2017–18 Third Amateur Football League (Bulgaria)

Third Amateur Football League
Season2017–18
Promoted
Relegated
  • Benkovski Byala
  • Dorostol Silistra
  • Yambol
  • Rakovski
  • Vereya II
  • Tundzha Yagoda
  • Yantra 1919 Gabrovo
  • Miziya Knezha
  • Pirin Gotse Delchev
  • Elin Pelin

The 2017–18 Third Amateur Football League season is the 68th season of the Bulgarian Third Amateur Football League. The group is equivalent to the third level of the Bulgarian football pyramid with four divisions existing in it. The divisions themselves are geographically separated into North-West, North-East, South-East, and South-West, covering the football clubs of their respective zones. This is the second season after the reorganization of the Bulgarian football system, which saw the emergence of new competition formats, such as First and Second Professional Football Leagues.

Team changes

a.^ CSKA Sofia II officially declined to participate in the South-West Third League and was dissolved.[1]

Club movements between Third League and Second League

The champions of three Third League divisions gained promotion to the 2017–18 Second League: Chernomorets Balchik from North-East, Litex from North-West and Strumska Slava Radomir from South-West. Maritsa Plovdiv joined the promoted teams as runners-up of the South-East group because champions Zagorets refused to participate for financial reasons.[2] In return, four teams were relegated to the Third League: CSKA Sofia II, Spartak Pleven, Bansko and Levski Karlovo. CSKA Sofia II was dissolved; as a result, Svoboda Peshtera (16th in 2016–17 South-West Third League) was spared from relegation to regional divisions.[3]

Club movements between Third League and the Regional Groups

Northeast group

Stadia and locations

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Location of teams in 2017–18 North-East Third League
North-East Third League
Season2017–18
ChampionsDobrudzha Dobrich
PromotedDobrudzha Dobrich
RelegatedDorostol Silistra
Benkovski Byala
Matches played165
Goals scored516 (3.13 per match)
Top goalscorerBulgaria Lyubomir Mihalev (15 goals)
Biggest home winDobrudzha Dobrich 9–0 Benkovski Byala
(14 October 2017)[14]
Dobrudzha Dobrich 9–0 Botev Novi Pazar
(16 May 2018)[15]
Biggest away winSpartak 1918 1–7 Suvorovo
(1 October 2017)[16]
Spartak 1918 0–6 Dobrudzha Dobrich
(22 October 2017)[17]
Benkovski Byala 0–6 Suvorovo
(25 February 2018)[18]
Botev Novi Pazar 0–6 Septemvri Tervel
(14 April 2018)[19]
Highest scoringDobrudzha Dobrich 9–0 Benkovski Byala
(14 October 2017)[14]
Dobrudzha Dobrich 9–0 Botev Novi Pazar
(16 May 2018)[15]
2018–19 →
All statistics correct as of 27 May 2018.
Team City Stadium Capacity
Benkovski Byala Georgi Benkovski 3,000
Botev Novi Pazar Gradski 8,000
Dobrudzha Dobrich Druzhba 12,500
Dorostol Silistra Louis Eyer 12,000
Hitrino Hitrino Hitrino 600
Kaliakra Kavarna Kavarna 5,000
Kubrat Kubrat Gradski 6,000
Lokomotiv Ruse Dunav 19,960
Septemvri Tervel Septemvri 700
Spartak 1918 Varna Lokomotiv 1,000
Suvorovo Suvorovo Suvorovo 1,000
Svetkavitsa Targovishte Dimitar Burkov 5,000

