The 1996 Russian Third League was the 3rd time competition on the fourth level of Russian football was professional. There were 6 zones with 102 teams starting the competition (6 were excluded before the end of the season).
Zone 1 Overview Team Head coach FC Spartak Anapa Igor Zazroyev FC Venets Gulkevichi Anatoli Lyz FC Dynamo-d Stavropol FC Lokomotiv Mineralnye Vody Aleksandr Babayan FC Nart Cherkessk Nurbiy Lakhov FC Dynamo-Imamat Makhachkala Igor Korolyov FC Kuban-d Krasnodar FC Anzhi-2 Kaspiysk Aleksandr Reshetnyak FC Mozdok Vladimir Purikhov FC Astrateks Astrakhan Boris Bashkin FC Nart Nartkala Basir Nauruzov FC Derbent Romez Arzumanyan FC Kabardey-ZET Nizhny Cherek Aniuar Tkhazeplov FC Kommunalnik-Druzhba-d Maykop PFC Spartak-d Nalchik FC Beshtau Lermontov Dmitri Skryabin FC Uralan-d Elista FC Gofrokarton Digora Arsen Tsagolov
Standings
Notes.
FC Uralan-d Elista were excluded from the league after playing 18 games and gaining 23 points. Opponents were awarded a win in the remaining games. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997. FC Gofrokarton Digora were excluded from the league after playing 29 games and gaining 20 points. Opponents were awarded a win in the remaining games. They played their first professional season. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997. FC Gekris Anapa renamed to FC Spartak. FC Dynamo Makhachkala renamed to FC Dynamo-Imamat. FC Kuban-d Krasnodar and PFC Spartak-d Nalchik played their first professional season. FC Anzhi-2 Makhachkala moved to Kaspiysk. FC Iriston Mozdok renamed to FC Mozdok. FC Astrateks Astrakhan and FC Derbent did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997. FC Spartak-2 Nartkala renamed to FC Nart. FC Kabardey-ZET Nizhny Cherek promoted from the Amateur Football League. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997. FC Druzhba-d Maykop renamed to FC Kommunalnik-Druzhba-d Maykop. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
Top goalscorers 23 goals Gennady Korkin (FC Spartak Anapa)
21 goals Aleksandr Kamentsev (FC Venets Gulkevichi)
20 goals
Narvik Sirkhayev (FC Dynamo-Imamat Makhachkala)
19 goals
Sultan Chochuyev (FC Kabardey-ZET Nizhny Cherek) Timur Zakirov (FC Spartak Anapa)
17 goals
Andranik Babayan (FC Lokomotiv Mineralnye Vody) Aliyar Ismailov (FC Anzhi-2 Kaspiysk)
16 goals
Eduard Khachaturyan (FC Mozdok) Yuri Takliyev (FC Nart Cherkessk)
15 goals
Andrei Podgurskiy (FC Spartak Anapa)
Zone 2
Overview
Team Head coach FC Salyut-YuKOS Belgorod Aleksandr Kryukov FC Dynamo-Zhemchuzhina-2 Sochi Vladimir Aleynikov FC Avangard-Kolos Taganrog Boris Sinitsyn FC Spartak-Bratskiy Yuzhny Sergei Antonkin FC Kuban Slavyansk-na-Kubani Nikolai Smirnov FC Zvezda Gorodishche Sergei Mukovnin FC Lokomotiv Yelets Yuri Raznov FC Shakhtyor Shakhty Aleksandr Vyazov FC Niva Slavyansk-na-Kubani Oleg Ivanov FC Izumrud Timashyovsk Vyacheslav Ledovskikh FC Metallurg Krasny Sulin Viktor Shchirov FC Zhemchuzhina-d Sochi FC Dynamo Mikhaylovka Sergei Andreyev FC Rotor-d Volgograd FC APK Morozovsk FC Chernomorets-d Novorossiysk FC Rostselmash-d Rostov-on-Don FC Istochnik Rostov-on-Don Ivan Lyakh
Standings
Notes.
FC Istochnik Rostov-on-Don were excluded from the league after playing 14 games and gaining 30 points. All their results were discarded. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997. FC Salyut-YuKOS Belgorod and FC Lokomotiv Yelets awarded 1 home win each. FC Salyut Belgorod renamed to FC Salyut-YuKOS. FC Dynamo-Zhemchuzhina-2 Sochi played their first professional season. FC Avangard-Kolos Taganrog and FC Chernomorets-d Novorossiysk played their first professional season. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997. FC Zvezda Gorodishche did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997. FC Izumrud Timashyovsk promoted from the Amateur Football League. FC Rostselmash-d Rostov-on-Don did not play professionally in 1995.
