Scottish Football League Third Division
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Scottish Football League Third Division |
|---|
 Scottish Third Division 2007-08 |
| Founded |
| 1923 |
| Nation |
 Scotland |
 England |
| Promotion to |
| S.F.L. Second Division |
| Number of teams |
| 10 |
| Domestic Cups |
| Scottish Cup League Cup Challenge Cup |
| Champions (2007–08) |
| East Fife |
The Scottish Football League Third Division is the third highest division of the Scottish Football League and the fourth highest overall in the Scottish football league system. The teams play each other four times, with three points for a victory and one point each for a drawn game.
Contents |
[edit] History
An original Third Division had been attempted in 1923 as an actual third tier, but the new league lasted only three years before collapsing. A second attempt, named Division C, was put in place from 1946 to 1955 (divided into Southwest and Northeast from 1949), but it consisted mainly of reserve teams with the highest placed authentic football clubs being promoted without regard for overall league positioning. From 1994 to 1998 the new Third Division was in fact the fourth level in the SFL but became the third when the member teams of the Scottish Premier Division broke off to form the SPL.
[edit] Introduction of Play-Offs and Relegation
The division contains ten teams and, until recently, each season the top two teams were promoted to the Second Division. As of the 2005/06 season the 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed teams go into a play off with the 9th place team from the league above. There is no direct relegation from the Scottish Third Division but since the 2005/06 season if a club finishes bottom for three successive seasons then they will have their full membership of the SFL suspended. The club will then play the next two seasons as a non-voting associate member after which the full members shall vote on the fate of the suspended club.
[edit] Sponsorship
On July 20, 2007, it was announced that Scottish Football League would be sponsored by Scottish soft drink company Irn-Bru for the next three seasons[1].
[edit] Teams for 2008–09 season
- Albion Rovers
- Berwick Rangers1
- Cowdenbeath
- Dumbarton
- East Stirling
- Elgin City
- Forfar Athletic
- Montrose
- Stenhousemuir
1 Club is located in England
One more team will be admitted to the SFL to replace Gretna, who resigned their league status on June 3.[2])
[edit] Winners of the Third Division
[edit] Notes
- ^ "SFL ends search for new sponsor" article from BBC Sport
- ^ "Gretna relinquish league status", BBC Sport, 2008-06-03. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