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Dobrudzha Dobrich (C, P) 30 28 2 0 101 10 +91 86 Promotion to Second League
2 Suvorovo 30 20 4 6 81 21 +60 64
3 Lokomotiv Ruse 30 15 6 9 49 31 +18 51[a]
4 Hitrino 30 14 9 7 43 36 +7 51[a]
5 Septemvri Tervel 30 14 4 12 48 49 −1 46
6 Kaliakra Kavarna 30 12 6 12 40 43 −3 42[b]
7 Svetkavitsa Targovishte 30 12 6 12 44 26 +18 42[b]
8 Spartak 1918 30 10 6 14 43 61 −18 36
9 Botev Novi Pazar 30 6 3 21 25 78 −53 21
10 Kubrat 30 4 5 21 22 61 −39 17
11 Benkovski Byala (R) 30 3 3 24 20 100 −80 12 Relegation to Regional Divisions
12 Dorostol Silistra[c] (D, R) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: bulgarian-football.com, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.[21]
(C) Champions; (D) Disqualified; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Lokomotiv Ruse ahead of Hitrino on head-to-head record; Lokomotiv Ruse–Hitrino 1–1, Hitrino–Lokomotiv Ruse 1–1, Lokomotiv Ruse with better goal difference.
  2. ^ a b Kaliakra Kavarna ahead of Svetkavitsa Targovishte on head-to-head record; Kaliakra Kavarna–Svetkavitsa Targovishte 1–0, Svetkavitsa Targovishte–Kaliakra Kavarna 1–1.
  3. ^ Dorostol Silistra postponed their first match but failed to register any players after the first few rounds and subsequently were expelled in September. All fixtures involving the team were annulled.[20]

Southeast group

Stadia and locations

class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in 2017–18 South-East Third League
South-East Third League
Season2017–18
ChampionsArda Kardzhali
PromotedArda Kardzhali
RelegatedTundzha Yagoda
Vereya II
Rakovski
Yambol
Matches played306
Goals scored1,045 (3.42 per match)
Top goalscorerBulgaria Dimitar Aleksiev (26 goals)
Biggest home winArda 11–1 Svilengrad
(24 February 2018)[22]
Biggest away winTundzha Yagoda 0–12 Arda
(14 March 2018)[23]
Highest scoringArda 11–1 Svilengrad
(24 February 2018)[22]
Tundzha Yagoda 0–12 Arda
(14 March 2018)[23]
2018–19 →
All statistics correct as of 26 May 2018.
Team City Stadium Capacity
Arda Kardzhali Druzhba Stadium, Kardzhali 15,000
Asenovets Asenovgrad Shipka 4,000
Atletik Kuklen Atletik 1,000
Borislav Parvomay Gradski 8,000
Dimitrovgrad Dimitrovgrad Minyor 10,000
Eurocollege Plovdiv Eurocollege Sport Complex, Orizari 1,000
Gigant Saedinenie Saedinenie 5,000
Karnobat Karnobat Gradski 3,000
Levski Karlovo Vasil Levski 3,000
Minyor Radnevo Minyor 2,000
Rakovski Rakovski Franz Kokov 3,000
Rozova Dolina Kazanlak Sevtopolis 15,000
Sokol Markovo Sokol 2,500
Svilengrad Svilengrad Kolodruma 1,750
Tundzha Yagoda Yagoda 300
Vereya II Stara Zagora Trace Arena 3,000
FC Yambol Yambol Tundzha 18,000
Zagorets Nova Zagora Zagorets 5,900

