Cypriot Third Division

The Cypriot Third Division () is the third highest football division of the Cypriot football league system.

Administered by the Cyprus Football Association, it is contested by 16 teams, with the top three teams being promoted to the Cypriot Second Division and the last three teams being relegated to the STOK Elite Division.

History The Cypriot Third Division was held for the first time in the 1970–71 season as the third level of the Cypriot football. 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. This is the league's current format until present time.

The only season when the championship not held was during the 1974–75 season. Due to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus which forced many teams that had their headquarters to the north Cyprus to be closed temporarily or permanently, CFA decided to have a Special mixed championship of Second & Third Division. In this championship could participate all the teams of the Second and Third Division. Participation was optional. The championship had two geographical groups. The winners of each group were playing against each other in the final phase and the winners were the champions of the league. The winner was considered as the 1974–75 Cypriot Second Division champions.

Until the 1983–84 season, the teams that were relegated from the Cypriot Third Division were taking part in the next season's amateur leagues. From the 1984–85 season until the 2013–14 season, the teams that were relegated from the Cypriot Third Division were taking part in the next season's Cypriot Fourth Division. Since the 2014–15 season, the teams that are relegated from the Cypriot Third Division are taking part in the next season's STOK Elite Division.

From 1971–72 season until 2007–08 season, the Third Division teams were taking part in the Cypriot Cup. No Third Division team ever reached the final or the semifinals, but they managed to qualify to the quarter-finals once (Chalkanoras Idaliou in 1987–88). Since 2008–09 season, the Third Division teams are not allowed to participate in the Cypriot Cup, but they can take part to the Cypriot Cup for lower divisions (participation in this cup is not compulsory).

Structure The championship have the same structure since its foundation. All the teams are playing against each other twice, once at their home and once away. The team with the most points at the end of the season are crowned champions. In every season, the champions or the first teams were promoted to the Second Division, but in some seasons the relegation to the lower divisions didn't existed.

Current format Sixteen clubs are competing in the league, facing each other at least once (either at home or away). Afterwards, the table split into two groups, with the top eight teams entering the promotion round and the bottom eight teams entering the relegation round. The champion, 2nd and 3rd placed teams are promoted to the Cypriot Second Division, whilst the bottom four are relegated to the STOK Elite Division.

Points system The points system of the Cypriot Third Division changed during the years: From 1970–71 until 1990–91 season, teams were awarded two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat. Since 1991–92 season (until present time), teams are awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.

Teams The 16 teams which participate in the 2026-27 season of the Cypriot Third Division are: Achyronas-Onisilos FC AEK Kellia AEN Vrysoullon-Acheritou AEZ Zakakiou Alki Larnaca Anorthosis Mouttagiakas ASPIS Pylas Ethnikos Assia Ethnikos Latsion Kedros Ayia Marina Skylloura Livadia FC 2022 Omonia Psevda Ormideia FC Othellos Athienou THOI Lakatamia Xylofagou FC

Winners The table presents all the winners since the 1970-71 season, when the competition officially began.

Season Winner 1970–71 Keravnos Stovolou 1971–72 Ethnikos Asteras Limassol 1972–73 Neos Aionas Trikomou 1973–74 Iraklis Gerolakkou 1974–75 Not held 1975–76 Ermis Aradippou 1976–77 Akritas Chlorakas 1977–78 Adonis Idaliou 1978–79 Orfeas Nicosia 1979–80 Iraklis Gerolakkou 1980–81 Kentro Neotitas Maroniton 1981–82 Digenis Akritas Ipsona 1982–83 THOI Lakatamia 1983–84 Adonis Idaliou 1984–85 Orfeas Athienou 1985–86 APEP Limassol 1986–87 Elpida Xylofagou 1987–88 Digenis Akritas Morphou 1988–89 Digenis Akritas Ipsona 1989–90 APEP Pelendriou 1990–91 Othellos Athienou 1991–92 PAEEK Season Winner 1992–93 AEZ Zakakiou 1993–94 Othellos Athienou 1994–95 Ethnikos Latsion 1995–96 Ermis Aradippou 1996–97 Rotsidis Mammari 1997–98 AEZ Zakakiou 1998–99 Chalkanoras Idaliou 1999–00 THOI Lakatamia 2000–01 ASIL Lysi 2001–02 SEK Agiou Athanasiou 2002–03 PAEEK 2003–04 APOP Kinyras 2004–05 SEK Agiou Athanasiou 2005–06 AEM Mesogis 2006–07 Ermis Aradippou 2007–08 PAEEK 2008–09 Akritas Chlorakas 2009–10 Chalkanoras Idaliou 2010–11 Ethnikos Assia 2011–12 AEK Kouklia 2012–13 Karmiotissa Pano Polemidion 2013–14 Elpida Xylofagou Season Winner 2014–15 THOI Lakatamia 2015–16 Akritas Chlorakas 2016–17 P.O. Xylotymbou 2017–18 Onisilos Sotira 2018–19 Digenis Akritas Morphou 2019–20 Interrupted 2020–21 PAC Omonia 29M 2021–22 Peyia 2014 2022–23 Digenis Akritas Morphou 2023–24 Chalkanoras Idaliou 2024–25 Ethnikos Latsion 2025–26 Anagennisi Deryneia

