Northern Ireland Players in the English Top Flight

From the moment professionalism was legalised by the FA in 1885, football clubs sought ways to increase their revenues to attract the best players. It was quickly realised that the best way to do this was to organise a regular series of matches between the best teams, supplementing the stream of knock-out competitions and replacing a haphazard arrangement of friendly challenge matches that had previously filled the fixture dates. Hence, in 1888 the world's first round-robin competition for club sides was founded - the Football League. The naming was actually not for reasons of arrogance as, although the founding twelve members were all from the Midlands and North of England, the intention was to spread further north to Scotland, perhaps even before looking towards the more "gentlemanly" amateurs in the south. It was a noble plan, but one that never really came to fruition. Instead, the best players Scotland, and shortly thereafter Ireland, had to offer moved to the monied English clubs. Although both the Irish League and Scottish League were founded in 1890, the smaller nations have never been able to consistently close the gap in quality and money with their larger neighbour. 

Archie Goodall -
the EFL's first Irishman

The first Irishman to play in the Football League was Archie Goodall who featured for Preston North End and Aston Villa in the inaugural 1888/89 season. Goodall only briefly lived in Ireland as the child of a soldier, and actually spent the majority of his life in Scotland and the North of England. The first player to sign for an Football League club from an Irish side was Allan Elleman who moved to West Bromwich Albion from Cliftonville in April 1890. Although Elleman had already won two Ireland caps by that stage, he was actually English by birth. It would be 1891, after a move to Notts County, before he made his Football League debut. As the 1890s wore on, Ireland's best players were moving across the Irish Sea on a regular basis. However, this was having a seriously detrimental effect on the national side as Football League clubs refused to release their players for anything other than England-duty. This remained the situation until March 1899 when Ireland were at last able to field four "Anglos" against Wales.

In 1892/93 the Football League introduced the Second Division, and with that, promotion and relegation became a thing. Expansion continued in 1920 with the introduction of a Third Division. In 1921 a Third Division North was added, with the "original" Third Division covering the South. In 1958 the two regional Third Divisions were replaced with national Third and Fourth Divisions. This four division structure remained the same until 1992 when the First Division member clubs broke away to form the FA Premier League and the Football League First Division became the second tier. Further re-brandings have seen the First Division becoming known as the Championship in 2004 and the Football League finally adding a nationally specifc pre-fix, becoming known as the English Football League (EFL) in 2016 (much the the annoyance of the Welsh sides which have historically competed therein).

Top Flight Appearances by NI Players per Club

Meanwhile, the top-flight Premier League (EPL) has become the richest league in the world, attracting footballing talents from across the globe. After a century where the English game relied on the talents of their Celtic cousins to strengthen their status among the world's elite, the big clubs now look to Europe, Africa and South America, limiting the opportunities for players from their nearest neighbours.

Pat Jennings' 21 season top-flight career unsurprisingly sees him top the Northern Ireland player appearance charts, while just one player who made his debut in the Premier League era, Aaron Hughes, makes the top ten. Derek Dougan is Northern Ireland's top top-flight goalscorer while Iain Dowie, in 16th place overall, has the most goals since the foundation of the EPL. 

To date, 19 (Northern) Ireland internationals have claimed an English top-flight title.

Top Ten Appearance Makers

Name	Career		Apps
Jennings, Pat	1964/5	1984/5	709
McIlroy, Jimmy	1950/1	1965/6	519
Blanchflower, Danny	1950/1	1963/4	485
Dougan, Derek	1957/8	1974/5	458
Hughes, Aaron	1997/8	2013/4	455
Gillespie, Billy	1911/2	1931/2	448
McIlroy, Sammy	1971/2	1986/7	446
Rice, Pat	1967/8	1983/4	443
Scott, Elisha	1912/3	1933/4	430
Donaghy, Mal	1982/3	1993/4	406

