Maltese First Division

Maltese First Division

File:MalteseDiv1.jpg
Founded	1910
Country	Malta
Number of teams	14
Level on pyramid	2
Promotion to	Maltese Premier League
Relegation to	Maltese Second Division
Domestic cup(s)	U*Bet FA Trophy Maltese First Division knock-out
Current champions	Gzira United F.C. (2015–16)
Current: 2016–17

The Maltese First Division (also known as the Bank of Valletta First Division due to sponsorship reasons) is the second-highest division in Maltese football, behind the Maltese Premier League and above the Maltese Second Division. The league has been running for many years.

14 teams take part in the league. The top two teams are promoted to the Maltese Premier League, whilst the three lowest-finishing teams are relegated to the Maltese Second Division. The third place team plays the tenth place team in the Maltese Premier League in a play-off game for promotion. Due to the expansion of the Maltese Premier League starting from the season 2017/18, 3 teams will be promoted while the 4th placed team will face the play-off game. On the other hand, only 2 teams will get relegated to the Maltese Second Division.

On January 13, 2011, the Malta Football Association decided to expand the league to 12 teams as from season 2011–12, and has since expanded to 14 teams. The top two placed teams will get promoted to the Maltese Premier League while the 3rd best team will face the play-off. As from the 2017/18 Maltese First Division, only 2 teams will be relegated automatically, while the team finishing 12th will face a play-out against the 3rd placed team from the Second Division.

Participating teams in 2016–17

Club	2016–17 Maltese First Division
Sirens F.C.	Promoted from Maltese Second Division, 2nd
Melita F.C.	-
Fgura United F.C.	-
Marsa F.C.	Promoted from Maltese Second Division, 1st
Gharghur F.C.	Promoted from Maltese Second Division, 3rd
Vittoriosa Stars FC	-
Lija Athletic F.C.	-
Mqabba F.C.	-
Rabat Ajax FC	-
Naxxar Lions	Relegated from Maltese Premier League, 11th
Qormi F.C.	Relegated from Maltese Premier League, 12th
Senglea Athletic F.C.	Played play off for Maltese Premier League lost against St. Andrews F.C.
Pietà Hotspurs F.C.	-
Żebbuġ Rangers F.C.	-

History

Year	1st Position	2nd Position	Relegated
1998–99	Zurrieq
1999–00	Hamrun
2000–01	Marsa	Lija Athletic	Tarxien, Zurrieq
2001–02	Marsaxlokk	Mosta	Qormi, Luxol
2002–03	Msida	Balzan	Gozo, Xghajra
2003–04	St.Patrick	Lija Athletic	Tarxien, Rabat Ajax
2004–05	Hamrun	Mosta	Balzan, Gozo
2005–06	St.George's	Marsa	Lija Athletic, Luxol
2006–07	Hamrun	Mqabba	San Gwann, Naxxar
2007–08	Tarxien	Qormi	Mellieha, Marsa
2008–09	Dingli Swallows	Vittoriosa Stars	Rabat Ajax, Senglea
2009–10	Marsaxlokk	Vittoriosa Stars	St.Patrick, San Gwann
2010–11	Balzan Youths	Mqabba	Pietà Hotspurs, Msida Saint-Joseph
2011–12	Melita	Rabat Ajax	St. Patrick F.C, St. George's F.C
2012–13	Naxxar Lions	Vittoriosa Stars	Dingli Swallows, Mqabba
2013–14	Pietà Hotspurs FC	Zebbug Rangers F.C.	Hamrun Spartans F.C., Zejtun Corinthians F.C.
2014–15	Pembroke Athleta F.C.	St. Andrews F.C.	Żurrieq F.C., Msida Saint-Joseph F.C., Birzebbuga St. Peters F.C.
2015–16	Gzira United F.C.	Ħamrun Spartans	Gudja United F.C., St. George's F.C., San Gwann F.C.

2016–17 Maltese First Division League teams

Sirens F.C.

Melita F.C.

Fgura United F.C.

Marsa F.C.

Gharghur F.C.

Vittoriosa Stars F.C.

Lija Athletic F.C.

Mqabba F.C.

Rabat Ajax F.C.

Naxxar Lions F.C.

Qormi F.C.

Senglea Athletic F.C.

Pieta Hotspurs F.C.

Zebbug Rangers F.C.

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Locations of the Maltese First Division League 2016–17 teams

External links

• League at Maltafootball.com
• League at soccerway.com
• League321.com - Maltese football league tables, records & statistics database.