Belgian Second Division

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The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in Belgian football. It was created in 1905.

1 The competition
2 History
3 The 2006-07 clubs
4 Past winners
5 References

[edit] The competition

The season comprises the regular season (18 teams, 34 matchdays) and the play-offs (4 teams, 6 matchdays: see Belgian Second Division Final Round).

The regular season is a double round-robin tournament played between August and May, with an interruption of 3 weeks in the winter. It is divided into three blocks: the first 10 rounds of matches, the next 12, and the final 12. The winner of the overall regular season is promoted to the first division. The teams with the best record in each of the 3 blocks go into the play-offs, together with the second-last team in the first division. The play-offs are also a double round-robin, with the winner earning a place in the first division.

The standings, for both the regular season and the 3 blocks, are determined by the following criteria, in order:

number of points;
number of wins;
goal average;
a play-off at a neutral venue (with extra time and penalty shootout if necessary)

A team cannot play in the first division unless it has a professional license. If it has not got its license, it is replaced if possible, by the next highest team in the overall regular seaon rankings. For the automatic promotion spot (as opposed to the play-offs) the team must have finished in the top three clubs. When no team meets those conditions, the number of teams in the first division decreases.

The two lowest-placed teams go to the third division (which is divided into 2 leagues of 16 clubs), while the two champions of that division are promoted to the second division. Furthermore, the 16th-placed team plays the third division playoff with 6 teams from the third division but it enters the competition on its second round. The winner of this playoff stays or promotes to second division.

[edit] History

The second division was created in 1905 as the Promotion. From 1923 on there were two leagues in that division (called Promotion A and Promotion B). In 1926, the system changed with only one league (14 clubs) at the second-highest level now called Division I. At the end of the 1930-31 season, the Division I was split into two leagues (of 14 clubs each). The last two teams of each league were relegated and the two top clubs promoted each year to the Premier Division. In 1952, the division was renamed to Division II with 16 teams (one league). The first two clubs qualified for the first division. In 1974, the first final round was played to access the top level. Finally, in 1994, the second division was played between 18 clubs. A win earns three points since the 1993-94 season.

[edit] The 2006-07 clubs

Three changes happened compared to the 2005-06 season, champions Mons got promoted, third placed Geel got punished for falsifying matches and was demoted and Heusden-Zolder went into liquidation and thus stopped to exist. La Louvière, the team that finished last in the Jupiler League was refused a licence and was immediately demoted to third division. As a result, no other team was relegated.

The 18 participating clubs for the 2006-07 season are the following:

Club name	City	Last season position
R. Antwerp F.C.	Antwerp	7th
K.M. S.K. Deinze	Deinze	17th
K.F.C. Dessel Sport	Dessel	16th
K.A.S. Eupen	Eupen	8th
K.F.C. V.W. Hamme	Hamme	9th
K.V. Kortrijk	Kortrijk	5th
Y.R. K.V. Mechelen	Mechelen	13th
K.V. Oostende	Ostend	10th
Oud-Heverlee Leuven	Leuven	6th
K.V. Red Star Waasland	Sint-Niklaas	4th
K. Racing Waregem	Waregem	5th (D3A)°
K.S.K. Ronse	Ronse	11th
K.V.K. Tienen	Tienen	1st (D3B)
A.F.C. Tubize	Tubize	12th
R. Union Saint-Gilloise	Brussels	15th
K.V.S.K. United Overpelt-Lommel	Lommel	2nd
F.C. Verbroedering Dender E.H.	Denderleeuw	1st (D3A)
R.E. Virton	Virton	14th

° Winner of the playoff

[edit] Past winners

Year	Champion
1906	S.C. Courtraisien
1907	Beerschot A.C.
1908	R.C. de Gand and E.S.C. Forest
1909	Standard F.C. Liégeois
1910	R.C. de Malines
1911	R.C. de Gand
1912	F.C. Liégeois
1913	A.A. La Gantoise
1914	Uccle Sport
1915-19	No competition
1920	Tilleur F.C.
1921	Standard C.L.
1922	Uccle Sport
1923	R.F.C. Liégeois
1924	A : S.C. Anderlechtois B : White Star A.C.
1925	A : R. Tilleur F.C. B : C.S. Verviétois
1926	A : R.C. de Bruxelles B : F.C. Malinois
1927	R. Liersche S.K.
1928	F.C. Malinois
1929	F.C. Brugeois
1930	R.C. Montegnée
1931	R.R.C. Gand
1932	A : T.S.V. Lyra B : R. Racing Club de Bruxelles
1933	A : Belgica F.C. Edegem B : R. Tilleur F.C.
1934	A : White Star A.C. B : R. Berchem Sport
1935	A : R.F.C. Brugeois B : R.S.C. Anderlechtois
1936	A : F.C. Turnhout B : A.R.A. La Gantoise
1937	A : R.C. Tirlemont B : O.C. Charleroi
1938	A : Boom F.C. B : R.C.S. Brugeois

