Thai League 4 (), commonly known as the T4, was the fourth level association football league in Thailand. In 2009, it was divided into five groups by geographic region. Each group contained 16 clubs except for the Southern Region group which contained 13 clubs. It was sponsored by AIS and therefore officially known as the AIS Regional League Division 2. In 2016, Khor Royal Cup became a trophy for Regional League Division 2.
In 2017, Football Association of Thailand rebranded the league to Thai League 4.
League history The 3rd Level League was formed in 2006 with ten member clubs. The league was created so that clubs from regional leagues could come together and play in a national league with the onus being on promotion and relegation so clubs could easily move up the Thai football system ladder depending on performances on the football pitch rather than performances behind the scenes.View of Factors influencing achievement of Regional League
The league was also created so it would combat against the rival Provincial League. With future growth moving the Pro League to join the 2nd Division.
The league suffered another contraction after 2016 season, as 31 teams joined the newly created Thai League Championship. It also moved a tier down the pyramid, making it 4th Level League since 2017.
In 2006, the first season, ten clubs played each other twice, with promotion going to the championship winner Chula-Sinthana FC. No relegation occurred in 2006.
In 2007, the league was expanded to twelve clubs, with the top two in the championship achieving promotion (Mueang Thong NongJork United and PTT FC) and the bottom two clubs getting relegated (Thai Christian Sports Club and Thai Department of Agriculture).
In 2008, although two clubs were relegated at the end of the 2007 season, the league was again expanded the following year, to 22 clubs. Two groups would be created: 11 clubs in Group A and 11 clubs in Group B.
At the end of the season, two clubs from each group would be promoted with the league receiving four relegated teams from the Thailand Division 1 League. At the end of the season, the four clubs who achieved promotion would play off in an end of year competition to determine the overall league winner.
No clubs would be relegated due to re-structuring of the league system again for the 2009 season. But all clubs who wish to play at this level were asked to re-submit to the league and each club would be graded such items as club structure and ground stadium. Each club was expected to have certain criteria in place to achieve league status.
In 2009, 52 clubs played Division 2 League which was combined with Provincial League by Football Association of Thailand. The league was again split from two groups into five groups covering the North of Thailand, North East (Isan) region, Central East Zone, Bangkok central zone and South of Thailand. The league was also renamed as the Regional League Division 2. Five group winners would enter a championship round to determine which three teams would gain promotion to the Thai Division 1 League. Rajpracha duly won the championship stage and were promoted with Chiangrai United of the Northern League and Narathiwat of the Southern League.
75 teams were confirmed to play in the Regional League for the 2010 season. The number of teams in each region were as follows: North Region - 16 Teams, North East Region - 16 Teams, Central Region - 16 Teams, Southern Region - 14 Teams, Bangkok Region - 13 Teams
Four teams would automatically be promoted to Division 1. The four promoted teams would be decided by two mini leagues at the conclusion of the regular season. The total number of teams competing in the mini leagues will be 12, they will be made up of the top two from each league with the best two third placed teams from the Northern, North-east and Central-East leagues The top two from each mini league will gain promotion. The sides coming in third and fourth position in the mini leagues would again play playoff matches against the bottom four clubs of Division 1 in order to gain promotion.
94 teams were confirmed to play in the Regional League for the 2016 season. The number of teams in each region were as follows: North Region - 12 Teams, North East Region - 14 Teams, East Region - 12 Teams, West Region - 12 Teams, South Region - 12 Teams, Bangkok Region - 11 Teams, Bangkok-East Region - 10 Teams, Central Region - 11 Teams
In 2017, FA Thailand rebranded the Regional League as Thai League 4 and separated it into six zones: the northern region, northeastern region, eastern region, western region, Bangkok metropolitan region and southern region.“ตลาดนัดคนข่าวกีฬา” วันที่สองคึกคัก “ลีซอ” ชี้ฟุตบอลต้องมีรากฐานดี “วันกล้า” มองบอลไทยดูงานตปท.แต่ยังไม่ใช้ “เจ วรปัฐ” เผยลีกรากหญ้าสมัยนี้ความนิยมถอย
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was postponed to start in late 2020 and end in early 2021. In addition, the Thai League 4 had combined with the Thai League 3 and will compete as Thai League 3 as of this season."ไทยลีก 3" กลุ่มบนยืนกรานค้านควบรวม "ไทยลีก 4"บิ๊กอ๊อด ตั้งคณะทำงานหาแนวทางควบรวมไทยลีก3-4 ยันต้องยกเลิกผล4นัดแรก
Promotion and relegation
2008 promotion and relegation The top two sides at the end of the 2008 season from A & B will be promoted to Thai Division 1 League. No teams would be relegated due to a re-structuring process.
2009 promotion and relegation The league winner of the five groups (North-east, Northern, Central & East, Bangkok Metropolitan, Southern) entered a final round group, Regional League Championships 2009, played on a home and away basis. The top three teams of this championship group will achieve promotion to Thai Division 1 League. No teams would be relegated.
2010 promotion and relegation The league winners and runners up of the five regional groups (North-east, Northern, Central & East, Bangkok Metropolitan, Southern) along with the two best third placed teams from the North, North-east and Central/East would enter the championships stage. From here, the top two teams from two groups of five would be promoted, the teams finishing in third and fourth place would enter another round of playoffs with the bottom four clubs of the 2010 Thai Division 1 League to determine if any more clubs would be promoted. No teams would be relegated.
2016 promotion and relegation The league winners and runners up of the eight regional groups (16 team) entered a final round group Regional League Championships Knockout 3 team best promotion to the Thai Division 1 League and 4-5 team best of the eight regional Promotion to the Thai League Championship. Team worst of the eight regional groups (8 team) relegated to the Thai Football Division 3.
