Maltese Third Division

Maltese Third Division

Countries	Malta
Number of teams	22
Levels on pyramid	4
Promotion to	Maltese Second Division
Domestic cup(s)	quick KENO Second & Third Division Knock-Out
Current champions	Zejtun C. (2009–2010)
2010–2011

The Maltese Third Division (also known as the Bank of Valletta Third Division) is the lowest league level in Maltese football. There are currently 22 teams participating in the league.

The Division comprises two sections - Section A with eleven teams and Section B with eleven teams. Both sections play two rounds with the winner in each group getting promoted to the Maltese Second Division. Relegation play-offs between the 2nd and 3rd placed teams of both groups and the 10th place finisher of Second Division will determine the third team to be in the Second Division.

Because it is the lowest level in the Maltese Football League, there is no formal relegation from and promotion to the league. However, the two lowest placed teams have to reapply to take part the following season. For the 2007-08 season, Mtarfa F.C. replaced Ta' Xbiex after their league application was turned down, mainly due to their poor performances over a number of years. New teams can also apply to join the competition. Season 2009-10 saw Swieqi United F.C. joining, and they were followed by Marsascala F.C. in 2010-11.

On January 13, 2011, the Malta Football Association decided to reform the league to 14 teams as from season 2011-12.^[1].

History

Season	Champions	Promoted
2000–01	Msida SJ	Senglea A.
2001–02	San Gwann	Vittoriosa S.
2002–03	Zejtun C.	St. George's

Season	Champions	Promoted 1	Promoted 2
2003–04	Melita	St. Venera L.	Qormi
2004–05	Gudja U.	Gharghur
2005–06	Birzebbuga SP	St. Venera L.	Rabat A.
2006–07	Mgarr U.	Sirens	Zurrieq

Season	Champions Sec. A	Champions Sec. B	Promoted
2007–08	Zebbug R.	Gozo	Mgarr U.
2008–09	Gharghur	Gzira U.	Zurrieq
2009–10	Mgarr U.	* Zejtun C.	Naxxar L.

" * - Maltese Third Division Champions after championship decider"

Maltese Third Division 2009–10 Standings

Section A

P	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Mgarr U.	18	14	2	2	41	17	+24	44
2	Mdina K.	18	11	4	3	33	19	+14	37
3	Ghaxaq	18	9	4	5	36	32	+4	31
4	Marsa	18	7	5	6	22	19	+3	26
5	Siggiewi	18	8	2	8	33	37	-4	26
6	Mtarfa	18	6	5	7	19	25	-6	23
7	Luqa SA	18	6	3	9	34	33	+1	21
8	Pembroke A.	18	5	3	10	22	28	-6	18
9	Fgura U.	18	4	2	12	17	31	-14	14
10	Kalkara	18	4	2	12	21	37	-16	14

Section B

P	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Zejtun C.	18	14	4	0	46	8	+38	46
2	Naxxar L.	18	15	1	2	51	16	+35	46
3	Gudja U.	18	9	3	6	37	17	+20	30
4	Attard	18	7	6	5	30	27	+3	27
5	Kirkop U.	18	6	5	7	25	27	-2	23
6	Sirens	18	7	1	10	31	42	-11	22
7	Xghajra T.	18	6	1	11	19	37	-18	19
8	Swieqi U.	18	5	1	12	25	49	-24	16
9	Qrendi	18	5	0	13	29	51	-22	15
10	St. Lucia	18	4	2	15	16	35	-19	14

Championship Decider

Sec. A Winners	Result	Sec. B Winners
Mgarr U.	3 - 4	Zejtun C.

Relegation/Promotion Play-Offs

Round	Team	Result	Team
Quarter-Final	Ghaxaq	1 - 2	Gudja U.
Semi-Final	Mdina K.	0 - 2	Naxxar L.
Semi-Final	St. Venera L.	0 - 2	Gudja U.
Final	Naxxar L.	5 - 5 (pen.5-4)	Gudja U.

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
C = Champions; R = Relegated; RP = Relegation playoffs

Top scorers

Section A

Goals	Player	Team
23	Malcolm Tirchett	Luqa SA
17	Jason Camilleri	Siggiewi
13	Chris Abela	Mgarr U.

Section B

Goals	Player	Team
20	Darren Falzon	Naxxar L.
15	Kenneth Abela	Zejtun C.
14	Trevor Thomas	Gudja U.

References

1. ^ Changes to National League, FA Trophy format approved, http://www.maltafootball.com/2011/01/13/changes-to-national-league-fa-trophy-format-approved/