Bulgaria Championship History 1923-2009 (original) (raw)

1923/24

1923/24 season details

The first State championship was organized in 1924 by the Bulgarian National Sports Federation (BNSF), which was created on 16 Dec 1923. The title was to be contested between the winners of the existing six regional "sports federations" ("sportni federatsii").

Competition system

Direct eliminations over a single leg. Extra time played if scores are level, and if still level at the end of extra time - the match is replayed on the next day at the same venue. The final is to be played in Sofia.

Participants Team Sports Federation Area covered Vladislav (Varna) Severobulgarska SF NE and N Central Bulgaria Orel (Vratsa) Bdinska SF NW Bulgaria Levski (Sofia) Sofiyska SF Sofia Krakra (Pernik) Yugozapadna SF SW Bulgaria Pobeda (Plovdiv) Trakiyska SF S Central Bulgaria Chernomorets (Burgas) Primorska SF SE Bulgaria

Round 1

Chernomorets (Burgas) - Levski (Sofia) 0:7 Orel (Vratsa) - Krakra (Pernik) 1:0 Vladislav (Varna) bye Pobeda (Plovdiv) bye

Round 2 (1/2 finals)

Pobeda (Plovdiv) - Orel (Vratsa) 5:0 Levski (Sofia) - Vladislav (Varna) 0:0 replay: Levski (Sofia) - Vladislav (Varna) npd *

• • no extra time played because of darkness. Vladislav refuse to replay the game on the next day in Sofia, and leave for Varna, demanding the replay to be staged there. BNSF at first sets a new date for the replay which is again to take place in Sofia, then give in and allow for the game to be played in Varna, but only if Vladislav and the SBSF cover the losses for the Sofia replay that didn't take place. At the end BNSF and Vladislav do not reach final agreement and the championship is abandoned.

1923/24 season details

1924/25

1924/25 season details

Participants

Team Sports Federation Area covered Vladislav (Varna) Severobulgarska SF NE and N Central Bulgaria Orel (Vratsa) Bdinska SF NW Bulgaria Levski (Sofia) Sofiyska SF Sofia Levski (Dupnitsa) Yugozapadna SF SW Bulgaria BP 25 (Plovdiv) * Trakiyska SF S Central Bulgaria Asenovets (Sliven) Primorska SF SE Bulgaria

• • full name Benkovski-Pobeda 25.

Round 1

Levski (Dupnitsa) - Orel (Vratsa) 5:0 Vladislav (Varna) - Asenovets (Sliven) 3:0 awd Levski (Sofia) bye BP 25 (Plovdiv) bye

Round 2 (1/2 finals)

Vladislav (Varna) - Levski (Dupnitsa) 4:0 BP 25 (Plovdiv) - Levski (Sofia) 0:4

Final [30 Aug 1925] Levski (Sofia) - Vladislav (Varna) 0:2

1924/25 season details

1925/26

1925/26 season details

Change The six regional sports federations are disbanded and several "okrazhni sportni oblasti", covering lesser area than their predecessors, are created on their place. Again, the winners from each OSO qualify for the State championship.

Participants OSO Team Varnenska OSO Vladislav (Varna) Shumenska OSO Sokol (Shumen) Rusenska OSO Levski (Ruse) Tarnovska OSO Etar (Tarnovo) * Plevenska OSO no representative Vrachanska OSO Orel (Vratsa) Bdinska OSO no representative Sofiyska OSO Slavia (Sofia) Rilska OSO Levski (Dupnitsa) Plovdivska OSO Botev (Pazardzhik) Haskovska OSO Borislav (Borisovgrad) * Starozagorska OSO Beroya (Stara Zagora) Primorska OSO Chegan (Burgas)

• • cities' contemporary names: Tarnovo -> Veliko Tarnovo, Borisovgrad -> Parvomay.

Round 1

Sokol (Shumen) - Etar (Tarnovo) 6:0 Slavia (Sofia) - Levski (Dupnitsa) 9:1 Botev (Pazardzhik) - Beroya (Stara Zagora) 4:0 Chegan (Burgas) - Borislav (Borisovgrad) 4:1 Vladislav (Varna) bye Levski (Ruse) bye Orel (Vratsa) bye

Round 2

Vladislav (Varna) - Chegan (Burgas) 9:0 Levski (Ruse) - Sokol (Shumen) 1:0 Botev (Pazardzhik) - Orel (Vratsa) 5:1 Slavia (Sofia) bye

Round 3 (1/2 finals)

Vladislav (Varna) - Levski (Ruse) 5:1 Botev (Pazardzhik) - Slavia (Sofia) 2:6

Final [22 Aug 1926] Slavia (Sofia) - Vladislav (Varna) 1:1 [23 Aug 1926] Slavia (Sofia) - Vladislav (Varna) npd * [26 Dec 1926] Slavia (Sofia) - Vladislav (Varna) npd * [7 Apr 1927] Slavia (Sofia) - Vladislav (Varna) 0:3 awd *

• • as per regulations, the final was to be replayed again in Sofia the following day. The teams were present, but the appointed referee didn't show up. BNSF immediately found among the crowd and appointed a new referee. Vladislav on their turn chose their own referee, however he declined to be in charge of the game. Nevertheless Vladislav refused to play with the BNSF appointed substitute referee and left the field. Slavia were duly awarded the match and the title. Vladislav however challenged this decision in court, and their appeal won. Because of this BNSF had to comply and a new match was scheduled for 26 Dec 1926. Both teams agreed to this, but Sofiyska OSO forbid Slavia to play as they felt the decision to revoke the awarded title was unjust. New arguments ensued and yet another date for the replay was set - 7 Apr 1927. Slavia though again complied with the decision by SOSO and boycotted the game. Because of this, this time the championship title was finally awarded to Vladislav.

1925/26 season details

1926/27

1926/27 season details

Not held Following the bitter dispute from last season, that dragged on well into the spring of 1927, Slavia (Sofia), which won Sofiyska OSO, refused to enter the championship. Furthermore, only three other OSO winners were determined before the alotted deadline for participation in the State championship. Those were Vladislav (Varna) from Varnenska OSO, Levski (Ruse) from Rusenska OSO and Levski (Plovdiv) from Plovdivska OSO. Because of this the championship for this season had to be cancelled.

1926/27 season details

1927/28

1927/28 season details

Note

Only five teams were admitted to the championship as many OSOs again didn't determine their winners before the deadline. For most of the OSOs from the south of the country this was also due to the two devastating earthquakes near Chirpan in April 1928.

Participants OSO Team Varnenska OSO Vladislav (Varna) Rusenska OSO Levski (Ruse) Bdinska OSO Maria Luisa (Lom) Sofiyska OSO Slavia (Sofia) Plovdivska OSO Levski (Plovdiv)

Round 1

Maria Luisa (Lom) - Slavia (Sofia) 0:4 Vladislav (Varna) bye Levski (Ruse) bye Levski (Plovdiv) bye

Round 2 (1/2 finals)

Vladislav (Varna) - Levski (Ruse) 5:1 Slavia (Sofia) - Levski (Plovdiv) 4:0

Final

[30 Sep 1928] Slavia (Sofia) - Vladislav (Varna) 4:0

1927/28 season details

1928/29

1928/29 season details

Participants OSO Team Varnenska OSO Shipchenski sokol (Varna) Shumenska OSO Han Omurtag (Shumen) Rusenska OSO Rakovski (Ruse) Tarnovska OSO Chardafon (Gabrovo) Plevenska OSO Levski (Pleven) Vrachanska OSO no representative Bdinska OSO Maria Luisa (Lom) Sofiyska OSO Levski (Sofia) Rilska OSO no representative Plovdivska OSO Botev (Plovdiv) Haskovska OSO no representative Starozagorska OSO Trayana (Stara Zagora) Primorska OSO Levski (Burgas)

Round 1

Shipchenski sokol (Varna) - Han Omurtag (Shumen) 5:0 Rakovski (Ruse) - Chardafon (Gabrovo) 3:2 Levski (Pleven) - Maria Luisa (Lom) 2:0 Levski (Burgas) - Trayana (Stara Zagora) 3:1 Levski (Sofia) bye Botev (Plovdiv) bye

Round 2

Shipchenski sokol (Varna) - Rakovski (Ruse) 2:0 Levski (Sofia) - Levski (Pleven) 2:0 Botev (Plovdiv) - Levski (Burgas) 3:1

Round 3

Botev (Plovdiv) - Shipchenski sokol (Varna) 3:1

Final [3 Oct 1929] Levski (Sofia) - Botev (Plovdiv) 0:1

1928/29 season details

1929/30

1929/30 season details

Participants OSO Team Varnenska OSO Vladislav (Varna) Shumenska OSO Han Omurtag (Shumen) Rusenska OSO Rakovski (Ruse) Tarnovska OSO Etar (Tarnovo) * Plevenska OSO no representative Vrachanska OSO no representative Bdinska OSO Viktoria 23 (Vidin) Sofiyska OSO Slavia (Sofia) Rilska OSO Krakra (Pernik) Plovdivska OSO Botev (Plovdiv) Haskovska OSO no representative Starozagorska OSO no representative Primorska OSO Slava (Yambol)

• • city's contemporary name: Tarnovo -> Veliko Tarnovo.

Round 1

Vladislav (Varna) - Slava (Yambol) 7:1 Rakovski (Ruse) - Han Omurtag (Shumen) 0:6 Etar (Tarnovo) - Viktoria 23 (Vidin) 6:2 Krakra (Pernik) - Slavia (Sofia) 0:4 Botev (Plovdiv) bye

Round 2

Vladislav (Varna) - Han Omurtag (Shumen) 4:2 Slavia (Sofia) - Etar (Tarnovo) 4:2 Botev (Plovdiv) bye

Round 3

Slavia (Sofia) - Botev (Plovdiv) 2:1 aet Vladislav (Varna) bye

Final [3 Oct 1930] Slavia (Sofia) - Vladislav (Varna) 4:1

1929/30 season details

1930/31

1930/31 season details

Change All the State championship matches are now played during a single tournament, held in Sofia.

Participants OSO Team Varnenska OSO Shipchenski sokol (Varna) Shumenska OSO Han Omurtag (Shumen) Rusenska OSO Napredak (Ruse) Tarnovska OSO Etar (Tarnovo) * Plevenska OSO Pobeda 26 (Pleven) Vrachanska OSO Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) Bdinska OSO Sportist (Vidin) Sofiyska OSO AS 23 (Sofia) ** Rilska OSO Levski (Dupnitsa) Plovdivska OSO Botev (Plovdiv) Haskovska OSO Bulgaria (Haskovo) Starozagorska OSO no representative Primorska OSO Slava (Yambol)

• • city's contemporary name: Tarnovo -> Veliko Tarnovo. ** - full name Atletik-Slava 23.

Round 1

Shipchenski sokol (Varna) - Botev (Plovdiv) 1:0 Slava (Yambol) - Sportist (Vidin) 3:1 AS 23 (Sofia) - Etar (Tarnovo) 5:0 Napredak (Ruse) - Pobeda 26 (Pleven) 3:1 Han Omurtag (Shumen) - Levski (Dupnitsa) 2:0 Bulgaria (Haskovo) - Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) 6:2

Round 2

AS 23 (Sofia) - Slava (Yambol) 7:0 Shipchenski sokol (Varna) - Bulgaria (Haskovo) 5:1 Napredak (Ruse) - Han Omurtag (Shumen) 3:1

Round 3

AS 23 (Sofia) - Napredak (Ruse) 3:1 [some sources give 5:0] Shipchenski sokol (Varna) bye *

• • the draw before Round 2 determined that the winner from the pair AS 23 - Slava will have a bye at Round 3, however Shipchenski sokol threatened to leave the tournament if the winner of their pair was not given a bye instead, and BNSF gave in, despite protests by AS 23.

Final [13 Sep 1931] AS 23 (Sofia) - Shipchenski sokol (Varna) 3:0 awd *

• • match abandoned in 73' at 1:2 for Shipchenski sokol, when after a clash a player from the Varna team had to leave the field with a broken leg. The Varna players demand from the referee to show a red card to the AS 23 player that participated in the collision, but the referee refused to send him off, as he judged that there was no intention in the AS 23 player's action. At that, Shipchenski sokol left the field. Later it was awarded 3:0 to AS 23 by the BNSF.

1930/31 season details

1931/32

1931/32 season details

Change The old system of matches being played at the home ground of one of the teams from each pair is restored.

Participants OSO Team Varnenska OSO Shipchenski sokol (Varna) Shumenska OSO Han Omurtag (Shumen) Rusenska OSO Levski (Ruse) Tarnovska OSO Chardafon (Gabrovo) Plevenska OSO Pobeda 26 (Pleven) Vrachanska OSO Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) Bdinska OSO Levski (Lom) Sofiyska OSO Slavia (Sofia) Rilska OSO Levski (Dupnitsa) Plovdivska OSO Sokol (Plovdiv) Haskovska OSO Bulgaria (Haskovo) Starozagorska OSO Borislav (Stara Zagora) Primorska OSO Slava (Yambol)

Round 1

Slavia (Sofia) - Levski (Dupnitsa) 4:0 Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) - Levski (Lom) 2:1 Shipchenski sokol (Varna) - Han Omurtag (Shumen) 6:2 Slava (Yambol) - Borislav (Stara Zagora) 3:0 Chardafon (Gabrovo) - Pobeda 26 (Pleven) 1:0 annulled * replay in Pavlikeni: Chardafon (Gabrovo) - Pobeda 26 (Pleven) 1:3 Levski (Ruse) bye Sokol (Plovdiv) bye Bulgaria (Haskovo) bye

• • Pobeda 26 contested the first match claiming "unplayable pitch". The original game was annulled and a replay in Pavlikeni was ordered.

Round 2

Slavia (Sofia) - Slava (Yambol) 5:0 Levski (Ruse) - Shipchenski sokol (Varna) 0:2 Pobeda 26 (Pleven) - Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) 3:2 Sokol (Plovdiv) - Bulgaria (Haskovo) 3:1

Round 3 (1/2 finals)

Slavia (Sofia) - Sokol (Plovdiv) 5:0 Shipchenski sokol (Varna) - Pobeda 26 (Pleven) 4:1

Final

[18 Sep 1932] Slavia (Sofia) - Shipchenski sokol (Varna) 1:1; 1:2 aet

1931/32 season details

1932/33

1932/33 season details

Change A new Tundzhanska OSO is created out of part of Primorska OSO.

Participants OSO Team Varnenska OSO Shipchenski sokol (Varna) Shumenska OSO no representative Rusenska OSO Napredak (Ruse) Tarnovska OSO Chardafon (Gabrovo) Plevenska OSO Levski (Pleven) Vrachanska OSO Botev (Vratsa) Bdinska OSO Maria Luisa (Lom) Sofiyska OSO Levski (Sofia) Rilska OSO Borislav (Kyustendil) Plovdivska OSO Petar Parchevich (Plovdiv) Haskovska OSO Levski (Svilengrad) Starozagorska OSO Borislav (Stara Zagora) Primorska OSO Chernomorets (Burgas) Tundzhanska OSO Botev (Yambol)

Round 1

Borislav (Kyustendil) - Petar Parchevich (Plovdiv) 3:2 Botev (Yambol) - Chernomorets (Burgas) 0:0; 1:0 aet Napredak (Ruse) - Maria Luisa (Lom) 3:0 Shipchenski sokol (Varna) - Chardafon (Gabrovo) 3:0 Borislav (Stara Zagora) - Levski (Svilengrad) 0:0; 1:0 aet Levski (Pleven) - Botev (Vratsa) 6:0 Levski (Sofia) bye

Round 2

Levski (Sofia) - Borislav (Kyustendil) 9:1 Levski (Pleven) - Napredak (Ruse) 1:2 Botev (Yambol) - Borislav (Stara Zagora) 5:1 Shipchenski sokol (Varna) bye

Round 3 (1/2 finals)

Napredak (Ruse) - Shipchenski sokol (Varna) 1:4 Levski (Sofia) - Botev (Yambol) 4:2

Final [3 Oct 1933] Levski (Sofia) - Shipchenski sokol (Varna) 3:1

1932/33 season details

1933/34

1933/34 season details

Change The 14 okrazhni sportni oblasti are renamed to just "sportni oblasti".

Participants SO Team Varnenska SO Vladislav (Varna) Shumenska SO Han Omurtag (Shumen) Rusenska SO Napredak (Ruse) Tarnovska SO Chardafon (Gabrovo) Plevenska SO Pobeda 26 (Pleven) Vrachanska SO Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) Bdinska SO Maria Luisa (Lom) Sofiyska SO Slavia (Sofia) Rilska SO Borislav (Kyustendil) Plovdivska SO Shipka (Plovdiv) Haskovska SO Bulgaria (Haskovo) Starozagorska SO Svetoslav (Stara Zagora) Primorska SO Levski (Burgas) Tundzhanska SO Botev (Yambol)

Round 1

Slavia (Sofia) - Pobeda 26 (Pleven) 8:0 Han Omurtag (Shumen) - Vladislav (Varna) 1:4 Maria Luisa (Lom) - Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) 3:2 Shipka (Plovdiv) - Botev (Yambol) 1:4 * Napredak (Ruse) - Chardafon (Gabrovo) 1:1; 3:1 aet Svetoslav (Stara Zagora) - Levski (Burgas) 3:3; 4:3 aet Borislav (Kyustendil) bye Bulgaria (Haskovo) bye

• • match abandoned in 75' at 1:4 by the referee because of excessively rough play by the Shipka players. Result stood.

Round 2 (1/4 finals)

Slavia (Sofia) - Borislav (Kyustendil) 9:1 Napredak (Ruse) - Maria Luisa (Lom) 2:2; 3:2 aet Vladislav (Varna) - Botev (Yambol) 6:0 Svetoslav (Stara Zagora) - Bulgaria (Haskovo) 5:1

Round 3 (1/2 finals)

Slavia (Sofia) - Svetoslav (Stara Zagora) 4:0 Vladislav (Varna) - Napredak (Ruse) 3:1

Final [16 Sep 1934] Slavia (Sofia) - Vladislav (Varna) 0:2

1933/34 season details

1934/35

1934/35 season details

Change From this season, both the semi-finals as well as the final are played in Sofia.

Participants SO Team Varnenska SO Ticha (Varna) Shumenska SO Panayot Volov (Shumen) Rusenska SO Napredak (Ruse) Tarnovska SO Levski (Gorna Oryahovitsa) Plevenska SO Pobeda 26 (Pleven) Vrachanska SO Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) Bdinska SO Maria Luisa (Lom) Sofiyska SO Sportklub (Sofia) Rilska SO Strumska slava (Radomir) Plovdivska SO Botev (Pazardzhik) Haskovska SO no representative Starozagorska SO DFV (Kazanlak) Primorska SO Levski (Burgas) Tundzhanska SO Botev (Yambol)

Round 1

Maria Luisa (Lom) - Sportklub (Sofia) 1:1 aet Strumska slava (Radomir) - Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) 0:1 Napredak (Ruse) - DFV (Kazanlak) 3:3 aet Pobeda 26 (Pleven) - Botev (Yambol) 3:2 Levski (Gorna Oryahovitsa) - Panayot Volov (Shumen) 0:6 replays: Maria Luisa (Lom) - Sportklub (Sofia) 0:3 awd Napredak (Ruse) - DFV (Kazanlak) 2:0 Ticha (Varna) bye Botev (Pazardzhik) bye Levski (Burgas) bye

Round 2 (1/4 finals)

Sportklub (Sofia) - Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) 2:1 Botev (Pazardzhik) - Pobeda 26 (Pleven) 7:1 Levski (Burgas) - Ticha (Varna) 1:0 annulled * Panayot Volov (Shumen) - Napredak (Ruse) 3:2 replay in Sofia: Levski (Burgas) - Ticha (Varna) 0:3

• • Ticha contested the game because of ineligible player in the Levski squad. The match was annulled and a replay in Sofia was ordered.

