scottish League Cup, CIS Insurance is determined to make as big an impact this side of the Irish Sea.

Irish League chiefs have welcomed the development which raises the status of the League Cup to unprecedented heights.

CIS has undertaken a deal with the Irish League to sponsor the competition, which will be known as the CIS Insurance Cup.

Martin Clarke, CIS’s general manager (marketing), said: ‘We’re delighted to be part of a new initiative and look forward to a highly successful and rewarding association with the Irish Football League.

‘The Irish League Cup is a superb addition to our sponsorship portfolio. CIS values its business and customers in Northern Ireland and is delighted to be involved with this prestigious competition.

‘Our competition in Scotland has been a resounding success and we are confident the CIS Insurance Cup can be as big a hit in Northern Ireland. That’s our goal and we’ll be committing ourselves wholeheartedly to the venture.’

The regionalised league format throws up a host of derby fixtures and at the same time cuts down on travel costs. Matches will be played from August 28 to November 27.

There are four regions embracing Premier Division and First Division clubs:

1- Northern Region: Ballymena Utd, Coleraine, Institute, Limavady Utd, and Omagh Town.

2- Southern Region: Armagh City, Dungannon Swifts, Glenavon, Newry Town, and Portadown.

3- Eastern Region: Ballyclare Comrades, Carrick Rangers, Cliftonville, Crusaders, and Larne.

4- Greater Belfast Region: Ards, Bangor, Glentoran, Linfield, Lisburn Distillery.

Matches can be played on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of a specified week to avoid clashing with ‘live’ television coverage of European Champions League or UEFA Cup ties.

Teams in each of the four regions play each other and are guaranteed two home matches.

The top two teams in each region qualify for the quarter-finals and will play each of the teams from another region ie Northern Region v Eastern Region and Southern Region v Greater Belfast Region.

Semi-finalists will play each other on a home and away basis but the final on Tuesday November 27 will be sudden death!

Early games in the competition will mostly be played at two-week intervals but weekly once the quarter-final stages have been reached.

While the cash share out for clubs has yet to be decided, they will enjoy an increased pool of prize money compared with previous seasons thanks to CIS’s sponsorship.

Irish League president Jim Semple said: ‘It’s a refreshingly new format with something for everyone. The host of derby matches should generate a lot of interest and gives First Division clubs the opportunity to upstage their Premier Division neighbours and rivals.

‘It’s good too that matches should be played early in the season to avoid the worst of the winter weather. It also helps to avoid fixture congestion for clubs competing in the Irish Cup.

‘The idea of clubs having a choice of dates is also a good one.’

For further information contact:
Emma Collins @ CIS on 0161 837 5649