Football League (Greece)

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Football League
150px
Country  Greece
Founded 1983 in its current format
2010 with its current name
Number of teams 18
Level on pyramid 2
Promotion to Super League
Relegation to Gamma Ethniki
Domestic cup(s) Greek Cup
Current champions AEK Athens
(2014–15)
TV partners OTE Sport
Website www.epae.org
2015–16 Football League

Football League, former Beta Ethniki (Greek: Β΄ Εθνική, II National Category), is the second highest professional football league in Greece, being a feeder-league to the top-level Superleague Greece.

2015-16 Member Clubs

Team Location Stadium Capacity Last season
Acharnaikos Menidi Acharnes Stadium 4,450 South Group, 7th & South Group Relegation Play-offs, 1st
Agrotikos Asteras Evosmos Agrotikos Asteras Ground 2,267 North Group, 9th & North Group Relegation Play-offs, 1st
Anagennisi Karditsa Karditsa Karditsa Stadium 9,500 North Group, 6th & North Group Relegation Play-offs, 3rd
Apollon Smyrni Athens Georgios Kamaras Stadium 14,856 South Group, 3rd & Promotion Play-offs, 3rd
A.O. Chania Chania Perivolia Municipal Stadium 2,800 South Group, 4th
Ergotelis Heraklion Pankritio Stadium 26,000 SL, 15th
Kallithea Kallithea Grigoris Lambrakis Stadium 4,250 South Group, 8th & South Group Relegation Play-offs, 3rd
A.O. Kassiopi Corfu Kerkyra Stadium 2,191 SL, 18th ( Kerkyra relegated for illegal transfer of shares and was given the last position of the league table.)
Kissamikos Kissamos Maleme Stadium 700 Gamma Ethniki, Group 4 , 1st
Lamia 1964 Lamia Lamia Stadium 6,000 North Group, 4th
AEL Larissa AEL FC Arena 16,118 North Group, 2nd & Promotion Play-offs, 4th
Olympiakos Volou Volos Volos Municipal Stadium 9,000 North Group, 3rd & Promotion Play-offs, 5th
Panachaiki Patras Kostas Davourlis Stadium 11,321 South Group, 2nd & Promotion Play-offs, 6th
Panegialios Aigio Aigio Stadium 4,500 South Group, 6th & South Group Relegation Play-offs, 2nd
Panelefsiniakos Eleusina Municipal Stadium of Eleusina 1,800 Gamma Ethniki, Group 3 , 1st
Panserraikos Serres Serres Municipal Stadium 9,500 Gamma Ethniki, Group 1 , 1st
A.O. Trikala Trikala Trikala Municipal Stadium 14,000 Gamma Ethniki, Group 2 , 1st
Zakynthos Zakynthos Zakynthians Olympic Champions Ground 2,000 North Group, 5th & North Group Relegation Play-offs, 2nd

History

It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the champions of each Greek football clubs association. Every year the participating teams were different. In 1960, the Division took its name and some teams were permanent. From 1960 to 1984, there existed multiple groups, peaking in 1962 with ten groups. In 1962, the Division was made permanent, something that had as an essential condition the disengagement of the teams from their local championships. This change has led many statisticians to begin statistics from this period (1962–63). For 21 periods, from 1962–63 to 1982–83, championship was carried out in groups. The subordinate system was introduced for first time in 1983–84 season.

On August 3, 2010, the change of division's name to Football League was announced.[1]

Structure

At present, there are eighteen clubs that compete in the Football League, playing each other in a home and away series. At the end of the season, the bottom four teams are relegated to the Football League 2. The top two teams gain automatic promotion. Unlike the Superleague, clubs in the Football League do not get relegated if the club fails to obtain a license. All teams in the Football League take part in the Greek Football Cup.

Winners

From 1960 to 1962

Season Winner
1959–60 Fostiras, Atromitos Piraeus, Panelefsiniakos, Thermaikos
1960–61 Panelefsiniakos, Niki Volou, Aspida Xanthi, Egaleo
1961–62 Pankorinthiakos, Panegialios, Iraklis Kavala,
Iraklis Serres, Achilleas Trikala, Larissa,
Olympiakos Volos, Pierikos, Vyzas,
Rodiakos, OFI

From 1963 to 1982

Season Winner
1962–63 Edessaikos, Doxa Drama,
Olympiakos Chalkida, Pankorinthiakos
1963–64 Panachaiki, Proodeftiki, Philippi Kavala
1964–65 Panserraikos, Edessaikos, Egaleo, Vyzas
1965–66 Veria, OFI, Vyzas
1966–67 Panelefsiniakos, Kavala, Olympiakos Volou
1967–68 Chalkida, Trikala
1968–69 Panachaiki, Kavala
1969–70 Apollon Athens, Veria, Fostiras
1970–71 Panachaiki, Trikala, Ethnikos Olympiakos Volou
1971–72 Panserraikos, Kalamata, Atromitos
1972–73 Apollon Athens, Apollon Kalamarias, AEL
1973–74 PAS Giannina, Kastoria, Kalamata
1974–75 Apollon Athens, Panetolikos, Pierikos
1975–76 Kavala, OFI
1976–77 Egaleo, Veria
1977–78 Rodos, AEL
1978–79 Doxa Dramas, Korinthos
1979–80 Panserraikos, Atromitos
1980–81 Rodos, Iraklis
1981–82 Panachaiki, Makedonikos
1982–83 Egaleo, Apollon Kalamarias

From 1983

Season Winner
1983–84 Panachaiki
1984–85 PAS Giannina
1985–86 Diagoras
1986–87 Panachaiki
1987–88 Doxa Drama
1988–89 Skoda Xanthi
1989–90 Athinaikos
1990–91 Ethnikos Piraeus
1991–92 Apollon Kalamarias
1992–93 Naoussa
1993–94 Ionikos
Season Winner
1994–95 Paniliakos
1995–96 Kavala
1996–97 Panionios
1997–98 Aris
1998–99 Trikala
1999–00 Athinaikos
2000–01 Egaleo
2001–02 PAS Giannina
2002–03 Chalkidona
2003–04 Kerkyra
2004–05 AEL
Season Winner
2005–06 Ergotelis
2006–07 Asteras Tripolis
2007–08 Panserraikos
2008–09 Atromitos
2009–10 Olympiakos Volos
2010–11 Panetolikos
2011–12 Panthrakikos
2012–13 Apollon Smyrni
2013–14 Niki Volos
2014–15 AEK Athens
2015–16 AEL

References

External links