Cypriot Fourth Division Explained

Cypriot Fourth Division
Pixels:	96
Founded:	1985
Folded:	2015
Promotion:	Cypriot Third Division
Relegation:	Cypriot regional levels
Levels:	4
Domest Cup:	Cypriot Cup for lower divisions
Most Successful Club:	Achyronas (3 titles)

The Cypriot Fourth Division (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Τέταρτη Κατηγορία) was the fourth tier football league competition in Cyprus, ran by the Cyprus Football Association. Each year, the top finishing teams of the league were promoted to the Cypriot Third Division, and the lowest finishing teams were relegated to the amateur leagues.

History

The Cypriot Fourth Division started the 1985–86 football season as the fourth level of the Cypriot football. The decision was taken by CFA on 23 July 1985.^[1]

The first eight seasons the championship was split into three or four geographical groups, representing the Districts of Cyprus. From 1993–94 season until 2014–15 season, the championship was held as a single division. In all seasons, all the teams played against each other twice, once at their home and once away.

The 2014–15 season was the last one ever for the Cypriot Fourth Division, as the league was dissolved and replaced by the STOK Elite Division, which is conducted under the auspices of Confederation of local federations of Cyprus (STOK).^[2]

The teams that were relegated from the Cypriot Fourth Division were taking part to the next season's amateur leagues. The teams that were promoted from the Cypriot Fourth Division were taking part to the next season's Cypriot Third Division.

From 1986–87 season until 2007–08 season, the Fourth Division teams were participating in the Cypriot Cup. From 2008–09 season, the Fourth Division teams were not allowed to participate in the Cypriot Cup, but they could take part in the Cypriot Cup for lower divisions (participation in this cup was not compulsory).

Structure

The structure of the championship changed some times during the years. From 1985–86 until 1992–93, the championship was split into three or four geographical groups, depending from Districts of Cyprus each participated team came from. On some occasions, some teams participated in groups that did not correspond to their geographical origin due to the increased number of teams in the group of their geographical origin. In these cases, the teams which would participate in different geographical groups were determined by a draw.^{[3] [4] [5] [6]} Initially, the championship was played in three regional groups: Nicosia-Keryneia group, Limassol-Paphos group, and Larnaca-Famagusta group. In the 1988–89 season, the championship was played in four regional groups.

The championship was held for the first time as a single division in the 1993–94 season. 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.^[7] This was the league's current format until its last season.

Points system

The points system of the Cypriot Fourth Division changed during the years:

1. From 1985–86 until 1990–91 season, teams were awarded two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.
2. From 1991–92 until 2014–15 season, teams were awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.

Winners

The table presents all the winners of the Cypriot Fourth Division from 1985–86 season to 1987–88 season when the championship was split to three geographical groups.

Season	Nicosia-Keryneia Group	Limassol-Paphos Group	Larnaca-Famagusta Group
1985–86	OXEN Peristeronas	APEY Ypsona	Dynamo Pervolion
1986–87	Libanos Kormakiti	AEZ Zakakiou	Achyronas Liopetriou
1987–88	Iraklis Gerolakkou	ATE PEK Parekklisias	APEAN Ayia Napa

The table presents the winners of the 1988–89 Cypriot Fourth Division when the championship was split to four geographical groups.

The table presents all the winners of the Cypriot Fourth Division from 1989–90 season to 1992–93 season when the championship was split to three geographical groups.

Season	Nicosia-Keryneia Group	Limassol-Paphos Group	Larnaca-Famagusta Group
1989–90	Olimpiada Neapolis	Tsaggaris Peledriou	APEAN Ayia Napa
1990–91	AEK Kakopetrias	Kentro Neotitas Maroniton	Achyronas Liopetriou
1991–92	OXEN Peristeronas	AEZ Zakakiou	Livadiakos Livadion
1992–93	Ethnikos Latsion	APEY Ypsona	Fotiakos Frenarou

The table presents all the winners of the Cypriot Fourth Division from 1993–94 season to 2014–15 season when the championship was held as a single division.

