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Cypriot Third Division

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Cypriot Third Division
Founded1970; 54 years ago (1970)
Country Cyprus
ConfederationUEFA
Divisions1
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid3
Promotion toCypriot Second Division
Relegation toSTOK Elite Division
Domestic cup(s)Cypriot Cup for lower divisions
Current championsChalkanoras Idaliou (3rd title)
(2023-24)
Most championshipsAkritas (3 titles)
Digenis (3 titles)
Ermis (3 titles)
PAEEK (3 titles)
THOI (3 titles)
Chalkanoras Idaliou (3 titles)
Websitehttp://www.cfa.com.cy/
Current: 2024–25 Cypriot Third Division

The Cypriot Third Division (Greek: Πρωτάθλημα Γ΄ Κατηγορίας) is the third tier football league competition in Cyprus, run by the Cyprus Football Association. Each year, the top finishing teams of the league are promoted to the Cypriot Second Division, and the lowest finishing teams are relegated to the STOK Elite Division.

History

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The Cypriot Third Division was held for the first time in the 1970–71 season as the third level of the Cypriot football. All the teams played against each other twice, once at their home and once away. The team with the most points at the end of the season crowned champions. This is the league's current format until present time.

The only season when the championship not held was during the 1974–75 season. Due to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus which forced many teams that had their headquarters to the north Cyprus to be closed temporarily or permanently, CFA decided to have a Special mixed championship of Second & Third Division. In this championship could participate all the teams of the Second and Third Division. Participation was optional. The championship had two geographical groups. The winners of each group were playing against each other in the final phase and the winners were the champions of the league. The winner was considered as the 1974–75 Cypriot Second Division champions.

Until the 1983–84 season, the teams that were relegated from the Cypriot Third Division were taking part in the next season's amateur leagues. From the 1984–85 season until the 2013–14 season, the teams that were relegated from the Cypriot Third Division were taking part in the next season's Cypriot Fourth Division. Since the 2014–15 season, the teams that are relegated from the Cypriot Third Division are taking part in the next season's STOK Elite Division.

From 1971–72 season until 2007–08 season, the Third Division teams were taking part in the Cypriot Cup. No Third Division team ever reached the final or the semifinals, but they managed to qualify to the quarter-finals once (Chalkanoras Idaliou in 1987–88). Since 2008–09 season, the Third Division teams are not allowed to participate in the Cypriot Cup, but they can take part to the Cypriot Cup for lower divisions (participation in this cup is not compulsory).

Structure

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The championship have the same structure since its foundation. All the teams are playing against each other twice, once at their home and once away. The team with the most points at the end of the season are crowned champions. In every season, the champions or the first teams were promoted to the Second Division, but in some seasons the relegation to the lower divisions didn't existed.

Current format (2018–19)

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Sixteen clubs are competing in the league, playing each other twice, once at home and once away for a total of 30 games per team. The top four teams are promoted to the Cypriot Second Division and the bottom four are relegated to the STOK Elite Division.

Points system

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The points system of the Cypriot Third Division changed during the years:

  1. From 1970–71 until 1990–91 season, teams were awarded two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.
  2. Since 1991–92 season (until present time), teams are awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.

Teams

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The sixteen teams which participate in the 2024–25 Cypriot Third Division are:[1]

Winners

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The table presents all the winners of the Cypriot Third Division.[2]

Season Winner
1970–71 Keravnos Stovolou
1971–72 Ethnikos Asteras Limassol
1972–73 Neos Aionas Trikomou
1973–74 Iraklis Gerolakkou
1974–75 Not held
1975–76 Ermis Aradippou
1976–77 Akritas Chlorakas
1977–78 Adonis Idaliou
1978–79 Orfeas Nicosia
1979–80 Iraklis Gerolakkou
1980–81 Kentro Neotitas Maroniton
1981–82 Digenis Akritas Ipsona
1982–83 THOI Lakatamia
1983–84 Adonis Idaliou
1984–85 Orfeas Athienou
1985–86 APEP Limassol
1986–87 Elpida Xylofagou
1987–88 Digenis Akritas Morphou
1988–89 Digenis Akritas Ipsona
Season Winner
1989–90 APEP Pelendriou
1990–91 Othellos Athienou
1991–92 PAEEK
1992–93 AEZ Zakakiou
1993–94 Othellos Athienou
1994–95 Ethnikos Latsion
1995–96 Ermis Aradippou
1996–97 Rotsidis Mammari
1997–98 AEZ Zakakiou
1998–99 Chalkanoras Idaliou
1999–00 THOI Lakatamia
2000–01 ASIL Lysi
2001–02 SEK Agiou Athanasiou
2002–03 PAEEK
2003–04 APOP Kinyras
2004–05 SEK Agiou Athanasiou
2005–06 AEM Mesogis
2006–07 Ermis Aradippou
2007–08 PAEEK
Season Winner
2008–09 Akritas Chlorakas
2009–10 Chalkanoras Idaliou
2010–11 Ethnikos Assia
2011–12 AEK Kouklia
2012–13 Karmiotissa Pano Polemidion
2013–14 Elpida Xylofagou
2014–15 THOI Lakatamia
2015–16 Akritas Chlorakas
2016–17 P.O. Xylotymbou
2017–18 Onisilos Sotira
2018–19 Digenis Akritas Morphou
2019–20 Interrupted
2020–21 PAC Omonia 29M
2021–22 Peyia 2014
2022–23 Digenis Akritas Morphou
2023–24 Chalkanoras Idaliou

