The TFF 3. Lig (), currently referred to as Nesine 3. Lig for sponsorship reasons, is the fourth level in the Turkish football league system. It was founded in the 2001–02 season as a continuation of then third level division Turkish Third Football League.Turkish Third Football League (in Turkish: Türkiye Üçüncü Futbol Ligi or shortly Üçüncü Lig or 3. Lig) is a defunct football league in Turkey. It was the third level division in Turkish football since its foundation in 1967–68 until the formation of the new league system in 2001-02. The Turkish Third Football League continued as TFF Third League in the new league system after 2001, but this time as the fourth layer. The third level of Turkish League was initially renamed as TFF Second League Category A, later TFF Second League. A comparison of new and old league systems can be seen in "see also" section of this article.
League format
The league is played with 64 teams in four groups. The winners of each group are directly promoted to TFF Second League. In each group the 2nd placed teams through 6th placed teams play promotion play-offs to determine the last two teams to be promoted. Each runner-up placed team of every group will play in the play-off 3rd round. The numbers 3 and 6 and the numbers 4 and numbers 5 will compete in the 1st round in a single match against each other, the numbers 3 and 4 having the home advantage. In the 2nd round the winners of the 1st round will compete against each other in a home and away game. The higher ranked clubs in the league have the home advantage in the second game. In the 3rd round the winners of the second round will play against the league runner-ups in a home and away match, the latter having the home advantage. The play-off finals will be between the winners of the 3rd round in group I versus II and between group III versus IV. The bottom three teams in each group are relegated to Turkish Regional Amateur League.
Seasons
1967–68 season
League was founded in 1967–68. In the first year 17 teams competed. Two teams relegated from Turkish Second Football League: Beyoğluspor, Davutpaşa. Tekirdağspor, Çanakkalespor, Çorumspor, Elazığspor, Muğlaspor, Düzcespor, Eskişehir Demirspor, Kırıkkalespor, Nazillispor (founded in 1967 and dissolved in 1975), Konya İdman Yurdu, Tarsus İdman Yurdu, Ceyhanspor, Lüleburgazspor, Tekirdağspor, İskenderunspor, and Hatayspor were other teams whose applications were accepted by TFF. At the end of the season winner promoted to TFF Second League, no team relegated.
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Amatör Futbol Ligleri1967–68Düzcespor no relegation Promotion from amateur leagues: Season Promoted to Turkish Third Football League1967–68 Tekirdağspor, Çanakkalespor, Çorumspor, Elazığspor, Muğlaspor, Düzcespor, Eskişehir Demirspor, Kırıkkalespor, Nazillispor, Konya İdman Yurdu, Tarsus İdman Yurdu, Ceyhanspor, Lüleburgazspor, İskenderunspor, Hatayspor.
1968–69 season
In 1968–69 new clubs joined: Amasyaspor, Burdurspor, Diyarbakırspor, Ispartaspor, Rizespor, Ankara Sanayi Barbaros. Two groups were formed on geographical basis: Red Group for East and White Group for West. Each group contained 14 teams and one best promoted and one worst relegated in each group.
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1968–69White Group: NazillisporRed Group: Tarsus İdmanyurduWhite Group: BurdursporRed Group: Altındağ Promotion from amateur leagues: Season Promoted to Turkish Third Football League1968–69 Amasyaspor, Burdurspor, Diyarbakırspor, Ispartaspor, Rizespor, Ankara Sanayi Barbaros (Regional Professional Leagues champs).
1969–70 season
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1969–70White Group: UşaksporRed Group: Hataysporno relegation Promotion from amateur leagues: Season Promoted to Turkish Third Football League1969–70 Erzincanspor, Erzurumspor, Karabükspor, Kırklarelispor, Kırşehirspor, Konya Ereğlispor,Nevşehirspor, Urfaspor, Mardinspor, Tokatspor, Ankara Yenimahalle(Regional Professional Leagues champs).