Performance By Club Club Winners Winning seasons Ermis Aradippou3 1975–76, 1995–96, 2006–07 Akritas Chlorakas 1976–77, 2008–09, 2015–16 THOI Lakatamia 1982–83, 1999–00, 2014–15 Digenis Akritas Morphou 1987–88, 2018–19, 2022–23 PAEEK 1991–92, 2002–03, 2007–08 Chalkanoras Idaliou 1998–99, 2009–10, 2023–24 Iraklis Gerolakkou2 1973–74, 1979–80 Adonis Idaliou 1977–78, 1983–84 Digenis Akritas Ipsona 1981–82, 1988–89 Elpida Xylofagou 1986–87, 2013–14 Othellos Athienou 1990–91, 1993–94 AEZ Zakakiou 1992–93, 1997–98 Ethnikos Latsion 1994–95, 2024–25 SEK Agiou Athanasiou 2001–02, 2004–05 Keravnos Strovolou1 1970–71 Ethnikos Asteras Limassol 1971–72 Neos Aionas Trikomou 1972–73 Orfeas Nicosia 1978–79 Kentro Neotitas Maroniton 1980–81 Orfeas Athienou 1984–85 APEP Pitsilia 1985–86 APEP Pelendriou 1989–90 Rotsidis Mammari 1996–97 ASIL Lysi 2000–01 APOP Kinyras 2003–04 AEM Mesogis 2005–06 Ethnikos Assia 2010–11 AEK Kouklia 2011–12 Karmiotissa 2012–13 P.O. Xylotymbou 2016–17 Onisilos Sotira 2017–18 PAC Omonia 29M 2020–21 Peyia 2014 2021–22 Anagennisi Deryneia 2025–26

Appearances in the third division The below table indicates the total number of seasons each club has participated in the Cypriot Third Division since 1970–71 up to and including the 2026–27 season season.

121 teams have played at least one season in the Cypriot Third Division.

Teams in bold are participating in the 2026-27 Cypriot Third Division.

TeamParticipationsEthnikos Assia29Iraklis Gerolakkou26THOI Lakatamia24Adonis Idaliou23Achyronas Liopetriou22AEK Kythreas19Ethnikos Latsion19Digenis Akritas Morphou18Othellos Athienou18AEZ Zakakiou17Chalkanoras Idaliou17Elpida Xylofagou17Ormideia FC16Akritas Chlorakas15ENAD Polis Chrysochous14Anagennisi Deryneia13ASIL Lysi13MEAP Nisou13PAEEK13AEK Katholiki12APEP FC12Ayia Napa FC12Elia Lythrodonta12Ermis Aradippou12Neos Aionas Trikomou12Digenis Akritas Ipsona11Doxa Katokopias10ASO Ormideia9Digenis Oroklinis9KNM9Achilleas Kaimakli8Anagennisi Germasogeias8Faros Acropoleos8Kouris Erimis8Spartakos Kitiou8Tsaggaris Peledriou8Frenaros FC7Olimpiada Neapolis7Orfeas Athienou7Orfeas Nicosia7OXEN Peristeronas7TeamParticipationsAPEP Pelendriou6ENAD Ayiou Dometiou6Enosis Kokkinotrimithia6Krasava ENY 6Olympias Lympion6Omonia Psevda6SEK Agiou Athanasiou6AEK Ammochostos5AEK Kakopetrias5AEK Kouklia5Amathus Ayiou Tychona5APEA Akrotiri5Apollon Lympion5ASPIS Pylas5Ethnikos Asteras Limassol5Ethnikos Defteras5Kinyras Empas5Peyia 20145AEK/Achilleas Ayiou Theraponta4AEM Mesogis4AEM Morphou4AEP Polemidion4APONA Anagyias4Elpida Astromeriti4Kedros Ayia Marina Skylloura4Rotsidis Mammari4AEN3Anagennisi Larnacas3Anorthosis Mouttagiakas3ASOB Vatili3Atromitos Yeroskipou3Doxa Paliometochou3ENAZ Agia Zoni Limassol3Finikas Ayias Marinas3Fotiakos Frenarou3Keravnos Strovolou3Kissos FC Kissonergas3LALL Lysi3Libanos Kormakiti3Livadia FC 20223Omonia Aradippou3TeamParticipationsP.O. Xylotymbou3Poseidon Larnacas3Sourouklis Troullon3Achyronas Liopetriou2AEK Karava2Anagennisi Trachoni2APEI Ipsona2Apollon Athienou2ATE PEK Ergaton2Enosis Neon Parekklisia2Geroskipou FC2Kormakitis FC2Livadiakos Livadion2Livadiakos/Salamina Livadion2Nikos & Sokratis Erimis2Olympos Xylofagou2Onisilos Sotira2Parthenon Zodeia2AEK Kellion1Achyronas-Onisilos FC1Alki Larnaca1Alki Oroklini1AMEP Parekklisia1APEAN Ayia Napas1APOP Kinyras1APOP Polis1Atlas Aglandjias1Dynamo Pervolion1Ellinismos Akakiou1Ethnikos Achna1FC Episkopis1Karmiotissa Pano Polemidion1Konstantios & Evripidis Trachoniou1Onisilos Sotira 20141Oroklini-Troulloi FC1PAC Omonia 29M1PEFO Olympiakos1POL/AE Maroni1Th.O.I Avgorou1Xilofagou FC1

Notes:

Reference data is up until 2022/23, but the table above is until 2025/26 Tsaggaris Peledriou has 7 participations as Tsaggaris Peledriou and 1 participation as Sotirios Pelendriou. APEP Pitsilias has 4 participations as APEP Limassol and 3 participations as APEP Pitsilias. AEM Mesogis has 2 participations as AEM Mesogis and 2 participations as AEM Mesogis/Giolou.

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

References

External links Cyprus Football Association