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Arda Kardzhali (C, P) 34 30 4 0 142 7 +135 94 Promotion to Second League
2 Zagorets 34 22 5 7 67 27 +40 71
3 Minyor Radnevo 34 17 8 9 63 34 +29 59
4 Rozova Dolina 34 17 6 11 64 41 +23 57
5 Atletik Kuklen 34 17 5 12 55 51 +4 56
6 Sokol Markovo 34 16 5 13 63 49 +14 53
7 Karnobat 34 16 4 14 65 50 +15 52
8 Levski Karlovo 34 16 3 15 51 58 −7 51
9 Borislav Parvomay 34 15 5 14 65 62 +3 50
10 Asenovets Asenovgrad 34 14 7 13 53 55 −2 49
11 Dimitrovgrad 34 15 3 16 46 62 −16 48
12 Svilengrad 34 13 4 17 52 89 −37 43[a]
13 Gigant Saedinenie 34 12 7 15 33 53 −20 43[a]
14 Eurocollege 34 12 6 16 63 71 −8 42
15 Yambol[b] (R) 34 11 5 18 62 59 +3 38 Relegation to Regional Divisions
16 Rakovski (R) 34 11 2 21 44 65 −21 35
17 Vereya II (R) 34 10 3 21 45 88 −43 33
18 Tundzha Yagoda[c] (D, R) 34 0 2 32 15 127 −112 2
Source: bulgarian-football.com, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.[26]
(C) Champions; (D) Disqualified; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Svilengrad ahead of Gigant Saedinenie on head-to-head record; Svilengrad–Gigant Saedinenie 3–1, Gigant Saedinenie–Svilengrad 1–1.
  2. ^ Uragan Boyadzhik moved to Yambol and was renamed as FC Yambol.[24]
  3. ^ On March 24, 2018, Tundzha Yagoda notified the BFU that they will be suspending their participation in the South-East division. The team's results until that point were kept, and all fixtures until the end of the season would result in a 3–0 win for their opponents.[25]

Northwest group

Stadia and locations

class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in 2017–18 North-West Third League
North-West Third League
Season2017–18
ChampionsKariana
PromotedKariana
RelegatedMiziya Knezha
Yantra 1919 Gabrovo
Matches played240
Goals scored741 (3.09 per match)
Biggest home winKariana 9–0 Tryavna
(1 April 2018)[27]
Biggest away winYantra 1919 Gabrovo 0–5 Akademik Svishtov
(17 September 2017)[28]
Pavlikeni 1–6 Kariana
(10 April 2018)[29]
Botev Lukovit 0–5 Kariana
(5 May 2018)[30]
Highest scoringKariana 9–0 Tryavna
(1 April 2018)[27]
2018–19 →
All statistics correct as of 27 May 2018.
Team City Stadium Capacity
Akademik Svishtov Akademik 13,500
Bdin Vidin Georgi Benkovski 15,000
Botev Lukovit Gradski 3,000
Kariana Erden Kariana Sport Complex 1,000
Levski Levski Levski 6,000
Miziya Knezha Gradski 1,000
Partizan Cherven Bryag Gradski 700
Parva Atomna Kozloduy Hristo Botev 3,000
Pavlikeni Pavlikeni Gancho Panov 10,000
Sevlievo Sevlievo Rakovski 5,000
Spartak Pleven Pleven 22,000
Tryavna Tryavna Gradski 3,000
Vihar Slavyanovo Gradski 1,000
Yantra 1919 Gabrovo Gabrovo Hristo Botev 14,000
Yantra Gabrovo Gabrovo Hristo Botev 14,000
Yantra Polski Trambesh Polski Trambesh Gradski 800

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Kariana (C, P) 30 25 5 0 100 19 +81 80 Promotion to Second League
2 Sevlievo 30 20 4 6 60 27 +33 64
3 Vihar Slavyanovo 30 17 7 6 68 32 +36 58
4 Bdin Vidin 30 16 5 9 57 33 +24 53
5 Parva Atomna 30 15 7 8 45 29 +16 52
6 Levski 30 13 7 10 42 40 +2 46
7 Yantra Gabrovo 30 13 4 13 60 39 +21 43
8 Spartak Pleven 30 10 9 11 39 46 −7 39
9 Partizan Cherven Bryag 30 11 4 15 34 50 −16 37[a]
10 Akademik Svishtov 30 9 10 11 45 46 −1 37[a]
11 Tryavna 30 10 6 14 33 47 −14 36
12 Pavlikeni 30 10 2 18 34 62 −28 32
13 Botev Lukovit 30 9 3 18 37 64 −27 30
14 Yantra Polski Trambesh 30 7 5 18 37 61 −24 26
15 Yantra 1919 Gabrovo (R) 30 7 2 21 26 71 −45 23 Relegation to Regional Divisions
16 Miziya Knezha (R) 30 6 4 20 24 75 −51 22
Source: bulgarian-football.com, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.[31]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Partizan Cherven Bryag ahead of Akademik Svishtov on head-to-head record; Partizan Cherven Bryag–Akademik Svishtov 2–0, Akademik Svishtov–Partizan Cherven Bryag 2–1.

