| Countries | Scotland (One team in England) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1923 |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Levels on pyramid | 4 |
| Promotion to | Scottish Second Division |
| Relegation to | No relegation |
| Domestic cup(s) | Scottish Cup League Cup Challenge Cup |
| Current champions | Arbroath (2011–12) |
| 2011–12 Scottish Third Division | |
The Scottish Football League Third Division is the lowest division of the Scottish Football League and the fourth overall in the Scottish football league system.
The Third Division consists of ten teams with the champion being automatically promoted to the Second Division at the end of each season. The clubs that finish 2nd, 3rd and 4th enter a play-off with the 9th placed team of the Second Division.
There is no relegation from the Third Division.
The teams play each other four times with three points for a victory, one point for a draw and zero points for a loss.
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The Scottish Football League has introduced a third division on three occasions.
An original Third Division was inaugurated in time for the 1923–24 season. The Division was an actual third tier of the Scottish League, made up largely of provincial sides. The initial championship was won by Arthurlie, who were promoted along with East Stirlingshire. Although Leith Athletic were admitted the following season many clubs in the division struggled financially with Dumbarton Harp resigning during 1924–25. The following season was to be the last for this incarnation, with the competition left uncompleted as struggling teams failed to fulfil their fixtures. Of the members all but Forfar Athletic, who were co-opted into the higher division, were reassigned to non-league football.[1]
The notion of a third tier in the Scottish Football League returned for the 1946–47 season when the 'C' Division was founded. In contrast to he earlier version the 'C' Division was a curious amalgamation of minor clubs and reserve teams, with the first season made up of the first teams of Stirling Albion (promoted as champions), Leith Athletic (also promoted), East Stirlingshire, Forfar Athletic, Montrose, Brechin City and Edinburgh City. The Division continued in this form for three seasons with a fairly fluid membership, although at the end of each season a non-reserve team was crowned champions and duly promoted.
The competition was restructured for the 1949–50 season season when the number of reserve sides was significantly expanded and the Division divided into two sections, the South-East (soon renamed the North-East) and South-West. Promotion became rarer as the reserve sides of the bigger clubs such as Rangers and Aberdeen came to dominate, Brechin City's victory in the North-East section in the 1953–54 season was the sole promotion managed in the new format before its final season. The competition completed its final season in 1954–55 when Aberdeen II won the North-East section and Partick Thistle II the South-West. Three non-reserve sides, Montrose, East Stirlingshire and Berwick Rangers remained in the North-East section with two, Dumbarton and Stranraer in the South-West. All five were admitted to full membership of the Scottish Football League.[2]
From 1994 to 1998 the new Third Division was in fact the fourth level in the Scottish Football League but became the third when the member teams of the Scottish Premier Division broke off to form the Scottish Premier League.
The division contains ten teams and, until recently, each season the top two teams were promoted to the Second Division. As of the 2005–06 season, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed teams go into a play off with the 9th place team from the Second Division. There is no direct relegation from the Scottish Third Division but since the 2005–06 season if a club finishes bottom for three successive seasons then they will have their full membership of the SFL suspended. The club will then play the next two seasons as a non-voting associate member after which the full members shall vote on the fate of the suspended club.
On 20 July 2007, it was announced that the Scottish Football League would be sponsored by Scottish soft drink Irn-Bru for the next three seasons.[3]
Listed below are the teams competing in the season 2011–12 Third Division.
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Queen's Park | Hampden Park | 52,500 |
| Clyde | Broadwood Stadium | 8,029 |
| Stranraer | Stair Park | 5,600 |
| East Stirlingshire | Ochilview Park[a] | 5,267 |
| Berwick Rangers | Shielfield Park | 4,131 |
| Peterhead | Balmoor | 4,000 |
| Alloa Athletic | Recreation Park | 3,412 |
| Elgin City | Borough Briggs | 3,927 |
| Annan Athletic | Galabank | 3,500 |
| Montrose | Links Park | 3,292 |
a.^ East Stirlingshire currently groundshare with Stenhousemuir
b.^ Team failed to gain promotion via play-offs
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