1970–71 season
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1970–71White Group: SarıyerRed Group: KonyasporBlue Group: İskenderunsporGreen Group: Konya İdman Yurdu no relegation
1971–72 season
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1971-–72White Group: BeykozRed Group: LüleburgazsporBlue Group: DÇ KarabüksporGreen Group: GaziantepsporWhite Group: Beylerbeyi, YeşildirekRed Group: İstanbul Hasköy, ÜlküsporBlue Group: Bahçeli, YenişehirGreen Group: Sanayi Barbaros, Altındağ
1972–73 season
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1972–73White Group: TiresporRed Group: Eskişehir DemirsporBlue Group: MalatyasporGreen Group: ErzurumsporWhite Group: Eyüpspor, İzmir DemirsporRed Group: Burdurspor, MuğlasporBlue Group: Yenimahalle, SincansporGreen Group: Mardinspor, Toprakofisi
1973–74 season
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1973–74White Group: Kırıkkalespor (1st), DÇ Karabükspor (2nd)Red Group: Çorumspor (1st), Rizespor (2nd)White Group: Afyonspor, Güneşspor, Hacettepe, NazillisporRed Group: Davutpaşa, Ankara Sitespor, Taksim SK, Yeşildirek
1974–75 season
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1974–75White Group: BandırmasporRed Group: ElazığsporWhite Group: Petrol Ofisi Spor, FeriköyRed Group: Kırşehirspor, PTT
1975–76 season
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1975–76White Group: IspartasporRed Group: Diyarbakırsporno relelegation
1976–77 season
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1976–77White Group: TekirdağsporRed Group: DüzcesporBlue Group: UrfasporWhite Group: Galata, Anadolu, SüleymaniyeRed Group: Kastamonuspor, Çanakkalespor, YeşilovaBlue Group: Amasyaspor, Nevşehirspor
1977–78 season
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1977–78White Group: Sebat GençlikRed Group: EdirnesporWhite Group: Kütahyaspor, Alibeyköy Adalet, HacettepeRed Group: Ülküspor, Ceyhanspor, Kasımpaşa
1978–79 season
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1978–79White Group: Erzurumspor (1st), Giresunspor (2nd)Red Group: Lüleburgazspor (1st), Altınordu (2nd)White Group: Konya Ereğlispor, İskenderunsporRed Group: İstanbulspor, Galata, Uşakspor
1979–80 season League was abandoned after the season. All of the teams promoted to 1980-81 Turkish Second Football League
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1979–80Group A: Tarsus İdman Yurdu, Hatayspor, Erzincanspor, Malatyaspor,Konyaspor, Tokatspor, Gençlerbirliği, ÇorumsporGroup B: İzmirspor, Karagümrük, Beykoz, Kırklarelispor, Ödemişspor,Kütahyaspor, Manisaspor, Yeşilova, Karşıyaka, Alibeyköy Adalet No relegation (league was abandoned)
1984–85 season League was not played in 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83 and 1983–84 seasons. League was refounded after four seasons.
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1984–85Group 1: Gölcükspor, Group 2: Bakırköyspor, Group 3: İnegölspor, Group 4: Manisaspor, Group 5: Aydınspor, Group 6: Etibank SAS Group 7: Düzce KDS, Group 8: Osmaniyespor, Group 9: HopasporGroup 10: Erzincanspor, Group 11: Siirt YSE Spor no relegation (league was refounded)Group 3: Bursa Belediyespor withdrew the following season.
