The Maltese Challenge League (referred to as the BOV Challenge League for sponsorship reasons) is the second-highest division in Maltese football, behind the Maltese Premier League. The First Division was the precursor of the present Premier League until the latter was revamped for the 1980–81 season with the Maltese Challenge League instituted for the 2020–21 season following the premature end of the previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Format
Since the 2022–23 season, the league is made up of eighteen teams. Over the course of the season, each team plays twice against the others in the league, resulting in each team completing thirty-four games in total. Three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the table by: Total points gained
In the need of a tie-breaker, a play-off game is played. At the end of the season, the top two teams are directly promoted to the Premier League; an additional place is reserved for the winner of the relegation play-off between the twelfth-placed Premier League team and the third-placed Maltese Challenge League side. The four lowest-finishing teams are relegated to the National Amateur League.
Venues Ta' Qali Hamrun Centenary Stadium Victor Tedesco Stadium Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 1,962
Results
+ Year Champions Runner-up Third place (Promotion) Relegated 1996–97Malta 1996/97 Xgħajra Tornados Tarxien Rainbows Santa Luċija, Għaxaq 1997–98Season 1997/98 - Rothmans Division 1 - Final Classification Rabat Ajax Żabbar St. Patrick St. George's, Dingli Swallows 1998–99Malta 1998/99 Gozo Żurrieq Mellieħa, Siggiewi 1999–00Malta 1999/2000 Ħamrun Spartans Xgħajra Tornados Gżira United, Żebbuġ Rangers 2000–01 Marsa Lija Athletic Tarxien Rainbows, Żurrieq 2001–02 Marsaxlokk Mosta Qormi, St. Andrews 2002–03 Msida St. Joseph Balzan Gozo, Xgħajra Tornados 2003–04 Żabbar St. Patrick Lija Athletic Tarxien Rainbows, Rabat Ajax 2004–05 Ħamrun Spartans Mosta Balzan, Gozo 2005–06 St. George's Marsa Lija Athletic, St. Andrews 2006–07 Ħamrun Spartans Mqabba San Ġwann, Naxxar Lions 2007–08 Tarxien Rainbows Qormi Mellieħa, Marsa 2008–09 Dingli Swallows Vittoriosa Stars (No Promotion) Rabat Ajax, Senglea Athletic 2009–10 Marsaxlokk Vittoriosa Stars Żabbar St. Patrick, San Ġwann 2010–11 Balzan Mqabba Mosta Pietà Hotspurs, Msida St. Joseph 2011–12 Melita Rabat Ajax Żabbar St. Patrick, St. George's 2012–13 Naxxar Lions Vittoriosa Stars Dingli Swallows, Mqabba 2013–14 Pietà Hotspurs Żebbuġ Rangers Ħamrun Spartans, Żejtun Corinthians 2014–15 Pembroke Athleta St. Andrews Żurrieq, Msida St. Joseph, Birżebbuġa St. Peter's 2015–16 Gżira United Ħamrun Spartans Gudja United, St. George's, San Ġwann 2016–17 Lija Athetlic Senglea Athletic Naxxar Lions Fgura United, Għargħur 2017–18 Qormi Pietà Hotspurs Żabbar St. Patrick, Melita, Rabat Ajax 2018–19 Sirens Gudja United Santa Luċija Marsa, San Ġwann 2019–20 Zejtun Corinthians Lija Athetlic No Relegation 2020–21 No Promotion Qormi 2021–22 Żebbuġ Rangers Marsaxlokk (Group A Runner-up)Pietà Hotspurs (Group B Runner-up) Senglea Athletic, Mgarr United, Luqa St. Andrew's, Pembroke Athleta, Rabat Ajax, St. George's, 2022–23 Sliema Wanderers Naxxar Lions Marsaskala, Mqabba, Mtarfa, Qrendi, San Gwann, Vittoriosa Stars 2023–24 Melita Żabbar St. Patrick Attard, Msida St. Joseph, Zejtun Corinthians, Luqa St. Andrew's 2024–25 Valletta Tarxien Rainbows Lija Athetlic, Senglea Athletic 2025–26 Balzan Birżebbuġa St. Peter's Marsa, Mtarfa
References
External links First Division on Malta Football Association