Southwest group

Stadia and locations

class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in 2017–18 South-West Third League
South-West Third League
Season2017–18
ChampionsCSKA 1948
PromotedCSKA 1948
RelegatedElin Pelin
Pirin Gotse Delchev
Matches played306
Goals scored878 (2.87 per match)
Top goalscorerBulgaria Petko Petkov (23 goals)
Biggest home winBelasitsa Petrich 7–0 Pirin Gotse Delchev
(10 March 2018)[32]
CSKA 1948 7–0 Svoboda Peshtera
(14 March 2018)[33]
CSKA 1948 7–0 Marek
(4 April 2018)[34]
Biggest away winGermanea 0–5 Chavdar Etropole
(27 September 2017)[35]
Highest scoringElin Pelin 3–5 Slivnishki Geroy
(2 September 2017)[36]
Balkan Botevgrad 6–2 Svoboda Peshtera
(30 September 2017)[37]
Bansko 6–2 Balkan Botevgrad
(18 November 2017)[38]
CSKA 1948 7–1 Germanea
(19 May 2018)[39]
2018–19 →
All statistics correct as of 26 May 2018.
Team City Stadium Capacity
Balkan Botevgrad Hristo Botev 8,000
Bansko Bansko Saint Peter 3,000
Belasitsa Petrich Kolarovo, Kolarovo 500
Botev Ihtiman Hristo Botev 5,000
Chavdar Etropole Chavdar 5,600
CSKA 1948 Sofia Obelya 700
Elin Pelin Elin Pelin Elin Pelin 5,000
Germanea Sapareva Banya Sapareva Banya 500
Hebar Pazardzhik Georgi Benkovski 13,128
Marek Dupnitsa Bonchuk 8,050
Minyor Pernik Minyor 8,000
Pirin Gotse Delchev Gotse Delchev Gradski 5,000
Pirin Razlog Razlog Gradski 6,500
Rilski Sportist Samokov Iskar 7,000
Septemvri Simitli Struma 8,000
Slivnishki Geroy Slivnitsa Slivnishki Geroy 7,000
Svoboda Peshtera Gradski 3,500
Vihren Sandanski Sandanski 6,000

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 CSKA 1948 (C, P) 34 29 5 0 95 16 +79 92 Promotion to Second League
2 Hebar Pazardzhik 34 27 3 4 72 24 +48 84
3 Vihren Sandanski 34 19 5 10 70 49 +21 62
4 Minyor Pernik 34 16 6 12 53 42 +11 54
5 Bansko 34 14 11 9 48 34 +14 53
6 Chavdar Etropole 34 14 10 10 63 49 +14 52
7 Septemvri Simitli 34 14 8 12 46 37 +9 50
8 Slivnishki Geroy 34 12 10 12 50 41 +9 46
9 Belasitsa Petrich 34 11 9 14 40 46 −6 42
10 Balkan Botevgrad 34 10 11 13 49 60 −11 41
11 Botev Ihtiman 34 12 4 18 41 64 −23 40
12 Svoboda Peshtera 34 10 8 16 36 58 −22 38[a]
13 Pirin Razlog 34 10 8 16 40 40 0 38[a]
14 Marek Dupnitsa 34 10 7 17 35 48 −13 37
15 Rilski Sportist 34 10 6 18 40 51 −11 36
16 Germanea 34 9 8 17 38 63 −25 35
17 Pirin Gotse Delchev (R) 34 8 8 18 27 66 −39 32 Relegation to Regional Divisions
18 Elin Pelin (R) 34 6 3 25 34 89 −55 21
Source: bulgarian-football.com, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.[40]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Svoboda Peshtera ahead of Pirin Razlog on head-to-head record; Svoboda Peshtera–Pirin Razlog 1–1, Pirin Razlog–Svoboda Peshtera 1–2.