Round 3 (1/2 finals)

Sportklub (Sofia) - Panayot Volov (Shumen) 1:0 in Sofia: Ticha (Varna) - Botev (Pazardzhik) 7:0

Final [3 Oct 1935] Sportklub (Sofia) - Ticha (Varna) 4:0

1934/35 season details

1935/36

1935/36 season details

Participants SO Team Varnenska SO Ticha (Varna) Shumenska SO Panayot Volov (Shumen) Rusenska SO Levski (Ruse) Tarnovska SO Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) Plevenska SO Pobeda 26 (Pleven) Vrachanska SO no representative Bdinska SO Viktoria 23 (Vidin) Sofiyska SO Slavia (Sofia) Rilska SO Krakra (Pernik) Plovdivska SO Botev (Plovdiv) Haskovska SO Urli (Harmanli) Starozagorska SO no representative Primorska SO Levski (Burgas) Tundzhanska SO Georgi Drazhev (Yambol)

Round 1

Viktoria 23 (Vidin) - Pobeda 26 (Pleven) 4:2 Levski (Ruse) - Panayot Volov (Shumen) 3:0 Krakra (Pernik) - Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) 2:1 Georgi Drazhev (Yambol) - Urli (Harmanli) 8:0 Ticha (Varna) bye Slavia (Sofia) bye Botev (Plovdiv) bye Levski (Burgas) bye

Round 2 (1/4 finals)

Levski (Ruse) - Krakra (Pernik) 0:1 Georgi Drazhev (Yambol) - Botev (Plovdiv) 1:0 Ticha (Varna) - Levski (Burgas) 1:0 Viktoria 23 (Vidin) - Slavia (Sofia) 1:6

Round 3 (1/2 finals)

Slavia (Sofia) - Georgi Drazhev (Yambol) 6:0 in Sofia: Ticha (Varna) - Krakra (Pernik) 1:0

Final [4 Oct 1936] Slavia (Sofia) - Ticha (Varna) ppd * [18 Oct 1936] Slavia (Sofia) - Ticha (Varna) 2:0

• • postponed because of bad weather.

1935/36 season details

1936/37

1936/37 season details

Change From this season, the semi-finals are again played at the home ground of one of the teams from each pair.

Participants SO Team Varnenska SO Vladislav (Varna) Shumenska SO Panayot Volov (Shumen) Rusenska SO Levski (Ruse) Tarnovska SO Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) Plevenska SO Belite orleta (Pleven) Vrachanska SO Tsar Krum (Byala Slatina) Bdinska SO Bdin (Vidin) Sofiyska SO Levski (Sofia) Rilska SO Levski (Dupnitsa) Plovdivska SO Botev (Plovdiv) Haskovska SO Bulgaria (Haskovo) Starozagorska SO ZhSK (Stara Zagora) * Primorska SO Chernomorets (Burgas) Tundzhanska SO Georgi Drazhev (Yambol)

• • full name Zheleznicharski sporten klub.

Round 1

Belite orleta (Pleven) - Tsar Krum (Byala Slatina) 4:1 Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) - ZhSK (Stara Zagora) 3:1 Levski (Sofia) - Levski (Dupnitsa) 7:1 Vladislav (Varna) - Panayot Volov (Shumen) 3:0 awd * Levski (Ruse) - Bdin (Vidin) 3:0 Georgi Drazhev (Yambol) - Chernomorets (Burgas) 3:2 Botev (Plovdiv) - Bulgaria (Haskovo) 6:0

• • match initially postponed because of a friendly game of another Varna club - Ticha - against the crew of HMS Delhi (I74) at the same time. Panayot Volov didn't show up on the newly set date.

Round 2

Levski (Ruse) - Belite orleta (Pleven) 2:0 Botev (Plovdiv) - Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) 4:0 Vladislav (Varna) - Georgi Drazhev (Yambol) 1:0 Levski (Sofia) bye

Round 3 (1/2 finals)

Levski (Sofia) - Botev (Plovdiv) 1:0 Levski (Ruse) - Vladislav (Varna) 1:1; 1:1 aet replay: Levski (Ruse) - Vladislav (Varna) 3:0 awd *

• • Vladislav left Ruse after the first match and didn't show up for the replay on the following day.

Final [3 Oct 1937] Levski (Sofia) - Levski (Ruse) 1:1 * [5 Oct 1937] Levski (Sofia) - Levski (Ruse) 3:0 *

• • The referee didn't give extra time following the first match, despite protests from Levski (Ruse). In the second game, an equalizing goal by Levski (Ruse) at 1:0 was at first given by the referee, and then disallowed following a signal from his assistant and amid vigorous protests from both teams. Levski (Ruse) played until the end of the game, which finished regularly at 3:0, but afterwards left the field immediately in protest before the official handing of the championship title.

1936/37 season details

1937/38

1937/38 season details

Change From this season for the first time a nation-wide top level league is established. Initially it was decided that the league, called "Natsionalna futbolna diviziya" - National Football Division - would consist of 8 teams - the top 3 teams from Sofiyska SO, the top 2 teams from Varnenska SO, and the top team from Rusenska, Plovdivska and Primorska SO from 1936/37. The winner of Primorska SO - Chernomorets was excluded in favour of the winner of Tundzhanska SO because of poor quality of its football ground. Eventually though after public pressure from Burgas, it was decided that the league would consist of 10 clubs, with Chernomorets, as well as the 4th team from Sofiyska SO, which happened to be the influential team of Slavia (Sofia), making up the numbers.

Competition system The teams meet each other twice on a home-and-away basis for a total of 18 matches for each team. 2 points for a win, 1 - for a draw and 0 for a loss. In case of tie in points, next tie-braker is goal ratio. The last two teams at the end of the season are relegated back to their respective SOs, with the two teams to replace them determined following qualifications among one representative from each of the SOs. The SOs grow in number from 14 to 16, after the sepparation of Balkanska SO from Tarnovska SO and of Pirinska SO from Rilska SO.

Participants

SO Team (as per performance in 1936/37) Varnenska SO 1. Vladislav (Varna) 2. Ticha (Varna) Rusenska SO 1. Levski (Ruse) Sofiyska SO 1. Levski (Sofia) 2. FK 13 (Sofia) * 3. Shipka (Sofia) 4. Slavia (Sofia) Plovdivska SO 1. Botev (Plovdiv) Primorska SO 1. Chernomorets (Burgas) Tundzhanska SO 1. Georgi Drazhev (Yambol)

• • full name Futbol klub 13.

                       **NFD - Final Table:**
    
                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Ticha (Varna) 18 9 7 2 26:17 25 [+] Champions
2. Vladislav (Varna) 18 8 6 4 42:20 22 [+]
3. Shipka (Sofia) 18 8 6 4 33:20 22 [+]
4. FK 13 (Sofia) 18 8 4 6 31:30 20 [+]
5. Slavia (Sofia) 18 8 4 6 30:30 20 [+]
6. Levski (Ruse) 18 7 5 6 27:23 19 [+]
7. Levski (Sofia) 18 7 4 7 30:26 18 [+]
8. Chernomorets (Burgas) 18 4 4 10 30:40 12 [+]

1. Botev (Plovdiv) 18 5 2 11 27:44 12 [+] Relegated
2. Georgi Drazhev (Yambol) 18 3 4 11 18:44 10 [+] Relegated

Promoted

AS 23 (Sofia) *, Sportklub (Plovdiv).

• • full name Atletik-Slava 23.

1937/38 season details

1938/39

1938/39 season details

                       **NFD - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Slavia (Sofia) 18 11 1 6 30:25 23 Champions
2. Vladislav (Varna) 18 9 4 5 26:15 22
3. Ticha (Varna) 18 9 4 5 18:17 22
4. AS 23 (Sofia) * 18 10 1 7 38:25 21 [+]
5. Sportklub (Plovdiv) 18 8 4 6 28:21 20 [+]
6. Levski (Sofia) 18 8 2 8 29:25 18
7. Levski (Ruse) 18 6 6 6 27:25 18
8. FK 13 (Sofia) * 18 6 5 7 28:27 17

1. Shipka (Sofia) 18 6 3 9 28:28 15 [*]
2. Chernomorets (Burgas) 18 0 4 14 17:61 4 Relegated

[*] - Shipka due to be relegated because of its league position but also won the "Tsarska kupa" - The Tsar's Cup - the national cup competition, and as a cup holder remain in the NFD. Thus only one team is promoted instead of two.

Promoted

ZhSK (Sofia) *.

• • clubs' full names: Atletik-Slava 23, Futbol klub 13, Zheleznicharski sporten klub.

1938/39 season details

1939/40

1939/40 season details

                       **NFD - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. ZhSK (Sofia) * 18 10 3 5 31:27 23 [+] Champions
2. Levski (Sofia) 18 9 4 5 29:18 22
3. Slavia (Sofia) 18 9 4 5 30:20 22
4. AS 23 (Sofia) * 18 9 2 7 41:27 20
5. FK 13 (Sofia) * 18 6 7 5 37:29 19
6. Shipka (Sofia) 18 7 3 8 25:27 17
7. Ticha (Varna) 18 6 5 7 17:24 17
8. Sportklub (Plovdiv) 18 4 9 5 17:24 17

1. Levski (Ruse) 18 4 4 10 13:27 12 Relegation Playoff
2. Vladislav (Varna) 18 3 5 10 14:31 11 Relegation Playoff

Promoted Botev (Sofia)

• • clubs' full names: Zheleznicharski sporten klub, Atletik-Slava 23, Futbol klub 13.

1939/40 season details

1940/41

Change At the start of this season the NFD was disbanded. Two were the major reasons for that - on one hand, the costs for the clubs, competing in the division were too high, on the other, the clubs from outside Sofia were getting increasingly unhappy by the big number of Sofia clubs in the division, which for the 1940/41 season would have been up to 7 out of 10 total teams. This initially resulted in a decision for the NFD to be reduced to 8 teams, of which only 3 from Sofia, 2 from Varna and not more than one of the rest of the SO. On this basis, the new NFD would have consisted of the top-3 Sofia teams from 1939/40 - ZhSK, Levski and Slavia (thus resulting in the other 3 teams from Sofia being excluded from the league, as well as Botev (Sofia) denied promotion); the two Varna teams in the NFD from 1939/40 - Ticha and Vladislav, Sportklub (Plovdiv), Napredak (Ruse) (which would substitute for Levski (Ruse) - that were excluded from the BNSF until 1943, because of not showing up for The Tsar's Cup final in 1939/40); and one other unknown team.

This naturally sparked huge uproar from the Sofia clubs, and though at least 2 matches of the "new version" of the NFD were played, eventually it was disbanded.

The BNSF mostly reverted to the old elimination system. 12 teams would qualify for the State championship. The 7 NFD Sofia clubs formed the new top level of Sofiyska SO (the old top level being reduced to 2nd level status). The top 3 teams from that would qualify for the State championship. The SOs of the other cities with clubs in NFD in 1939/40

• Varna, Plovdiv and Ruse - would also feed clubs directly to the State championship - 2 teams from Varna and 1 team each from Plovdiv and Ruse. One place is also allocated for a team from the "newly liberated lands" - i.e. the parts of Vardarska Makedonia and Belomorska Trakia, which were under Bulgarian administration at the time. Finally, the BNSF established two football divisions of 8 teams that would give 2 teams each for the State championship and would consist of teams from the other SOs.

"Severobulgarska" FD consisted of 6 winners of the SOs in Northern Bulgaria from 1939/40 (other than Rusenska and Varnenska SO) with additional teams from Bdinska and Vrachanska SO. "Yuzhnobulgarska" FD consisted of two teams from Starozagorska SO, one team each of Rilska, Tundzhanska and Haskovska SO, and three teams from Plovdivska SO, including Sportklub from NFD, and Botev, that would have been promtoed to the NFD, despite the fact that Plovdivska SO would have its separate competition and slot for the State championship.

Some of the SOs that didn't give direct access to the State championship because of the two newly created divisions continued running (and at places even including any teams that competed in the divisions), others ran only unofficially and some stopped running at all.

The NFD remained to exist only in name, as the State championship was now named Natsionalna futbolna diviziya (despite the fact it consisted only of eliminatory games).

Competition system Direct eliminations over two legs on a home-and-away basis. If the overall score is equal after the second leg (regardless of number of away goals) extra time is played. If the overall score is still equal at the end of extra time, a third match is played, but it's not clear whether that third game should be at the field of the hosts of the second leg, or at a neutral venue, which would prove to cause some problems (see below).

Participants SO Team Varnenska SO 1. Vladislav (Varna) 2. Ticha (Varna) Rusenska SO 1. Napredak (Ruse) Severobulgarska FD 1. Tsar Krum (Byala Slatina) 2. Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) Sofiyska SO 1. FK 13 (Sofia) * 2. Slavia (Sofia) 3. ZhSK (Sofia) * "Newly Liberated Lands" 1. Makedonia (Skopie) ** Yuzhnobulgarska FD 1. Sportklub (Plovdiv) 2. Levski (Plovdiv) Plovdivska SO 1. Petar Parchevich (Plovdiv)

• • clubs' full names: Futbol klub 13, Zheleznicharski sporten klub. ** - Skopie is the contemporary capital of Macedonia - Skopje.

Round 1

Note: The teams shown in first place were hosts in the first legs.

FK 13 (Sofia) - Vladislav (Varna) 3:0 awd; 3:0 awd * Tsar Krum (Byala Slatina) - Petar Parchevich (Plovdiv) 6:1; 1:0 Levski (Plovdiv) - Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) 4:1; 0:1 ** Napredak (Ruse) - ZhSK (Sofia) 1:3; 2:1 Ticha (Varna) - Slavia (Sofia) 1:2; 0:0 Makedonia (Skopie) - Sportklub (Plovdiv) 2:1; 0:3 awd ***

• • Vladislav didn't show up for the first leg after demanding their travel expences to be covered, while regulations show that the visiting team should cover their travel costs by themselves. Thus the whole tie is awarded to FK 13. ** - some sources give 1:1 as a result from the second leg. *** - the second leg ended 1:0 for Sportklub, and as per regulations, the match continued with extra time. It the 8th minute of extra time however the game was abandoned, after the referee sent off a player from Makedonia and the team left the field in protest. Thus the game was awarded to Sportklub.

Round 2

Slavia (Sofia) - FK 13 (Sofia) 0:0; 4:1 Tsar Krum (Byala Slatina) - Levski (Plovdiv) 0:0; 2:2; 1:1, 2:3 aet * Sportklub (Plovdiv) - ZhSK (Sofia) 0:2; 0:1

• • The second leg in Plovdiv ended 2:2 in regular time, but the referee didn't give extra time following the game. The third match was again played in Plovdiv and ended again in a draw - 1:1, with extra time given this time round in which Levski prevailed. Tsar Krum however contested the game because the referee didn't give extra time after the second leg, and because they demanded that the 3rd match should be played at a neutral venue. As this wasn't clearly dealt with in the regulations, no decision is taken and Levski progress through to the next round.

Round 3

Levski (Plovdiv) - Slavia (Sofia) 0:3; 0:2 ZhSK (Sofia) bye

Final [21 Sep 1941] - 1st leg Slavia (Sofia) - ZhSK (Sofia) 0:0 [28 Sep 1941] - 2nd leg ZhSK (Sofia) - Slavia (Sofia) 1:2

1941/42

Change The Severobulgarska and Yuzhnobulgarska FDs were disbanded and once again all the teams qualify for the NFD through the competitions in the different SOs.

Varnenska SO remained with 2 berths for the NFD, Plovdivska SO also got a second berth, while Sofiyska SO was given additional 3 berths - up to 6. Of those 4 went to the top 4 teams in the first level of the SO (out of a total of 8), with the remaining 2 going to the top 2 teams in the second level of the SO.

The team of Makedonia (Skopie) was moved to play in the first level of Sofiyska SO (and as can be seen below, qualified through there). The newly acquired lands of Southern Dobrudzha (following the Treaty of Craiova in September 1940) were incorporated into a newly created Dobrichka SO. The parts of Vardarska Makedonia that were under Bulgarian administration were organized into two SOs - Skopska and Bitolska, which were also given 2 berths each for the NFD.

Lastly it was decided again to return to the system of elimination following a single game for the earlier rounds, with the home-and-away elimination starting from Round 3.

Participants SO Team Varnenska SO 1. Pobeda (Varna) 2. Ticha (Varna) Dobrichka SO 1. Tsar Boris III (Dobrich) Shumenska SO 1. Han Kubrat (Popovo) Rusenska SO 1. ZhSK (Ruse) * Tarnovska SO no representative Balkanska SO no representative Plevenska SO 1. SP 39 (Pleven) * Vrachanska SO no representative Bdinska SO 1. Knyaginya Maria Luisa (Lom) Sofiyska SO 1. Levski (Sofia) 2. Makedonia (Skopie) ** 3. ZhSK (Sofia) * 4. Slavia (Sofia) 1b.Botev (Sofia) 2b.Knyaz Kiril Preslavski (Sofia) Rilska SO 1. Atletik (Dupnitsa) Pirinska SO no representative Skopska SO . ZhSK (Skopie) /* . Vardar (Skopie) ** Bitolska SO . Makedonia (Bitolya) ** . Gotse Delchev (Prilep) ** Plovdivska SO 1. Sportklub (Plovdiv) 2. Botev (Plovdiv) Haskovska SO 1. Botev (Haskovo) Starozagorska SO no representative Primorska SO no representative Tundzhanska SO 1. Georgi Drazhev (Yambol)

• • clubs' full names: Zheleznicharski sporten klub, Skobelev-Pobeda 39. ** - Skopie is the contemporary capital of Macedonia - Skopje, Bitolya (contemporary name - Bitola) and Prilep are also towns in contemporary Macedonia.