1985–86 season
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1985–86Group 1: Bayburtspor, Group 2: Elazığspor, Group 3: ReyhanlısporGroup 4: Çarşambaspor, Group 5: Kırşehirspor, Group 6: SökesporGroup 7: Kuşadasıspor, Group 8: Sönmez Filamentspor, Group 9: ÇanakkalesporGroup 10: Çorluspor, Group 11: Silivrispor, Group 12: Beykozno relegation
1986–87 season
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1986–87Group 1: Trabzonspor II (1st), Ünyespor (2nd)Group 2: Bitlisspor Group 3: NiğdesporGroup 4: BartınsporGroup 5: IspartasporGroup 6: MenemensporGroup 7: KütahyasporGroup 8: UşaksporGroup 9: EyüpsporGroup 10: ZeytinburnusporGroup 1: Igdirspor, Palandökenspor Group 2: Elazığ Ferrokromspor, Van İskelesporGroup 3: İçel Demirspor, Borspor, İskenderun DÇ (withdrawed next season)Group 4: Çankırıspor, MamaksporGroup 5: Konya Ereğlispor, Y.Çivrilspor, Denizli EŞİY (withdrawed next season)Group 6: Çine Madranspor, ÜlküsporGroup 7: Kütahya Termikspor, BileciksporGroup 8: Bursa Kültürspor, KaracabeysporGroup 9: Yeşildirek, DavutpaşaGroup 10: Beyoğluspor, Ümraniyespor
1987–88 season
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1987–88Group 1: GiresunsporGroup 2: Mardinspor Group 3: NevşehirsporGroup 4: PolatlısporGroup 5: AlanyasporGroup 6: AyvalıkgücüGroup 7: Bursaspor IIGroup 8: UzunköprüsporGroup 9: KartalsporGroup 1: Karsspor, Gümüşhanespor Group 2: Pazarcık Aksuspor, Diyarbakır YolsporGroup 3: Afşinspor, Malatya İdman YurduGroup 4: Yeni BahçelisporGroup 5: Karamanspor, Antalya YolsporGroup 6: AlaşehirsporGroup 7: Erdekdpor, Eskişehir DemirsporGroup 8: Tekirdağ Sarayspor, HayrabolusporGroup 9: Kocaeli BŞB Kağıtspor, Taksim SK
1988–89 season
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1988–89Group 1: BulancaksporGroup 2: Şanlıurfaspor Group 3: NiğdesporGroup 4: Hacettepe Yeni CamuzoğluGroup 5: SökesporGroup 6: İzmirsporGroup 7: BandırmasporGroup 8: KasımpaşaGroup 9: Fatih KaragümrükGroup 1: Erbaaspor, Sinopspor Group 2: ViranşehirsporGroup 3: Kırıkhanspor, CeyhansporGroup 4: Kırşehirspor, KamansporGroup 5: Burdurspor, ÖdemişsporGroup 6: Yeni Bornovaspor, KemalpaşasporGroup 7: Keşanspor, BileciksporGroup 8: Alibeyköy, YedikuleGroup 9: İstanbul DSİspor, Çengelköy Talimhanespor
1989–90 season
TFF declared no relegation but announced that professional clubs will be represented only one team in all professional leagues.
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1989–90Group 1: ÜnyesporGroup 2: ElazığsporGroup 3: HataysporGroup 4: Düzce Kervan DoğsansporGroup 5: Yeni AfyonsporGroup 6: BucasporGroup 7: GönensporGroup 8: GaziosmanpaşasporGroup 9: Yalovaspor Group 1: Trabzonspor II (by TFF decision)Group 4: Aras Sitespor (withdrawed next season)Group 6: Karşıyaka II (by TFF decision)Group 7: Tekirdağ Büyük Salatspor (withdrawed during season)Group 8: Galatasaray II (by TFF decision)
1990–91 season
Promotion and relegation: Season Promoted to Turkish Second Football LeagueRelegated to Regional Amateur Leagues1990–91Group 1: BafrasporGroup 2: MuşsporGroup 3: Tarsus İdmanyurduGroup 4: KayserisporGroup 5: IspartasporGroup 6: ManisasporGroup 7: BozüyüksporGroup 8: Süleymaniye KüçükçekmecesporGroup 9: Üsküdar AnadoluGroup 1: GörelesporGroup 2: IğdırsporGroup 3: AfşinsporGroup 4: Sivas DemirsporGroup 5: SarayköysporGroup 6: MenemensporGroup 7: İzniksporGroup 8: ErdeksporGroup 9: Kocaeli Petkimspor
1991–92 season
Promotion and relegation: