Belgian Third Division

The Belgian Third Division counts two leagues (A and B) at the same level. This competition started with the 1926-27 season with three leagues, then with four leagues from 1931 till 1952. It was known as the Promotion from its creation to 1952. The champion of the third division is known after a final two-legged match between the winners of the two leagues. If those matches end in a draw, a third match is played on a neutral ground.

The competition

The competition comprises the regular season (two leagues of 16 teams, 30 matchdays each) followed by the promotion playoff (7 teams, 3 matchdays).

The regular season

The teams play 30 matches each during the regular season (from August till May). In each league, the winner of the regular season goes to the second division and the two weakest teams (15th and 16th) are relegated to the Promotion. The 14th placed teams must play the relegation playoff (see Promotion) and 6 teams (3 from each league) play the promotion playoff.

The promotion playoff

After the regular season come the playoffs. As in the second division, the two leagues of the third division are divided into three periods ( _fr. tranches), this time of 10 matches each. The winner of a period enters the third division playoff except if among others:
* it is relegated or champion of the regular season;
* it has won more than one period;
* at least two clubs from the second division merge;
* a club from the second division withdraws;
* it finished 14th of the regular season;
* it did not receive its 2nd division license.

In this case, the club is replaced for the playoffs by the best-placed team of the regular season that is not yet qualified. The team from the second division avoids the playoff when a club from the same division is directly relegated to the Promotion.

The playoff is played in three rounds. Six teams enter the first round played in two legs as expained below. Four teams enter the second round (in two legs): the three that qualified from the first round as well as the 16th-placed team of the second division. The final game is played on a neutral field. The winner qualifies for the second division. Traditionally, the 3rd place game is played too.

When the match is tied after 90 minutes (of the second leg or in the final), the teams play extra time of two 15-minutes periods. If there is still a tie, the match goes to penalties.

2007/2008 Teams

Division A
* VC Eendracht Aalst 2002
* RACS Couillet
* K Diegem Sport
* R Francs Borains
* K Londerzeel SK
* RAA Louviéroise
* KRC Mechelen
* KSV Oudenaarde
* RRC Péruwelz
* KSK Ronse
* FCN Sint-Nicolas
* KSV Sottegem
* 1992 Torhout KM
* KR Waregem
* KS Wetteren
* KVC Willebroek-Meerhof

Division B
* K Bocholter VV
* R Cappellen FC
* KFC Dessel Sport
* RRC Hamoir
* RFC Union La Calamine
* RFC de Liège
* KFC Mol-Wezel
* Union Royale Namur
* RFC Sérésien
* R Sprimont CS
* KSK Tongeren
* KVV Turnhout
* Excelsior Veldwezelt
* RCS Verviétois
* RCS Visé
* WS Woluwe FC

Past winners

*1948: R.C.S. Verviétois
*1950: K. Tubantia F.C.
*1951: R.R.C. de Gand
*1952: U.R. Namur
*1953: R. Uccle Sport
*1954: K.F.C. Izegem
*1955: K.F.C. Herentals
*1956: R.C.S. Brugeois
*1957: K.F.C. Diest
*1958: R.F.C. Sérésien
*1959: K. Olse Merksem S.C.
*1961: K.F.C. Herentals
*1962: R. Crossing Club Molenbeek
*1963: K. Boom F.C.
*1964: K. Sint-Niklaasse S.K.
*1965: K. Willebroekse S.V.
*1966: S.K. Beveren-Waas
*1967: R.R.C. Tournaisien
*1968: "title not given"
*1969: K.S.V. Sottegem
*1970: R.A.A. Louviéroise
*1971: K.S.K. Tongeren
*1972: K.F.C. Winterslag
*1973: A.S. Oostende K.M.
*1974: K. Waterschei S.V. Thor Genk
*1975: V.V. Patro Eisden
*1976: K.A.S. Eupen
*1977: K.S.C. Hasselt
*1978: K.R.C. Harelbeke
*1979: "title not given"
*1980: F.C. Sérésien
*1981: K.F.C. Witgoor Sport Dessel
*1982: K. Sint-Niklase S.K.
*1983: R.C. Jet de Bruxelles
*1984: V.V. Patro Eisden
*1986: F.C. Assent
*1987: K.F.C. Lommel S.K.
*1988: K.F.C. Germinal Ekeren
*1989: K. Sint-Niklase S.K.
*1990: K.R.C. Harelbeke
*1991: R.E. Mouscron
*1992: K. Beerschot V.A.V.
*1993: K.M. S.K. Deinze
*1994: R.A.A. Louviéroise
*1995: R. Cappellen F.C.
*1996: R. Tilleur F.C. Liégeois
*1997: K.F.C. Dessel Sport
*1998: K.F.C. Herentals
*1999: K.V.K. Tienen
*2000: K. Heusden-Zolder S.K.

Playoff history

Here are listed the final games of the promotion playoffs for the second division:
*1994: V.V. Overpelt Fabriek beat R. Cappellen F.C.
*1995: K.V. Turnhout beat K. Tesamen Hogerop Diest (2-0)
*1996: F.C. Denderleeuw beat R. Union Saint-Gilloise (4-1)
*1997: K. Sint-Niklase S.K.E. beat K.F.C. Strombeek
*1998: R.C.S. Visétois beat K.S.V. Ingelmunster (2-1)
*1999: K.M. S.K. Deinze beat Eendracht Hekelgem (3-0)
*2000: K. Heusden-Zolder beat K.V. Kortrijk (4-1)
*2001: K.V. Kortrijk beat R.C.S. Visétois (2-1)
*2002: K.F.C. V.W. Hamme beat K.V. Oostende (4-1)
*2003: V.C. Eendracht Aalst 2002 beat Oud-Heverlee Leuven (1-1 after extra-time, 8-7 after penalty shootout)
*2004: K.V. Kortrijk beat K.V. Turnhout
*2005: Oud-Heverlee Leuven beat C.S. Visé (4-2 after extra-time)
*2006: Racing Waregem beat R.O.C. de Charleroi-Marchienne (1-0)
*2007: K.F.C. Verbroedering Geel beat U.R. Namur (3-0 aggregate score)
*2008: U.R. Namur beat C.S. Visé (0-0 aggregate score, 6-5 after penalty shootout)

ee also

*Belgian Third Division A
*Belgian Third Division B

References

*fr icon [http://www.sport.be/fr/football/lagere/ www.sport.be] - A third division website
*nl icon [http://www.sport.be/nl/football/lagere/ www.sport.be] - A third division website
*en icon [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesb/belg3hist.html RSSSF archive] - Third division full tables
*fr icon [http://www.rtbf.be/rtbf_2000/bin/view_something.cgi?type=article&id=0164031_article&menu=:esc%20menu:&pub=:pub: www.rtbf.be] - 2005 promotion playoff results