2008–09 Championnat National

Championnat National
Season2008–09
ChampionsIstres
PromotedLaval
Arles
RelegatedNiort
Calais
Cherbourg
L'Entente
Goals scored778
Average goals/game2.04
Top goalscorerEyemen Henaini (21)
Biggest home winCannes 6–0 Cherbourg (22 May 2009)
Biggest away winCalais 1–4 Pacy Vallée-d'Eure (29 August 2008)
Croix de Savoie 1–4 Laval (25 October 2008)
L'Entente 1–4 Arles (15 November 2008)
Highest scoringLouhans-Cuiseaux 4–3 Beauvais (6 December 2008)
(7 goals)

The 2008–09 Championnat National was the 16th edition of the 3rd division league. Play commenced on 1 August 2008 and ended on 29 May 2009. Vannes OC, Tours FC, and Nîmes Olympique were promoted to Ligue 2, replacing Chamois Niortais, FC Libourne-Saint-Seurin, and FC Gueugnon who were relegated from Ligue 2.

Villemomble Sports, Pau FC, FC Martigues and SO Romorantin were relegated to the CFA, and promoted from the CFA were Pacy Vallée-d'Eure from Group A, Croix de Savoie Gaillard from Group B, SO Cassis Carnoux from Group C, and Aviron Bayonnais FC from Group D.

Participating teams

As usual, there will be 20 teams competing in the Championnat National in the 2008–09 season.

DNCG Rulings

All clubs that secured Championnat National status for next season were subject to approval by the DNCG before becoming eligible to participate.

Following the DNCG's annual report on clubs, on 25 June, it was announced that six clubs had been relegated from the National to lower divisions. AS Beauvais, SO Cassis Carnoux, CS Louhans-Cuiseaux, and FC Libourne Saint-Seurin were relegated to the Championnat de France Amateurs. Besançon RC, US Luzenac, and FC Rouen, who were all recently promoted, were relegated to Championnat de France Amateurs 2, while FC Sète and Calais RUFC were relegated to the Division d'Honneur. All clubs relegated were allowed to appeal the decision.

Following an appeal from the aforementioned clubs, FC Rouen, AS Beauvais, and US Luzenac had their appeals overturned meaning they will remain in the Championnat National. Some clubs were, however, unsuccessful. FC Sète's appeal was upheld relegating them to the Division d'Honneur. Stade Plabennecois will replace them in the Championnat National. FC Libourne Saint-Seurin, Besançon RC, and Calais RUFC appeals were also rejected by the DNCG, however, all three clubs have decided to take their case to the CNOSF, the National Sporting Committee of France which governs sport in France. Both Calais and Besançon's rulings were determined on 23 July. The CNOSF determined that Besançon should be relegated to the CFA and not CFA 2, while Calais should respect and oblige the DNCG's ruling relegated them to CFA 2.

Libourne's ruling was determined on 27 July, when the CNOSF informed the club that they should honour the DNCG's ruling and suffer relegation to the CFA. Libourne's chairman Bernard Layda responded by announcing the club will file for bankruptcy, restructure the club, and oblige the ruling. Besançon and Libourne were replaced by ES Fréjus and AS Moulins.

Both CS Louhans-Cuiseaux and SO Cassis Carnoux had their appeals heard by the DNCG on 9 July. On 10 July, the DNGC ruled that both Louhans-Cuiseaux and Cassis-Carnoux rulings had been overturned meaning they will play in the Championnat National this season.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or Relegation
1 Istres (C, P) 38 21 12 5 55 24 +31 75 Promotion to Ligue 2
2 Laval (P) 38 19 14 5 52 31 +21 71
3 Arles (P) 38 19 9 10 52 37 +15 66
4 Cannes 38 16 13 9 46 33 +13 61
5 Croix de Savoie 38 16 9 13 51 43 +8 57
6 Paris FC 38 16 7 15 46 43 +3 55
7 Sète[a] (D, R) 38 15 12 11 41 35 +6 54 Expelled from the league
8 Pacy Vallée-d'Eure 38 13 13 12 41 42 −1 52
9 Créteil 38 9 22 7 38 28 +10 49
10 Beauvais 38 12 11 15 47 50 −3 47
11 Gueugnon 38 11 14 13 38 36 +2 47
12 Libourne-Saint-Seurin (D, R) 38 13 7 18 40 55 −15 46 Expelled from the league
13 Bayonne 38 12 10 16 21 31 −10 46
14 Cassis 38 11 13 14 37 47 −10 46
15 Rodez 38 13 7 18 40 39 +1 46
16 Louhans-Cuiseaux[b] 38 12 13 13 38 48 −10 46
17 Niort (R) 38 9 14 15 31 37 −6 41 Relegation to Championnat de France amateur
18 Calais (D, R) 38 10 10 18 34 50 −16 40 Expelled from the league
19 Entente SSG (R) 38 9 9 20 29 48 −19 36 Relegation to Championnat de France amateur
20 Cherbourg (R) 38 7 15 16 30 50 −20 36
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (D) Disqualified; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Sète have been deducted 3 points.
  2. ^ Louhans-Cuiseaux have been deducted 3 points.

Stats

Top goalscorers

Position Player Club Goals
1 Eyemen Henaini AC Arles 21
2 Cyril Arbaud FC Istres 13
3 Kévin Bérigaud Croix de Savoie 11
- Mathieu Duhamel Stade Laval 11
- Simon Feindouno FC Istres 11
- Lys Mouithys FC Libourne 11
- Foued Nadji Cassis Carnoux 11
- Yannick Yenga Paris FC 11
9 5 players 10
14 7 players 9
21 2 players 8
23 6 players 7
29 5 players 6
34 18 players 5
52 25 players 4
77 33 players 3
110 43 players 2
153 100 players 1
Total: 778
Average after 380 games: 2.04

Last updated: 30 May 2009
Source: FootNational

Managers

Club Head coach
Arles Michel Estevan
Beauvais Oise Hubert Velud then replaced by Alexandre Clément
Cannes Patrice Carteron
Calais Sylvain Jore then Djezon Boutoille
Cherbourg Noël Tosi
US Créteil Olivier Frapolli
FC Istres Nicolas Usai & Henri Stambouli
Stade Laval Philippe Hinschberger
CS Louhans-Cuiseaux Stéphane Crucet then Gaëtan Hardouin (caretaker), then Stéphane Crucet
SO Cassis Léon Galli
Pacy Vallée-d'Eure Laurent Hatton
Paris FC Jean-Marc Pilorget
Libourne-Saint-Seurin Stéphane Ziani then replaced by Thierry Oleksiak
Rodez AF Franck Rizzetto
Bayonne FC Alain Pochat
L'Entente SSG Kamel Djabour
FC Sète Fréd Remola
Gueugnon René Le Lamer & Hubert Fournier
Niort Denis Troch
Croix de Savoie Pascal Dupraz