Cypriot Third Division

Cypriot Third Division

Organising body	Cyprus Football Association
Founded	1970 (1970)
Country	Cyprus
Confederation	UEFA
Number of clubs	16
Level on pyramid	3
Promotion to	Cypriot Second Division
Relegation to	STOK Elite Division
Domestic cup	Cypriot Cup for lower divisions
Current champions	Anagennisi Deryneia (1st title) (2025-26)
Most championships	Akritas (3 titles) Digenis (3 titles) Ermis (3 titles) PAEEK (3 titles) THOI (3 titles) Chalkanoras Idaliou (3 titles)
Website	http://www.cfa.com.cy/
Current: 2026–27 Cypriot Third Division

The Cypriot Third Division (Greek: Πρωτάθλημα Γ΄ Κατηγορίας) 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:

1. 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.
2. 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 Aradippou 3 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 Gerolakkou 2 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 Strovolou 1 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.

Team Participations Ethnikos Assia 29 Iraklis Gerolakkou 26 THOI Lakatamia 24 Adonis Idaliou 23 Achyronas Liopetriou 22 AEK Kythreas 19 Ethnikos Latsion 19 Digenis Akritas Morphou 18 Othellos Athienou 18 AEZ Zakakiou 17 Chalkanoras Idaliou 17 Elpida Xylofagou 17 Ormideia FC 16 Akritas Chlorakas 15 ENAD Polis Chrysochous 14 Anagennisi Deryneia 13 ASIL Lysi 13 MEAP Nisou 13 PAEEK 13 AEK Katholiki 12 APEP FC 12 Ayia Napa FC 12 Elia Lythrodonta 12 Ermis Aradippou 12 Neos Aionas Trikomou 12 Digenis Akritas Ipsona 11 Doxa Katokopias 10 ASO Ormideia 9 Digenis Oroklinis 9 KNM 9 Achilleas Kaimakli 8 Anagennisi Germasogeias 8 Faros Acropoleos 8 Kouris Erimis 8 Spartakos Kitiou 8 Tsaggaris Peledriou 8 Frenaros FC 7 Olimpiada Neapolis 7 Orfeas Athienou 7 Orfeas Nicosia 7 OXEN Peristeronas 7

Team Participations APEP Pelendriou 6 ENAD Ayiou Dometiou 6 Enosis Kokkinotrimithia 6 Krasava ENY 6 Olympias Lympion 6 Omonia Psevda 6 SEK Agiou Athanasiou 6 AEK Ammochostos 5 AEK Kakopetrias 5 AEK Kouklia 5 Amathus Ayiou Tychona 5 APEA Akrotiri 5 Apollon Lympion 5 ASPIS Pylas 5 Ethnikos Asteras Limassol 5 Ethnikos Defteras 5 Kinyras Empas 5 Peyia 2014 5 AEK/Achilleas Ayiou Theraponta 4 AEM Mesogis 4 AEM Morphou 4 AEP Polemidion 4 APONA Anagyias 4 Elpida Astromeriti 4 Kedros Ayia Marina Skylloura 4 Rotsidis Mammari 4 AEN 3 Anagennisi Larnacas 3 Anorthosis Mouttagiakas 3 ASOB Vatili 3 Atromitos Yeroskipou 3 Doxa Paliometochou 3 ENAZ Agia Zoni Limassol 3 Finikas Ayias Marinas 3 Fotiakos Frenarou 3 Keravnos Strovolou 3 Kissos FC Kissonergas 3 LALL Lysi 3 Libanos Kormakiti 3 Livadia FC 2022 3 Omonia Aradippou 3

Team Participations P.O. Xylotymbou 3 Poseidon Larnacas 3 Sourouklis Troullon 3 Achyronas Liopetriou 2 AEK Karava 2 Anagennisi Trachoni 2 APEI Ipsona 2 Apollon Athienou 2 ATE PEK Ergaton 2 Enosis Neon Parekklisia 2 Geroskipou FC 2 Kormakitis FC 2 Livadiakos Livadion 2 Livadiakos/Salamina Livadion 2 Nikos & Sokratis Erimis 2 Olympos Xylofagou 2 Onisilos Sotira 2 Parthenon Zodeia 2 AEK Kellion 1 Achyronas-Onisilos FC 1 Alki Larnaca 1 Alki Oroklini 1 AMEP Parekklisia 1 APEAN Ayia Napas 1 APOP Kinyras 1 APOP Polis 1 Atlas Aglandjias 1 Dynamo Pervolion 1 Ellinismos Akakiou 1 Ethnikos Achna 1 FC Episkopis 1 Karmiotissa Pano Polemidion 1 Konstantios & Evripidis Trachoniou 1 Onisilos Sotira 2014 1 Oroklini-Troulloi FC 1 PAC Omonia 29M 1 PEFO Olympiakos 1 POL/AE Maroni 1 Th.O.I Avgorou 1 Xilofagou FC 1

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

External links

• Cyprus Football Association