Performance By Club

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Club Winners Winning seasons
Akritas Chlorakas 3 1977, 2009, 2016
Chalkanoras Idaliou 3 1999, 2010, 2024
Digenis Akritas Morphou 3 1988, 2019, 2023
Ermis Aradippou 3 1976, 1996, 2007
PAEEK 3 1992, 2003, 2008
THOI Lakatamia 3 1983, 2000, 2015
Adonis Idaliou 2 1978, 1984
AEZ Zakakiou 2 1993, 1998
Digenis Akritas Ipsona 2 1982, 1989
Elpida Xylofagou 2 1987, 2014
Iraklis Gerolakkou 2 1974, 1980
Club Winners Winning seasons
Othellos Athienou 2 1991, 1994
SEK Agiou Athanasiou 2 2002, 2005
Keravnos Strovolou 1 1971
Ethnikos Asteras Limassol 1 1972
Neos Aionas Trikomou 1 1973
Orfeas Nicosia 1 1979
Kentro Neotitas Maroniton 1 1981
Orfeas Athienou 1 1985
APEP Pitsilia 1 1986
APEP Pelendriou 1 1990
Ethnikos Latsion 1 1995
Club Winners Winning seasons
Rotsidis Mammari 1 1997
ASIL Lysi 1 2001
APOP Kinyras 1 2004
AEM Mesogis 1 2006
Ethnikos Assia 1 2011
AEK Kouklia 1 2012
Karmiotissa 1 2013
P.O. Xylotymbou 1 2017
Onisilos Sotira 1 2018
PAC Omonia 29M 1 2021
Peyia 2014 1 2022

Number of participating, promoted and relegated teams per season

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The number of the participated teams and the number of the teams that were promoted to the Cypriot Second Division and the teams that were relegated were changed many times during the years.

Season N. P. R.
1970–71 12 2 0
1971–72 11 4 0
1972–73 14 1 01
1973–74 12 1 0
1975–76 8 1 0
1976–77 12 1 1
1977–78 11 1 1
1978–79 10 1 1
1979–80 12 1 0
Season N. P. R.
1980–81 13 2 2
1981–82 14 2 2
1982–83 14 2 2
1983–84 13 2 1
1984–85 16 2 3
1985–86 14 3 0
1986–87 14 2 3
1987–88 14 2 3
1988–89 14 2 3
Season N. P. R.
1989–90 14 2 3
1990–91 14 32 3
1991–92 14 23 3
1992–93 14 23 3
1993–94 14 14 55
1994–95 14 5 0
1995–96 14 3 3
1996–97 14 3 3
1997–98 14 3 3
Season N. P. R.
1998–99 14 3 3
1999–00 14 36 37
2000–01 14 3 0
2001–02 14 3 3
2002–03 14 3 3
2003–04 14 3 3
2004–05 14 3 3
2005–06 14 3 3
2006–07 14 3 3
Season N. P. R.
2007–08 14 3 3
2008–09 14 3 3
2009–10 14 3 3
2010–11 14 3 3
2011–12 14 3 28
2012–13 14 4 2
2013–14 14 2 3
2014–15 14 3 1
2015–16 16 3 2

1No relegation, but two teams were expelled from the CFA on the category of match-fixing.

2The 3rd placed team played playoff matches against the 12th team of the Second Division. The Third Division team won and promoted to the Second Division.

3The 3rd placed team played playoff matches against the 12th team of the Second Division and lost.

4The 2nd placed team played playoff matches against the 9th team of the Second Division and lost.

5The 9th placed team played playoff matches against the 2nd team of the Fourth Division. The Third Division team won and remained to the Third Division.

6The 4th placed team played playoff matches against the three last teams of the Second Division and lost.

