1996 Belarusian First League

Belarusian First League
Season	1996
Champions	Transmash Mogilev
Promoted	Transmash Mogilev; Kommunalnik Slonim
Relegated	none
Matches played	156
Goals scored	412 (2.64 per match)
	← 1995 1997 →

1996 Belarusian First League was the fifth season of 2nd level football championship in Belarus. It started in April and ended in November 1996.

Team changes from 1995 season

Winners of 1995 Belarusian First League Naftan-Devon Novopolotsk were promoted to Belarusian Premier League. Khimvolokno Grodno, who finished 15th, relegated to the Second League, but were disbanded before the start of 1996 season.

Two best teams of 1995 Second League (Maxim-Orsha and Stroitel Bereza) were promoted to the First League.

The lowest-placed team of 1995 Premier League Bobruisk originally relegated to the First League, but was disbanded before the start of 1996 season due to financial troubles. Fomalgaut Borisov and Kimovets Vitebsk, who finished 3rd and 14th last year, also disbaded for various reasons, thus reducing the league to only 13 teams for this season.

KPF Slonim were renamed to Kommunalnik Slonim. Second League winners Maxim-Orsha were renamed to Maxim-Legmash Orsha. Brestbytkhim Brest relocated to the city of Kobrin and were renamed to FC Kobrin.

Overview

Transmash Mogilev won the league and were promoted to Premier League, as were league runners-up Kommunalnik Slonim. No team relegated to the Second League as the league was expanded to 16 teams in 1997.

Teams and locations

Team	Location	Position in 1995
Kommunalnik Pinsk	Pinsk	2
Kardan-Flyers	Grodno	4
Kommunalnik Slonim	Slonim	5
Kobrin	Kobrin	6
Transmash	Mogilev	7
Khimik	Svetlogorsk	8
Gomel	Gomel	9
Lokomotiv	Vitebsk	10
Torpedo	Zhodino	11
Dinamo-Juni	Minsk	12
Stroitel Starye Dorogi	Starye Dorogi	13
Maxim-Legmash	Orsha	Second League, Group B, 1
Stroitel Bereza	Bereza	Second League, Group A, 2