Season Winner 1993–94 Elia Lythrodonta 1994–95 AEK Kakopetrias 1995–96 Iraklis Gerolakkou 1996–97 Adonis Idaliou 1997–98 SEK Agiou Athanasiou 1998–99 ENTHOI Lakatamia 1999–00 MEAP Nisou 2000–01 Sourouklis Troullon

Season Winner 2001–02 AEM Mesogis 2002–03 Orfeas Nicosia 2003–04 Othellos Athienou 2004–05 Frenaros FC 2000 2005–06 Anagennisi Germasogeias 2006–07 Spartakos Kitiou 2007–08 Digenis Oroklinis

Season Winner 2008–09 Achyronas Liopetriou 2009–10 Enosis Neon Parekklisia 2010–11 Ormideia FC 2011–12 Digenis Oroklinis 2012–13 MEAP Nisou 2013–14 Enosi Neon Ypsona 2014–15 Alki Oroklini

Performance By club

Tit. Club Winning Season 3 Achyronas Liopetriou 2008–09, 1986–87*, 1990–91* 2 AEZ Zakakiou 1986–87 , 1991–92* AEK Kakopetrias 1990–91 , 1994–95 APEAN Ayia Napa 1987–88 , 1989–90* APEI Ipsona 1985–86 , 1992–93* Digenis Oroklinis 2007–08, 2011–12 Iraklis Gerolakkou 1987–88 , 1995–96 MEAP Nisou 1999–00, 2012–13 OXEN Peristeronas 1985–86 , 1991–92* 1 Adonis Idaliou 1996–97 AEK Kythreas 1988–89 AEM Mesogis 2001–02 Alki Oroklini 2014–15

Tit. Club Winning Season 1 Anagennisi Germasogeias 2005–06 APEP Pelendriou 1988–89 Apollon Lympion 1988–89 ATE PEK Parekklisias 1987–88 Dynamo Pervolion 1985–86 Ethnikos Latsion 1992–93 Elia Lythrodonta 1993–94 Enosis Neon Ayia Napa 1988–89 ENTHOI Lakatamia 1998–99 Enosis Neon Parekklisia 2009–10 Enosi Neon Ypsona 2013–14 Kentro Neotitas Maroniton 1990–91

Tit. Club Winning Season 1 Livadiakos Livadion 1991–92 Libanos Kormakiti 1986–87 Othellos Athienou 2003–04 Olimpiada Neapolis 1989–90 Ormideia FC 2010–11 Orfeas Nicosia 2002–03 SEK Agiou Athanasiou 1997–98 Sourouklis Troullon 2000–01 Spartakos Kitiou 2006–07 Tsaggaris Peledriou 1989–90 Frenaros FC 2000 2004–05 Fotiakos Frenarou 1992–93

* Group Champions

Number of participating, promoted and relegated teams per season

The number of the participated teams and the number of the teams that were promoted to the Cypriot Third Division and the teams that were relegated to the amateur leagues changed many times during the years.

Season N. P. R. 1985–86 43 (3 groups) 3 0 1986–87 46 (3 groups) 3 10 1987–88 42 (3 groups) 2 7 1988–89 42 (4 groups) 2 7 1989–90 41 (3 groups) 2 6 1990–91 43 (3 groups) 3 7 1991–92 42 (3 groups) 3 6 1992–93 40 (3 groups) 3 28

Season N. P. R. 1993–94 14 1 5 1994–95 16 5 0 1995–96 15 3 3 1996–97 14 3 3 1997–98 14 3 3 1998–99 15 3 4 1999–00 14 4 4 2000–01 14 3 3

Season N. P. R. 2001–02 15 3 4 2002–03 13 3 2 2003–04 14 3 3 2004–05 14 3 3 2005–06 14 3 3 2006–07 14 3 3 2007–08 14 3 3

Season N. P. R. 2008–09 14 3 3 2009–10 15 3 4 2010–11 14 3 3 2011–12 15 3 3 2012–13 14 4 2 2013–14 15 2 2 2014–15 14 5 0

Participations per club

130 teams had participated in the Cypriot Fourth Division.^[8]

Team Par. Ellinismos Akakiou 18 MEAP Nisou 16 AEK Kythreas 15 Ethnikos Latsion 14 Iraklis Gerolakkou 14 Anagennisi Lythrodonta 13 Apollon Lympion 13 Elia Lythrodonta 13 Olympos Xylofagou 13 AOL – Omonia Lakatamias 12 Achyronas Liopetriou 12 Doxa Paliometochou 12 Enosis Kokkinotrimithia 11 Th.O.I. Avgorou 11 Rotsidis Mammari 11 ASIL Lysi 10 ATE PEK Ergaton 10 Dynamo Pervolion 10 Poseidonas Giolou 10 APEP Pelendriou 9 APEY Ypsona 9 ASPIS Pylas 9 Digenis Oroklinis 9 Orfeas Nicosia 9 Spartakos Kitiou 9 ATE PEK Parekklisias 8 Olimpiada Neapolis 8 Olympias Lympion 8 Olympias Frenarou 8 Podosfairikos Omilos Xylotymbou 8 Triptolemus Evrychou 8 Fotiakos Frenarou 8 Adonis Geroskipou 7