Top Ten Goalscorers

Name	Career		Goals
Dougan, Derek	1957/8	1974/5	175
Dunne, Jimmy	1926/7	1935/6	153
Best, George	1963/4	1973/4	137
Gillespie, Billy	1911/2	1931/2	127
McIlroy, Jimmy	1950/1	1965/6	125
Doherty, Peter	1935/6	1948/9	97
Bingham, Billy	1950/1	1962/3	92
McAdams, Billy	1953/4	1961/2	89
McParland, Peter	1952/3	1962/3	85
Stevenson, Alex	1933/4	1948/9	82

Debutants by Decade

Key

Full IFA International

Capped by IFA at B, U23, U21, Amateur Youth, or Schoolboy level

Uncapped by IFA but eligible through birth or ancestry

1880s

Archie Goodall was Ireland's only representative in the Football League's first season. He played two games for Preston before signing for Aston Villa for £100. Villa finished as runners-up to the Invincible Preston.

Full Name	Career	Ap	St	Sb	Gls
Goodall, Archie	1888/89 - 05/06	403	403	-	56

1890s

Jack Reynolds became the first Ireland international to claim the English title, winning it three time with Villa (1894, 1896, 1897).

Full Name	Career	Ap	St	Sb	Gls
Hannah, David*	1890/91 - 96/97	98	98	-	26
Reynolds, Jack	1891/92 - 96/97	133	133	-	20
Elleman, Allan	1891/92	6	6	-	2
Taggart, John	1892/93 - 95/96	68	68	-	4
Crone, Bob	1892/93 - 97/98	61	61	-	0
Morrison, Ching	1893/94 - 99/00	73	73	-	9
Peden, John	1893/94 - 94/95	36	36	-	9
Boyle, Peter	1896/97 - 03/04	179	179	-	1
Hall, George	1897/98	1	1	-	1
Connor, Joseph	1897/98 - 98/99	10	10	-	0
Ponsonby, Jack	1897/98	5	5	-	0
Gara, Andy	1898/99 - 02/03	57	57	-	21
Shanks, Tom	1898/99 - 08/09	37	37	-	12
Kirwan, Jack	1898/99 - 07/08	26	26	-	5

* believed to have been born in Raffrey, Co. Down

1900s

Full Name	Career	Ap	St	Sb	Gls
Burnison, Joe	1900/01 - 01/02	18	18	-	0
Gibson, WK	1901/02	1	1	-	0
Buckle, Henry	1902/03 - 05/06	44	44	-	13
Sheridan, Jimmy	1902/03 - 04/05	32	32	-	5
Mercer, John	1903/04 - 04/05	26	26	-	1
McCracken, Bill	1904/05 - 22/23	377	377	-	6
Scott, Billy	1904/05 - 11/12	251	251	-	0
McConnell, English	1905/06 - 09/10	86	86	-	0
Reilly, Matt	1905/06	16	16	-	0
O'Hagan, Charles	1906/07	5	5	-	1
Harris, Val	1907/08 - 13/14	190	190	-	1
Lacey, Billy	1908/09 - 23/24	267	267	-	29
Hunter, Andrew	1908/09 - 09/10	14	14	-	3
O'Connell, Pat	1908/09 - 14/15	52	52	-	2
Murray, James	1909/10 - 10/11	13	13	-	4
Hampton, Henry	1909/10 - 13/14	47	47	-	0
Walker, John	1909/10 - 11/12	18	18	-	0
Murphy, John	1909/10	6	6	-	0
Warren, Peter	1909/10 - 11/12	6	6	-	0
Slemin, John	1909/10	3	3	-	0

1910s

The lives and playing careers of many young men were destroyed by the First World War. The Football League was suspended for the 1915/16 - 1918/19 seasons inclusive.

Full Name	Career	Ap	St	Sb	Gls
Thompson, Francis	1910/11 - 12/13	51	51	-	11
Renneville, Pepper	1910/11	2	2	-	1
Gillespie, Billy	1911/12 - 31/32	448	448	-	127
Hamill, Mickey	1911/12 - 23/24	175	175	-	3
Bookman, Louis	1911/12 - 14/15	48	48	-	3
McKnight, James	1911/12	9	9	-	2
McKee, Fred	1911/12	1	1	-	0
Houston, John	1912/13 - 14/15	26	26	-	2
Scott, Elisha	1912/13 - 33/34	430	430	-	0
MacAuley, James	1913/14	22	22	-	7
McConnell, William	1914/15	4	4	-	0
Halligan, William	1919/20 - 20/21	44	44	-	11
Toner, Joseph	1919/20 - 25/26	89	89	-	6
Rollo, David	1919/20 - 26/27	207	207	-	5

