The 2016–17 Third Amateur Football League season was the 67th season of the Bulgarian Third Amateur Football League. The league is equivalent to the third level of the Bulgarian football pyramid, with a total of four divisions within it. The divisions themselves are geographically separated into Northwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest. This was the first season following the 2016 reorganization of the Bulgarian football league system, which saw the emergence of new a competition format, including the First and Second Professional Football Leagues.
Changes from the 2015–16 season
Club Movements Between V Group and B Group The champions of the four 2015–16 V AFG divisions gained promotion to the 2016–17 Second League: Chernomorets Balchik from V AFG Northeast and Nesebar from V AFG Southeast, Etar Veliko Tarnovo from V AFG Northwest and CSKA Sofia from V AFG Southwest. Chernomorets Balchik refused to participate for financial reasons, while CSKA Sofia was invited by the Bulgarian Football Union directly to the newly formed First League.
In return, four teams were relegated to the Third League: Dobrudzha Dobrich, Septemvri Simitli, Lokomotiv Mezdra and Litex Lovech II.
Club Movements Between V Group and the Regional Groups Northeast: Ticha Dolni Chiflik and Dve Mogili were relegated last season to regional divisions. Benkovski Byala, Himik Devnya and Shumen did not apply for participation. Dobrudzha Dobrich was relegated from B Group. Marisan Ruse merged with Ruse into Lokomotiv Ruse, while Inter Plachidol moved to Dobrich. The new clubs promoted from the regional divisions were Spartak Varna, Dorostol Silistra and Hitrino. Northwest: Yantra Gabrovo, Botev Kozloduy and Gigant Belene were relegated from last season to regional divisions. Lokomotiv Mezdra, relegated from B Group last season, was not granted permission to participate due to unpaid dues to the Bulgarian Football Union. The new clubs promoted from the regional divisions were Miziya Knezha and Kom Berkovitsa. Dunav 98 Selanovtsi merged with Botev Kozloduy into Parva Atomna Kozloduy, while Botev Lukovit merged with Litex Lovech into Litex Lovech. Southeast: Chernomorets Burgas and Sliven were relegated from last season to regional divisions, while Spartak Plovdiv resigned shortly before the start of the season. Levski Karlovo joined the Second League. The new clubs promoted from the regional divisions were Atletik Kuklen, Arda Kardzhali, Vereya II, Elhovo and Lyubimets. The latter took the place of Spartak Plovdiv. Southwest: Balkan Varvara and Lokomotiv Sofia relegated from last season to regional divisions. Vitosha Bistritsa and Septemvri Sofia joined the Second League. Furthermore, Sofia 2010 merged into Tsarsko Selo and also joined the Second League. Septemvri Simitli was relegated from B Group. The new clubs promoted from the regional divisions were Chavdar Etropole, Hebar Pazardzhik, Marek Dupnitsa, Svoboda Peshtera and Balkan Botevgrad. Malesh Mikrevo merged with Pirin Razlog to form Pirin Razlog (11th in B Group last season and subsequently merged with Septemvri Sofia); Chiko Byaga merged with Hebar Pazardzhik into Hebar Pazardzhik, and Pravets merged with Chavdar Etropole into Chavdar Etropole.
Northeast group Stadia and locations
Team City Stadium Capacity Botev Novi Pazar Novi Pazar Gradski 8,000 Chernomorets Balchik Balchik Gradski 3,100 Dobrudzha Dobrich Dobrich Druzhba 12,500 Dorostol Silistra Silistra Louis Eyer 12,000 Hitrino Hitrino Hitrino Inter Dobrich Dobrich Druzhba (artificial ground) Kaliakra Kavarna Kavarna Kavarna 5,000 Kubrat Kubrat Gradski 6,000 Lokomotiv Ruse Ruse Dunav 19,960 Spartak Varna Varna Lokomotiv 1,000 Suvorovo Suvorovo Suvorovo 1,000 Svetkavitsa Targovishte Targovishte Dimitar Burkov 5,000 Septemvri Tervel Tervel Septemvri 700
Regular season
Championship round
Relegation round
Southeast group
Stadia and locations
Team City Stadium Capacity Arda Kardzhali Perperek Stadium, Perperek 420 Asenovets Asenovgrad Shipka 4,000 Atletik Kuklen Atletik 1,000 Borislav Parvomay Gradski 8,000 Dimitrovgrad Dimitrovgrad Minyor 10,000 Elhovo Elhovo Stefan Karadzha Eurocollege Plovdiv Eurocollege Sport Complex, Orizari Gigant Saedinenie Saedinenie 5,000 Karnobat Karnobat Gradski 3,000 Lyubimets Lyubimets Gradski 4,000 Maritsa Plovdiv Maritsa 8,000 Minyor Radnevo Minyor 2,000 Rakovski Rakovski Franz Kokov 3,000 Rozova Dolina Kazanlak Sevtopolis 15,000 Svilengrad Svilengrad Kolodruma 1,750 Uragan Boyadzhik Madaba Stadium, Kabile Vereya II Stara Zagora Trace Arena 3,000 Zagorets Nova Zagora Zagorets 5,900
League table
Northwest group
Stadia and locations
Team City Stadium Capacity Bdin Vidin Vidin Georgi Benkovski 15,000 Kariana Erden Erden Kariana Sport Complex 1,000 Miziya Knezha Knezha Gradski 1,000 Kom Berkovitsa Berkovitsa Mramor 3,000 Levski Levski Levski 6,000 Litex Lovech Lovech Gradski 8,100 Juventus Malchika Malchika Georgi Karchev 1,000 Partizan Cherven Bryag Cherven Bryag Gradski 700 Parva Atomna Kozloduy Kozloduy Hristo Botev 3,000 Pavlikeni Pavlikeni Gancho Panov 10,000 Sevlievo Sevlievo Rakovski 5,000 Vihar Slavyanovo Slavyanovo Gradski 1,000 Akademik Svishtov Svishtov Akademik 13,500 Tryavna Tryavna Gradski 3,000 Yantra Gabrovo Gabrovo Hristo Botev 14,000
League table
Southwest group
Stadia and locations
Team City Stadium Capacity Balkan Botevgrad Botevgrad Hristo Botev 8,000 Belasitsa Petrich Petrich Kolarovo, Kolarovo Botev Ihtiman Ihtiman Hristo Botev 5,000 Chavdar Etropole Etropole Chavdar 5,600 Chepinets Velingrad Velingrad Chepinets 8,000 Germanea Sapareva Banya Sapareva Banya Sapareva Banya 500 Hebar Pazardzhik Pazardzhik Georgi Benkovski 13,128 Marek Dupnitsa Dupnitsa Bonchuk 8,050 Minyor Pernik Pernik Minyor 8,000 Pirin Gotse Delchev Gotse Delchev Gradski 5,000 Pirin Razlog Razlog Gradski 6,500 Rilski Sportist Samokov Samokov Iskar 7,000 Septemvri Simitli Simitli Struma 8,000 Slivnishki Geroy Slivnitsa Slivnishki Geroy 7,000 Strumska Slava Radomir Gradski 5,000 Svoboda Peshtera Peshtera Gradski 3,500 Velbazhd Kyustendil Kyustendil Osogovo 13,000 Vihren Sandanski Sandanski Sandanski 6,000
League table
References