TFF First League

Infobox sports league
current_season=Bank Asya 1. Lig 2008-09
logo=
sport=Football
founded=2001
teams=18
country=TUR
champion=KocaelisporThe TFF First League (currently known under the terms of a sponsorship deal as the Bank Asya 1. Lig') is the second level of the Turkish football league system. The league was founded in 2001 after it was separated from the Turkish Second League Category B. It was founded as the Turkish Second League Category A and started with 20 teams. The number of teams were reduced to 18 the season after, in 2002.

Before the 2005-2006 season, the top three teams were promoted to Süper Lig and the bottom three teams were relegated to the Turkish Second League Category B. Since the 2005-2006 season, the top two teams were directly promoted to the Süper Lig. The teams that finish from 3rd to 6th place are staged in a play-off. The 3rd place team plays a match with the 6th placed team, while the 4th plays against the 5th. The winner of those matches played a single match to decide the third team that was to be promoted. The title was also changed to Türk Telekom League A during the 2006-2007 season. The title underwent another change at the beginning of the 2007-2008 season to become the TFF First League.

As of the second half of the 2007/8 season, the league will receive sponsorship from Bank Asya, which is making its first investment in sports, in order to boost their profile but also to add funds to the league. The contract is for one and-a-half years. [ [http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/spor/futbol/8038617.asp?gid=211&sz=91373 Futbol Basketbol Formula1 Tenis Atyarışı İdda Süperlig - Hürriyet ] ] The new name of the league will become the Bank Asya 1. Lig.

TFF First League clubs, 2008-09

The clubs to play in the 2008-2009 season are listed below, alongside their home towns.

(2) Third teams were play-off winner.

Relegated teams

References

External links

* [http://www.tff.org Turkish Football Federation ]
* [http://futbol.turksportal.net/futbollig/60/ana/ Turksportal - Turk Telekom League A]
* [http://www.ligtv.com.tr/Default.aspx?id=LigA LigTV's page on the league]