1920s

Full Name	Career	Ap	St	Sb	Gls
Ferris, James	1920/21 - 23/24	86	86	-	19
Hopkins, James	1920/21 - 22/23	21	21	-	7
Robinson, Patrick	1920/21	18	18	-	2
Kelly, Patrick	1920/21 - 22/23	25	25	-	1
Russell, Samuel	1920/21 - 24/25	28	28	-	0
Irvine, Robert	1921/22 - 29/30	234	234	-	64
Smith, Bert	1921/22 - 23/24	77	77	-	2
Farquharson, Tom	1921/22 - 28/29	243	243	-	0
Emerson, William	1921/22 - 23/24	44	44	-	0
Mulligan, James	1921/22 - 22/23	3	3	-	0
Nelis, Patrick	1922/23 - 24/25	49	49	-	7
Reid, George	1922/23	7	7	-	4
Morgan,  Gerald	1922/23 - 24/25	94	94	-	3
Mackie, Alexander	1922/23 - 34/35	365	365	-	2
Doran, John	1922/23	3	3	-	1
Kennedy, Andrew	1922/23 - 28/29	123	123	-	0
Harland, Alfred	1922/23 - 25/26	64	64	-	0
Elwood, James	1923/24 - 25/26	27	27	-	0
McCleery, William	1924/25 - 25/26	23	23	-	5
McIlvenny, Patrick	1924/25	5	5	-	2
Sloan, Thomas	1924/25 - 28/29	79	79	-	1
McCluggage, Andrew	1925/26 - 29/30	171	171	-	20
Chambers, James	1925/26 - 28/29	12	12	-	2
Watson, Thomas	1925/26 - 28/29	85	85	-	0
McMullan, David	1925/26 - 27/28	31	31	-	0
Dunne, James	1926/27 - 35/36	201	201	-	153
Duggan, Henry	1926/27 - 36/37	152	152	-	40
Irving, Samuel	1926/27 - 31/32	76	76	-	6
O'Brien, Mick	1926/27 - 27/28	3	3	-	0
Cumming, Laurence	1927/28 - 29/30	19	19	-	6
Davey, Hugh	1927/28	7	7	-	2
Miller, Joseph	1927/28 - 29/30	60	60	-	0
Millar, William	1928/29	3	3	-	2
Flack, Hugh	1928/29	3	3	-	0
Willighan, Tom	1929/30	2	2	-	0

1930s

Full Name	Career	Ap	St	Sb	Gls
Reid, Sidney	1931/32 - 35/36	16	16	-	0
Gowdy, William	1931/32	1	1	-	0
Cook, William	1932/33 - 38/39	225	225	-	5
Stevenson, Alex	1933/34 - 48/49	255	255	-	82
Coulter, John	1933/34 - 37/38	75	75	-	27
English, Samuel	1933/34 - 34/35	47	47	-	24
Mitchell, William	1933/34 - 38/39	108	108	-	2
Priestley, Thomas	1933/34	23	23	-	1
Brolly, Thomas	1933/34	2	2	-	0
Bambrick, Joe	1934/35 - 37/38	59	59	-	33
Martin, David "Boy"	1934/35 - 35/36	25	25	-	17
Brown, John	1934/35 - 38/39	61	61	-	12
Hayes, William	1934/35 - 50/51	193	193	-	5
Doherty, Peter	1935/36 - 48/49	189	189	-	97
McCullough, Keiller	1935/36 - 37/38	17	17	-	1
Browne, Robert	1935/36 - 46/47	107	107	-	0
Baird, Henry HC	1936/37 - 38/39	33	33	-	7
Breen, Thomas	1936/37 - 38/39	32	32	-	0
McCambridge, James	1936/37	2	2	-	0
Cochrane, David	1937/38 - 46/47	67	67	-	10
Jones, Samuel	1937/38 - 46/47	32	32	-	2
Madden, Owen	1937/38 - 38/39	12	12	-	1
Twomey, James	1937/38 - 1946/47	64	64	-	0
Butler, Malcolm	1937/38 - 1938/39	19	19	-	0
Carey, John	1938/39 - 1952/53	288	288	-	13
McAlinden, James	1938/39 - 1948/49	86	86	-	11
Gorman, William	1938/39 - 1946/47	58	58	-	0

1940s

Once again life and football were thrown into disarray by War. The 1939/40 season was abandoned and the records expunged. The Football League resumed for the 1946/47 season.

