Maltese Challenge League Explained
The Maltese Challenge League (referred to as the BOV Challenge League for sponsorship reasons[1]) is the second-highest division in Maltese football, behind the Maltese Premier League. The First Division was the precursor of the present Premier League until the latter was revamped for the 1980–81 season with the Maltese Challenge League instituted for the 2020–21 season following the premature end of the previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
Format
Since the 2022–23 season, the league is made up of eighteen teams. Over the course of the season, each team plays twice against the others in the league, resulting in each team completing thirty-four games in total. Three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the table by:[3]
- Total points gained
In the need of a tie-breaker, a play-off game is played. At the end of the season, the top two teams are directly promoted to the Premier League; an additional place is reserved for the winner of the relegation play-off between the twelfth-placed Premier League team and the third-placed Maltese Challenge League side. The four lowest-finishing teams are relegated to the National Amateur League.[4]
Venues
Results
| Year | Champions | Runner-up | Third place (Promotion) | Relegated |
|---|
| 1996–97[5] | Xgħajra Tornados | Tarxien Rainbows | | |
|---|
| 1997–98[6] | Rabat Ajax | Żabbar St. Patrick | | |
|---|
| 1998–99[7] | Gozo | Żurrieq | | |
|---|
| 1999–00[8] | Ħamrun Spartans | Xgħajra Tornados | | Gżira United, Żebbuġ Rangers |
|---|
| 2000–01 | Marsa | Lija Athletic | | Tarxien Rainbows, Żurrieq |
|---|
| 2001–02 | Marsaxlokk | Mosta | | Qormi, St. Andrews |
|---|
| 2002–03 | Msida St. Joseph | Balzan | | Gozo, Xgħajra Tornados |
|---|
| 2003–04 | Żabbar St. Patrick | Lija Athletic | | Tarxien Rainbows, Rabat Ajax |
|---|
| 2004–05 | Ħamrun Spartans | Mosta | | Balzan, Gozo |
|---|
| 2005–06 | St. George's | Marsa | | Lija Athletic, St. Andrews |
|---|
| 2006–07 | Ħamrun Spartans | Mqabba | | San Ġwann, Naxxar Lions |
|---|
| Tarxien Rainbows | Qormi | | Mellieħa, Marsa |
|---|
| 2008–09 | Dingli Swallows | Vittoriosa Stars (No Promotion) | | Rabat Ajax, Senglea Athletic |
|---|
| 2009–10 | Marsaxlokk | Vittoriosa Stars | | Żabbar St. Patrick, San Ġwann |
|---|
| 2010–11 | Balzan | Mqabba | Mosta | Pietà Hotspurs, Msida St. Joseph |
|---|
| 2011–12 | | Rabat Ajax | | Żabbar St. Patrick, St. George's |
|---|
| 2012–13 | | Vittoriosa Stars | | Dingli Swallows, Mqabba |
|---|
| 2013–14 | Pietà Hotspurs | Żebbuġ Rangers | | |
|---|
| 2014–15 | Pembroke Athleta | St. Andrews | | |
|---|
| 2015–16 | Gżira United | Ħamrun Spartans | | Gudja United, St. George's, San Ġwann |
|---|
| 2016–17 | Lija Athetlic | Senglea Athletic | | Fgura United, Għargħur |
|---|
| 2017–18 | Qormi | Pietà Hotspurs | | Żabbar St. Patrick, Melita, Rabat Ajax |
|---|
| 2018–19 | Sirens | Gudja United | Santa Luċija | Marsa, San Ġwann |
|---|
| 2019–20 | Zejtun Corinthians | Lija Athetlic | | No Relegation |
|---|
| 2020–21 | No Promotion | Qormi |
|---|
| 2021–22 | Żebbuġ Rangers | Marsaxlokk (Group A Runner-up)
Pietà Hotspurs (Group B Runner-up) | Senglea Athletic, Mgarr United, Luqa St. Andrew's,Pembroke Athleta, Rabat Ajax, St. George’s, |
|---|
| 2022–23 | Sliema Wanderers | | | Marsaskala, Mqabba, Mtarfa,Qrendi, San Gwann, Vittoriosa Stars |
|---|
| 2023–24 | | Żabbar St. Patrick | | Attard, Msida St. Joseph |
|---|
|
External links
Notes and References
- News: Malta FA, BOV agree new three-year sponsorship deal . Times of Malta . Kevin . Azzopardi . 12 July 2015.
- Web site: BOV Challenge League . Malta Football Association . 7 February 2021.
- Web site: First Division Seasonal Rules . Scoresway . 16 September 2018.
- Web site: 2020–21 BOV Premier League set for exciting start . Malta Football Association . 7 February 2021.
- https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/malt97.html Malta 1996/97
- http://archive.malta-football.com/archives/1997-98/tabl1.shtml Season 1997/98 - Rothmans Division 1 - Final Classification
- https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/malt99.html Malta 1998/99
- https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/malt00.html Malta 1999/2000
