Gamma Ethniki (Greek: Γ΄ Εθνική Ερασιτεχνική Κατηγορία, C National Amateur Division), is the third highest football league in Greece
The 2017–18 Gamma Ethniki is the 35th season since the official establishment of the third tier of Greek football in 1983. It will start on 1 October 2017. After the finish of the eight groups, the first team of each group will qualify for a playoff round of two groups, to determine which four teams will be promoted to Football League.
97 teams are divided into eight groups according to geographical criteria.
Panelefsiniakos, AO Chania, AEL Kalloni, Panthrakikos, Eordaikos, A.E. Istiaia, Mavroi Aetoi Eleftherochori, Amvrakia Kostakioi, APO Kanaris Nenita, Pyrsos Grevena, AO Syros, Poseidon Neoi Poroi and AO Polykratis Pythagoreio withdrew from the league before the group draw.
The New Format
Last season the Gamma Ethniki consisted of four group, 15-16 teams in each group, and the four group winners were awarded promotion to the Greek Football League. However, the 2017/18 Gamma Ethniki will be played under a new format with more groups consisting of less teams in each group.
This season, the Greek Third Division will consist of 8 groups which will include 11-14 teams in each group and a total of four teams will be promoted to the Football League. Each team within a group will play their opponents in home and away fixtures and at the end of the regular season, the eight group winners will be split into two “mini-leagues” for promotion.
The winners of groups 1-4 will be placed in one “mini-league” while the winners of group 5-8 will be placed in a second “mini-league.” The teams within their respective “mini-leagues” will play each other in home and away fixtures and after six games, the top two teams from each group will be promoted to the Football League.
The number of teams from each group that will be relegated to the local championships will be determined by the Hellenic Football Federation at a later date.
The Groups
Below is a list of the eight groups in this year’s Gamma Ethniki and the teams that will partake in each group.
Group 1 (12 Teams)
EPS Evrou (1) : Didimoteichou SC
EPS Thrakis (2) : Doxa Proskiniton, Doxa Neou Sidirochoriou
EPS Xanthis (2) : Orfeas Xanthis, Aris Avatou
EPS Dramas (1) : Megas Alexandros Xiropotamou
EPS Kavalas (3) : Kavala, Nestos Chrysoupolis, Aetos Orfanou
EPS Serron (3) : Apollon Paralimniou, Elpis Skoutareos, Megas Alexandros Karperis
Group 2 (14 Teams)
EPS Makedonias (6) : APE Lagada, Kampaniakos, Kardias SC, Makedonikos, Agrotikos Asteras, Iraklis
EPS Chalkidikis (1) : Aris Paleochoriou
EPS Kilkis (1) : Kilkisiakos
EPS Pellas (2) : Almopos Aridaias, Edessaikos
EPS Imathias (3) : FAS Naousas, Megas Alexandros Trikalon, Filipos Alexandreias
EPS Pierias (2) : Pierikos, Poseidon Neon Poron
Group 3 (13 Teams)
EPS Florinas (1) : Ermis Amyntaiou
EPS Kastorias (1) : Kastoria
EPS Ipirou (1) : Doxa Kranoulas
EPS Thesprotias (2) : Thesprotos, Asteras Parapotamou
EPS Artas (1) : Skoufas Kobotiou
EPS Prevezas/Lefkadas (3) : Tilkratis, Ethnikos Filipiadas, Panlefkadios
EPS Kerkyras (1) : Lefkimis SC
EPS Aitoloakarnanias (1) : Panamvrakikos Boukas
EPS Kozanis (2) : Makedonikos Foufa, AEP Karagiannion
Group 4 (13 Teams)
EPS Larisas (1) : Achilleas Farsalon
EPS Trikalon (1) : Digenis Neochoriou
EPS Karditsas (1) : Sellanon SC
EPS Thessalias (5) : Olympiacos Volou, Niki Volou, Rigas Feraios, Almiros SC, Volos NPS
EPS Fthiotidas (1) : Opountios Martimou
EPS Evrytanias (1) : APOK Velouchi
EPS Fokidas (1) : Asteras Iteas
EPS Voiotias (2) : Thiva SC, APO Amvrisseas
Group 5 (12 Teams)
EPS Kefallinias (1) : Palliksouriakos
EPS Zakynthou (1) : Zakynthos