Full Name	Career	Ap	St	Sb	Gls
Eglington, Thomas	1946/47 - 56/57	276	276	-	43
Farrell, Peter	1946/47 - 56/57	305	305	-	11
McKnight, George	1946/47 - 53/54	41	41	-	9
Sloan, Josiah Walter	1946/47 - 47/48	45	45	-	3
O'Flanagan, Kevin	1946/47	14	14	-	3
Martin, Cornelius	1946/47 - 55/56	202	202	-	1
McCabe, James	1946/47 - 47/48	34	34	-	0
Nelson, Samuel	1946/47 - 47/48	14	14	-	0
Bowler, Gerard	1946/47 - 48/49	8	8	-	0
McManus, Brendan	1946/47	1	1	-	0
Smyth, Samuel	1947/48 - 53/54	187	187	-	71
D'Arcy, Seamus	1947/48 - 52/53	36	36	-	13
McMorran, Edward	1947/48 - 48/49	33	33	-	12
Dickson, William	1947/48 - 55/56	130	130	-	5
Crossan, Edward	1947/48	12	12	-	3
Walsh, William	1947/48 - 49/50	96	96	-	0
Waters, Patrick	1947/48 - 48/49	34	34	-	0
McKenna, John	1948/49 - 56/57	156	156	-	10
Hughes, William	1948/49 - 52/53	47	47	-	2
Ferris, Raymond	1948/49 - 49/50	36	36	-	0
Walsh, David	1949/50 - 54/55	159	159	-	58
Ryan, Reginald	1949/50 - 54/55	201	201	-	27
Brennan, Robert	1949/50 - 51/52	80	80	-	18
Campbell, John Peter	1949/50 - 51/52	61	61	-	4
McMichael, Alfred	1949/50 - 60/61	356	356	-	1
Vernon, John	1949/50 - 51/52	103	103	-	0
Gallogly, Charles	1949/50 - 51/52	76	76	-	0
Kelly, Hugh	1949/50	25	25	-	0

1950s

The last "Southern" Ireland-born players were selected by the Irish FA in 1949 as the Dual International era ended. The 1950s brought the first forrays by English clubs into European competitions and the 1958 Munich Air Disaster ended many lives and the career of Jackie Blanchflower.

Full Name	Career	Ap	St	Sb	Gls
McIlroy, James	1950/51 - 65/66	519	517	2	125
Bingham, William	1950/51 - 62/63	368	368	-	92
Blanchflower, Danny	1950/51 - 63/64	485	485	-	25
Agnew, David George	1950/51	1	1	-	0
Blanchflower, John	1951/52 - 57/58	105	105	-	26
McCourt, Francis	1951/52 - 53/54	45	45	-	4
Mulholland, Frank	1951/52 - 53/54	35	35	-	0
McParland, Peter	1952/53 - 62/63	273	273	-	85
Lockhart, Norman	1952/53 - 55/56	74	74	-	10
Casey, Thomas	1952/53 - 58/59	140	140	-	9
Uprichard, Norman	1952/53 - 58/59	182	182	-	0
McLaughlin, Robert	1952/53 - 53/54	4	4	-	0
Scott, John	1952/53 - 55/56	3	3	-	0
McAdams, William	1953/54 - 61/62	171	171	-	89
Burrell, Gerald	1953/54 - 55/56	59	59	-	9
Cunningham, William	1954/55 - 59/60	92	92	-	4
Burke, Robert	1955/56	19	19	-	5
Aherne, Thomas	1955/56 - 56/57	47	47	-	0
Keith, Richard	1956/57 - 60/61	141	141	-	2
Wilson, William	1956/57 - 57/58	2	2	-	0
Clugston, James	1956/57	1	1	-	0
Dougan, Derek	1957/58 - 74/75	458	444	14	175
Cush, Wilbur	1957/58 - 59/60	87	87	-	9
Hill, Jimmy	1957/58 - 63/64	18	18	-	3
Gregg, Harry	1957/58 - 66/67	212	212	0	0
Coyle, Fay	1957/58	3	3	-	0
McCullough, Billy	1958/59 - 65/66	253	253	0	4
Humphries, Billy	1958/59 - 59/60	25	25	-	2
Gibson, James	1958/59 - 60/61	2	2	-	1
Elder, Alex	1959/60 - 72/73	354	351	3	16
Magill, Edward James	1959/60 - 64/65	116	116	-	0