7The last three teams played playoff matches against the 4th team of the Fourth Division. The winner was the 4th team of the Fourth Division and so the last three teams of the Third Division were relegated.

8The 12th placed team played playoff matches against the 4th team of the Fourth Division and won. So only 2 teams were relegated.

Participations per club

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So far, 101 teams participated in the Cypriot Third Division since 1970–71 (including the 2016–17 season).[3]

Team Par.
Adonis Idaliou 23
Ethnikos Assia 21
Iraklis Gerolakkou 20
AEK Kythreas 19
Achyronas Liopetriou 19
THOI Lakatamia 18
Elpida Xylofagou 17
Othellos Athienou 16
AEZ Zakakiou 15
Akritas Chlorakas 14
Digenis Akritas Morphou 14
Ethnikos Latsion 13
A.O. Ayia Napa 12
AEK Katholiki 12
ASIL Lysi 12
Neos Aionas Trikomou 12
PAEEK 12
Anagennisi Deryneia 11
Digenis Akritas Ipsona 11
Chalkanoras Idaliou 11
Doxa Katokopias 10
Ermis Aradippou 10
ASO Ormideia 9
ENAD Polis Chrysochous 9
Kentro Neotitas Maroniton 9
MEAP Nisou 9
Team Par.
Anagennisi Germasogeias 8
Achilleas Kaimakli 8
Digenis Oroklinis 8
Elia Lythrodonta 8
Tsaggaris Peledriou1 8
Faros Acropoleos 8
APEP Pitsilia2 7
Olimpiada Neapolis 7
Orfeas Athienou 7
Orfeas Nicosia 7
OXEN Peristeronas 7
Spartakos Kitiou 7
Frenaros FC 7
APEP Pelendriou 6
ENAD Ayiou Dometiou 6
Enosis Kokkinotrimithia 6
SEK Agiou Athanasiou 6
Ormideia FC 6
AEK Ammochostos 5
AEK Kakopetrias 5
AEK Kouklia 5
Apollon Lympion 5
Ethnikos Asteras Limassol 5
Ethnikos Defteras 5
Kinyras Empas 5
Team Par.
AEK/Achilleas Ayiou Theraponta 4
AEM Mesogis3 4
AEM Morphou 4
Rotsidis Mammari 4
Anagennisi Larnacas 3
ASOB Vatili 3
Atromitos Yeroskipou 3
ENAZ Agia Zoni Limassol 3
Enosi Neon Ypsona-Digenis Ipsona 3
Keravnos Strovolou 3
Kissos FC Kissonergas 3
LALL Lysi 3
Libanos Kormakiti 3
Omonia Aradippou 3
Poseidon Larnacas 3
Sourouklis Troullon 3
Fotiakos Frenarou 3
AEK Karava 2
Amathus Ayiou Tychona 2
Anagennisi Trachoni 2
APEI Ipsona 2
Apollon Athienou 2
ATE PEK Ergaton 2
Doxa Paliometochou 2
Enosis Neon Parekklisia 2
Team Par.
Livadiakos Livadion 2
Nikos & Sokratis Erimis 2
Olympias Lympion 2
Olympos Xylofagou 2
Onisilos Sotira 2
Parthenon Zodeia 2
P.O. Xylotymbou 2
Finikas Ayias Marinas 2
FC Episkopi 1
AEN 1
Alki Oroklini 1
AMEP Parekklisia 1
Ayia Napa 1
APOP Kinyras 1
Dynamo Pervolion 1
Ethnikos Achna 1
Ellinismos Akakiou 1
Th.O.I Avgorou 1
Karmiotissa Pano Polemidion 1
Kouris Erimis 1
Konstantios & Evripidis Trachoniou 1
Livadiakos/Salamina Livadion 1
Peyia 2014 1
PEFO Olympiakos 1
POL/AE Maroni 1

1 The team has 7 participations as Tsaggaris Peledriou and 1 participation as Sotirios Pelendriou.

2 The team has 4 participations as APEP Limassol and 3 participations as APEP Pitsilias.

3 The team has 2 participations as AEM Mesogis and 2 participations as AEM Mesogis/Giolou.

League or status at 2016–17:

2016–17 Cypriot First Division (6)
2016–17 Cypriot Second Division (11)
2016–17 Cypriot Third Division (16)
2016–17 STOK Elite Division (8)
No longer affiliated with CFA (18)
Clubs that no longer exist (42)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Cyprus Football Association - Official Website".
  2. ^ "Cyprus - List of Cypriot Third Division Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 2016-06-30.
  3. ^ "Cyprus - Participations per club at Cypriot Third Division". RSSSF. Retrieved 2016-06-30.
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