Round 1

Ticha (Varna) - Tsar Boris III (Dobrich) 4:0 Han Kubrat (Popovo) - Pobeda (Varna) 1:2 Knyaginya Maria Luisa (Lom) - Botev (Sofia) 3:1 Atletik (Dupnitsa) - Knyaz Kiril Preslavski (Sofia) 1:0 Botev (Plovdiv) - Levski (Sofia) 2:5 Botev (Haskovo) - Sportklub (Plovdiv) 1:4 SP 39 (Pleven) - ZhSK (Sofia) 0:1 Slavia (Sofia) - Georgi Drazhev (Yambol) 6:0 ZhSK (Skopie) - Gotse Delchev (Prilep) 8:0 Makedonia (Bitolya) - Vardar (Skopie) 4:1 ZhSK (Ruse) bye Makedonia (Skopie) bye

Round 2

Slavia (Sofia) - Makedonia (Bitolya) 1:0 Ticha (Varna) - ZhSK (Ruse) 4:0 ZhSK (Sofia) - ZhSK (Skopie) 3:0 Levski (Sofia) - Atletik (Dupnitsa) 5:2 Sportklub (Plovdiv) - Makedonia (Skopie) 0:2 Pobeda (Varna) - Knyaginya Maria Luisa (Lom) 4:0

Round 3

Note: The teams shown in first place were hosts in the first legs.

Levski (Sofia) - Ticha (Varna) 4:0; 2:0 Pobeda (Varna) - Slavia (Sofia) 1:1; 0:0, 0:0 aet; 1:3 Makedonia (Skopie) - ZhSK (Sofia) 3:1; 3:0 awd

Round 4

Makedonia (Skopie) - Slavia (Sofia) 5:1; 0:3 Levski (Sofia) bye

Final [11 Oct 1942] Makedonia (Skopie) - Levski (Sofia) 0:2 [18 Oct 1942] Levski (Sofia) - Makedonia (Skopie) 1:0

1942/43

Change

The system of direct eliminations over two legs on a home-and-away basis was again introduced from the first round of the competition.

The parts of Belomorska Trakia that were under Bulgarian administration were organized into Belomorska SO. Sofiyska SO's quota is reduced from 6 to 5 teams (now only the winner of the 2nd level qualifies).

Participants SO Team Varnenska SO 1. Ticha (Varna) 2. Vladislav (Varna) Dobrichka SO 1. Levski (Dobrich) Shumenska SO 1. Han Kubrat (Popovo) Rusenska SO 1. ZhSK (Ruse) * Tarnovska SO 1. Knyaz Simeon Tarnovski (Pavlikeni) Balkanska SO 1. Chardafon (Gabrovo) Plevenska SO 1. SP 39 (Pleven) * Vrachanska SO 1. Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) Bdinska SO 1. Knyaginya Maria Luisa (Lom) Sofiyska SO 1. Levski (Sofia) 2. Slavia (Sofia) 3. Makedonia (Skopie) ** 4. ZhSK (Sofia) * 1b.Sportist (Sofia) Rilska SO 1. Atletik (Dupnitsa) Pirinska SO 1. Botev (Gorna Dzhumaya) *** Skopska SO . ZhSK (Skopie) /* . Vardar (Skopie) ** Bitolska SO . Bitolya (Bitolya) ** . Makedonia (Bitolya) ** Plovdivska SO 1. Levski (Plovdiv) 2. Botev (Plovdiv) Belomorska SO 1. Belomorets (Kavala) Haskovska SO 1. Botev (Haskovo) Starozagorska SO 1. Tritsvet (Chirpan) Primorska SO 1. Levski (Burgas) Tundzhanska SO 1. Georgi Drazhev (Yambol)

• • clubs' full names: Zheleznicharski sporten klub, Skobelev-Pobeda 39. ** - Skopie is the contemporary capital of Macedonia - Skopje, Bitolya (contemporary name - Bitola) is also a towns in contemporary Macedonia, and Kavala is in contemporary Greece. *** - city's contemporary name: Gorna Dzhumaya -> Blagoevgrad.

Round 1

Note: The teams shown in first place were hosts in the first legs.

Levski (Dobrich) - ZhSK (Ruse) 2:4; 2:4 Belomorets (Kavala) - Botev (Haskovo) 4:1; 2:1 Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) - Knyaginya Maria Luisa (Lom) 1:2; 2:4 Georgi Drazhev (Yambol) - Levski (Burgas) 2:1; 1:2, 1:3 aet Knyaz Simeon Tarnovski (Pavlikeni) - Chardafon (Gabrovo) 3:0 awd * SP 39 (Pleven) - Sportist (Sofia) 1:4; 0:3 ZhSK (Skopie) - Makedonia (Bitolya) 3:0; 1:0 Han Kubrat (Popovo) - Vladislav (Varna) 1:1; 0:3 Tritsvet (Chirpan) - Botev (Plovdiv) 1:4; 0:3 ZhSK (Sofia) - Ticha (Varna) 2:0; 0:0 Botev (Gorna Dzhumaya) - Atletik (Dupnitsa) 1:3; 0:3 Bitolya (Bitolya) - Vardar (Skopie) npd; npd /* Levski (Sofia) bye Slavia (Sofia) bye Makedonia (Skopie) bye Levski (Plovdiv) bye

• • Chardafon is eliminated without a return leg, because of a no-show for the first leg; both Bitolya and Vardar fail to participate in the competition. ** - hosting could have been reversed.

Round 2

Sportist (Sofia) - Knyaginya Maria Luisa (Lom) 5:0; 4:0 ZhSK (Ruse) - Vladislav (Varna) 2:4; 6:1 * Knyaz Simeon Tarnovski (Pavlikeni) - Levski (Burgas) 3:4; 1:2 Belomorets (Kavala) - Botev (Plovdiv) 2:1; 0:1, 0:1 aet; 1:2 Levski (Sofia) - Atletik (Dupnitsa) 2:1; 4:1 Levski (Plovdiv) - ZhSK (Skopie) 3:1; 2:1 ZhSK (Sofia) - Makedonia (Skopie) 3:0 awd; 3:0 awd ** Slavia (Sofia) bye

• • first leg originally ended 2:3, but was ordered to be replayed because the referee ended the first half 5 minutes early. ** - due to the wartime situation, it was decided that both legs of the tie were to take place in two consecutive days in Sofia. Makedonia did not agree with that and didn't show up for the games.

Round 3 (1/4 finals)

Levski (Sofia) - ZhSK (Sofia) 2:2; 2:1 Sportist (Sofia) - Slavia (Sofia) 2:2; 0:1 Levski (Burgas) - Botev (Plovdiv) 0:1; 0:3 Levski (Plovdiv) - ZhSK (Ruse) 6:1; 1:3

Round 4 (1/2 finals)

Levski (Sofia) - Levski (Plovdiv) 3:1; 2:0 Botev (Plovdiv) - Slavia (Sofia) 1:1; 1:5

Final [10 Oct 1943] Slavia (Sofia) - Levski (Sofia) 1:0 [17 Oct 1943] Levski (Sofia) - Slavia (Sofia) 0:1

1943/44

Change Silistrenska SO is separated from Dobrichka SO, Sofiyska SO's quota is reduced to 4 berths (only the top 4 teams from first level), and Makedonia (Skopie) is moved from Sofiyska SO back to Skopska SO.

Participants SO Team Varnenska SO 1. Shipchenski sokol (Varna) 2. ZhSK (Varna) * Dobrichka SO 1. Levski (Dobrich) Silistrenska SO 1. Vihar (Silistra) Shumenska SO 1. Han Kubrat (Popovo) Rusenska SO 1. Dobrudzha (Ruse) Tarnovska SO 1. Etar (Tarnovo) ** 2. Knyaz Simeon Tarnovski (Pavlikeni) *** Balkanska SO no representative Plevenska SO 1. SP 39 (Pleven) * Vrachanska SO 1. Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) Bdinska SO 1. Viktoria 23 (Vidin) Sofiyska SO 1. AS 23 (Sofia) * 2. Benkovski (Sofia) 3. Levski (Sofia) 4. Slavia (Sofia) Rilska SO 1. Slavia (Dupnitsa) Pirinska SO 1. Makedonska slava (Gorna Dzhumaya) ** Skopska SO . Makedonia (Skopie) **** . ZhSK (Skopie) **** Bitolska SO no representatives Plovdivska SO 1. ZhSK (Plovdiv) * 2. Botev (Plovdiv) Belomorska SO 1. Momchil yunak (Kavala) **** Haskovska SO 1. Bulgaria (Haskovo) Starozagorska SO 1. ZhSK (Stara Zagora) * Primorska SO 1. Levski (Burgas) Tundzhanska SO 1. Botev (Yambol)

• • clubs' full names: Zheleznicharski sporten klub, Skobelev-Pobeda 39, Atletik-Slava 23. ** - cities' contemporary names: Tarnovo -> Veliko Tarnovo, Gorna Dzhumaya -> Blagoevgrad. *** - Knyaz Simeon Tarnovski probably admitted to substitute for representative of Balkanska SO. **** - Skopie is the contemporary capital of Macedonia - Skopje and Kavala is in contemporary Greece.

Round 1

Note: The teams shown in first place were hosts in the first legs.

Shipchenski sokol (Varna) - ZhSK (Varna) 1:0; 1:0 Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) - Knyaz Simeon Tarnovski (Pavl) 3:3; 3:4 * ZhSK (Plovdiv) - Botev (Plovdiv) 3:1; 2:2 Botev (Yambol) - ZhSK (Stara Zagora) 5:1; 3:2 * Slavia (Dupnitsa) - Makedonska slava (Gorna Dzhumaya) 4:2; 4:4 Levski (Dobrich) - Vihar (Silistra) 2:1; 3:0 awd Momchil yunak (Kavala) - Bulgaria (Haskovo) 1:1; 3:0 awd * Levski (Sofia) - Slavia (Sofia) 4:3; 1:0 Benkovski (Sofia) - AS 23 (Sofia) 3:1; 7:1 Han Kubrat (Popovo) bye Dobrudzha (Ruse) bye Etar (Tarnovo) bye SP 39 (Pleven) bye Viktoria 23 (Vidin) bye Makedonia (Skopie) bye ZhSK (Skopie) bye Levski (Burgas) bye

• • Knyaz Simeon Tarnovski, Botev (Yambol) and Momchil yunak probably withdrew from further participation, with ZhSK (Stara Zagora) and Bulgaria (Haskovo) taking the places in the next round of Botev and Momchil yunak respectively, while Orel-Chegan 30 probably didn't want to continue participation either.

Round 2 (1/8 finals)

Viktoria 23 (Vidin) - Levski (Sofia) 2:9; 0:3 awd * Benkovski (Sofia) - Slavia (Dupnitsa) 6:0; 3:0 SP 39 (Pleven) - Etar (Tarnovo) 3:0; 2:3 Makedonia (Skopie) - ZhSK (Skopie) 0:1; ?:? ** ZhSK (Plovdiv) - Bulgaria (Haskovo) 4:3; ?:? ** ZhSK (Stara Zagora) - Levski (Burgas) 0:2; 0:3 awd Levski (Dobrich) - Shipchenski sokol (Varna) 2:1; 1:2; 0:3 awd Dobrudzha (Ruse) - Han Kubrat (Popovo) 0:5; 0:3 awd

• • at least one of the pairs (Viktoria 23 - Levski), and probably more, played both legs at a single venue. ** - results from the second legs unknown.

Round 3 (1/4 finals)

Benkovski (Sofia) - Han Kubrat (Popovo) npd; npd * Shipchenski sokol (Varna) - Levski (Sofia) npd; npd * Levski (Burgas) - Bulgaria (Haskovo) npd; npd * SP 39 (Pleven) - Makedonia (Skopie) npd; npd *

• • with the 1/8 finals taking place in late August, the draw for the 1/4 finals was made, but the matches were never played because of the establishment of communist rule on 9 September 1944 and the initial chaos that ensued.

1944/45

Change

The SOs are disbanded, but nevertheless, qualification for the State championship is still based on performance in regional leagues.

The system of elimination over a single leg is again reinstated with only the final being played over two legs.

Participants Region Team Varna Spartak (Varna) TV 45 (Varna) * Dobrich Vihar (Dobrich) Shumen Stamo Kostov (Popovo) Ruse Angel Kanchev-Levski (Ruse) Silistra Levski-Dorostol (Silistra) Tarnovo Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) Gabrovo Orlovets (Gabrovo) Pleven ZhSK-Botev (Pleven) * Vratsa Botev (Byala Slatina) Mihaylovgrad Botev (Mihaylovgrad) ** Vidin Benkovski (Vidin) Sofia 1. PSK Levski (Sofia) * 2. Sportist (Sofia) 3. Lokomotiv (Sofia) Pernik Lokomotiv (Pernik) Gorna Dzhumaya Botev (Gorna Dzhumaya) ** Plovdiv - city ZhSK-Levski (Plovdiv) * Botev (Plovdiv) SP 45 (Plovdiv) * Plovdiv - region Borislav (Borisovgrad) ** Stara Zagora ZhSK (Stara Zagora) * Burgas Slavia (Burgas) Yambol Nikolay Laskov (Yambol)

• • clubs' full names: Ticha-Vladislav 45, Poshtenski sporten klub Levski, Sportklub-Parchevich 45, ZhSK = Zheleznicharski sporten klub everywhere. ** - cities' contemporary names: Mihaylovgrad -> Montana, Gorna Dzhumaya -> Blagoevgrad, Borisovgrad - Parvomay.

Round 1

Botev (Byala Slatina) - ZhSK-Botev (Pleven) 2:3 aet Orlovets (Gabrovo) - Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) 1:0 Borislav (Borisovgrad) - ZhSK (Stara Zagora) 3:3; 1:0 Botev (Mihaylovgrad) - Benkovski (Vidin) 0:1 Botev (Gorna Dzhumaya) - Lokomotiv (Pernik) 3:1 Levski-Dorostol (Silistra) - Angel Kanchev-Levski (Ruse) 0:2 Nikolay Laskov (Yambol) - Slavia (Burgas) 2:1 PSK Levski (Sofia) - ZhSK-Levski (Plovdiv) 4:0 Spartak (Varna) bye TV 45 (Varna) bye Vihar (Dobrich) bye Stamo Kostov (Popovo) bye Sportist (Sofia) bye Lokomotiv (Sofia) bye Botev (Plovdiv) bye SP 45 (Plovdiv) bye

Round 2 (1/8 finals)

Benkovski (Vidin) - Sportist (Sofia) 1:2 [some sources give 1:3] Angel Kanchev-Levski (Ruse) - Spartak (Varna) 1:2 Stamo Kostov (Popovo) - TV 45 (Varna) 1:2 ZhSK-Botev (Pleven) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 1:4 Orlovets (Gabrovo) - Vihar (Dobrich) 2:0 Nikolay Laskov (Yambol) - Botev (Plovdiv) 0:3 Borislav (Borisovgrad) - SP 45 (Plovdiv) 1:3 Botev (Gorna Dzhumaya) - PSK Levski (Sofia) 1:2

Round 3 (1/4 finals)

Botev (Plovdiv) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 0:2 Spartak (Varna) - Orlovets (Gabrovo) 3:0 SP 45 (Plovdiv) - TV 45 (Varna) 2:2 aet; 4:1 Sportist (Sofia) - PSK Levski (Sofia) 2:1

Round 4 (1/2 finals)

Sportist (Sofia) - Spartak (Varna) 3:2 SP 45 (Plovdiv) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 0:0, 0:1 aet

Final [30 Sep 1945] Lokomotiv (Sofia) - Sportist (Sofia) 3:1 [7 Oct 1945] Sportist (Sofia) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 1:1

1945/46

Change The number of participants in the State championship is reduced to 16.

Elimination in two legs is now introduced for the semi-finals too.

Participants

Region Team Varna Spartak (Varna) TV 45 (Varna) * Ruse Lokomotiv (Ruse) Tarnovo Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) Lovech Kirkov-Yunak (Lovech) Mihaylovgrad YuBS 45 (Mihaylovgrad) /* Vidin Benkovski (Vidin) Sofia - city 1. PSK Levski (Sofia) * 2. Slavia 45 (Sofia) 3. Lokomotiv (Sofia) Sofia - region Levski (Samokov) Gorna Dzhumaya Ilinden (Petrich) Plovdiv Botev (Plovdiv) Slavia (Plovdiv) Haskovo Rodina (Haskovo) Burgas LB 45 (Burgas) *

• • clubs' full names: Ticha-Vladislav 45, Yunak-Botev-Spartak 45, Poshtenski sporten klub Levski, Levski-Botev 45. ** - city's contemporary name: Mihaylovgrad -> Montana.

Round 1 (1/8 finals)

Rodina (Haskovo) - Spartak (Varna) 1:4 TV 45 (Varna) - YuBS 45 (Mihaylovgrad) 5:0 Levski (Samokov) - Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) 1:1 aet; 1:1; 1:5 Benkovski (Vidin) - Botev (Plovdiv) 5:3 LB 45 (Burgas) - Kirkov-Yunak (Lovech) 2:1 aet PSK Levski (Sofia) - Ilinden (Petrich) 7:0 Slavia (Plovdiv) - Slavia 45 (Sofia) 0:1 Lokomotiv (Ruse) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 0:4

Round 2 (1/4 finals)

LB 45 (Burgas) - PSK Levski (Sofia) 0:2 aet Benkovski (Vidin) - Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) 2:1 TV 45 (Varna) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 1:2 Slavia 45 (Sofia) - Spartak (Varna) 1:3

Round 3 (1/2 finals)

Note: The teams shown in first place were hosts in the first legs.

PSK Levski (Sofia) - Spartak (Varna) 3:0; 3:0 Benkovski (Vidin) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 2:2; 0:2

Final [6 Sep 1946] PSK Levski (Sofia) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 1:0 [15 Sep 1946] Lokomotiv (Sofia) - PSK Levski (Sofia) 0:1

1946/47

Participants Region Team Varna TVP (Varna) * Spartak (Varna) Ruse Lokomotiv (Ruse) Tarnovo Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) Gabrovo Angel Kanchev (Tryavna) Mihaylovgrad Republikanets (Lom) Vidin Benkovski (Vidin) Sofia 1. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 2. Levski (Sofia) 3. Spartak (Sofia) Gorna Dzhumaya Ilinden (Petrich) Kyustendil Marek (Dupnitsa) Plovdiv Slavia (Plovdiv) Levski (Plovdiv) Stara Zagora Lokomotiv (Stara Zagora) Burgas Lyubislav (Burgas)

• • club's full name: Ticha-Vladislav-Primorets.

Round 1 (1/8 finals)

TVP (Varna) - Angel Kanchev (Tryavna) 2:0 Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) - Slavia (Plovdiv) 3:2 Republikanets (Lom) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 0:1 Lyubislav (Burgas) - Spartak (Varna) 2:2; 0:1 Levski (Sofia) - Ilinden (Petrich) 4:0 Benkovski (Vidin) - Lokomotiv (Ruse) 2:1 Spartak (Sofia) - Marek (Dupnitsa) 2:0 Levski (Plovdiv) - Lokomotiv (Stara Zagora) 2:1

Round 2 (1/4 finals)

Lokomotiv (Sofia) - TVP (Varna) 3:0 Spartak (Varna) - Levski (Sofia) 1:2 Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) - Spartak (Sofia) 0:1 Benkovski (Vidin) - Levski (Plovdiv) 1:2

Round 3 (1/2 finals)

Note: The teams shown in first place were hosts in the first legs.