1960s

Substitutions were introduced by the Football League in 1965/66. Initially one sub was allowed to be named and used, with the number increased to two in 1987 and three in 1994. 

Full Name	Career	Ap	St	Sb	Gls
Neill, Terry	1960/61 - 69/70	241	240	1	9
Nicholson, Jimmy	1960/61 - 71/72	96	96	0	8
McClelland, Jack	1960/61 - 67/68	83	83	0	0
Briggs, Ronald	1960/61 - 61/62	9	9	-	0
Lawther, Ian	1961/62 - 62/63	59	59	-	21
McMillan, Samuel	1961/62 - 62/63	15	15	-	6
Shiels, Dennis	1961/62 - 63/64	5	5	-	1
Clarke, Frederick	1961/62 - 64/65	26	26	-	0
McNally, Errol	1961/62 - 63/64	9	9	-	0
Irvine, William	1962/63 - 67/68	126	124	2	78
Elwood, Joseph	1962/63	11	11	-	1
Best, George	1963/64 - 73/74	361	361	0	137
Hegan, Daniel	1963/64 - 73/74	126	120	6	16
Todd, Samuel	1963/64 - 69/70	116	108	8	1
Irvine, Robert	1963/64 - 65/66	25	25	0	0
Crossan, John	1964/65 - 66/67	54	54	0	13
Harvey, Martin	1964/65 - 69/70	187	184	3	3
Jennings, Patrick	1964/65 - 84/85	709	709	0	0
Parke, John	1964/65 - 67/68	86	83	3	0
Campbell, William	1964/65 - 65/66	5	5	0	0
Craig, David	1965/66 - 77/78	298	293	5	8
McFaul, William	1966/67 - 74/75	290	290	0	0
Clements, David	1967/68 - 75/76	237	232	5	16
Rice, Patrick	1967/68 - 83/84	443	437	6	13
Jackson, Thomas	1967/68 - 76/77	88	82	6	2
Ross, Eric	1967/68 - 68/69	2	2	0	0
Mullan, Brendan	1967/68	2	0	2	0
Lutton, Robert	1968/69 - 73/74	33	24	9	2
O'Kane, William	1968/69 - 71/72	92	89	3	0
Nelson, Samuel	1969/70 - 82/83	295	285	10	11
McManus, Eric	1969/70 - 81/82	10	10	0	0
Cowan, John	1969/70 - 72/73	9	6	3	0
Stewart, Arthur	1969/70	2	1	1	0