EPS Achaias (2) : Achaiki, Diagoras Vrahneikon
EPS Ileias (3) : PAO Vardas, Asteras Amaliadas, Paniliakos
EPS Messinias (2) : Tsiklitiras Pilou, Kalamata
EPS Lakonias (1) : Asteras Vlahioti
EPS Arkadias (2) : Panarkadikos, Leonidio
Group 6 (12 Teams)
EPS Peiraia (4) : Ionikos, Ethnikos, Proodeftiki, APO Keratsini
EPS Korinthou (3) : Loutraki SC, Zevgolatiou SC, Pelopas Kiatou
EPS Dodekanisou (3) : Ialysos Rodou, Rodos SC, Diagoras Rodou
EPS Dytikis Attikis (2) : Enosi Panaspropyrgiakou/Doxas
Group 7 (11 Teams)
EPS Anatolikis Attikis (3) : Triglia Rafinas, Thyela Rafinas, Aittitos Spaton
EPS Argolidas (3) : Ermionidas SC, Panargeiakos, Ermis Kiveriou
EPS Lesvou (2) : Aiolikos, Diagoras Agias Paraskeuis
EPS Kykladon (1) : Panthiraikos,
EPS Evoias (2) : Chalkis SC, Taminaikos
Group 8 (11 Teams)
EPS Athinon (5) : Agios Ierotheos, Fostiras, Kifisia SC, Ilisiakos, Aigaleo
EPS Chanion (1) : Paleochoras SC
EPS Rethymnou (2) : Ermis Zonianon, Mylopotamou SC
EPS Irakleiou (2) : Atsalenios, Irodotos
EPS Lasithiou (1) : Ierapetras SC
PROMOTION PLAYOFFS SET
The regular season of this year’s Gamma Ethniki has come to close and eight teams will fight for a place in next year’s Greek Football League.
The winner of each of the eight Gamma Ethniki groups will compete in the promotion playoffs for four spots to next year’s Greek Football League. The eight group winners will be separated into two groups of four, based on geographic location (North and South) and after a total of six group matches (home and away against each team), the top two teams will be promoted to Greece’s second division.
One of Greece’s most historic clubs, Iraklis, will compete in the promotion playoffs and will be one of the favorites to return to the Football League, after being demoted from last year's Super League due to financial reasons. Some more known team competing in the Gamma Ethniki that failed to win their respective groups and as a result miss out on promotion include: Kavala, Agrotikos Asteras, Niki Volou, Olympiacos Volou, Panarkadikos, Kalamata, Proodeftiki, and Ionikos, who just barely achieved safety from the drop zone.
The eight Gamma Ethniki group winners are listed below. The schedule for the playoffs will be announced after next Wednesday’s draw and will kick off on April 22.
North Promotion Playoff Group
Group 1: Apollon Paralimniou
Group 2: Iraklis
Group 3: Tilikratis
Group 4: NSP Volos
South Promotion Playoff Group
Group 5: Asteras Amaliadas
Group 6: Ethnikos Piraeus
Group 7: Aittitos Spaton
Group 8: Irodotos
Aititos Spata and Irodotos (South Group), Iraklis and Volos NFC (North Group) promoted to Football League.
Irodotos
A total of 41 teams were relegated from the Gamma Ethniki to their local championships and they are listed below. Among the names include one of Greece’s oldest clubs that once competed in the Greek A’ Ethniki, Fostiras.
Group 1: AE Didimoteichou, Megas Alexandros Xiropotamou, Doxa Proskiniton, Doxa Neou Sidirochoriou, Megas Alexandros Karperis
Group 2: Naoussa, Kilkisiakos, AO Kardias, AE Karitsas, Megas Alexandros Trikalon, Filippos Alexandreias, Kampbaniakos
Group 3: AEP Karagiannion, Ethnikos Filippiadas, Panleykadios, Skoufas Kobotiou, Asteras Parapotamou, Kastoria
Group 4: Rigas Feraios, Thyva, Digenis Neochoriou, Achilleas Farsalon, Opountios Martinou, APOK Velouchi
Group 5: Achaiki, Zakynthos, Tsiklitiras Pylou, Pallixouriakos, Leonidio
Group 6: Rhodos, Loutraki, Pelops Kiatou, Zevgolatio
Group 7: Diagoras Agias Paraskevis, Ermis Kiveriou, Triglia Rafinas, Taminaikos
Group 8: Fostiras, Kifisia, AE Milopotamou, Ermis Zonianon
Source: https://www.epo.gr
http://www.agonasport.com
