Norwegian Third Division

The Norwegian Third Division, also called Norsk Tipping-Ligaen, is the fourth highest division of the men's football league in Norway. Like the rest of the Norwegian football league system, the season runs from spring to autumn, running approximately from April to October. After the 2010 season, the league was reorganised, reducing the number of teams to 164 and halving the number of parallel sections from 24 to 12. After the 2016 season, the league was again reorganised, reducing the number of teams from 164 to 84, and halved the number of groups from twelve to six.

Norsk Tipping-ligaen
Founded1991
1963–1990 (as 4. divisjon)
CountryNorway
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams84 (6 groups of 14 teams)
Level on pyramid4
Promotion toNorwegian Second Division
Relegation toNorwegian Fourth Division
Domestic cup(s)Norwegian Cup
Websitefotball.no
Current: 2023 Norwegian Third Division
Norwegian football
league structure
Eliteserien (Tier 1)
First Division (Tier 2)
Second Division (Tier 3)
Third Division (Tier 4)
Fourth Division (Tier 5)
Fifth Division (Tier 6)
Sixth Division (Tier 7)
Seventh Division (Tier 8)
Eighth Division (Tier 9)
Ninth Division (Tier 10)

All six group winners promote to 2. divisjon, while the bottom four in all groups are relegated to 4. divisjon.

History

1963–2010

The 3. divisjon was known as the 4. divisjon from 1963 until 1990, when the top-tier league changed its name to Tippeligaen, the 2. divisjon became the 1. divisjon and the names of all the lower divisions were adjusted accordingly. Until 2010, there were 24 parallel sections of the 3. divisjon, each consisting of between 10 and 16 teams. The winners paired up and played each other in one home match and one away match in a playoff. Thus, 12 teams were promoted to the 2. divisjon. This system was in place from 2001. The number of teams that were relegated from each section to the 4. divisjon, varied from two to four, depending on the number of teams in each section.

2011–2016

From 2011 to 2016, 3. divisjon consisted of 12 parallel sections of 12 or 14 teams, and the winners of each group was promoted to the 2. divisjon. Ten sections consisted of 14 teams each, from the South of Norway, the last two sections consisted of 12 teams each, from the Northern Norway. In the sections with 14 teams, the bottom three teams were relegated to the 4. divisjon, and in the two sections with 12 teams each, the bottom two teams were relegated.[1]

2017–

After changes in the Norwegian football pyramid, no teams were promoted from the 3. divisjon after the 2016 season. The fourth tier was split into six groups which for the 2017 season consisted of the teams finishing from 7th to 14th in the 2016 2. divisjon groups and the top 4 teams from the 3. divisjon groups along with the 8th best 5th placed teams in the 3. divisjon. The rest of the teams in the 2016 3. divisjon was relegated. As of the 2018 season, the 3. divisjon consist of 6 groups of 14 teams

Like in the rest of the Norwegian Football league system, all the teams play each other twice, once at home and once away. Three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw, and if two teams are equal on points, the one with the best goal difference is above the other on the table. The teams are placed in the 12 sections according to geographic considerations.

Current members

The following 84 clubs are competing in the 2023 Norwegian Third Division.[2]

Reserve teams
Main article: Norwegian reserve football teams

Reserve teams of clubs from the two top divisions can participate in the 3. divisjon. Reserve teams of clubs from the 1. divisjon can not play in the 2. divisjon, and can therefore not be promoted from the 3. divisjon.[3]

Sponsorship

From 2017, 3. divisjon has its title sponsorship rights sold to Norsk Tipping.

Period Sponsor Name
1963–1990No sponsor4. divisjon
1991–20163. divisjon
2017–Norsk TippingNorsk Tipping-ligaen

Winners

2011–2016
SeasonGroup 1Group 2Group 3Group 4Group 5Group 6Group 7Group 8Group 9Group 10Group 11Group 12
2011ØstsidenGjøvikGrorudBirkebeinerenJervStart 21Brann 2FanaTræffBuvikMoFinnsnes
2012Drøbak/FrognSkedsmoLynEidsvold TurnArendalViking 2Arna-BjørnarFørdeSkarbøvikStrindheimBodø/Glimt 2Bossekop
2013SkeidStabæk 2BrumunddalHolmenØrn-HortenJervStordFlorøHerdTillerMedkilaFinnsnes
2014Sprint-JeløyUllernLillestrøm 2DrammenDonnSolaOddaAalesund 2StrindheimStjørdals-BlinkMjølnerSenja
2015OppsalAskerFriggTønsbergPorsStordLyseklosterBrattvågTynsetRosenborg 2MoTromsø 2
2016KråkerøyLynSkedsmoVestfossenViking 2StaalBrann 2HerdEidsvold TurnKolstadSortlandFløya

2017–
SeasonGroup 1Group 2Group 3Group 4Group 5Group 6
2017MossStabæk 2FløyBrattvågStjørdals-BlinkMjølner
2018OppsalKvik HaldenSolaSotraByåsenSenja
2019Eidsvold TurnVålerenga 2FløyVard HaugesundRosenborg 2Fløya
2021Gjøvik-LynØrn HortenStaal JørpelandFriggTræffUllern
2022LynAalesund 2Brann 2Fram LarvikJunkerenStrømsgodset 2
2023LyseklosterTBAViking 2TBAStrindheimFollo

References
  1. Norwegian Football Association website (in Norwegian)
  2. "Avdelingene for Norsk Tipping-ligaen 2023". Norwegian Football Federation (in Norwegian). 25 November 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  3. Norwegian Football Association website (in Norwegian)
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