1970s

Full Name	Career	Ap	St	Sb	Gls
Cassidy, Tommy	1970/71 - 77/78	131	122	9	15
Johnston, John	1970/71	13	10	3	0
McIlroy, Sammy	1971/72 - 86/87	446	424	22	66
Hamilton, Bryan	1971/72 - 76/77	194	180	14	48
O'Neill, Martin	1971/72 - 83/84	234	219	15	36
Hunter, Allan	1971/72 - 80/81	280	280	0	8
Scott, Peter	1971/72 - 74/75	44	42	2	1
Anderson, Trevor	1972/73 - 73/74	19	13	6	2
McGrath, Chris	1973/74 - 80/81	66	42	24	6
Nicholl, Terry*	1973/74 - 74/75	22	12	10	1
Kelly, James	1973/74 - 77/78	19	18	1	0
Platt, Jim	1974/75 - 81/82	263	263	0	0
Nicholl, Chris	1975/76 - 82/83	264	264	0	13
McCreery, Dave	1975/76 - 88/89	262	222	40	9
Nicholl, Jimmy	1975/76 - 85/86	284	276	8	3
Sharkey, Pat	1975/76 - 76/77	18	17	1	1
Morgan, Sammy	1975/76	3	2	1	0
Brotherston, Noel	1975/76	1	1	0	0
Armstrong, Gerry	1976/77 - 85/86	92	70	22	10
Harvey, Jim	1977/78 - 78/79	3	2	1	0
Cochrane, Terry	1978/79 - 81/82	97	89	8	6
Hamilton, Billy	1978/79 - 86/87	20	17	3	5
Caskey, Billy	1978/79 - 79/80	28	26	2	3
Moreland, Vic	1978/79 - 79/80	42	38	4	1
Hagan, Jim	1978/79 - 85/86	112	106	6	0
Sloan, Tom	1978/79 - 80/81	11	4	7	0
Connell, Tom	1978/79	2	2	0	0
Wilson, Kevin	1979/80 - 92/93	206	167	39	44

* English-born brother of Chris Nicholl. Never capped.

1980s

The Football League entered the 1980s with their clubs dominating European competitions. By the close of the decade they were at a low ebb having been banned by UEFA following the Heysel Stadium Disaster and suffered further huge losses of life at Bradford and Hillsborough as grounds crumbled.

Full Name	Career	Ap	St	Sb	Gls
O'Neill, John	1980/81 - 87/88	178	178	0	8
Ramsey, Paul	1980/81 - 86/87	117	114	3	8
Whiteside, Norman	1981/82 - 90/91	235	220	15	56
Worthington, Nigel	1981/82 - 95/96	401	389	12	15
Wilson, Danny	1982/83 - 92/93	182	175	7	30
Donaghy, Mal	1982/83 - 93/94	406	388	18	9
Hill, Colin	1982/83 - 96/97	162	157	5	2
McDonald, Alan	1983/84 - 95/96	363	357	6	11
Stewart, Ian	1983/84 - 87/88	87	72	15	5
Campbell, David	1984/85 - 88/89	71	61	10	4
McClelland, John	1984/85 - 91/92	168	166	2	3
Fleming, Gary	1984/85 - 92/93	134	130	4	0
Ferris, Paul	1984/85	8	0	8	0
Dennison, Robbie	1985/86	12	7	5	1
Clarke, Colin	1986/87 - 92/93	147	132	15	48
Gray, Phil	1986/87 - 92/93	68	58	10	22
Sanchez, Lawrie	1986/87 - 93/94	216	198	18	19
Black, Kingsley	1987/88 - 95/96	188	173	15	37
O'Neill, Michael	1987/88 - 97/98	53	39	14	15
Dowie, Iain	1988/89 - 97/98	271	241	30	57
Wright, Tommy	1988/89 - 00/01	31	30	1	0
McKnight, Allen	1988/89	23	23	0	0
Taggart, Gerry	1989/90 - 03/04	151	142	9	13
Gray, Paul	1989/90	7	2	5	1

1990s

The 1990s brought the introduction of the Premier League in 1992, but it was still a decade of English clubs rebuilding their stadiums and their status among Europe's Big Boys. The decade began with a slew of cut-price Scandinavians, but by the late-90s however, the signing of international stars was becoming common-place and first-team spots became harder to come by  for Northern Ireland players.