Team Par. AMEK Kapsalou 7 ENAD Ayiou Dometiou 7 Kimonas Xylotympou 7 Olympos Acheritou 7 Anagennisi Germasogeias 6 Anorthosis Kato Polemidia 6 APEA Akrotiriou 6 APOP Palechoriou 6 Livadiakos Livadion 6 Sourouklis Troullon 6 Frenaros FC 2000 6 AEK Kakopetrias 5 Anagennisi Prosfigon 5 Achilleas Ayiou Theraponta 5 Digenis Agiou Nikolaou 5 Doxa Devtera 5 Doxa Polemidion 5 ENTHOI Lakatamia FC 5 Zenonas Larnaca 5 Konstantios & Evripidis Trachoniou 5 Tsaggaris Peledriou 5 Adonis Idaliou 4 AEM Morphou 4 AMEAN Agiou Nikolaou 4 Anagennisi Trachoni 4 Elpida Astromeriti 4 Elpida Xylofagou 4 Enosis Neon Parekklisia F.C. 4 Karmiotissa Pano Polemidion 4 Kedros Kormakiti 4 Kissos FC Kissonergas 4 Kourio Episkopi 4 Othellos Athienou F.C. 4

Team Par. Orfeas Athienou 4 OXEN Peristeronas 4 SEK Agiou Athanasiou 4 AEZ Zakakiou 3 AEK Kornos 3 AMEP Parekklisia 3 APEAN Ayia Napa 3 Achilleas Kaimakli 3 Ethnikos Defteras 3 Elpida Liopetriou 3 Elpida Prosfigon Paphou 3 Kinyras Empas 3 Livadiakos/Salamina Livadion 3 Panikos & Sokratis Zakakiou 3 Panikos Pourgouridis Lemesou 3 PEFO Olympiakos 3 Proodos Kaimakliou 3 Finikas Ayias Marinas 3 FC Episkopi 2 AEN 2 Alki Oroklini^1 2 Amathus Ayiou Tychona 2 Anagennisi Mouttalou 2 ASO Ormideia 2 Digenis Akritas Ipsona 2 EAS Ayios Dhometios 2 ETHA Engomis 2 ENAD Polis Chrysochous FC 2 ENAN Ayia Napa 2 ENAP Paphos 2 Enosi Neon Ypsona 2 Evagoras Kato Amiandos 2

Team Par. Evagoras Pallikarides 2 Kentro Neotitas Kalou Choriou 2 Kentro Neotitas Maroniton 2 Lenas Limassol 2 Libanos Kormakiti 2 Marathonas Kato Varosha 2 Neos Aionas Trikomou 2 Nikos & Sokratis Erimis 2 Kormakitis FC 2 Omonia Ormideia 2 Ormideia FC 2 Parnassos Strovolou 2 Poseidon Larnacas 2 Salamina Dromolaxias 2 AEK Korakou 1 AEK Kouklia 1 AEM Mesogis 1 Atlas Aglandjias 1 Atromitos Yeroskipou 1 Dafni Troulloi 1 Ethnikos Empas 1 Evagoras Avgorou 1 Th.O.I. Filias 1 Thiella Dromolaxia 1 Kedros Ayia Marina 1 Keravnos Strovolou 1 Kissos Kissonerga 1 Kouris Erimis 1 Morfotikos Tymbou 1 PAOK Kalou Choriou 1 Parideio Larnaca 1 Geroskipou FC 1

¹ The team has one participation as Omonoia Oroklinis and one participation as Alki Oroklini.

See also

• Football in Cyprus
• Cypriot football league system
• Cypriot First Division
• Cypriot Second Division
• Cypriot Third Division
• STOK Elite Division
• Cypriot Cup
• Cypriot Cup for lower divisions

Notes and References

1. News: Δ΄ κατηγορία σωματείων υπό την ΚΟΠ. 1 . . 1985-07-24.
2. Web site: http://www.cfa.com.cy/Gr/news/22200. el:Α` Κατηγορία ΣΤΟΚ. el. CFA. 2015-04-17. 2015-04-17.
3. Web site: Cyprus - List of Cypriot Fourth Division Champions. RSSSF. 2016-06-30.
4. News: Ανακοινώθηκαν οι 42 ομάδες της Δ΄ κατηγορίας. 7 . . 1985-08-09.
5. News: Οι τρεις όμιλοι Δ΄ κατηγορίας. 6 . . 1985-08-12.
6. News: 43 ομάδες στη Δ΄ κατηγορία. 7 . . 1985-09-22.
7. News: Ένας όμιλος με 14 ομάδες . 13 . . 1993-03-07.
8. Web site: Cyprus - Participations per club at Cypriot Fourth Division. RSSSF. 2016-06-30.