2019–20 Third Amateur Football League (Bulgaria) Explained

Competition:Third Amateur Football League
Season:2019–20
Relegated:None (per decision of the Bulgarian Football Union); Kaliakra Kavarna (expelled)
Prevseason:2018–19
Nextseason:2020–21

The 2019–20 Third Amateur Football League season was the 70th season of the Bulgarian Third Amateur Football League. The group is equivalent to the third level of the Bulgarian football pyramid with four divisions existing in it. The divisions themselves are geographically separated into North-West, North-East, South-East, and South-West, covering the football clubs of their respective zones. This is the second season after the reorganization of the Bulgarian football system, which saw the emergence of new competition formats, such as First and Second Professional Football Leagues.

The matches were suspended on 13 March 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.[1] On 21 April 2020, the Bulgarian Football Union decided that the league will not be completed and the standings prior to the suspension of the fixtures were considered final.[2] The one exception was to constitute the South-West zone where initially a separate playoff was to be held between Minyor Pernik and Septemvri Simitli to determine the group winner, but on 15 May the Bulgarian Football Union decided to promote the team from Pernik directly.[3] No teams were relegated from the Third Amateur Football League,[2] with the exception of teams that were expelled from the league for financial problems.

Team changes

To Third League

Promoted from Regional Divisions

Relegated from Second League

Club movements between Third League and Second League

The champions of three Third League divisions gained promotion to the 2020–21 Second League: Dobrudzha Dobrich from North-East, Yantra Dabrova from North-West, Minyor Pernik from South-West, Sozopol from South-East group.

Club movements between Third League and the Regional Groups

Northeast group

Stadia and locations

Competition:North-East Third League
Season:2019–20
Winners:Dobrudzha Dobrich
Promoted:Dobrudzha Dobrich
Relegated:None
Matches:93
Total Goals:303
Prevseason:2018–19
Nextseason:2020–21
Updated:4 March 2020
TeamCityStadiumCapacity
Georgi Benkosvki align=center 3,000
Gradski align=center 8,000
align=center 5,000
align=center 12,500
Hitrino align=center 600
align=center 5,000
Gradski 6,000
align=center 19,960
Septemvri 700
align=center 24,390
Suvorovo align=center 1,000
align=center 5,000
align=center 1,000
align=center 1,000

League table

Southeast group

Stadia and locations

Competition:South-East Third League
Season:2019–20
Winners:Sozopol
Promoted:Sozopol
Relegated:None
Matches:178
Total Goals:498
League Topscorer: Plamen Ivanov (14 goals)
Prevseason:2018–19
Nextseason:2020–21
Updated:4 March 2020
TeamCityStadiumCapacity
Atletik align=center 1,000
Gradski 8,000
Chernomorets Stadium align=Center 22,000
Minyor align=center 10,000
Saedinenie 5,000
Stadium Dimitar Kanev align=center 20,000
Gradski align=center 3,000
Vasil Levski align=center 3,000
Sporten Kompleks Botev 1912 align=center 4,000
Minyor align=center 2,000
Gradski align=center 6,800
Septemvri Stadium align=center 6,100
Sevtopolis 15,000
Sokol 2,500
Gradski align=center 3,500
Kolodruma 1,750
Tundzha 18,000
Zagorets 5,900

League table

Northwest group

Stadia and locations

Competition:North-West Third League
Season:2019-20
Winners:Yantra Gabrovo
Promoted:Yantra Gabrovo
Relegated:None
Matches:91
Total Goals:313
Prevseason:2018–19
Nextseason:2020–21
Updated:4 March 2020
TeamCityStadiumCapacity
Akademik 13,500
Georgi Benkovski align=center 15,000
Gradski align=center 3,000
Kariana Sport Complex align=center 1,000
Levski align=center 6,000
Gradski align=center 1,000
Gradski 700
Hristo Botev align=center 3,000
Gancho Panov align=center 10,000
align=center 5,000
align=center 22,000
Gradski 3,000
Gradski align=center 1,000
14,000
14,000
Gradski align=center 800

League table

Southwest group

Stadia and locations

Competition:South-West Third League
Season:2019–20
Winners:Minyor Pernik
Promoted:Minyor Pernik
Relegated:None
Matches:152
Total Goals:397
Prevseason:2018–19
Nextseason:2020–21
Updated:4 March 2020
TeamCityStadiumCapacity
align=center 8,000
Saint Peter align=center 3,000
align=center 500
Hristo Botev align=center 5,000
Chavdar 5,600
NadezhdaDobroslavtsi align=center
Gradski align=center
Osogovo align=center 10,000
Orcho Voyvoda align=center 3,000
8,050
align=center 8,000
Gradski align=center 6,500
align=center 7,000
Struma 8,000
Slivnishki Geroy 7,000
3,500
6,000

League table

Notes and References

  1. News: БФС спря футбола у нас. 17 June 2020 . 13 March 2020. Bulgarian . gong.bg.
  2. News: Решения след заседанието на Изпълнителния комитет на БФС. 2 May 2020 . 21 April 2020. Bulgarian . Bulgarian Football Union official website.
  3. News: Миньор (Перник) се завръща в професионалния футбол. 16 May 2020 . 15 May 2020. Bulgarian . topsport.bg.
  4. Web site: Североизточната Трета лига стартира на 10 Август . bulgarian-football.com . 30 June 2019 . Bulgarian.
  5. Web site: Югоизточната Трета лига стартира на 3 Август . bulgarian-football.com . 30 June 2019 . Bulgarian.