Cypriot Third 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 Cypriot Third Division|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 16 teams which participate in the 2025-26 season of the Cypriot Third Division are:

Winners

The table presents all the winners since the 1970-71 season, when the competition officially began.

|}

Performance By Club

|}

Appearances in the third division

The below table indicates the total number of seasons each club has participated in the Cypriot Third Division since 1970–71 up to and including the 2025–26 season season.

114 teams have played at least one season in the Cypriot Third Division.

Teams in bold are participating in the 2025-26 Cypriot Third Division.

|}

Notes:

• Reference data is up until 2022/23.
• Tsaggaris Peledriou has 7 participations as Tsaggaris Peledriou and 1 participation as Sotirios Pelendriou.
• APEP Pitsilias has 4 participations as APEP Limassol and 3 participations as APEP Pitsilias.
• AEM Mesogis has 2 participations as AEM Mesogis and 2 participations as AEM Mesogis/Giolou.
• Oroklini-Troulloi has 1 participation as Oroklini-Troulloi FC and 9 participations as Digenis Oroklinis.

References

References

1. "Cyprus Football Association - Official Website".
2. "Πρωταθλήτριες Ομάδες Γ' Κατηγορίας".
3. "Cyprus - Participations per club at Cypriot Third Division".