Lokomotiv (Sofia) - Spartak (Sofia) 3:1; 3:0 Levski (Plovdiv) - Levski (Sofia) 0:4; 1:5

Final [29 Oct 1947] Levski (Sofia) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 1:1 [2 Nov 1947] Lokomotiv (Sofia) - Levski (Sofia) 0:1

1947/48

Change Elimination over two legs is introduced in all rounds.

Participants Region Team Varna 1. TVP (Varna) * 2. Spartak (Varna) Ruse Lokomotiv (Ruse) Gabrovo Aprilov (Gabrovo) Pleven Spartak (Pleven) Mihaylovgrad Hristo Mihaylov (Mihaylovgrad) ** Vidin Benkovski (Vidin) Sofia 1. Levski (Sofia) 2. Septemvri pri CDV (Sofia) * 3. Spartak (Sofia) Gorna Dzhumaya Ilinden (Petrich) Kyustendil Marek (Dupnitsa) Plovdiv 1. Slavia (Plovdiv) 2. Botev (Plovdiv) Stara Zagora Lokomotiv (Stara Zagora) Burgas Lyubislav (Burgas)

• • clubs' full names: Ticha-Vladislav-Primorets, Septemvri pri Tsentralen dom na voyskata ("Septemvri at the Central army club"). ** - city's contemporary name: Mihaylovgrad -> Montana.

Round 1 (1/8 finals)

Note: The teams shown in first place were hosts in the first legs.

Levski (Sofia) - Lyubislav (Burgas) 2:0; 0:0 Aprilov (Gabrovo) - Septemvri pri CDV (Sofia) 0:2; 1:2 Hristo Mihaylov (Mihaylovgrad) - Marek (Dupnitsa) 3:4; 3:9 Benkovski (Vidin) - Lokomotiv (Ruse) 2:0; 2:0 Spartak (Sofia) - Ilinden (Petrich) 2:0; 1:0 TVP (Varna) - Lokomotiv (Stara Zagora) 1:1; 6:2 Spartak (Pleven) - Slavia (Plovdiv) 1:1; 0:3 Botev (Plovdiv) - Spartak (Varna) 2:3; 0:1

Round 2 (1/4 finals)

Benkovski (Vidin) - Septemvri pri CDV (Sofia) 0:4; 1:2 Marek (Dupnitsa) - Spartak (Sofia) 2:0; 0:0 Levski (Sofia) - Slavia-Chengelov (Plovdiv) 4:0; 3:3 * TVP (Varna) - Spartak (Varna) 2:2; 0:4

• • between the two legs of the tie Slavia is merged with Petar Chengelov (Plovdiv) into Slavia-Chengelov.

Round 3 (1/2 finals)

Spartak (Varna) - Septemvri pri CDV (Sofia) 1:2; 1:4 Levski (Sofia) - Marek (Dupnitsa) 3:1; 3:2

Final [5 Sep 1948] Septemvri pri CDV (Sofia) - Levski (Sofia) 1:2 [9 Sep 1948] Levski (Sofia) - Septemvri pri CDV (Sofia) 1:3

1948/49

Change For the first time since the end of the 30s, a nation-wide top level league is established again. It was called "Republikanska futbolna diviziya" - Republican Football Division, and consisted of 10 teams, of which 5 were to be from Sofia. Qualification for the division was based on performance in the regional competitions in 1947/48. The top-5 clubs from Sofia were: 1.Levski, 2.Septemvri pri CDV, 3.Spartak, 4.Slavia and 5.Lokomotiv. The winners of the Plovdiv and Varna regional competitions - respectively Slavia-Chengelov and TVP were also qualified, as well as Benkovski (Vidin), Lyubislav (Burgas) and Marek (Dupnitsa).

Competition system The teams meet each other twice on a home-and-away basis for a total of 18 matches for each team. 2 points for a win, 1 - for a draw and 0 for a loss. In case of tie in points, next tie-braker is goal ratio.

At the end of the season, the last team are to be directly relegated to second level, its place being taken by the winner of the predecessor division that would serve as a basis for the 2nd level in next season - the MFD ("Mezhduzonova futbolna diviziya" - Inter-zone Footbal Division).

The teams placed 7th, 8th and 9th meet in playoffs over two legs (home and away) the teams, which are placed respectively 4th, 3rd and 2nd in the MFD.

                       **RFD - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski (Sofia) 18 15 3 0 44:8 33 [+] Champions
2. CDNV (Sofia) * 18 10 4 4 28:15 24 [+]
3. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 18 8 5 5 25:17 21 [+]
4. Slavia (Sofia) 18 9 3 6 29:20 21 [+]
5. Spartak (Sofia) 18 8 5 5 23:18 21 [+]
6. Botev pri DNV (Varna) * 18 9 3 6 30:25 21 [+]

1. Slavia (Plovdiv) * 18 4 8 6 16:21 16 [+] Playoff
2. Marek (Marek) * 18 2 4 12 16:42 8 [+] Playoff
3. Benkovski (Vidin) * 18 2 4 12 13:35 8 [+] Playoff - Relegated

1. Botev (Burgas) * 18 2 3 13 15:38 7 [+] Relegated

• • CDNV started as Septemvri pri CDV. At the winter brake Septemvri was formed again and split from the team to be entered into the MFD, while the army club was renamed CDNV - "Tsentralen dom na narodnata voyska" (Central club of the people's army).
  • Botev pri DNV started as TVP (Ticha-Vladislav-Primorets). Shortly after the start of the season the club was renamed Botev pri DNV (see above for meaning of DNV).
  • Slavia (Plovdiv) started as Slavia-Chengelov. At the winter brake the club was renamed Slavia.
  • the city of Dupnitsa was renamed Marek in the summer of 1949.
  • Benkovski started as Benkovski-Sportist. Shortly afterwards the club was renamed Benkovski.
  • Botev started as Lyubislav (Burgas). At the winter brake the team merged with Udarnik (Burgas) to form Botev (Burgas).

Playoffs

Note: The teams shown in first place were hosts in the first legs.

Rosstroy (Pavlikeni) - Slavia (Plovdiv) 2:2; 2:4 Septemvri (Sofia) - Marek (Marek) 2:0; 0:2; 0:1 * Benkovski (Vidin) - Borev pri DNV (Plovdiv) 1:3; 0:0

• • 3rd leg in Kyustendil.

Promoted Septemvri (Pleven) - as winners of MFD, Botev pri DNV (Plovdiv) - through playoffs.

1949/50

Note It's not clear if the promotion/relegation rules had changed compared to last season.

                       **RFD - Table after 2 rounds:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski (Sofia) 2 2 0 0 6:1 4
2. CDNV (Sofia) * 2 2 0 0 4:0 4
3. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 2 2 0 0 2:0 4
4. Septemvri (Pleven) 2 1 1 0 2:1 3 [+]
5. Slavia (Sofia) 2 1 0 1 2:2 2
6. Botev pri DNV (Plovdiv) * 2 1 0 1 2:4 2 [+]
7. Botev pri DNV (Varna) * 2 0 1 1 1:2 1
8. Marek (Marek) 2 0 0 2 2:5 0
9. Slavia (Plovdiv) 2 0 0 2 1:3 0
10. Spartak (Sofia) 2 0 0 2 0:4 0

• • CDNV stands for "Tsentralen dom na narodnata voyska" (Central club of the people's army), respectively DNV stands for "Dom na narodnata voyska".

Change On 27 Aug 1949 the communist party of Bulgaria takes the decision to drastically reform the sports organizations in the country, based on the current Soviet model. As a result, all of the sport clubs are extinct, with their place being taken by seven massive "Dobrovolni sportni organizatsii" (Voluntary Sports Organizations), based around the different economy sectors. Each DSO was supposed to have "branches" in every city and encompassed all kinds of sport, with every sportsman or woman being a member of the DSO, which is uniting the workers of the respective sector of the economy that he or she belongs to.

The newly created DSOs were as follows:

• DSO Akademik - of the university lectors and students as well as of those working in the field of science;
• DSO Dinamo - of those working in posts and the field of communication and in the light industry (textile, tailoring, shoe- and leather industry, food industry);
• DSO Energia - of those working in transportation, heavy industry, mining. In October 1949 that DSO was renamed to DSO Torpedo;
• DSO Spartak - of those working in the Ministry of Internal Affairs system (i.e. the police - or "Narodna militsiya"), also the border guards as they were too part of that Ministry (and not of the army);
• DSO Stroitel - of those working in the construction industry, health care, agriculture, forestry, as well as those in the system of "Stroitelni voyski" (militarized labour service);
• DSO Cherveno zname - of those working in local public administration, commerce, banking, insurance, those in the culture sector and the education sector (except for higher education, which belong to DSO Akademk);
• sport clubs of those serving in the BNA - "Bulgarska narodna armiya" (The Bulgarian people's army), those military clubs were already differentiated before the reform and now continue to exist along the DSOs.

Despite the drastic change, most of the big clubs - especially in the few big cities did manage to preserve their identity, both through players and staff participating in the DSOs and through already established affiliation with the relative economy sectors (which allowed most of the players to pass on to the new DSO teams).

As mentioned above, all the teams, which were already relatively well-established practically remained intact (CDNV, the two Botevs in Varna and Plovidv as an example). The football teams in most of the local Torpedo DSOs were almost entirely build around the Lokomotiv teams where they existed as naturally they were designated teams of the transport workers before the reform (example of this is Lokomotiv of Sofia, which was "reborn" in Torpedo). There were quite a few Spartak teams too before the reform, and they were already affiliated to the police, so they also projected themselves in the new Spartak DSOs. The other Sofia teams at top level in 1949/50 were related to the new DSOs as follows: Slavia as a team related with Stroitelni voyski were projected into DSO Stroitel, and Levski as a team related with the postal services were projected into DSO Dinamo. The clubs that were hit the hardest were those in the smaller cities and towns, which were traditionally only one or two (especially after the mass mergers ongoing since 1944) and were now effectively split among up to five or six new clubs. Usually though in this cases most of the best players (so also those participating in the traditional club before the reform) were funelled into a single DSO that emerged as the strongest in that city or town with the other falling into obscurity. Such was the case with Marek for example. As for the final team that participated in the RFD in 1949/50 - Slavia (Plovdiv), the DSO reform effectively resulted into the team extinction.

Following that decision for a month or so football competitions went on on inertia, with the teams' old names, but after 2 rounds of the RFD were played, by the end of September, all championship games were put on hold.

The reorganization of football (as well as all other sports) started in earnest. It was decided that (again, following Soviet model) the championship would move to a spring-fall cycle, with a new season starting in the spring of 1950.

As the new system's purpouse was effectively to terminate the traditional clubs (a process started since 1944 with closing down of clubs and mainly with mass mergers of clubs so that their identity can be diluted), the membership in the "new" top level (as well as the lower levels) due to start in 1950 was to be decided after qualifying tournaments.

Each city was given a quota of teams to participate in the top level and the two second level groups. The "A" Republikanska futbolna grupa (Republican Football Group) was to remain with 10 teams, with the cities given a quota for it based on the number of teams each had at the beginning of 1949/50. Thus Sofia had 5 berths, Plovdiv - 2, Varna (now renamed Stalin!), Marek and Pleven - 1 each.

The DSO tournaments in this cities, were to determine the teams that shape the new "A" RFG.

City qualifications for "A" RFG 1950

• in Varna, since the end of 1949 named Stalin, the winner of the city tournament was DSO Spartak;

• in Pleven the winner was DSO Torpedo.

• in Sofia the tournament was played between 8 teams, with a second army team (representing the air forces - VVS - "Voennovazdushni sili") also entering as the city has a total of 8 berths to allocate to the "A" RFG and the two second level groups.

               **DSO tournament Sofia - Final Table:**
  
                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. DSO Dinamo (Sofia) 7 3 3 1 12:5 9
2. DSO Torpedo (Sofia) 7 3 3 1 10:6 9
3. DSO Cherveno zname (Sofia) 7 3 2 2 11:9 8
4. DSO Stroitel (Sofia) 7 3 2 2 11:12 8
5. DSO Akademik (Sofia) 7 2 4 1 10:12 8

1. CDNV (Sofia) 7 3 1 3 15:11 7
2. DSO Spartak (Sofia) 7 1 3 3 5:11 5
3. VVS (Sofia) 7 1 0 6 7:15 2

Due to the general chaos, the tournament was poorly organized and in the end the last match of the competition - between DSO Dinamo and DSO Akademik was played after all the other games were played, despite being detrimental to the final standings. With DSO Dinamo already ensured qualification for "A" RFG and needing only a point to win the tournament, and DSO Akademik also needing a point to go above CDNV and win the final berth for "A" RFG, not surprisingly the game ended 1:1.

With the tight contests for the title between the two clubs in the last two seasons, this game, though it didn't involve both teams, in a way cemented what is at present known as the "eternal rivalry" between present-day Levski and CSKA.

• in Marek (present-day Dupnitsa) the winner was DSO Cherveno zname.

• in Plovdiv the winner was DSO Torpedo, with second placed DNV taking the city's second berth for the "A" RFG.

With the dramatic elimination of CDNV from "A" RFG though, it was decided to "reorganize" the army teams with the four army teams in the top two levels - DNV (Plovdiv), VMS (Stalin), CDNV (Sofia) and VVS (Sofia) - being merged into a single army club that used DNV (Plovdiv)'s berth in "A" RFG. That team was named "Narodna voyska" (People's army) and was based in Sofia, with most of its players coming from CDNV (Sofia), and a couple of players joining in from DNV (Plovdiv).

1950

Competition system The teams meet each other twice on a home-and-away basis for a total of 18 matches for each team. 2 points for a win, 1 - for a draw and 0 for a loss. In case of tie in points, next tie-braker is goal ratio.

At the end of the season, the bottom two teams are directly relegated to second level, their places being taken by the winners of the two second level groups.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. DSO Dinamo (Sofia) 18 12 5 1 36:12 29 [+] Champions
2. DSO Stroitel (Sofia) 18 11 5 2 31:12 27 [+]
3. DSO Akademik (Sofia) 18 10 2 6 40:20 22 [+]
4. Narodna voyska (Sofia) 18 9 4 5 22:12 22 [+]
5. DSO Spartak (Stalin) * 18 10 2 6 37:27 22 [+]
6. DSO Cherveno zname (Sofia) 18 7 2 9 20:29 16 [+]
7. DSO Torpedo (Plovdiv) 18 5 4 9 19:34 14 [+]
8. DSO Torpedo (Pleven) 18 3 6 9 19:27 12 [+]

1. DSO Torpedo (Sofia) 18 4 2 12 16:29 10 [+] Relegated
2. DSO Cherveno zname (Marek) * 18 2 2 14 9:47 6 [+] Relegated

• • cities' contemporary names: Stalin -> Varna, Marek -> Dupnitsa.

Promoted DSO Torpedo (Ruse), DSO Spartak (Sofia).

1951

Change As of 1 Jan 1951 two more DSOs are formed:

• DSO Lokomotiv - splits from DSO Torpedo those working in the transportation industry;
• DSO Udarnik - splits from DSO Stroitel those in the system of Stroitelni voyski.

As a result nearly all DSO Torpedo teams split into DSO Torpedo and DSO Lokomotiv teams. In "A" RFG the teams of DSO Torpedo in Pleven and Ruse remain at the top level, while the DSO Lokomotiv teams start at lower levels, while in Plovdiv DSO Lokomotiv (carrying the projection of pre-reform Lokomotiv from Plovdiv) remains in "A" RFG, while DSO Torpedo is relegated to a lower level.

Similarly DSO Stroitel (Sofia) remains in "A" RFG, while DSO Udarnik (carrying the projection of pre-reform Slavia of Sofia) is entered into second level.

The united army team Narodna voyska is also again split into its forming parts - CDNV (Sofia), which uses the berth of Narodna voyska, DNV (Plovdiv), which is also given a place in "A" RFG, VMS (Stalin) ("Voennomorski sili" or Marine forces), which is inserted in second level and VVS (Sofia) which is entered into a lower level.

With the group being expanded because of DNV (Plovdiv)'s inclusion, an additional team from second level - DSO Torpedo (Dimitrovo) is also admitted to "A" RFG to make the numbers up to 12.

Competition system The promotion/relegation system is changed, so that a constant ratio is kept between the Sofia and non-Sofia teams. At the end of the season the two worst placed non-Sofia teams are directly relegated to second level, with their places taken by the two best placed non-Sofia teams in the unified single second level group. The worst placed Sofia team is also directly relegated, being replaced by the best placed Sofia team from second level, while the second worst placed team from Sofia meets the second best placed Sofia team from second level in a play-off over two legs for a place in "A" RFG.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CDNV (Sofia) 22 18 1 3 62:7 37 Champions
2. DSO Spartak (Sofia) 22 14 8 0 27:7 36 [+]
3. DSO Dinamo (Sofia) 22 9 8 5 37:16 26
4. DSO Akademik (Sofia) 22 10 6 6 40:33 26
5. DSO Spartak (Stalin) * 22 10 5 7 40:27 25
6. DSO Cherveno zname (Sofia) 22 6 11 5 26:21 23 Playoff - Relegated
7. DSO Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 22 7 9 6 21:20 23
8. DSO Stroitel (Sofia) 22 8 6 8 25:24 22 Relegated
9. DSO Torpedo (Dimitrovo) * 22 9 2 11 37:36 20 [+]
10. DNV (Plovdiv) 22 6 5 11 26:32 17 [+]
11. DSO Torpedo (Pleven) 22 1 3 18 16:59 5 Relegated
12. DSO Torpedo (Ruse) 22 0 4 18 8:83 4 [+] Relegated

• • cities' contemporary names: Stalin -> Varna, Dimitrovo -> Pernik.

Playoff

Note: The team shown in first place hosted in the first leg.

DSO Cherveno zname (Sofia) - DSO Lokomotiv (Sofia) 0:2; 0:1

Promoted DSO Udarnik (Sofia), DSO Lokomotiv (Sofia) - through playoff, VMS (Stalin), DSO Spartak (Pleven)

1952

Change As of 1 Jan 1952 two more DSOs are formed:

• DSO Minyor - splits from DSO Torpedo those working in the mining industry;
• DSO Septemvri - splits from several DSOs those working into the workers' collectives ("kooperatsii")

As a result thte DSO Minyor team in Dimitrovo remains in "A" RFG, while DSO Torpedo is placed into a lower level.

Competition system It is decided that the "A" RFG should be expanded for the next season. As a result the bottom two teams at the end of the season are relegated to second level (or possibly the worst placed Sofia and non-Sofia teams), with 6 teams to be promoted from second level (the best three Sofia and non-Sofia teams respectively).

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CDNA (Sofia) * 22 13 7 2 38:12 33 Champions
2. DSO Spartak (Sofia) 22 9 8 5 30:13 26
3. DSO Lokomotiv (Sofia) 22 11 3 8 30:22 25 [+]
4. DSO Spartak (Pleven) 22 8 8 6 19:21 24 [+]
5. DSO Dinamo (Sofia) 22 8 6 8 22:16 22
6. DSO Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 22 9 4 9 24:26 22
7. VMS (Stalin) ** 22 8 6 8 22:32 22 [+]
8. DSO Udarnik (Sofia) 22 8 5 9 29:22 21 [+]
9. DNA (Plovdiv) * 22 9 1 12 17:25 19
10. DSO Minyor (Dimitrovo) ** 22 7 4 11 26:34 18

1. DSO Akademik (Sofia) 22 6 6 10 19:32 18 Relegated
2. DSO Spartak (Stalin) ** 22 4 6 12 16:37 14 Relegated

• • after the start of the season CDNV (Sofia) and DNV (Plovdiv) were renamed to CDNA ("Tsentralen dom na narodnata armiya") and DNA respectively. ** - cities' contemporary names: Stalin -> Varna, Dimitrovo -> Pernik.

Promoted VVS (Sofia), DSO Stroitel (Sofia), DSO Cherveno zname (Sofia), DSO Cherveno zname (Stanke Dimitrov), DSO Akademik (Stalin), DSO Spartak (Plovdiv).

1953

Change As of 1 Jan 1953 one more DSO is formed:

• DSO Urozhay - splits from DSO Stroitel those working in agriculture and forestry.

Probably shortly before the season it's decided to include the national team of Bulgaria (under the name of "Sboren otbor na DSO") in "A" RFG, on the place of DSO Cherveno zname (Sofia) - the worst placed Sofia team from those that should have been promoted. This is done in order to help the national team prepare for the WC 1954 qualifications. After playing 10 games the team is removed from the group and their results are annulled. The team has preparatory camps for most of the season though, and thus strips some of the leading clubs from their key players for many of their championship games. The hardest hit clubs are the Sofia sides DSO Udarnik, DSO Lokomotiv, DSO Spartak and Sofiyski garnizon (that even had their coach taken away most of the time as he was also coaching the national team). The latter two sides also suffered most from this, as it proved decisive in the race for the championship title between DSO Dinamo (Sofia) and OSG, as well as was a pivotal factor in DSO Spartak being relegated.

Competition system It's decided that "A" RFG is to be downsized to 14 teams for the next season, so all teams placed 10th or worse are to be relegated, with five teams from the newly created five second level groups taking their place.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. DSO Dinamo (Sofia) 28 19 5 4 48:22 43 Champions
2. Sofiyski garnizon (Sofia) ** 28 18 6 4 64:23 42
3. VMS (Stalin) * 28 12 7 9 29:20 31
4. DSO Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 28 9 13 6 30:29 31
5. DSO Udarnik (Sofia) 28 9 12 7 42:33 30
6. DSO Spartak (Pleven) 28 9 12 7 29:29 30
7. DSO Lokomotiv (Sofia) 28 10 9 9 30:32 29
8. DSO Minyor (Dimitrovo) * 28 11 6 11 33:35 28
9. DSO Spartak (Plovdiv) 28 9 9 10 29:29 27 [+]

1. DSO Akademik (Stalin) * 28 9 7 12 26:43 25 [+] Relegated
2. DNA (Plovdiv) 28 8 8 12 29:31 24 Relegated
3. DSO Spartak (Sofia) 28 5 14 9 24:34 24 Relegated
4. DSO Stroitel (Sofia) 28 5 12 11 22:29 22 [+] Relegated
5. VVS (Sofia) 28 6 9 13 26:35 21 [+] Relegated
6. DSO Cherveno zname (St.Dimitrov) * 28 3 7 18 23:60 13 [+] Relegated [] --. Sboren otbor na DSO (Sofia) 13 11 0 2 37:8 - []

[*] - DSO Cherveno zname (Stanke Dimitrov) excluded after crowd violence in their home match with DSO Minyor (Dimitrovo). Their results so far stood, their last 8 matches were awarded 0:3 against them and they were relegated not in their respective second level group, but in a lower level. Sboren otbor na DSO (Sofia) represented the national team and was excluded from the group after 13 matches played, all of which were annulled.

• • cities' contemporary names: Stalin -> Varna, Dimitrovo -> Pernik, Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa. ** - afetr the start of the season CDNA (Sofia) were renamed Sofiyski garnizon.

Promoted DSO Spartak (Stalin), DSO Torpedo (Pleven), Zavod 12 (Sofia), DSO Cherveno zname (Kyustendil), DSO Udarnik (Stara Zagora).

1954

Change As of 1 Jan 1954 DSO Stroitel is disbanded.

Competition system The last three teams are relegated at the end of the season, with their places taken by the top 3 teams from a qualification tournament between the winners of the five second level groups.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CDNA (Sofia) * 26 20 5 1 76:14 45 Champions
2. DSO Udarnik (Sofia) 26 17 4 5 67:24 38
3. DSO Lokomotiv (Sofia) 26 15 6 5 56:25 36
4. Zavod 12 (Sofia) * 26 9 11 6 26:24 29 [+]
5. DSO Dinamo (Sofia) 26 9 10 7 39:26 28
6. DSO Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 26 8 9 9 33:32 25
7. VMS (Stalin) ** 26 9 7 10 27:29 25
8. DSO Minyor (Dimitrovo) ** 26 9 6 11 32:36 24
9. DSO Spartak (Plovdiv) 26 9 6 11 29:34 24
10. DSO Spartak (Stalin) ** 26 7 9 10 34:42 23 [+]
11. DSO Spartak (Pleven) 26 6 11 9 17:25 23

1. DSO Cherveno zname (Kyustendil) 26 7 6 13 19:50 20 [+] Relegated
2. DSO Torpedo (Pleven) 26 5 5 16 13:51 15 [+] Relegated
3. DSO Udarnik (Stara Zagora) 26 2 5 19 13:69 9 [+] Relegated

• • before the start of the season Sofiyski garnizon (Sofia) were renamed CDNA.
• • Zavod 12 is a factory team in the system of DSO Torpedo (Sofia). ** - cities' contemporary names: Stalin -> Varna, Dimitrovo -> Pernik.

Promoted DNA (Plovdiv), VVS (Sofia), DSO Cherveno zname (Pavlikeni).

1955

Competition system The group is to be reduced to 12 teams for 1956. Because of this the bottom 3 clubs are relegated directly, with the 11th placed team entering the qualification tournament of the winners of the five second level groups. The top 2 teams of this tournament qualify for "A" RFG.

From this season onwards the champion also qualifies for the European Champions' Cup.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CDNA (Sofia) 26 14 9 3 38:16 37 Champions [ECC]
2. DSO Udarnik (Sofia) 26 14 3 9 34:20 31
3. DSO Spartak (Stalin) * 26 8 12 6 26:25 28
4. DSO Minyor (Dimitrovo) * 26 11 5 10 29:24 27
5. DSO Dinamo (Sofia) 26 10 7 9 33:30 27
6. DSO Spartak (Plovdiv) 26 11 5 10 25:25 27
7. DSO Lokomotiv (Sofia) 26 9 9 8 33:34 27
8. VVS (Sofia) 26 7 12 7 34:28 26 [+] Relegated [*]
9. DSO Spartak (Pleven) 26 9 8 9 31:30 26
10. DNA (Plovdiv) 26 9 8 9 27:31 26 [+]

1. Zavod 12 (Sofia) 26 9 7 10 26:27 25 Playoff

1. VMS (Stalin) * 26 10 5 11 26:28 25 Relegated
2. DSO Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 26 6 6 14 18:29 18 Relegated
3. DSO Cherveno zname (Pavlikeni) 26 5 4 17 12:45 14 Relegated

[*] - VVS (Sofia) is relegated from the group to a lower level before the start of the next season due to a reorganization of the army teams. It's place in the group is not taken by some of the teams participating in the "A" RFG Qualification tournament for example, but rather by the team of DSO Torpedo (Ruse), which even does not participate in second level this season.

• • cities' contemporary names: Stalin -> Varna, Dimitrovo -> Pernik.

                  **"A" RFG - Qualification tournament:**
    
                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. DSO Spartak (Sofia) 5 5 0 0 15:0 10 Promoted
2. Zavod 12 (Sofia) 5 2 2 1 10:2 6 Remains in "A" RFG

1. DSO Dinamo (Plovdiv) 5 1 3 1 5:7 5
2. DSO Dinamo (Stanke Dimitrov) * 5 1 2 2 4:5 4
3. DSO Cherveno zname (Vidin) 5 1 2 2 4:13 4
4. DSO Septemvri (Tolbuhin) * 5 0 1 4 4:15 1

• • cities' contemporary names: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa, Tolbuhin -> Dobrich.

Promoted DSO Spartak (Sofia), DSO Torpedo (Ruse) - replacing VVS (Sofia).

1956

Competition system The last team at the end of the season is directly relegated to second level, while the team placed 11th is to meet the winner of its respective second level group (on geographical principle) in a playoff over two legs. The winner of the playoff, together with the other six winners of the second level groups (now up to 7) enters a qualification tournament with the top 2 teams qualifying for "A" RFG.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CDNA (Sofia) 22 11 9 2 46:25 31 Champions [ECC]
2. DSO Dinamo (Sofia) 22 8 10 4 30:24 26
3. SKNA (Plovdiv) * 22 9 7 6 27:20 25
4. DSO Udarnik (Sofia) 22 8 7 7 37:31 23
5. DSO Minyor (Dimitrovo) ** 22 8 6 8 40:34 22
6. DSO Spartak (Plovdiv) 22 7 7 8 28:29 21
7. DSO Lokomotiv (Sofia) 22 5 11 6 20:22 21
8. DSO Spartak (Pleven) 22 6 9 7 19:26 21
9. DSO Spartak (Sofia) 22 5 9 8 25:30 19 [+]
10. DSO Spartak (Varna) ** 22 5 9 8 22:28 19

1. Zavod 12 (Sofia) 22 5 9 8 20:29 19 Playoff - Relegated

1. DSO Torpedo (Ruse) 22 2 13 7 16:32 7 [+] Relegated

• • before the start of the season DNA (Plovdiv) is renamed to SKNA ("Sporten klub na narodnata armiya" - Sports club of the people's army). ** - city's contemporary name: Dimitrovo -> Pernik. ** - towards the end of 1956 the city of Stalin has is renamed with its traditional name of Varna restored.

                  **"A" RFG - Qualification tournament:**
    
                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. DSO Cherveno zname (St.Dimitrov) * 6 4 1 1 9:8 9 Promoted
2. SKNA (Varna) 6 3 2 1 11:4 8 Promoted

1. Zavod 12 (Sofia) 6 3 1 2 12:4 7 Relegated
2. DSO Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 6 2 2 2 9:7 6
3. SKNA (Ruse) 6 2 1 3 4:4 5
4. DSO Udarnik (Stara Zagora) 6 2 1 3 4:13 5
5. DSO Lokomotiv (Lom) 6 0 2 4 6:15 2

• • city's contemporary name: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa.

Promoted DSO Cherveno zname (Stanke Dimitrov), SKNA (Varna).

1957

Change Since the beginning of the year a decision to abolish the DSO system is taken. Throughout April and May 1957 the DSOs are gradually dissolved, with new clubs being created either based on several DSOs, or on territorial principle within each city. Some of the traditional clubs were restored, while others were based on established DSO clubs that became popular. The newly established clubs simply take over the places of the DSO clubs as the season progresses. Also most of the clubs retain their ties with industry or state (i.e. the Spartaks to the police, the Lokomotivs - to transportation etc).

Here is how this process went for the clubs in "A" RFG:

• in Sofia CDNA, Lokomotiv and Spartak retain their names, DSO Dinamo is renamed to Levski and DSO Udarnik - to Slavia;
• in Plovdiv SKNA is renamed to Botev (still retaining its ties with the army), while Spartak retains its name;
• in Varna SKNA is renamed to Botev (also retaining its with the army, while Spartak retains its name;
• Minyor (Dimitrovo) and Spartak (Pleven) retain their names, while DSO Cherveno zname (Stanke Dimitrov) changes name to Marek.

Competition system The bottom two teams at the end of the season are directly relegated, with their places taken by the winners of the second level groups, that are now reduced to just two in number.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CDNA (Sofia) 22 15 4 3 53:16 34 Champions [ECC]
2. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 22 16 1 5 33:19 33
3. Levski (Sofia) 22 12 6 4 46:21 30
4. Spartak (Pleven) 22 8 8 6 28:28 24
5. Minyor (Dimitrovo) * 22 8 6 8 30:26 22
6. Slavia (Sofia) 22 7 6 9 38:39 20
7. Spartak (Plovdiv) 22 7 5 10 33:41 19
8. Botev (Plovdiv) 22 6 7 9 22:33 19
9. Botev (Varna) 22 5 8 9 19:24 18 [+]
10. Spartak (Varna) 22 6 6 10 23:31 18

1. Spartak (Sofia) 22 4 8 10 22:35 16 Relegated
2. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) * 22 2 7 13 20:54 11 [+] Relegated

• • cities' contemporary names: Dimitrovo -> Pernik, Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa.

Promoted Dunav (Ruse), Botev (Stara Zagora).

1958

Change A decision is taken to move from a spring-fall, to a fall-spring calendar. Because of this a transitional half-season took place in spring 1958. The teams met each other only once. Because of this no relegation or promotion took place.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CDNA (Sofia) 11 7 4 0 19:9 18 Champions
2. Levski (Sofia) 11 6 2 3 18:9 14
3. Spartak (Pleven) 11 5 4 2 12:9 14
4. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 11 4 4 3 17:17 12
5. Slavia (Sofia) 11 5 1 5 23:17 11
6. Spartak (Plovdiv) 11 3 5 3 18:16 11
7. Minyor (Dimitrovo) * 11 5 1 5 20:19 11
8. Spartak (Varna) 11 4 2 5 19:18 10
9. Botev (Plovdiv) 11 3 3 5 14:18 9
10. Botev (Stara Zagora) 11 3 2 6 13:19 8 [+]
11. Dunav (Ruse) 11 2 4 5 11:19 8 [+]
12. Botev (Varna) 11 3 0 8 8:22 6

• • city's contemporary name: Dimitrovo -> Pernik.

Promoted none.

1958/59

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CDNA (Sofia) 22 13 6 3 37:16 32 Champions [ECC]
2. Slavia (Sofia) 22 10 7 5 29:17 27
3. Levski (Sofia) 22 10 4 8 27:15 24
4. Spartak (Plovdiv) 22 8 8 6 33:29 24
5. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 22 10 3 9 33:28 23
6. Dunav (Ruse) 22 8 6 8 25:27 22
7. Spartak (Pleven) 22 8 6 8 24:30 22
8. Botev (Plovdiv) 22 8 6 8 28:41 22
9. Spartak (Varna) 22 6 9 7 21:24 21
10. Minyor (Dimitrovo) * 22 7 4 11 27:32 18

1. Beroe (Stara Zagora) ** 22 7 4 11 21:25 18 Relegated
2. Cherno more (Varna) ** 22 3 5 14 15:36 11 Relegated

• • city's contemporary name: Dimitrovo -> Pernik. ** - at the winter break Botev (Stara Zagora) and Lokomotiv (Stara Zagora) from second level are merged into Beroe (Stara Zagora). ** - at the winter break Botev (Varna) and Cherno more (Varna) from second level are merged into Cherno more (Varna).

Promoted

Spartak (Sofia), Septemvri (Sofia).

1959/60

Change The group is to be expanded to 14 teams for 1960/61, because of this only the bottom team is relegated, and the top 3 teams from the unified second level are promoted at its place.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CDNA (Sofia) 22 12 8 2 42:18 32 Champions [ECC]
2. Levski (Sofia) 22 11 6 5 32:22 28
3. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 22 7 9 6 31:22 23
4. Slavia (Sofia) 22 7 9 6 30:28 23
5. Septemvri (Sofia) 22 7 8 7 34:31 22 [+]
6. Minyor (Dimitrovo) * 22 8 6 8 27:25 22
7. Botev (Plovdiv) 22 8 5 9 30:31 21
8. Dunav (Ruse) 22 7 6 9 29:34 20
9. Spartak (Plovdiv) 22 4 12 6 21:28 20
10. Spartak (Varna) 22 6 8 8 27:38 20
11. Spartak (Sofia) 22 5 9 8 21:29 19 [+]

1. Spartak (Pleven) 22 3 8 11 14:32 14 Relegated

• • city's contemporary name: Dimitrovo -> Pernik.

Promoted Beroe (Stara Zagora), Marek (Stanke Dimitrov), Cherno more (Varna).

1960/61

Competition system Bottom two clubs are relegated, the top two clubs from second level are promoted on their place.

Second tie-braker following goal ratio is team sportsmanship.

From this season onwards the Soviet Army cup winner qualifies for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup competition. In case the winner is also the champion, then the finalist qualifies.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CDNA (Sofia) 26 18 4 4 56:17 40 Champions [ECC]
2. Levski (Sofia) 26 10 10 6 45:33 30
3. Botev (Plovdiv) 26 10 9 7 50:41 29
4. Minyor (Dimitrovo) * 26 9 10 7 36:39 28
5. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) * 26 9 9 8 33:45 27 [+]
6. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 26 9 8 9 33:29 26
7. Spartak (Varna) 26 11 4 11 29:37 26 [CWC]
8. Dunav (Ruse) 26 10 5 11 38:46 25
9. Spartak (Plovdiv) 26 7 10 9 39:37 24
10. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 26 7 10 9 30:38 24 [+]
11. Slavia (Sofia) 26 8 7 11 33:37 23
12. Cherno more (Varna) 26 8 7 11 33:37 23 [+]

1. Spartak (Sofia) 26 8 6 12 39:35 22 Relegated
2. Septemvri (Sofia) 26 5 7 14 33:56 17 Relegated

• • cities' contemporary names: Dimitrovo -> Pernik, Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa.

Promoted Spartak (Pleven), Lokomotiv (Plovdiv).

1961/62

Competition system The group is to be expanded from 14 to 16 teams for 1962/63. As a result of this, the top two teams from second level are directly promoted, while the bottom two teams from "A" RFG and the teams, placed 3rd and 4th in second level enter a qualification tournament for two more places.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CDNA (Sofia) 26 18 5 3 60:25 41 Champions [ECC]
2. Spartak (Plovdiv) 26 13 9 4 55:35 35
3. Levski (Sofia) 26 12 6 8 46:37 30
4. Botev (Plovdiv) 26 8 11 7 43:38 27 [CWC]
5. Slavia (Sofia) 26 10 7 9 45:40 27
6. Cherno more (Varna) 26 9 9 8 29:30 27
7. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 26 8 10 8 39:39 26
8. Spartak (Pleven) 26 11 4 11 33:40 26 [+]
9. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 26 10 5 11 30:40 25
10. Dunav (Ruse) 26 8 8 10 40:40 24
11. Spartak (Varna) 26 7 9 10 33:31 23
12. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 26 7 7 12 24:35 21 [+]

1. Minyor (Pernik) * 26 4 10 12 18:39 18 Playoff - Relegated
2. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) * 26 5 4 17 24:50 14 Playoff

• • city's contemporary name: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa.

• • in January 1962 the city of Dimitrovo had its traditional name of Pernik restored.

