The Terceira Divisão Portuguesa (in English: Portuguese Third Division) was a football league in Portugal, situated at the fourth level of the Portuguese football league system. The Third Division was initially the third level of the Portuguese pyramid but with the creation of the Segunda Liga in 1990–91, it became the fourth level. The competition merged with the Segunda Divisão at the end of the 2012–13 to form a new enlarged third-level league, the Campeonato Nacional de Seniores.

Competition

The Terceira Divisão was established in 1948 and in its last season had 7 Sections with the Championship of each being divided into two phases.

The 6 Sections (A, B, C, D, E, F) within Mainland Portugal each had 12 teams and played 22 matches in the first phase. This was followed by the second phase where the top 6 teams in each section competed in the Promotion Group and played 10 matches to determine the champion teams from each Group that would be promoted to the Segunda Divisão. The last 6 teams in each Section competed in the Relegation Group and played 10 matches to determine the last 3 teams to be relegated to the District Leagues.

In the Azores Section, there were 10 teams that played 18 matches in the first phase. This was followed by the second phase where the top 4 teams in the Section competed in the Promotion Group and played 6 matches to determine the champion team that would be promoted to Segunda Divisão. However, limitations were placed on promotion to the Segunda Divisão dependent upon the position of the 6 teams from Azores competing in the Second Division Championship. If no teams from Azores finished in a relegation position in Second Division then the lowest-placed team played a two-leg play-off with the winners of the Third Division Azores Section to determine the remaining team from Azores that would compete in the Second Division. The last 6 teams in the Section competed in the Relegation Group and played 10 matches to determine the last 3 teams to be relegated to the District Leagues.

Seasons - League Tables

Decade
1940s:1947–481948–491949–50
1950s:1950–511951–521952–531953–541954–551955–561956–571957–581958–591959–60
1960s:1960–611961–621962–631963–641964–651965–661966–671967–681968–691969–70
1970s:1970–711971–721972–731973–741974–751975–761976–771977–781978–791979–80
1980s:1980–811991–821992–831993–841994–851995–861996–871997–881998–891989–90
1990s:1990–911991–921992–931993–941994–951995–961996–971997–981998–991999–2000
2000s:2000–012001–022002–032003–042004–052005–062006–072007–082008–092009–10
2010s:2010–112011–122012–13

List of champions

Third-tier league: 1947–1990

SeasonChampionsFinal scoreRunners-up
1947–48Cova da Piedade5–2Académico de Viseu
1948–49Almada2–0Tirsense
1949–50Ovarense6–3Operário Vilanfranquese
1950–51Juventude de Évora1–0Sanjoanense
1951–52Lusitano VRSA2–2, 2–1Caldas
1952–53Vila RealFarense
1953–54Coruchense[citation needed]3–1Académico do Porto
1954–55O Elvas2–1Chaves
1955–56Almada4–0Marinhense
1956–57Serpa2–1Vila Real
1957–58OliveirenseBenfica e Castelo Branco
1958–59Beira-Mar[citation needed]3–2Olivais
1959–60Benfica e Castelo Branco2–1Sacavenense
1960–61Seixal3–1Vila Real
1961–62Varzim2–1Luso
1962–63Os Leões3–2Famalicão
1963–64União de Lamas2–1Almada
1964–65União de Tomar3–1Ovarense
1965–66Montijo3–1Tirsense
1966–67Vizela4–3Tramagal
1967–68Seixal2–1Boavista
1968–69União de Lamas1–1, 1–0Farense
1969–70Olhanense2–0União de Coimbra
1970–71Cova da Piedade3–0Gil Vicente
1971–72Caldas3–2Oliveirense
1972–73Lusitânia Lourosa1–0Lusitano de Évora
1973–74Paços de Ferreira2–1Estrela de Portalegre
1974–75União de Santarém2–0Sporting da Covilhã
1975–76Portalegrense4–0União de Coimbra
1976–77Rio Ave3–2Cova da Piedade
1977–78Sacavenense3–1Desportivo das Aves
1978–79Bragança5–3Oriental
1979–80Vasco da Gama1–0Sanjoanense
1980–81União de Coimbra3–1O Elvas
1981–82Vizela2–1Atlético CP
1982–83Esperança de Lagos2–2 (3–1p)Guarda
SeasonSerie ASerie BSerie CSerie DSerie ESerie F
1983–84Desportivo das AvesLusitânia LourosaEstarrejaEstrela de PortalegreMontijoCampinense
Championship play-off canceled
SeasonChampionsFinal scoreRunners-up
1984–85União de Santarém2–1Académico de Viseu
1985–86Bragança3–2União de Santiago
1986–87Louletano1–0Marco
1987–88Portalegrense1–0Luso
1988–89Mirense4–2Famalicão
1989–90Montijo1–0Lousada

Fourth-tier league: 1990–2013

SeasonChampionsFinal scoreRunners-up
1990–91Vasco da Gama4–2Lusitânia Lourosa
1991–92Trofense3–1Olivais e Moscavide
1992–93Odivelas1–1pUnião de Coimbra
1993–94Limianos2–0Lusitano de Évora
1994–95Desportivo de Beja1–0Lamego
1995–96Fafe1–0Alcanenense
1996–97Dragões Sandinenses1–0Lourinhanense
1997–98Vilafranquense3–0Freamunde
1998–99Vianense3–0 (7–6p)Lusitânia
1999–2000Paredes1–1Seixal
SeasonSerie ASerie BSerie CSerie DSerie ESerie FSerie AzoresSerie Madeira
2000–01Caçadores das TaipasVila RealOliveira do HospitalBenfica e Castelo BrancoOlivais e MoscavideAmoraLusitâniaNot Held
SeasonChampionsFinal scoreRunners-up
2001–02Mafra1–0Dragões Sandinenses
SeasonSerie ASerie BSerie CSerie DSerie ESerie FSerie AzoresSerie Madeira
2002–03BragançaLixaEstarrejaAlcaínsSintrensePinhalnovenseSanto AntónioNot Held
2003–04ValencianoRibeirãoPenalva do CasteloBenfica e Castelo BrancoCasa PiaAtlético CPOperário
2004–05Os SandinensesAliados de LordeloNelasPortomosenseBenfica BSilvesMadalena
2005–06Maria da FonteVila MeãUnião de LamasEléctricoAtlético CPEstrela de Vendas NovasLusitânia
2006–07ValdevezLeçaAnadiaCaldasCaniçalLagoaAngrense
2007–08MirandelaAmaranteAroucaMonsantoOrientalMineiro AljustrelensePraiense
2008–09VieiraParedesTondelaSertanenseCamachaLouletanoVitória do Pico
2009–10Macedo de CavaleirosOliveirenseCoimbrõesAnadiaCasa PiaJuventude de ÉvoraMadalenaAndorinha
2010–11MirandelaAmaranteCinfãesMonsantoCaldasEstrela de Vendas NovasAngrenseRibeira Brava
2011–12JoaneCesarenseAcadémico de ViseuBenfica e Castelo BrancoFutebol BenficaFarenseLusitâniaPontassolense
2012–13BragançaFelgueiras 1932GrijóSourenseLourinhanenseUnião de MontemorPraienseNot held

Titles