2017 promotion and relegation The league winners of the six regional groups and runners up of North-east, Central, East, Bangkok Metropolitan and third place of North-east and playoff winner with runners up of Northern-Southern (12 teams) entered the Champions League Knockout stage, The best five team in this stage will promoted to Thai League 3. Team worst of all regional groups relegated to the Thailand Amateur League.
Season records
Thailand League Division 2 seasons
2006
2007
2008
Regional League Division 2 seasons 2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Thai League 4 seasons 2017
2018
2019
Champions history Champions of the third tier Thai football league system (Division 2) # Season Number of teams Winner Runner up Third place Fourth Place 1 2006 10 Chula-Sinthana 2 2007 12 Muangthong United PTT Prachinburi 3 2008 22 Prachinburi Army Welfare Department Songkhla 4 2009 52 Raj Pracha-Nonthaburi Chiangrai United Narathiwat 5 2010 75 Songkhla United Phuket Chiangmai Chainat 6 2011 77 Ratchaburi Nakhon Ratchasima Phattalung Krabi 7 2012 81 Ayutthaya Trat Rayong Rayong United 8 2013 84 Roi Et United Chiang Mai Phitsanulok Angthong 9 2014 83 Prachuap Khiri Khan Thai Honda Sukhothai Phichit 10 2015 83 Ubon UMT United Satun United Khonkaen United Rayong 11 2016 94 TratKasetsartNongbua PitchayaSurat Thani
Champions of the fourth tier Thai football league system (Thai League 4) # Season Number of teams Promoted (Group A winners) Promoted (Group B winners) Promoted 12 2017 61 BTU United JL Chiangmai United Chiangrai City, Marines Eureka, Muangkan United# Season Number of teams Winner Runner up Promoted 13 2018 57Nakhon Pathom UnitedKhon Kaen UnitedNorth Bangkok University 14 2019 60Wat Bot CityPattaniMuang Loei United, Pathumthani University
Regional league winners Broken down into regional leagues which started in 2009
Region Winner Runner up2009 season Bangkok Metropolitan Region Raj Pracha-Nonthaburi Kasem Bundit University Central & Eastern Region Samut Prakan Ayutthaya North Eastern Region Loei City Nakhon Ratchasima Northern Region Chiangrai United Phichit Southern Region Narathiwat Satun2010 season Bangkok Metropolitan Region Bangkok Rangsit University JW Central & Eastern Region Saraburi Samut Prakan North Eastern Region Loei City Songkhla United Northern Region Chiangmai Chainat Southern Region Phuket Trang2011 season Bangkok Metropolitan Region Kasetsart North Bangkok College Central & Eastern Region Ratchaburi Rayong North Eastern Region Roi Et United Loei City Northern Region Phitsanulok Lamphun Warrior Southern Region Krabi Phattalung2012 season Bangkok Metropolitan Region Thai Honda Rayong United Central & Eastern Region Ayutthaya Rayong North Eastern Region Roi Et United Sisaket United F.C. Northern Region Chiangmai Phitsanulok Southern Region Trang Pattani2013 season Bangkok Metropolitan Region Paknampho NSRU Kasetsart University Central & Eastern Region Look Isan-Thai Airways Nakhon Nayok Central & Western Region Ang Thong Prachuap North Eastern Region Roi Et United Udon Thani Northern Region Chiangmai Phitsanulok Southern Region Nara United Chumphon2014 season Bangkok Metropolitan Region Thai Honda BCC Tero Central & Eastern Region Prachinburi United Maptaphut Rayong Central & Western Region Hua Hin Phetchaburi North Eastern Region Ubon UMT Udon Thani Northern Region Sukhothai Phichit Southern Region Prachuap Khiri Khan Satun United2015 season Bangkok Metropolitan Region Customs United Chamchuri United Central & Eastern Region Rayong Cha Choeng Sao Central & Western Region Samut Sakhon Thonburi City North Eastern Region Khonkaen United Ubon UMT United Northern Region Lampang Chiangrai City Southern Region Satun United Pattani2016 season Bangkok Metropolitan Region Chamchuri United Kasetsart Bangkok & Eastern Region Raj Pracha Customs United Central Region Ayutthaya Warrior Ayutthaya Eastern Region Trat Cha Choeng Sao Western Region Samut Sakhon Krung Thonburi North Eastern Region Udon Thani Ubon Ratchathani Northern Region Nongbua Pitchaya Kamphaengphet Southern Region Surat Thani Nara United2017 season Bangkok Metropolitan Region North Bangkok University Samut Prakan Eastern Region Chanthaburi Marines Eureka Western Region Suphanburi B Muangkan United North Eastern Region Sisaket United Chaiyaphum United Northern Region JL Chiangmai United Chiangrai City Southern Region Satun United Phuket2018 season Bangkok Metropolitan Region North Bangkok University Bangkok United U-23 Eastern Region Bankhai United Chanthaburi Western Region Nakhon Pathom United IPE Samut Sakhon United North Eastern Region Muang Loei United Khonkaen United Northern Region Uttaradit Nan Southern Region Satun United Pattani2019 season Bangkok Metropolitan Region Muangthong United (ฺB) Bangkok United (ฺB) Eastern Region Bankhai United Kohkwang Western Region Hua Hin City Chainat United North Eastern Region Muang Loei United Huai Thalaeng United Northern Region Uttaradit Wat Bot City Southern Region Satun United Pattani
See also Football records in Thailand
References
External links Official website Football Association of Thailand kondivision2 Thai Division 2 League