                  **"A" RFG - Qualification tournament:**
    
                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) 3 1 2 0 5:3 4
2. Dobrudzha (Tolbuhin) * 3 2 0 1 7:7 4 Promoted

1. Septemvri (Sofia) 3 1 1 1 6:5 3
2. Minyor (Pernik) 3 0 1 2 3:6 1 Relegated

• • city's contemporary name: Tolbuhin -> Dobrich.

Promoted Spartak (Sofia), Rakovski (Dimitrovgrad), Dobrudzha (Tolbuhin) - after playoff.

1962/63

Competition system The bottom two clubs in "A" RFG are directly relegated to second, with the winners of the two second level groups being promoted on their place.

First tie-braker becomes goal difference, instead of goal ratio, second tie-braker remains team sportsmanship.

As of next season's competition, Bulgaria also entered a single team in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The country representative was picked among the Plovdiv sides in "A" RFG, with Plovdiv being host to the biggest trade fair in Bulgaria.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Spartak (Plovdiv) 30 19 5 6 57:33 43 Champions [ECC]
2. Botev (Plovdiv) 30 17 6 7 55:26 40
3. CDNA (Sofia) 30 14 9 7 55:28 37
4. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 12 12 6 42:27 36
5. Spartak (Sofia) 30 12 10 8 37:34 34 [+]
6. Levski (Sofia) 30 8 16 6 41:31 32
7. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 10 10 10 35:40 30 [ICFC]
8. Cherno more (Varna) 30 11 7 12 26:33 29
9. Spartak (Pleven) 30 10 8 12 39:43 28
10. Slavia (Sofia) 30 9 9 12 36:38 27 [CWC]
11. Dunav (Ruse) 30 8 10 12 36:46 26
12. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 8 9 13 32:44 25
13. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) * 30 10 5 15 41:56 25
14. Spartak (Varna) 30 10 5 15 37:53 25

1. Dobrudzha (Tolbuhin) * 30 7 9 14 25:38 23 [+] Relegated
2. Himik (Dimitrovgrad) ** 30 7 6 17 36:60 20 [+] Relegated

• • cities' contemporary names: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa, Tolbuhin -> Dobrich. ** - Rakovski (Dimitrovgrad) were renamed Himik before the start of the season.

Promoted Lokomotiv (Gorna Oryahovita), General Zaimov (Sliven).

1963/64

Competition system In the next season's competition, Bulgaria also entered a single team in the Intertoto Cup, but that was discontinued again with the next participation in the tournament by a Bulgarian side in 1977.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 18 8 4 53:28 44 Champions [ECC]
2. Levski (Sofia) 30 16 9 5 53:32 41
3. Slavia (Sofia) 30 13 9 8 46:36 35 [CWC]
4. Spartak (Plovdiv) 30 13 8 9 42:34 34
5. Dunav (Ruse) 30 12 8 10 31:35 32
6. Cherno more (Varna) 30 11 9 10 35:30 31
7. Botev (Plovdiv) 30 13 4 13 43:54 30
8. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 10 9 11 33:38 29 [ICFC]
9. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) * 30 11 6 13 39:32 28
10. Spartak (Pleven) 30 9 10 11 31:33 28 [ITC]
11. CSKA Cherveno zname (Sofia) ** 30 12 3 15 58:40 27
12. Spartak (Sofia) 30 8 9 13 28:40 25
13. Mlada gvardiya (Sliven) ** 30 8 9 13 29:41 25 [+]
14. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 8 8 14 28:38 24

1. Spartak (Varna) 30 9 6 15 34:52 24 Relegated
2. Lokomotiv (Gorna Oryahovitsa) 30 9 5 16 29:49 23 [+] Relegated

• • city's contemporary name: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa. ** - during the season CDNA was merged with Cherveno zname (Sofia) from a lower level into CSKA Cherveno zname (CSKA stands for "Tsentralen sporten klub na armiyata" - Central Sports Club of the Army). ** - during the season General Zaimov (Sliven) was renamed Mlada gvardiya.

Promoted Botev (Vratsa), Akademik (Sofia).

1964/65

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski (Sofia) 30 18 6 6 59:28 42 Champions [ECC]
2. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 16 7 7 42:33 39
3. Slavia (Sofia) 30 11 13 6 45:33 35
4. CSKA Cherveno zname (Sofia) 30 14 6 10 48:26 34 [CWC]
5. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 10 11 9 48:41 31
6. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 12 6 12 43:40 30 [ICFC]
7. Spartak (Pleven) 30 10 10 10 30:47 30
8. Cherno more (Varna) 30 10 9 11 37:37 29
9. Botev (Vratsa) 30 10 9 11 29:35 29 [+]
10. Spartak (Plovdiv) 30 11 6 13 42:42 28
11. Spartak (Sofia) 30 9 10 11 32:34 28
12. Botev (Plovdiv) 30 9 9 12 40:49 27
13. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) * 30 9 8 13 34:41 26
14. Dunav (Ruse) 30 9 8 13 28:41 26

1. Sliven (Sliven) ** 30 9 7 14 29:40 25 Relegated
2. Akademik (Sofia) 30 7 7 16 29:48 21 [+] Relegated

• • city's contemporary name: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa. ** - during the season Mlada gvardiya (Sliven) was merged with Hadzhi Dimitar (Sliven) of second level into Sliven (Sliven).

Promoted Spartak (Varna), Botev (Burgas).

1965/66

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CSKA Cherveno zname (Sofia) 30 17 8 5 53:30 42 Champions [ECC]
2. Levski (Sofia) 30 15 11 4 59:31 41
3. Slavia (Sofia) 30 16 7 7 38:25 39 [CWC]
4. Spartak (Sofia) 30 14 8 8 45:30 36
5. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 12 7 11 36:33 31
6. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 10 10 10 41:41 30
7. Dunav (Ruse) 30 12 6 12 29:40 30
8. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 10 9 11 46:35 29
9. Spartak (Plovdiv) 30 9 10 11 28:42 28 [ICFC]
10. Botev (Plovdiv) 30 9 9 12 41:39 27
11. Cherno more (Varna) 30 8 11 11 30:35 27
12. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) * 30 9 9 12 39:51 27
13. Botev (Vratsa) 30 9 7 14 30:41 25
14. Botev (Burgas) 30 8 9 13 34:48 25 [+]

1. Spartak (Varna) 30 6 10 14 32:48 22 [+] Relegated
2. Spartak (Pleven) 30 6 9 15 30:42 21 Relegated

• • city's contemporary name: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa.

Promoted Dobrudzha (Tolbuhin), Minyor (Pernik).

1966/67

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Botev (Plovdiv) ** 30 13 12 5 39:24 38 Champions [ECC]
2. Slavia (Sofia) 30 13 11 6 33:27 37
3. Levski (Sofia) 30 13 10 7 46:32 36 [CWC]
4. Spartak (Sofia) 30 13 9 8 40:26 35
5. CSKA Cherveno zname (Sofia) 30 11 12 7 42:34 34
6. Cherno more (Varna) 30 12 9 9 40:29 33
7. Botev (Vratsa) 30 13 6 11 45:40 32
8. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 12 7 11 39:34 31
9. Botev (Burgas) 30 10 10 10 38:35 30
10. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 10 9 11 37:41 29
11. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 7 14 9 30:31 28 [ICFC]
12. Dobrudzha (Tolbuhin) * 30 9 8 13 24:43 26 [+]
13. Spartak (Plovdiv) ** 30 10 5 15 26:35 25 Merged
14. Minyor (Pernik) 30 6 11 13 24:30 23 [+]

1. Dunav (Ruse) 30 9 4 17 35:60 22 Relegated
2. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) * 30 8 5 17 24:41 21 Relegated

• • cities' contemporary names: Tolbuhin -> Dobrich, Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa. ** - after the end of the season Botev (Plovdiv), Spartak (Plovdiv) and Akademik (Plovdiv) from a lower level were merged into Trakia (Plovdiv). The new club used Botev's place in "A" RFG and participated in next season's ECC. Maritsa (Plovdiv), 3rd in one of the two second level groups was promoted to "A" RFG to fill in for the place, freed by Spartak.

Promoted Spartak (Pleven), Sliven (Sliven), Maritsa (Plovdiv) - substituting for Spartak (Plovdiv).

1967/68

Competition system As of this season a second team, from Sofia, enters the ICFC.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski (Sofia) 30 18 9 3 61:29 45 Champions [ECC - withdrew]
2. CSKA Cherveno zname (Sofia) 30 18 6 6 63:27 42
3. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 18 4 8 65:40 40
4. Spartak (Sofia) 30 16 6 8 49:38 38 [CWC - withdrew]
5. Slavia (Sofia) 30 13 8 9 49:41 34 [ICFC]
6. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 10 10 10 52:49 30 [ICFC]
7. Minyor (Pernik) 30 11 6 13 39:59 28
8. Botev (Vratsa) 30 11 5 14 55:40 27
9. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 11 5 14 47:42 27
10. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 12 3 15 56:57 27
11. Cherno more (Varna) 30 10 6 14 43:43 26
12. Dobrudzha (Tolbuhin) * 30 8 9 13 36:50 25
13. Spartak (Pleven) 30 9 7 14 43:61 25 [+]
14. Botev (Burgas) 30 9 7 14 35:53 25

1. Sliven (Sliven) 30 9 6 15 38:57 24 [+] Relegated
2. Maritsa (Plovdiv) 30 6 5 19 29:74 17 [+] Relegated

• • city's contemporary name: Tolbuhin -> Dobrich.

Promoted Dunav (Ruse), Marek (Stanke Dimitrov).

1968/69

1968/69 season details

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) * 30 22 3 5 74:38 47 Champions [ECC]
2. Levski-Spartak (Sofia) * 30 17 6 7 59:33 40 [CWC]
3. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 16 7 7 53:40 39 [ICFC]
4. Cherno more (Varna) * 30 13 12 5 44:27 38
5. ZhSK-Slavia (Sofia) * 30 15 7 8 54:33 37 [ICFC]
6. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 11 6 13 51:48 28
7. Chernomorets (Burgas) ** 30 10 8 12 51:56 28
8. Botev (Vratsa) 30 10 7 13 48:51 27
9. Spartak (Pleven) 30 12 3 15 44:52 27
10. Krakra Pernishki (Pernik) * 30 10 7 13 42:53 27
11. Akademik (Sofia) * 30 8 10 12 32:35 26 -Spartak (Sofia) 15 5 5 5 14:13 15 Merged -Akademik (Sofia) 15 3 5 7 18:22 11
12. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 10 6 14 36:45 26
13. Dunav (Ruse) 30 10 5 15 36:48 25 [+]
14. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) *** 30 9 7 14 34:46 25 [+]

1. Dobrudzha (Tolbuhin) *** 30 8 8 14 32:44 24 Relegated
2. Lokomotiv (Sofia) * 30 7 2 21 23:64 16 Merged

• • a wave of mass consolidations and mergers of clubs in the big cities, hinted before last season with the merger in Plovdiv, developed in full scale during the winter brake of the season. The details of the mergers concerning "A" RFG clubs are as follows:
  • Levski (Sofia), Spartak (Sofia) and Sportist (Kremikovtsi) from second level were merged into Levski-Spartak (Sofia). The team took over Levski's points total in "A" RFG. Akademik (Sofia) from 3rd level took over the points total of Spartak (Sofia). The players that were left out following the squad consolidations following the three Sofia mergers had to first go to Akademik in order to help them complete their squad for "A" RFG standarts, and only if they were rejected by Akademik they could go on to seek other clubs;
  • CSKA Cherveno zname (Sofia) and Septemvri (Sofia) from second level were merged into CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia);
  • Slavia (Sofia) and Lokomotiv (Sofia) were merged into ZhSK-Slavia (Sofia) (ZhSK stands for "Zelezhnicarski sporten klub") that took over Slavia's points total. No team replaced Lokomotiv, so they were awarded 0:3 losses during the second half of the season.
  • Cherno more (Varna) and Akademik (Varna) from a lower level were merged into Cherno more (Varna).
  • Minyor (Pernik) and Metalurg (Pernik) from second level were merged into Krakra Pernishki (Pernik). ** - before the start of the season Botev (Burgas) was renamed to Chernomorets. *** - cities' contemporary names: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa, Tolbuhin -> Dobrich.

Promoted Etar (Veliko Tarnovo), Maritsa (Plovdiv).

1968/69 season details

1969/70

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 30 23 4 3 67:17 50 Champions [ECC]
2. CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) 30 21 5 4 73:29 47 [CWC]
3. ZhSK-Slavia (Sofia) 30 15 8 7 41:31 38 [ICFC]
4. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 15 4 11 48:34 34 [ICFC]
5. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 14 5 11 53:45 33
6. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 12 8 10 42:36 32 [+]
7. Cherno more (Varna) 30 11 7 12 47:34 29
8. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 10 9 11 33:41 29
9. Akademik (Sofia) 30 9 10 11 34:32 28
10. Dunav (Ruse) 30 9 9 12 28:34 27
11. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) * 30 12 3 15 41:49 27
12. Spartak (Pleven) 30 10 7 13 29:53 27
13. Botev (Vratsa) 30 9 7 14 34:38 25
14. Maritsa (Plovdiv) 30 10 3 17 34:51 23 [+]

1. Krakra Pernishki (Pernik) 30 5 5 20 24:59 15 Relegated
2. Beroe (Stara Zagora) ** 30 6 4 20 19:64 16 Relegated

• • city's contemporary name: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa. ** - Beroe (Stara Zagora) is relegated from the group after crowd trouble at its Round 18 match at home to Levski-Spartak. Their remaining 12 games were awarded 0:3 against them.

Promoted Chardafon-Orlovets (Gabrovo), Nikolay Laskov (Yambol).

1970/71

Competition system The UEFA Cup relaces the ICFC as of next season, Bulgaria gets two berths in the competition.

At the end of the season it was decided that the ZhSK-Slavia (Sofia) merger would be dissolved, with Slavia and Lokomotiv both getting a place in "A" RFG. Because of this it was decided that the group would be expanded to 18 teams, with only one team relegated from "A" RFG at the end of this season.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) 30 21 6 3 74:21 48 Champions [ECC]
2. Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 30 21 6 3 59:22 48 [CWC]
3. Botev (Vratsa) 30 17 4 9 51:31 38 [UEFA]
4. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 14 7 9 55:42 35 [UEFA]
5. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 13 6 11 53:50 32
6. ZhSK-Slavia (Sofia) 30 12 7 11 53:41 31
7. Cherno more (Varna) 30 11 6 13 37:42 28
8. Chardafon-Orlovets (Gabrovo) 30 11 6 13 42:52 28 [+]
9. Spartak (Pleven) 30 10 7 13 46:47 27
10. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) * 30 9 9 12 37:41 27
11. Dunav (Ruse) 30 10 7 13 32:45 27
12. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 10 7 13 33:49 27
13. Nikolay Laskov (Yambol) 30 8 9 13 26:47 25 [+]
14. Akademik (Sofia) 30 6 11 13 33:41 23
15. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 6 7 17 33:66 19

1. Maritsa (Plovdiv) 30 4 9 17 28:55 17 Relegated

• • city's contemporary name: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa.

Promoted ZhSK-Spartak (Varna), Beroe (Stara Zagora).

1971/72

Competition system The normal promotion/relegation system is restored with the bottom two teams being relegated and replaced by the winners of the two second level groups.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) 34 26 6 2 95:28 58 Champions [ECC]
2. Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 34 22 6 6 68:26 50 [UEFA]
3. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 34 18 6 10 61:46 42 [+] [UEFA]
4. Slavia (Sofia) ** 34 15 9 10 50:43 39 [CWC]
5. Lokomotiv (Sofia) ** 34 13 12 9 47:34 38 [+]
6. Trakia (Plovdiv) 34 14 7 13 54:47 35
7. Botev (Vratsa) 34 13 5 16 62:64 31
8. Cherno more (Varna) 34 13 5 16 53:60 31
9. Dunav (Ruse) 34 12 7 15 38:50 31
10. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 34 7 16 11 32:44 30
11. Akademik (Sofia) 34 11 7 16 37:45 29
12. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 34 11 7 16 39:54 29
13. Spartak (Pleven) 34 11 7 16 40:61 29
14. Chernomorets (Burgas) 34 11 8 15 47:49 28 [*]
15. ZhSK-Spartak (Varna) 34 10 8 16 45:50 28 [+]
16. Nikolay Laskov (Yambol) 34 11 6 17 35:50 28

1. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) * 34 10 6 18 31:65 26 Relegated
2. Chardafon-Orlovets (Gabrovo) 34 10 8 16 34:52 22 [*] Relegated

[*] - Chernomorets had 2 points deducted, Chardafon-Orlovets had 6 points deducted.

• • city's contemporary name: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa. ** - the ZhSK-Slavia (Sofia) merger is dissolved, with Slavia (Sofia) and Lokomotiv (Sofia) again established as separate clubs.

Promoted Panayot Volov (Shumen), Pernik (Pernik).

1972/73

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) 34 22 7 5 80:40 51 Champions [ECC]
2. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 34 18 7 9 62:38 43 [UEFA]
3. Slavia (Sofia) 33 16 11 6 55:33 43 [*] [UEFA]
4. Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 34 15 10 9 62:37 40
5. Akademik (Sofia) 34 15 8 11 61:43 38
6. Dunav (Ruse) 34 14 9 11 42:41 37 [*] Relegated
7. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 34 14 9 11 44:44 37
8. Botev (Vratsa) 34 13 7 14 48:55 33
9. Trakia (Plovdiv) 34 12 8 14 44:44 32
10. Cherno more (Varna) 34 12 8 14 51:54 32
11. Spartak (Pleven) 33 13 5 15 46:51 31 [*]
12. Chernomorets (Burgas) 34 12 7 15 35:44 31 [*] Relegated
13. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 34 12 6 16 50:47 30 [CWC]
14. Pernik (Pernik) 34 8 14 12 35:54 30 [+]
15. ZhSK-Spartak (Varna) 33 10 9 14 34:49 29 [*]
16. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 34 7 14 13 37:49 28

1. Nikolay Laskov (Yambol) 33 9 7 17 37:55 25 [*] Relegated
2. Panayot Volov (Shumen) 34 6 6 22 25:70 18 [+] Relegated

[*] - following the end of the season, after allegations of match fixing and allocation of funds for briberies, Dunav and Chernomorets were relegated from the group, while the matches Slavia - ZhSK-Spartak and Spartak (Pleven) - Nikolay Laskov were annulled. No teams were promoted to replace Dunav and Chernomorets, so the group was reduced to 16 teams.

Promoted Yantra (Gabrovo), Pirin (Blagoevgrad).

1973/74

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 30 21 5 4 58:30 47 Champions [ECC]
2. CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) 30 19 8 3 54:27 46 [CWC]
3. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 13 8 9 49:36 34 [UEFA]
4. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 13 7 10 38:30 33 [UEFA]
5. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 12 9 9 35:32 33
6. Akademik (Sofia) 30 11 10 9 37:38 32
7. Botev (Vratsa) 30 12 6 12 42:48 30
8. Slavia (Sofia) 30 10 8 12 36:33 28
9. Cherno more (Varna) 30 11 6 13 42:42 28
10. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 7 13 10 36:42 27
11. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 11 5 14 29:43 27 [+]
12. Yantra (Gabrovo) 30 10 5 15 40:49 25 [+]
13. Minyor (Pernik) * 30 7 11 12 28:45 25
14. Spartak (Pleven) 30 7 10 13 32:43 24

1. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 7 7 16 50:46 21 Relegated
2. ZhSK-Spartak (Varna) 30 7 6 17 26:48 20 Relegated

• • before the start of the season Pernik (Pernik) was renamed to Minyor.

