Nickname(s) | Green & White Army, Norn Iron | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Irish Football Association | ||
Head coach | none | ||
Most caps | Pat McGibbon (5) | ||
Top scorer | Derek Dougan (3) | ||
Home stadium | Windsor Park / Mourneview Park / Coleraine Showgrounds | ||
FIFA code | NIR | ||
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First international | |||
Northern Ireland B 6–0 Romania B (Belfast, Northern Ireland; 23 October 1957) | |||
Biggest win | |||
Northern Ireland B 6–0 Romania B (Belfast, Northern Ireland; 23 October 1957) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
France B 5–0 Northern Ireland B (Annecy, France; 16 March 1960) |
The Northern Ireland national football B team is a secondary football team run occasionally as support for the Northern Ireland national football team. Primarily seen as a stepping-stone between the under-21 and full international teams, B team matches are also used to give a run-out for fringe players and to honour Irish League players who would not otherwise gain international recognition.
Matches are rarely played by Northern Ireland at this level due to their limited player pool, necessitating rapid elevation of young players to the 'Full' squad. Matches have been played against other football associations' 'B' teams and against various national "selects".