Cypriot Third Division

Cypriot Third Division

Founded	1970 (1970)
Country	Cyprus
Confederation	UEFA
Divisions	1
Number of teams	16
Level on pyramid	3
Promotion to	Cypriot Second Division
Relegation to	STOK Elite Division
Domestic cup(s)	Cypriot Cup for lower divisions
Current champions	Chalkanoras Idaliou (3rd title) (2023-24)
Most championships	Akritas (3 titles) Digenis (3 titles) Ermis (3 titles) PAEEK (3 titles) THOI (3 titles) Chalkanoras Idaliou (3 titles)
Website	http://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

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

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)

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

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

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

AEP Polemidia Anorthosis Mouttagiaka APEA Akrotiri APOP Polis Chrysochous ASPIS Pylas Doxa Paliometochou Ermis Aradippou Ethnikos Latsion

Geroskipou Kedros Ayia Marina Skylloura Iraklis Gerolakkou Kouris Erimis FC Livadia Omonia Psevda Ormideia FC THOI Lakatamia

Winners

The table presents all the winners of the Cypriot Third Division.

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

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

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

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

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

• Football in Cyprus
• Cypriot football league system
• Cypriot First Division
• Cypriot Second Division
• STOK Elite Division
• Cypriot Cup
• Cypriot Cup for lower divisions

External links

• Cyprus Football Association