Promoted Dunav (Ruse), Sliven (Sliven).

1974/75

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) 30 15 9 6 52:32 39 Champions [ECC]
2. Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 30 15 8 7 54:30 38 [UEFA]
3. Slavia (Sofia) 30 15 6 9 56:35 36 [CWC]
4. Dunav (Ruse) 30 15 5 10 41:28 35 [+] [UEFA]
5. Akademik (Sofia) 30 14 7 9 39:33 35
6. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 12 9 9 49:44 33
7. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 12 7 11 53:43 31
8. Sliven (Sliven) 30 10 10 10 42:45 30 [+]
9. Spartak (Pleven) 30 9 10 11 34:45 28
10. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 12 4 14 41:55 28
11. Botev (Vratsa) 30 9 9 12 46:49 27
12. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 11 5 14 31:42 27
13. Minyor (Pernik) 30 11 4 15 36:45 26
14. Cherno more (Varna) 30 9 8 13 28:43 26

1. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 8 5 17 43:56 21 Relegated
2. Yantra (Gabrovo) 30 7 6 17 30:50 20 Relegated

Promoted ZhSK-Spartak (Varna), Beroe (Stara Zagora).

1975/76

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) 30 17 9 4 61:30 43 Champions [ECC]
2. Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 30 16 9 5 58:33 41 [CWC]
3. Akademik (Sofia) 30 14 9 7 35:25 37 [UEFA]
4. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 12 9 9 43:33 33 [UEFA]
5. Slavia (Sofia) 30 11 10 9 43:41 32
6. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 10 12 8 24:26 32
7. Sliven (Sliven) 30 13 5 12 29:30 31
8. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 9 11 10 35:33 29
9. Dunav (Ruse) 30 11 7 12 32:38 29
10. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 8 12 10 35:39 28 [+]
11. ZhSK-Spartak (Varna) 30 10 7 13 32:33 27 [+]
12. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 7 13 10 24:28 27
13. Botev (Vratsa) 30 11 5 14 30:36 27
14. Minyor (Pernik) 30 8 10 12 30:46 26

1. Cherno more (Varna) 30 7 10 13 35:44 24 Relegated
2. Spartak (Pleven) 30 4 6 20 32:63 14 Relegated

Promoted Akademik (Svishtov), Marek (Stanke Dimitrov).

1976/77

Competition system Participation in the Intertoto Cup is resumed with one team entering the competition.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 30 17 9 4 73:34 43 Champions [ECC]
2. CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) 30 14 11 5 45:27 39 [UEFA]
3. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) * 30 15 8 7 43:28 38 [+] [UEFA]
4. Slavia (Sofia) 30 14 9 7 52:36 37 [ITC]
5. Botev (Vratsa) 30 12 7 11 31:35 31
6. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 11 9 10 26:30 31
7. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 9 12 9 42:40 30 [CWC]
8. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 10 10 10 32:31 30
9. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 10 9 11 38:51 29
10. Sliven (Sliven) 30 10 8 12 41:46 28
11. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 7 13 10 36:40 27
12. Akademik (Sofia) 30 7 12 11 25:30 26
13. Akademik (Svishtov) 30 9 8 13 32:45 26 [+]
14. ZhSK-Spartak (Varna) 30 7 10 13 37:42 24

1. Minyor (Pernik) 30 7 9 14 34:43 23 Relegated
2. Dunav (Ruse) 30 5 8 17 22:51 18 Relegated

• • city's contemporary name: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa.

Promoted Cherno more (Varna), Chernomorets (Burgas).

1977/78

Competition system Bulgaria gets an additional, third spot in the UEFA Cup and also enters a second team in the Intertoto Cup.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 16 10 4 40:16 42 Champions [ECC]
2. CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) 30 18 5 7 60:35 41 [UEFA]
3. Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 30 15 8 7 53:30 38 [UEFA]
4. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 13 6 11 39:36 32 [UEFA]
5. Slavia (Sofia) 30 12 6 12 54:35 30 [ITC]
6. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 12 5 13 37:37 29
7. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 12 5 13 32:40 29 [ITC]
8. Akademik (Sofia) 30 10 8 12 34:38 28
9. Cherno more (Varna) 30 8 12 10 27:34 28 [+]
10. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 11 5 14 44:43 27 [+]
11. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 11 5 14 33:41 27
12. Sliven (Sliven) 30 11 5 14 36:51 27
13. Botev (Vratsa) 30 11 5 14 31:56 27
14. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) * 30 11 4 15 37:40 26 [CWC]

1. ZhSK-Spartak (Varna) 30 11 3 16 30:46 25 Relegated
2. Akademik (Svishtov) 30 9 6 15 36:45 24 Relegated

• • city's contemporary name: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa.

Promoted Spartak (Pleven), Haskovo (Haskovo).

1978/79

Competition system Bulgaria is again down to two spots in the UEFA Cup.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 30 18 7 5 54:29 43 Champions [ECC]
2. CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) 30 14 12 4 49:26 40 [UEFA]
3. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 14 9 7 35:22 37 [UEFA]
4. Slavia (Sofia) 30 16 4 10 52:33 36 [ITC]
5. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 13 8 9 45:43 34
6. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) * 30 13 7 10 42:39 33
7. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 14 5 11 45:47 33 [CWC]
8. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 9 11 10 45:45 29
9. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 9 11 10 37:39 29 [ITC]
10. Cherno more (Varna) 30 8 10 12 29:40 26
11. Spartak (Pleven) 30 9 7 14 25:27 25 [+]
12. Botev (Vratsa) 30 9 7 14 36:42 25
13. Sliven (Sliven) 30 8 9 13 35:42 25
14. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 10 4 16 35:43 24

1. Akademik (Sofia) 30 6 10 14 27:50 22 Relegated
2. Haskovo (Haskovo) 30 7 5 18 35:59 19 [+] Relegated

• • city's contemporary name: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa.

Promoted Etar (Veliko Tarnovo), Minyor (Pernik).

1979/80

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) 30 18 10 2 60:30 46 Champions [ECC]
2. Slavia (Sofia) 30 21 3 6 66:27 45 [ITC][CWC]
3. Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 30 15 7 8 45:38 37 [UEFA]
4. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 13 8 9 49:37 34 [UEFA]
5. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 14 5 11 39:38 33
6. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) * 30 11 9 10 51:42 31 [ITC]
7. Cherno more (Varna) 30 9 13 8 36:33 31
8. Minyor (Pernik) 30 11 6 13 31:46 28 [+]
9. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 12 3 15 39:42 27
10. Botev (Vratsa) 30 10 6 14 35:43 26
11. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 7 12 11 32:43 26
12. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 9 7 14 27:34 25
13. Sliven (Sliven) 30 8 9 13 32:43 25
14. Spartak (Pleven) 30 7 10 13 26:39 24

1. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 6 10 14 33:52 22 Relegated
2. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 7 6 17 31:45 20 [+] Relegated

• • city's contemporary name: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa.

Promoted Akademik (Sofia), Belasitsa (Petrich).

1980/81

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) 30 14 12 4 70:32 40 Champions [ECC]
2. Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 30 13 10 7 44:25 36 [UEFA]
3. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 15 5 10 64:40 35 [CWC]
4. Akademik (Sofia) 30 13 8 9 42:40 34 [+] [UEFA]
5. Spartak (Pleven) 30 12 7 11 38:41 31 [ITC]
6. Cherno more (Varna) 30 8 13 9 36:37 29
7. Slavia (Sofia) 30 10 9 11 35:44 29
8. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) * 30 12 4 14 39:40 28 [ITC]
9. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 8 12 10 34:35 28
10. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 11 6 13 45:49 28
11. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 9 10 11 42:49 28
12. Botev (Vratsa) 30 8 11 11 32:37 27
13. Belasitsa (Petrich) 30 11 5 14 38:47 27 [+]
14. Sliven (Sliven) 30 11 5 14 33:43 27

1. Minyor (Pernik) 30 12 3 15 32:51 27 Relegated
2. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 6 14 10 33:47 26 Relegated

• • city's contemporary name: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa.

Promoted Etar (Veliko Tarnovo), Haskovo (Haskovo).

1981/82

Competition system Tie-break criteria in case of teams finshing on equal points is now changed as follows:

1. overall goal difference;
2. head-to-head record;
3. overall goals scored;
4. team sportsmanship.

The promotion/relegation procedure is also changed. The bottom two clubs are still directly relegated and replaced by the two winners of the two second level groups. The teams placed 13th and 14th now have to play a playoff with direct elimination over two legs with the teams that finished second in the two second level groups.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) 30 22 3 5 73:27 47 Champions [ECC]
2. Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 30 20 6 4 71:32 46 [UEFA]
3. Slavia (Sofia) 30 15 5 10 35:33 35 [UEFA]
4. Cherno more (Varna) 30 14 5 11 41:37 33 [ITC]
5. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 13 6 11 41:37 32 [CWC]
6. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 14 4 12 48:44 32 [ITC]
7. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 13 4 13 46:42 30
8. Haskovo (Haskovo) 30 12 6 12 34:37 30 [+]
9. Spartak (Pleven) 30 13 3 14 40:40 29
10. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 9 10 11 46:48 28 [+]
11. Sliven (Sliven) 30 10 7 13 38:40 27
12. Belasitsa (Petrich) 30 11 5 14 32:43 27

1. Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) * 30 9 8 13 23:40 26 Playoff - Relegated
2. Botev (Vratsa) 30 7 8 15 23:41 22 Playoff

1. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 7 5 18 33:51 19 Relegated
2. Akademik (Sofia) 30 6 5 19 23:55 17 Relegated

• • city's contemporary name: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa.

Playoffs

Note: The teams shown in first place were hosts in the first legs.

Marek (Stanke Dimitrov) - Rozova dolina (Kazanlak) 0:0; 1:2 Botev (Vratsa) - Shumen (Shumen) 1:0; 1:2

Promoted ZhSK-Spartak (Varna), Pirin (Blagoevgrad), Rozova dolina (Kazanlak) - through playoffs.

1982/83

Competition system The Soviet Army Cup is no longer the top cup competition in Bulgaria that gives a place in the Cup Winners' Cup. Instead, the Cup of Bulgaria, established two seasons ago, now becomes the primary cup competition.

Instead, one of the country's two places for the UEFA Cup is now given to the winner of the Soviet Army Cup (but not to the finalist, if the winners is otherwise qualified for another European competition).

Bulgaria enters a third team in the Intertoto Cup.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) 30 18 9 3 52:26 45 Champions [ECC]
2. Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 30 18 6 6 50:21 42 [UEFA]
3. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 16 6 8 62:40 38 [ITC]
4. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 12 8 10 39:40 32
5. Spartak (Pleven) 30 13 5 12 46:40 31 [*] Relegated
6. Sliven (Sliven) 30 13 4 13 46:45 30
7. ZhSK-Spartak (Varna) 30 12 5 13 36:38 29 [+] [CWC]
8. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 13 3 14 38:41 29
9. Cherno more (Varna) 30 9 11 10 24:28 29
10. Belasitsa (Petrich) 30 12 5 13 43:54 29
11. Botev (Vratsa) * 30 13 4 13 38:35 28 [ITC]
12. Slavia (Sofia) 30 11 6 13 35:37 28 [ITC]

1. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 12 4 14 41:47 28 Playoff
2. Haskovo (Haskovo) 30 9 4 17 34:41 22 Playoff

1. Rozova dolina (Kazanlak) 30 7 5 18 30:53 19 [+] Relegated
2. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 7 5 18 26:54 19 [+] Relegated

[*] - following the end of the season, after allegations of match fixing and allocation of funds for briberies, Spartak (Pleven) were relegated from the group.

• • Botev (Vratsa) had 2 points deducted because their second team got relegated from its 3rd level group.

Note The second place for the UEFA Cup (allocated to the Soviet Army Cup winner) was taken by Lokomotiv (Plovdiv), who competed in second level this season.

Playoffs

Note: The teams shown in first place were hosts in the first legs.

Chernomorets (Burgas) - Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 2:1; 0:0 Osam (Lovech) - Haskovo (Haskovo) 0:0; 1:2

[*] - after the relegation of Spartak (Pleven) from "A" RFG an additional playoff over a single leg in Sofia was played between the two losers of the Playoffs for the place freed by Spartak.

in Sofia: Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) - Osam (Lovech) 2:1 aet

Promoted Shumen (Shumen), Beroe (Stara Zagora), Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) - substituting for Spartak (Pl).

1983/84

Competition system No teams entered for the Intertoto Cup.

The promotion/relegation playoff system is further elaborated. At the first stage the 14th vs the 11th and the 13th vs the 12th team in "A" RFG meet over two legs with the 13th and 14th team hosting the 1st legs. The losers of those two playoffs go on to the second stage of the playoffs, where they meet the second placed teams from the two second level teams again over two legs, with the winners getting a place in "A" RFG.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 30 19 9 2 64:29 47 Champions [ECC]
2. CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) 30 18 9 3 72:24 45 [UEFA]
3. ZhSK-Spartak (Varna) 30 13 5 12 41:37 31 [*]
4. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 11 9 10 38:40 31 [+]
5. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 12 7 11 43:47 31
6. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 11 8 11 35:29 30
7. Sliven (Sliven) 30 10 10 10 39:37 30 [*] [UEFA]
8. Botev (Vratsa) 30 10 10 10 31:32 30 [*]
9. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 11 7 12 64:58 29 [CWC]
10. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 13 2 15 47:48 28

1. Shumen (Shumen) 30 11 5 14 35:46 27 [+] Playoff - Relegated
2. Belasitsa (Petrich) 30 11 5 14 25:49 27 Playoff - Relegated
3. Cherno more (Varna) 30 9 8 13 36:43 26 Playoff
4. Slavia (Sofia) 30 10 5 15 40:38 25 Playoff

1. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 10 4 16 43:63 24 [+] Relegated
2. Haskovo (Haskovo) 30 7 5 18 30:63 19 Relegated

[*] - "A" RFG's final table looked like this until literally minutes before the closing ceremony of the season, where the medals should have been given to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed teams. However ZhSK- Spartak were turned back from the stadium's tunnel as they were about to go out and receive their bronze medals, because of a last minute decision, which awarded the Botev (Vratsa) - Sliven (Sliven) match from the penultimate 29th round of the competition to the team of Sliven. The match originally ended 2:1 for Botev, but the ruling for a 0:3 result that gave Sliven the win - and thus the bronze medals came, claiming Botev used an ineligible player.

ZhSK-Spartak protested, that if at least the ruling had come earlier, they could have still finished 3rd, as they finished their last match of the season with a 3:3 draw away to relegated Lokomotiv (Plovdiv).

Nevertheless their pleas were left without result. The awarded win gave Sliven a total of 30 11 10 9 41:35 32 pts, which was enough for the third place and participation in the UEFA Cup. Consequently ZhSK-Spartak, Beroe, Chernomorets and Lokomotiv (Sofia) were all pushed back a place to 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th respectively, while Trakia and Etar moved up a place to 8th and 9th, with Botev falling down to 10th place with a total of 30 9 10 11 29:34 28 pts.

Nearly 16 years later, in the spring of 2000, the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) officially overruled the decision for the awardment of the match, and thus reinstated the initial final table, and returned the 3rd place to Spartak (Varna).

Note Levski-Spartak won the Soviet Army Cup and because of that both UEFA Cup places went to the best qualified teams in "A" RFG not counting the champions and the team, qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup.

Playoffs

Note: The teams shown in first place were hosts in the first legs.

Round 1

Slavia (Sofia) - Shumen (Shumen) 2:1; 2:2 Cherno more (Varna) - Belasitsa (Petrich) 3:1; 1:2

Round 2

Belasitsa (Petrich) - Minyor (Pernik) 4:2; 0:3 Shumen (Shumen) - Dunav (Ruse) 1:1; 2:3

Promoted

Spartak (Pleven), Pirin (Blagoevgrad), Dunav (Ruse) - through playoffs, Minyor (Pernik) - through playoffs.

1984/85

Competition system Two teams are again entered in the Intertoto Cup

As of this season no points are awarded for scoreless draws (0:0). Those are denoted in the table under the "d" column, with score draws under the "D" column.

Promotion/relegation system changed again, now only the bottom two teams are directly relegated, and are replaced by the top two teams from the unified second level.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D d   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 30 18 4 2 6 66:37 40 [*] Champions
2. CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) 30 15 6 1 8 66:36 36 [*]
3. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 15 3 2 10 68:32 33 [ECC]
4. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 13 7 1 9 45:41 33 [ITC][UEFA]
5. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 12 7 0 11 42:43 31 [+] [UEFA]
6. Botev (Vratsa) 30 13 3 0 14 48:42 29
7. Slavia (Sofia) 30 14 1 1 14 49:48 29
8. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 14 0 1 15 49:50 28
9. Spartak (Pleven) 30 11 5 2 12 47:52 27 [+]
10. Cherno more (Varna) 30 11 4 3 12 41:45 26
11. Sliven (Sliven) 30 11 4 1 14 41:45 26
12. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 11 4 1 14 41:51 26
13. Dunav (Ruse) 30 10 6 1 13 39:51 26 [+]
14. ZhSK-Spartak (Varna) 30 11 4 0 15 35:49 26

1. Minyor (Pernik) 30 11 3 2 14 32:65 25 [+] Relegated
2. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 8 5 0 17 35:57 21 Relegated [ITC]

[*] - The Cup of Bulgaria final between CSKA Septemvriysko zname and Levski-Spartak ended with a 2:1 win for CSKA, but after a lot of ugly scenes on the field during the game a radical decision was taken to disband the clubs and relegate them from "A" RFG as well as ban for life some of the most talented players at the time. This happened a round before the end of the "A" RFG, so in the last round Beroe were awarded a 3:0 home win against Levski-Spartak, while Dunav were awarded a 3:0 away win against CSKA, thus helping significantly both teams (especially Dunav) to avoid relegation.

3rd placed Trakia (Plovdiv) were declared champions and also participated in the ECC, while 4th and 5th placed Lokomotiv (Sofia) and Pirin (Blagoevgrad) participated in the UEFA Cup. Bulgaria also had no entry for the CWC for 1985/86.

Eventually most of the personal sanctions to the players were lifted sooner or later, and both teams were admitted to participate in "A" RFG for the next season, albeit with changed name and without (official) ties to the police and the army. They were also entered in the Intertoto Cup 1986

In 1990 the BFU oficially overruled the most of the decisions and though they confirmed the two teams' awarded losses in the final round, the final standings (with those losses) were reinstated, with Levski given back the title, while CSKA were given back the Cup of Bulgaria.

Note CSKA Septemvriysko zname won the Soviet Army Cup and since because of the events described above that UEFA Cup spot was not used, it went to the teams positioned behind Trakia in the "A" RFG.