Season	Champion
1939	A : S.C. Eendracht Aalst B : R. Tilleur F.C.
1940-41	No competition
1942	A: C.S. La Forestoise B: R.C. de Bruxelles
1943	A: K. Lyra B: R. Berchem Sport
1944	A: K. Sint-Niklaasche S.K. B: R.F.C. Liégeois
1945	No competition
1946	A: R.F.C. Brugeois B: K. Lyra
1947	A: R. Uccle Sport B: R. Charleroi S.C.
1948	A: K.R.C. Mechelen B: R. Tilleur F.C.
1949	A: K. Stade Leuven B: R.F.C. Brugeois
1950	A: Daring Club de Bruxelles S.R. B: R. Beeringen F.C.
1951	A: R. Union Saint-Gilloise B: R.U.S. Tournaisienne
1952	A: R.C. de Gand B: F.C. Beringen
1953	K. Lyra
1954	K.S.V. Waterschei Thor
1955	R. Daring Club de Bruxelles
1956	R.C.S. Verviétois
1957	K.S.V. Waterschei Thor
1958	K. Beringen F.C.
1959	R. Daring Club de Bruxelles
1960	K.S.C. Eendracht Aalst
1961	K.F.C. Diest
1962	R. Berchem Sport
1963	R.F.C. Malinois
1964	R. Union Saint-Gilloise
1965	R. Racing White
1966	K.S.V. Waregem
1967	S.K. Beveren
1968	A.R.A. La Gantoise

Season	Champion
1969	A.S. Oostende K.M.
1970	K.F.C. Diest
1971	K.S.V. Cercle Brugge
1972	K. Berchem Sport
1973	S.K. Beveren
1974	R.O.C. Montignies-sur-Sambre
1975	K.R.C. Mechelen
1976	K.F.C. Winterslag
1977	K. Boom F.C.
1978	K.S.V. Waterschei Thor
1979	K.S.V. Cercle Brugge
1980	K.A.A. Gent
1981	K.S.K. Tongeren
1982	R.F.C. Sérésien
1983	K.V. Mechelen
1984	K. Sint-Niklase S.K.
1985	R.W.D. Molenbeek
1986	K. Berchem Sport
1987	K. Sint-Truidense V.V.
1988	K.R.C. Mechelen
1989	K.F.C. Germinal Ekeren
1990	R.W.D. Molenbeek
1991	K.S.K. Beveren
1992	K.F.C. Lommelse S.K.
1993	R.F.C. Sérésien
1994	K. Sint-Truidense V.V.
1995	K.S.V. Waregem
1996	K.S.C. Lokeren
1997	K.S.K. Beveren
1998	K.V. Oostende
1999	K.V. Mechelen
2000	R. Antwerp F.C.
2001	K.F.C. Lommelse S.K.
2002	K.V. Mechelen
2003	K.S.V. Cercle Brugge
2004	F.C. Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek
2005	S.V. Zulte-Waregem
2006	R.A.E.C. Mons

[edit] References

(German) (English) (French) (Dutch) The Belgian Football Association official website
(French) Sport.be website - Standings, features, results, statistitcs and news from the second division
(English) RSSSF archive - Second division tables from 1910 to 2002

Belgian Second Division, 2006/07
Antwerp \| Deinze \| Dender \| Dessel \| Eupen \| Hamme \| Kortrijk \| Leuven \| Mechelen \| Oostende \| Ronse \| Tienen \| Tubize \| Union \| United \| Virton \| Waasland \| Racing Waregem edit

Football in Belgium, 2006-07
League competitions	URBSFA/KBVB	Cup competitions and awards
Jupiler League	Belgium	Cup
Second division	Women	Supercup
Third division	List of clubs	Golden Shoe
Promotion	List of clubs	Professional football awards