Top goalscorers
32 goals
Stanislav Dubrovin (FC Dynamo-Zhemchuzhina-2 Sochi)
20 goals
Aleksandr Bocharnikov (FC Kuban Slavyansk-na-Kubani) Igor Stasyuk (FC Izumrud Timashyovsk)
15 goals
Oleg Akulov (FC Zhemchuzhina-d Sochi)
14 goals
Yevgeni Kuzka (FC Lokomotiv Yelets)
13 goals
Sergei Borodin (FC Zvezda Gorodishche) Vladimir Grishchenko (FC Niva Slavyansk-na-Kubani / FC Chernomorets-d Novorossiysk) Manuk Kakosyan (FC Dynamo-Zhemchuzhina-2 Sochi) Sergei Sedov (FC Avangard-Kolos Taganrog)
12 goals
Andrei Fomichyov (FC Salyut-YuKOS Belgorod) Tatul Mkhitaryan (FC Dynamo Mikhaylovka) Andrei Pakhtusov (FC Niva Slavyansk-na-Kubani) Aleksandr Shtyn (FC Zhemchuzhina-d Sochi) Yuri Veretin (FC Lokomotiv Yelets)
Zone 3
Overview
Team Head coach FC Dynamo-d Moscow FC Mosenergo Moscow Valentin Sysoyev FC Avtomobilist Noginsk Vladimir Bodrov FC Spartak-d Moscow FC Torpedo-Luzhniki-d Moscow FC Roda Moscow Vladimir Opochinskiy FC Avangard-Kortek Kolomna Viktor Korneyev FC Fabus Bronnitsy Vladimir Sautin FC Mashinostroitel Sergiyev Posad Andrei Leksakov PFC CSKA-d Moscow FC Torgmash Lyubertsy Anatoli Leshchenkov FC Monolit Moscow Yuri Vereykin FC Titan Reutov Valeri Vdovin FC Krasnogvardeyets Moscow Aleksandr Rakov FC Dynamo-2 Moscow FC Oka Kolomna Aleksandr Borisenkov FC Obninsk Yuri Mosolev FC Chertanovo Moscow Mikhail Karatayev FC Smena Moscow Vladimir Yevseyev FC Lokomotiv-d Moscow FC TRASKO Moscow Aleksandr Gusev
Standings
Notes.
FC TRASKO Moscow were excluded from the league after playing 18 games and gaining 7 points. All their results were discarded. FC Mashinostroitel Sergiyev Posad awarded 1 home win. FC Dynamo-d Moscow was not promoted as reserve teams were not eligible for promotion. FC Torpedo-d Moscow renamed to FC Torpedo-Luzhniki-d. FC Roda Moscow promoted from the Amateur Football League. FC Obninsk did not play professionally in 1995 and did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
Top goalscorers
25 goals
Sergei Artyomov (FC Dynamo-d Moscow) Sergei Bespalykh (FC Avangard-Kortek Kolomna)
19 goals
Igor Reutov (FC Avtomobilist Noginsk)
18 goals
Anatoli Balaluyev (FC Avtomobilist Noginsk)
17 goals
Aleksandr Samorodov (FC Mosenergo Moscow)
16 goals
Nikolai Klikin (FC Dynamo-2 Moscow)
15 goals
Aleksandr Kuptsov (FC Fabus Bronnitsy)
14 goals
Sergei Burtsev (FC Torgmash Lyubertsy) Andrei Dyomkin (FC Dynamo-d Moscow) Konstantin Kaynov (FC Fabus Bronnitsy)
Zone 4
Overview
Team Head coach FC Orekhovo Orekhovo-Zuyevo Leonid Ostroushko FC Volga Tver Yuri Zubkov FC Oryol Vladimir Brykin FC Torpedo Vladimir Nikolai Pavelyev FC Dynamo Bryansk Viktor Zimin FC Mashinostroitel Pskov Sergei Markelov FC Neftyanik Yaroslavl Valentin Volkov FC Zenit-d St. Petersburg FC Luch Tula Aleksandr Chimbiryov FC Lokomotiv-d St. Petersburg FC Spartak Bryansk Aleksandr Sekselev FC Kristall Dyatkovo Nikolai Shipka FC Bulat Cherepovets Aleksandr Sokolov FC Karelia-Erzi Petrozavodsk Aleksei Strepetov FC Spartak Kostroma Valeri Volchanovskiy FC Volochanin Vyshny Volochyok Nikolai Yakovlev
Standings
Notes.