Full Name	Career	Ap	St	Sb	Gls
Hughes, Michael	1990/91 - 04/05	223	204	19	16
Jenkins, Iain	1990/91 - 92/93	5	3	2	0
Todd, Mark	1990/91	3	2	1	0
Morrow, Steve	1991/92 - 96/97	62	39	23	1
Kernaghan, Alan	1992/93 - 95/96	74	67	7	3
Rowland, Keith	1992/93 - 97/98	82	63	19	1
Williams, Paul	1992/93	2	1	1	0
Magilton, Jim	1993/94 - 01/02	254	226	28	26
Lomas, Steve	1993/94 - 02/03	235	223	12	14
Horlock, Kevin	1993/94 - 02/03	96	81	15	3
Robinson, Stephen	1993/94	2	1	1	0
Gillespie, Keith	1994/95 - 06/07	238	175	63	18
Nolan, Ian	1994/95 - 00/01	200	195	5	4
Patterson, Darren	1994/95	22	22	0	1
McMahon, Gerard	1994/95 - 95/96	16	9	7	0
Wright, Johnny	1994/95	2	1	1	0
Davison, Aidan	1995/96 - 00/01	11	10	1	0
Lennon, Neil	1996/97 - 00/01	155	155	0	5
McVeigh, Paul	1996/97 - 04/05	20	5	15	2
Taylor, Maik	1996/97 - 09/10	180	179	1	0
Fettis, Alan	1996/97 - 98/99	14	13	1	0
Boyle, Wes	1996/97	1	0	1	0
Hughes, Aaron	1997/98 - 13/14	455	434	21	5
Mulryne, Phil	1997/98 - 04/05	11	9	2	0
Johnson, Damien	1998/99 - 09/10	178	167	11	4
Sonner, Danny	1998/99 - 99/00	53	42	11	3
Morrison, Owen	1998/99	1	0	1	0
Williams, Mark	1999/00	22	20	2	1
Kennedy, Peter	1999/00	18	17	1	1

2000s

The 2000s saw the beginning of a new Dual International era, with Northern Ireland-born players regularly electing to play for the Republic of Ireland even after earning under-age caps from the Irish FA. Roy Carroll becomes Northern Ifreland's first title winner of the Premier League era in 2003.

Full Name	Career	Ap	St	Sb	Gls
Healy, David	2000/01 - 09/10	44	15	29	5
McCartney, George	2000/01 - 13/14	193	161	32	1
Whitley, Jeff	2000/01	31	28	3	1
McCann, Grant	2000/01 - 01/02	4	0	4	0
Carroll, Roy	2001/02 - 07/08	94	91	3	0
Baird, Chris	2002/03 - 14/15	153	112	41	4
Clyde, Mark	2003/04	9	6	3	0
Blayney, Alan	2003/04 - 04/05	3	3	0	0
Davis, Steven	2004/05 - 18/19	306	252	54	17
Bruce, Alex	2005/06 - 14/15	48	39	9	0
Evans, Jonny	2007/08 -  -	297	283	14	11
Brunt, Chris	2008/09 - 17/18	269	237	32	24
Gibson, Darron	2008/09 - 16/17	94	59	35	5
Wilson, Marc*	2008/09 - 16/17	177	160	17	1
Paterson, Martin	2009/10	23	17	6	4
Duff, Michael	2009/10 - 14/15	32	31	1	0

* Marc Wilson is often cited as having won NI Schoolboy caps, however his name does not appear in the NISFA capped players list.

2010s

Full Name	Career	Ap	St	Sb	Gls
Cathcart, Craig	2010/11 -  -	152	143	9	5
Ferguson, Shane	2010/11 - 12/13	23	7	16	0
McGivern, Ryan	2010/11	1	0	1	0
McAuley, Gareth	2011/12 - 17/18	203	199	4	15
McClean, James	2011/12 - 17/18	158	99	59	11
Duffy, Shane	2011/12 - 19/20	96	86	10	6
Gorman, Johnny	2011/12	1	0	1	0
Camp, Lee	2012/13	3	1	2	0
Reeves, Ben	2012/13	3	0	3	0
McNair, Paddy	2014/15 - 16/17	33	20	13	0
Lafferty, Daniel	2014/15	1	0	1	0
O'Kane, Eunan	2015/16	16	6	10	0
Lafferty, Kyle	2015/16	1	0	1	0
Lewis, Jamal	2019/20 -  -	52	45	7	1
Norwood, Ollie	2019/20-20/21	70	63	7	1
McGovern, Michael	2019/20 -  -	2	1	1	0

NI's most recent
top-flight players

2020s

• Stuart Dallas (Leeds United) 2020/21-
• Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Burnley) 2020/21-