References

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  2. ^ "Марица прие! Ще играе във Втора лига!" (in Bulgarian). plovdivnews.net. 1 June 2017.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Свобода (Пещера) остава в Трета лига" (in Bulgarian). pzsport.info. 5 June 2017.
  4. ^ ""Спартак 1918" вече е единен!" (in Bulgarian). spartak1918.com. 21 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Северозападната Трета лига стартира на 13 август" (in Bulgarian). dnesbg.com. 29 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Днес играха" (in Bulgarian). Bulgarian Football Union. 6 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Днес играха" (in Bulgarian). Bulgarian Football Union. 10 June 2017.
  8. ^ "ЦСКА 1948 е в Трета лига след драматичен успех над ФК Брацигово" (in Bulgarian). cska1948.bg. 7 June 2017. Archived from the original on 24 July 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Кюстендил все пак ще има отбор в Трета лига" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 8 June 2017.
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  11. ^ "ФК "Кюстендил" се отказа от участие в Трета Югозападна лига" (in Bulgarian). 15 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Нов бараж за попълване на Югозападната Трета лига" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 17 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Квалификации за Трета лига 2016/17" (in Bulgarian). bulgarian-football.com. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  14. ^ a b "Dobrudzha 1919 vs. Benkovski Byala 9–0". soccerway.com. 14 October 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Dobrudzha 1919 vs. Botev Novi Pazar 9–0". soccerway.com. 16 May 2018.
  16. ^ "Spartak Varna vs. Suvorovo 1–7". soccerway.com. 1 October 2017.
  17. ^ "Spartak Varna vs. Dobrudzha 1919 0–6". soccerway.com. 22 October 2017.
  18. ^ "Benkovski Byala vs. Suvorovo 0–6". soccerway.com. 25 February 2018.
  19. ^ "Botev Novi Pazar vs. Septemvri Tervel 0–6". soccerway.com. 14 April 2018.
  20. ^ "Доростол (Силистра) спира участието си в Североизточната трета лига" (in Bulgarian). inews.bg. 4 September 2017.
  21. ^ "Third League - Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  22. ^ a b "Arda vs. Svilengrad 11–1". soccerway.com. 24 February 2018.
  23. ^ a b "Tundzha Yagoda vs. Arda 0–12". soccerway.com. 14 March 2018.
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  26. ^ "Third League - Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  27. ^ a b "Kariana Erden vs. Tryavna 9–0". soccerway.com. 1 April 2018.
  28. ^ "Yantra 1919 vs. Akademik Svishtov 0–5". soccerway.com. 17 September 2017.
  29. ^ "Pavlikeni vs. Kariana Erden 1–6". soccerway.com. 10 April 2018.
  30. ^ "Botev Lukovit vs. Kariana Erden 0–5". soccerway.com. 5 May 2018.
  31. ^ "Third League - Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  32. ^ "Belasitsa vs. Pirin Gotse Delchev 7–0". soccerway.com. 10 March 2018.
  33. ^ "CSKA 1948 Sofia vs. Svoboda 7–0". soccerway.com. 14 March 2018.
  34. ^ "CSKA 1948 Sofia vs. Marek 7–0". soccerway.com. 4 April 2018.
  35. ^ "Germaneya vs. Chavdar Etropole 0–5". soccerway.com. 27 September 2017.
  36. ^ "OFK Elin Pelin vs. Slivnishki Geroy 3–5". soccerway.com. 2 September 2017.
  37. ^ "Balkan Botevgrad vs. Svoboda 6–2". soccerway.com. 30 September 2017.
  38. ^ "Bansko vs. Balkan Botevgrad 6–2". soccerway.com. 18 November 2017.
  39. ^ "CSKA 1948 Sofia vs. Germaneya 7–1". soccerway.com. 19 May 2018.
  40. ^ "Third League - Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 23 August 2016.