FC Karelia-Erzi Petrozavodsk were excluded from the league after playing 24 games and gaining 24 points. Opponents were awarded a win in the remaining games. They did not play professionally in 1995 and did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997 FC Trion-Volga Tver renamed to FC Volga. FC Lokomotiv-d St. Petersburg played their first professional season. FC Spartak Bryansk promoted from the Amateur Football League. FC Kristall Dyatkovo and FC Bulat Cherepovets did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
Top goalscorers
18 goals
Vladislav Khakhalev (FC Torpedo Vladimir)
15 goals
Ruslan Usikov (FC Dynamo Bryansk)
14 goals
Igor Aksyonov (FC Neftyanik Yaroslavl) Valeri Korneyev (FC Spartak Bryansk)
13 goals
Sergey Ulezlo (FC Volga Tver)
11 goals
Aleksei Barikov (FC Oryol) Pavel Sukhov (FC Orekhovo Orekhovo-Zuyevo)
10 goals
Igor Varakin (FC Orekhovo Orekhovo-Zuyevo)
9 goals
Stanislav Borisov (FC Oryol)
8 goals
Yevgeni Leonov (FC Karelia-Erzi Petrozavodsk) Andrei Syomin (FC Oryol) Konstantin Taptov (FC Spartak Bryansk)
Zone 5
Overview
Team Head coach FC Spartak Tambov Vladimir Kovylin FC Volga Ulyanovsk Sergei Sedyshev FC Salyut Saratov Vladimir Khoroltsev FC Energetik Uren Oleg Yevtushenko FC Kristall Sergach Viktor Pavlyukov FC Metallurg Vyksa Mikhail Beketov FC Biokhimik-Mordovia Saransk Igor Shinkarenko FC Stroitel Morshansk Vyacheslav Vlasov FC Iskra Engels Yevgeni Kostyryachenko FC Progress Zelenodolsk Aleksandr Klobukov FC Khimik Dzerzhinsk Mikhail Senyurin FC Volga Balakovo Aleksandr Krokhin FC Neftyanik Pokhvistnevo Anatoli Valkov FC Druzhba Yoshkar-Ola Valeri Bogdanov FC Kraneks Ivanovo Yuri Krivolapov FC Lokomotiv-d Nizhny Novgorod
Standings
Notes.
FC Energetik Uren and FC Lokomotiv-d Nizhny Novgorod played their first professional season. FC Biokhimik-Mordovia Saransk promoted from the Amateur Football League where it played in 1995 as FC Biokhimik Saransk. FC Stroitel Morshansk and FC Iskra Engels promoted from the Amateur Football League. FC Kraneks Ivanovo did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
Top goalscorers 25 goals
Aleksandr Khalzov (FC Spartak Tambov)
19 goals
Sergei Pervushin (FC Spartak Tambov)
15 goals
Vladimir Nosov (FC Kristall Sergach)
14 goals
Dmitri Borisko (FC Volga Ulyanovsk) Andrei Eskov (FC Iskra Engels)
12 goals
Boris Goncharov (FC Spartak Tambov) Vladimir Kopylov (FC Druzhba Yoshkar-Ola)
11 goals
Aleksandr Fyodorov (FC Progress Zelenodolsk)
10 goals
Eduard Bazarov (FC Volga Balakovo) Sergei Glazunov (FC Salyut Saratov) Yuri Plyaskevich (FC Stroitel Morshansk) Vladimir Rokunov (FC Biokhimik-Mordovia Saransk)
Zone 6
Overview
Team Head coach FC Sodovik Sterlitamak Sergei Maksimov FC Uralets Nizhny Tagil Anatoli Garenskikh FC Metiznik Magnitogorsk Aleksandr Kukushkin FC Dynamo Perm Anatoli Timofeyev FC Gazovik Orenburg Viktor Dyomkin FC Neftyanik Bugulma German Bobek FC Trubnik Kamensk-Uralsky Leonid Mosolov FC Elektron Vyatskiye Polyany Yuri Osin FC Dynamo-Gazovik-d Tyumen FC Gornyak Kushva Viktor Konshin FC Gornyak Kachkanar Viktor Shlyayev FC Uralmash-d Yekaterinburg FC KAMAZ-Chally-d Naberezhnye Chelny
Standings
Notes.
FC Gornyak-Vanadiy Kachkanar renamed to FC Gornyak. Gornyak was excluded from the league after playing 12 games and gaining 22 points. Opponents were awarded a win in the remaining games. FC Dynamo Perm awarded 1 home win. FC Planeta Bugulma renamed to FC Neftyanik. FC Dynamo-Gazovik-d Tyumen, FC Gornyak Kushva and FC Uralmash-d Yekaterinburg did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
Top goalscorers 13 goals
Konstantin Ilyinykh (FC Dynamo Perm)
12 goals
Aleksei Alekseyev (FC Uralets Nizhny Tagil) Yuri Petrov (FC Dynamo Perm)
11 goals
Sergei Balandin (FC Metiznik Magnitogorsk)
9 goals
Sergei Afanasyev (FC Metiznik Magnitogorsk) Igor Degtyaryov (FC Gazovik Orenburg) Albert Gubaydulin (FC Sodovik Sterlitamak) Dmitri Zakharov (FC Gornyak Kachkanar)
8 goals
Vyacheslav Khovanskiy (FC Trubnik Kamensk-Uralsky) Yuri Panov (FC Sodovik Sterlitamak) Andrei Sviridov (FC Metiznik Magnitogorsk) Yuri Vetlugayev (FC Uralets Nizhny Tagil)
See also 1996 Russian Top League 1996 Russian First League 1996 Russian Second League