Maltese Third Division

Maltese Third Division

Country	Malta
Number of teams	13
Level on pyramid	4
Promotion to	Maltese Second Division
Domestic cup(s)	Maltese FA Trophy
Current champions	Kirkop United F.C. (2014–2015)
2015–2016

The Maltese Third Division (also known as the Bank of Valletta Third Division) is the lowest league level in Maltese football. There are currently 13 teams participating in the league.

Until 2011 the division comprised two sections - Section A with eleven teams and Section B with eleven teams. Both sections play two rounds with the winner in each group getting promoted to the Maltese Second Division. Relegation play-offs between the 2nd and 3rd placed teams of both groups and the 10th place finisher of Second Division determined the third team to be in the Second Division.

Because it is the lowest level in the Maltese Football League, there is no formal relegation from the league. However, the two lowest placed teams have to reapply to take part the following season.

For the 2007-08 season, Mtarfa F.C. replaced Ta' Xbiex after their league application was turned down, mainly due to their poor performances over a number of years. New teams can also apply to join the competition. Season 2009-10 saw Swieqi United F.C. joining, and they were followed by Marsascala F.C. in 2010-11.

On January 13, 2011, the Malta Football Association decided to reform the league to 14 teams as from season 2011-12.^[1]

For season 2015-16, the matches shall be played at the Charles Abela ground in Mosta, Luxol St. Andrews ground in Pembroke and Sirens F.C. ground in San Pawl il-Baħar.

Participating Teams 2015–2016

• Santa Venera
• Marsaskala F.C.
• Xghajra Tornadoes F.C.
• Mdina
• Attard
• St. Lucia
• Kalkara
• Mtarfa
• Luqa St. Andrew's
• Ghaxaq F.C.
• Ta' Xbiex
• Dingli
• Marsaxlokk

History

Season	Champions	Promoted
2000–2001	Msida SJ	Senglea A.
2001–2002	San Gwann	Vittoriosa S.
2002–2003	Zejtun C.	St. George's

Season	Champions	Promoted 1	Promoted 2
2003–2004	Melita	St. Venera L.	Qormi
2004–2005	Gudja U.	Gharghur
2005–2006	Birzebbuga SP	St. Venera L.	Rabat A.
2006–2007	Mgarr U.	Sirens	Zurrieq

Season	Champions Sec. A	Champions Sec. B	Promoted
2007–2008	Zebbug R.	Gozo	Mgarr U.
2008–2009	Gharghur	Gzira U.	Zurrieq
2009–2010	Mgarr U.	* Zejtun C.	Naxxar L.

" * - Maltese Third Division Champions after championship decider"

Maltese Third Division 2009–10 Standings

Section A

P	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Mgarr U.	18	14	2	2	41	17	+24	44
2	Mdina K.	18	11	4	3	33	19	+14	37
3	Ghaxaq	18	9	4	5	36	32	+4	31
4	Marsa	18	7	5	6	22	19	+3	26
5	Siggiewi	18	8	2	8	33	37	-4	26
6	Mtarfa	18	6	5	7	19	25	-6	23
7	Luqa SA	18	6	3	9	34	33	+1	21
8	Pembroke A.	18	5	3	10	22	28	-6	18
9	Fgura U.	18	4	2	12	17	31	-14	14
10	Kalkara	18	4	2	12	21	37	-16	14

Section B

P	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Zejtun C.	18	14	4	0	46	8	+38	46
2	Naxxar L.	18	15	1	2	51	16	+35	46
3	Gudja U.	18	9	3	6	37	17	+20	30
4	Attard	18	7	6	5	30	27	+3	27
5	Kirkop U.	18	6	5	7	25	27	-2	23
6	Sirens	18	7	1	10	31	42	-11	22
7	Xghajra T.	18	6	1	11	19	37	-18	19
8	Swieqi U.	18	5	1	12	25	49	-24	16
9	Qrendi	18	5	0	13	29	51	-22	15
10	St. Lucia	18	4	2	15	16	35	-19	14

Championship Decider

Sec. A Winners	Result	Sec. B Winners
Mgarr U.	3 - 4	Zejtun C.

Relegation/Promotion Play-Offs

Round	Team	Result	Team
Quarter-Final	Ghaxaq	1 - 2	Gudja U.
Semi-Final	Mdina K.	0 - 2	Naxxar L.
Semi-Final	St. Venera L.	0 - 2	Gudja U.
Final	Naxxar L.	5 - 5 (pen.5-4)	Gudja U.

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
C = Champions; R = Relegated; RP = Relegation playoffs

Top scorers

Section A

Goals	Player	Team
23	Malcolm Tirchett	Luqa SA
17	Jason Camilleri	Siggiewi
13	Chris Abela	Mgarr U.

Section B

Goals	Player	Team
20	Darren Falzon	Naxxar L.
15	Kenneth Abela	Zejtun C.
14	Trevor Thomas	Gudja U.

References

1. Changes to National League, FA Trophy format approved