Promoted Akademik (Svishtov), Lokomotiv (Plovdiv).

1985/86

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D d   L    GD    Pts

1. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 20 3 1 6 55:36 43 Champions [ECC]
2. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 18 5 1 6 82:38 41 [UEFA]
3. Slavia (Sofia) 30 16 4 1 9 63:33 36
4. Sredets (Sofia) * 30 16 2 0 12 62:37 34 [ITC][UEFA]
5. Vitosha (Sofia) * 30 14 5 1 10 55:39 33 [ITC][CWC]
6. Sliven (Sliven) 30 12 7 1 10 46:48 31
7. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 14 3 0 13 51:57 31 [+]
8. Spartak (Varna) * 30 11 8 1 10 31:32 30
9. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 12 5 1 12 47:45 29
10. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 12 5 0 13 52:58 29
11. Akademik (Svishtov) 30 11 4 0 15 39:54 26 [+]
12. Vratsa (Vratsa) * 30 10 5 0 15 44:60 25
13. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 8 5 1 16 34:49 21
14. Spartak (Pleven) 30 9 3 1 17 33:63 21

1. Cherno more (Varna) 30 9 2 1 18 47:58 20 Relegated
2. Dunav (Ruse) 30 8 2 2 18 29:63 18 Relegated

• • before the start of the season CSKA Septemvriysko zname (Sofia) were renamed Sredets, in connection with the events at the end of the previous season;
  • before the start of the season Levski-Spartak (Sofia) were renamed Vitosha, in connection with the events at the end of the previous season;
  • before the start of the season ZhSK-Spartak (Varna) were renamed Spartak.
  • before the start of the season Botev (Vratsa) were renamed Vratsa.

Note Sredets (Sofia) qualified for the UEFA Cup as winners of the Soviet Army Cup.

Promoted Chernomorets (Burgas), Dimitrovgrad (Dimitrovgrad).

1986/87

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D d   L    GD    Pts

1. CFKA Sredets (Sofia) * 30 21 5 0 4 73:30 47 Champions [ECC]
2. Vitosha (Sofia) 30 19 6 0 5 75:35 44 [CWC]
3. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 16 7 0 7 57:30 39 [UEFA]
4. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 14 7 1 8 67:45 35 [UEFA]
5. Slavia (Sofia) 30 15 5 0 10 59:46 35
6. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 11 8 1 10 58:44 30
7. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 12 6 0 12 40:42 30 [ITC]
8. Vratsa (Vratsa) 30 11 6 0 13 42:56 28
9. Sliven (Sliven) 30 11 5 0 14 52:52 27
10. Spartak (Varna) 30 10 5 0 15 44:62 25 [ITC]
11. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 8 8 2 12 35:47 24
12. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 10 4 0 16 48:76 24 [+]
13. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 8 5 0 17 44:54 21
14. Spartak (Pleven) 30 7 7 2 14 31:50 21

1. Akademik (Svishtov) 30 7 7 1 15 29:51 21 Relegated
2. Dimitrovgrad (Dimitrovgrad) 30 8 5 1 16 32:66 21 [+] Relegated

• • before the start of the season Sredets (Sofia) were renamed CFKA Sredets (CFKA = Tsentralen futbolen klub na armiyata (Central Football Club of the Army).

Note As CFKA Sredets also won the Soviet Army Cup, both UEFA Cup spots went to the best qualified teams not particpating in ECC or CWC.

Promoted Minyor (Pernik), Lokomotiv (Gorna Oryahovitsa).

1987/88

Competition system The rule not giving points for a 0:0 draws was abolished, as it only lead to the absurd of having only 4 out of 240 games in the previous season end in a scoreless draw.

Only one team is entered in the Intertoto Cup.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Vitosha (Sofia) 30 20 8 2 67:29 48 Champions [ECC]
2. CFKA Sredets (Sofia) 30 20 6 4 76:32 46 [CWC]
3. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 15 9 6 52:31 39 [UEFA]
4. Slavia (Sofia) 30 14 10 6 48:30 38 [ITC][UEFA]
5. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 12 8 10 47:47 32
6. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 11 7 12 41:44 29
7. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 12 4 14 44:59 28
8. Sliven (Sliven) 30 11 5 14 35:43 27
9. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 10 6 14 44:41 26
10. Spartak (Varna) 30 10 6 14 36:52 26
11. Minyor (Pernik) 30 10 5 15 34:36 25 [+]
12. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 7 11 12 32:37 25
13. Lokomotiv (Gorna Oryahovitsa) 30 11 3 16 41:57 25 [+]
14. Vratsa (Vratsa) 30 8 8 14 34:46 24

1. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 9 3 18 27:50 21 Relegated
2. Spartak (Pleven) 30 6 9 15 37:61 21 Relegated

Note As Vitosha also won the Soviet Army Cup, both UEFA Cup spots went to the best qualified teams not particpating in ECC or CWC.

Promoted Cherno more (Varna), Dunav (Ruse).

1988/89

Competition system Bulgaria is down to only a single UEFA Cup spot for this season. Two teams enter in the Intertoto Cup

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CFKA Sredets (Sofia) 30 20 9 1 86:24 49 Champions [ECC]
2. Vitosha (Sofia) 30 17 5 8 63:38 39 [UEFA]
3. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 13 8 9 48:30 34 [ITC]
4. Trakia (Plovdiv) 30 12 9 9 49:36 33
5. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 13 7 10 41:46 33
6. Dunav (Ruse) 30 12 7 11 29:32 31 [+]
7. Cherno more (Varna) 30 10 10 10 33:43 30 [+]
8. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 12 4 14 36:34 28
9. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 12 3 15 34:33 27
10. Sliven (Sliven) 30 11 5 14 38:39 27
11. Slavia (Sofia) 30 8 10 12 32:36 26
12. Lokomotiv (Gorna Oryahovitsa) 30 11 4 15 26:45 26
13. Vratsa (Vratsa) 30 9 8 13 32:53 26
14. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 10 6 14 31:55 26

1. Spartak (Varna) 30 7 9 14 37:54 23 Relegated [ITC]
2. Minyor (Pernik) 30 8 6 16 27:44 22 Relegated

Note CWC spot was won by second level side Chernomorets (Burgas) as losing finalists against CFKA Sredets.

Promoted Hebar (Pazardzhik), Chernomorets (Burgas).

1989/90

Competition system As of this season the bottom three teams are directly relegated from "A" RFG, with the top three teams from second level replacing them.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CSKA (Sofia) * 30 18 9 3 85:30 45 Champions [ECC]
2. Slavia (Sofia) 30 13 10 7 37:29 36 [ITC][UEFA]
3. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 14 7 9 51:32 35
4. Levski (Sofia) * 30 12 11 7 57:39 35
5. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 15 5 10 53:40 35
6. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 13 8 9 46:32 34 [ITC]
7. Botev (Plovdiv) * 30 15 3 12 43:39 33
8. Lokomotiv (Gorna Oryahovitsa) 30 11 8 11 28:32 30
9. Sliven (Sliven) 30 12 5 13 41:44 29 [CWC]
10. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 10 9 11 43:48 29
11. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 11 7 12 36:41 29 [+]
12. Dunav (Ruse) 30 9 9 12 30:38 27
13. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 9 9 12 30:47 27

1. Hebar (Pazardzhik) 30 10 5 15 29:43 25 [+] Relegated
2. Cherno more (Varna) 30 6 4 20 28:63 16 Relegated
3. Botev (Vratsa) * 30 5 5 20 25:65 15 Relegated

• • CFKA Sredets (Sofia) renamed to CSKA during the season.
  • Vitosha (Sofia) renamed first to Levski-Spartak, and then to Levski during the season.
  • Trakia (Plovdiv) renamed to Botev during the season.
  • Vratsa (Vratsa) renamed to Botev during the season.

Promoted Yantra (Gabrovo), Minyor (Pernik), Haskovo (Haskovo).

1990/91

Competition system The ECC is renamed to the Champions League. Bulgaria again gets a second spot in the UEFA Cup.

The old promotion/relegation system is restored, with only the bottom two clubs relegated, and replaced with the top two clubs from second level.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 18 8 4 49:21 44 Champions [CL]
2. CSKA (Sofia) 30 14 9 7 51:28 37 [UEFA]
3. Slavia (Sofia) 30 14 9 7 48:29 37 [UEFA]
4. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 13 10 7 50:36 36
5. Botev (Plovdiv) 30 13 10 7 49:41 36 [ITC]
6. Levski (Sofia) 30 12 9 9 51:38 33 [CWC]
7. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 11 8 11 41:50 30
8. Lokomotiv (Gorna Oryahovitsa) 30 13 3 14 42:39 29
9. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 10 7 13 38:41 27
10. Minyor (Pernik) 30 10 7 13 36:44 27 [+]
11. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 9 9 12 34:42 27
12. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 11 4 15 38:40 26 [ITC]
13. Sliven (Sliven) 30 9 8 13 39:49 26
14. Yantra (Gabrovo) 30 9 8 13 31:44 26 [+]

1. Dunav (Ruse) 30 8 6 16 23:42 22 Relegated
2. Haskovo (Haskovo) 30 7 3 20 27:63 17 [+] Relegated

Promoted Hebar (Pazardzhik), Dobrudzha (Dobrich).

1991/92

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CSKA (Sofia) 30 20 7 3 74:26 47 Champions [CL]
2. Levski (Sofia) 30 19 7 4 54:18 45 [CWC]
3. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 14 9 7 42:22 37 [UEFA]
4. Botev (Plovdiv) 30 13 11 6 46:27 37 [UEFA]
5. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 12 13 5 35:18 37
6. Sliven (Sliven) 30 12 8 10 37:39 32
7. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 10 10 10 32:41 30
8. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 10 9 11 38:40 29 [ITC]
9. Yantra (Gabrovo) 30 8 11 11 24:33 27
10. Slavia (Sofia) 30 8 10 12 33:31 26
11. Lokomotiv (Gorna Oryahovitsa) 30 9 8 13 23:39 26 [ITC]
12. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 8 9 13 28:43 25
13. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 7 9 14 22:34 23
14. Dobrudzha (Dobrich) 30 8 7 15 29:48 23 [+]

1. Minyor (Pernik) 30 5 9 16 19:51 19 Relegated
2. Hebar (Pazardzhik) 30 3 11 16 17:43 17 [+] Relegated

Promoted Haskovo (Haskovo), Spartak (Varna).

1992/93

1992/93 season details

Competition system Only one team entered in the Intertoto Cup.

                       **"A" RFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski (Sofia) 30 22 6 2 76:27 50 Champions [CL]
2. CSKA (Sofia) 30 17 8 5 66:31 42 [CWC]
3. Botev (Plovdiv) 30 16 6 8 55:33 38 [UEFA]
4. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 16 5 9 57:29 37 [UEFA]
5. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 11 13 6 52:39 35
6. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 13 9 8 37:36 35
7. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 13 7 10 33:32 33
8. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 11 8 11 33:31 30
9. Lokomotiv (Gorna Oryahovitsa) 30 10 9 11 31:37 29
10. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 10 8 12 29:35 28
11. Yantra (Gabrovo) 30 10 6 14 38:52 26 [ITC]
12. Spartak (Varna) 30 8 8 14 30:48 24 [+]
13. Dobrudzha (Dobrich) 30 9 4 17 32:57 22
14. Slavia (Sofia) 30 8 5 17 39:56 21

1. Haskovo (Haskovo) 30 6 5 19 32:66 17 [+] Relegated
2. Sliven (Sliven) 30 6 1 23 27:58 13 Relegated

Promoted Cherno more (Varna), Shumen (Shumen).

1992/93 season details

1993/94

1993/94 season details

Change "A" RFG is renamed to "A" PFG ("A" Professional Football Group).

Competition system As of this season 3 points are awarded for a win. Also in case of teams on equal points, the first two tie-brakers change positions, with head-to-head record taking first place, and overall goal difference falling to second place.

The bottom four clubs are directly relegated, and are replaced by the top two teams from each of the newly established two second level groups.

As of this season the champion of Bulgaria no longer has right to participate in the Champions League, but instead enters the UEFA Cup, thus a total of three clubs participate in the competition.

                       **"A" PFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski (Sofia) 28 22 5 1 78:17 71 Champions [UEFA]
2. CSKA (Sofia) 28 17 3 8 58:27 54 [UEFA]
3. Botev (Plovdiv) * 28 15 5 8 50:29 50
4. Shumen (Shumen) * 28 14 6 8 49:34 48 [+] [UEFA]
5. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 28 12 4 12 38:43 40
6. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 28 10 10 8 42:33 40
7. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 28 11 5 12 33:38 38
8. Lokomotiv (Gorna Oryahovitsa) 28 11 5 12 25:39 38
9. Slavia (Sofia) 28 9 9 10 30:37 36
10. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 28 10 6 12 35:36 36 [CWC]
11. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 28 10 4 14 37:40 34 [ITC]
12. Dobrudzha (Dobrich) 28 8 10 10 37:42 34

1. Chernomorets (Burgas) 28 8 6 14 30:36 30 Relegated
2. Cherno more (Varna) 28 5 6 17 24:68 21 [+] Relegated
3. Spartak (Varna) 28 4 4 20 18:65 16 Relegated --. Yantra (Gabrovo) 8 1 0 7 5:18 - [*] Relegated

[*] - Yantra (Gabrovo) is relegated from the group after round 8 for trying to bribe Beroe (Stara Zagora) in their round 8 match. All their results were annulled.

• • for some reason Botev (Plovdiv) does not participate in the UEFA Cup, its place taken by Shumen.

Promoted LEX (Lovech), Montana (Montana), Neftohimik (Burgas), Spartak (Plovdiv).

1993/94 season details

1994/95

1994/95 season details

Competition system As of this season only three teams are relegated from "A" PFG to second level.

Two clubs enter the Intertoto Cup.

                       **"A" PFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski (Sofia) 30 26 1 3 84:15 79 Champions [UEFA]
2. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 21 5 4 59:30 68 [CWC]
3. Botev (Plovdiv) 30 18 6 6 66:31 60 [UEFA]
4. Slavia (Sofia) 30 16 5 9 63:35 53 [UEFA]
5. CSKA (Sofia) 30 13 7 10 51:46 46
6. Spartak (Plovdiv) 30 12 7 11 33:34 43 [+] [ITC]
7. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 13 3 14 48:38 42
8. Neftohimik (Burgas) 30 12 3 15 41:50 39 [+]
9. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 10 6 14 31:54 36 [ITC]
10. Shumen (Shumen) 30 10 6 14 33:50 36
11. LEX (Lovech) 30 10 6 14 25:46 36 [+]
12. Dobrudzha (Dobrich) 30 10 5 15 32:43 35
13. Montana (Montana) 30 9 7 14 31:41 34 [+]

1. Lokomotiv (Gorna Oryahovitsa) 30 10 3 17 35:53 33 Relegated
2. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 9 3 18 30:46 30 Relegated
3. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 3 3 24 27:77 12 Relegated

Promoted Spartak (Varna), Levski (Kyustendil), Rakovski (Ruse).

1994/95 season details

1995/96

1995/96 season details

Competition system Bulgaria's quota for the UEFA Cup is reduced by one team.

                       **"A" PFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Slavia (Sofia) 30 20 7 3 51:14 67 Champions [UEFA]
2. Levski (Sofia) 30 19 5 6 49:22 62 [CWC]
3. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 17 7 6 55:24 58 [UEFA]
4. Neftohimik (Burgas) 30 17 6 7 58:31 57
5. CSKA (Sofia) 30 16 8 6 49:26 56 [ITC]
6. Spartak (Varna) 30 13 2 15 47:52 41 [+] [ITC]
7. Dobrudzha (Dobrich) 30 12 3 15 30:43 39
8. Levski (Kyustendil) 30 10 7 13 27:37 37 [+]
9. Montana (Montana) 30 9 9 12 33:35 36
10. Botev (Plovdiv) 30 10 6 14 33:38 36
11. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 10 5 15 25:50 35
12. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 9 6 15 21:37 33
13. Rakovski (Ruse) 30 9 5 16 33:41 32 [+]

1. Shumen (Shumen) 30 9 5 16 28:44 32 Relegated
2. Lovech (Lovech) * 30 7 9 14 29:40 30 Relegated
3. Spartak (Plovdiv) 30 6 4 20 24:58 22 Relegated

• • LEX (Lovech) renamed to Lovech before the start of the season.

Promoted Maritsa (Plovdiv), Minyor (Pernik), Spatak (Pleven).

1995/96 season details

1996/97

1996/97 season details

Competition system Bulgaria's champion again enters the Champions League. Only one team enters the Intertoto Cup.

                       **"A" PFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CSKA (Sofia) 30 22 5 3 65:19 71 Champions [CL]
2. Neftohimik (Burgas) 30 20 7 3 70:20 67 [UEFA]
3. Slavia (Sofia) 30 17 6 7 61:23 57
4. Levski (Sofia) 30 14 11 5 58:30 53 [CWC]
5. Botev (Plovdiv) 30 14 3 13 41:41 45
6. Minyor (Pernik) 30 12 8 10 28:35 44 [+]
7. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 13 4 13 59:47 43
8. Levski (Kyustendil) 30 13 3 14 51:52 42
9. Spartak (Varna) 30 13 3 14 40:41 42 [ITC]
10. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 12 5 13 38:41 41
11. Dobrudzha (Dobrich) 30 11 6 13 44:48 39
12. Spartak (Pleven) 30 12 3 15 35:46 39 [+]
13. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 10 5 15 37:53 35

1. Maritsa (Plovdiv) 30 8 8 14 38:45 32 [+] Relegated
2. Montana (Montana) 30 8 4 18 32:54 28 Relegated
3. Rakovski (Ruse) 30 0 1 29 8:110 1 Relegated

Promoted Litex (Lovech), Olimpik (Galata, Lovech reg.), Metalurg (Pernik).

1996/97 season details

1997/98

1997/98 season details

                       **"A" PFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Litex (Lovech) 30 21 6 3 73:24 69 [+] Champions [CL]
2. Levski (Sofia) 30 19 7 4 73:27 64 [CWC]
3. CSKA (Sofia) 30 18 7 5 70:29 61 [UEFA]
4. Neftohimik (Burgas) 30 17 4 9 62:31 55
5. Slavia (Sofia) 30 15 9 6 51:30 54
6. Levski (Kyustendil) 30 15 1 14 45:40 46
7. Spartak (Varna) 30 12 6 12 42:36 42 [ITC]
8. Minyor (Pernik) 30 12 5 13 32:35 41
9. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 11 6 13 42:40 39
10. Metalurg (Pernik) 30 11 4 15 28:36 37 [+]
11. Dobrudzha (Dobrich) 30 11 3 16 33:55 36
12. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 11 3 16 31:58 36
13. Botev (Plovdiv) 30 11 3 16 35:48 36

1. Olimpik (Galata, Lovech region) 30 11 2 17 26:50 35 [+] Relegated
2. Spartak (Pleven) 30 7 0 23 32:75 21 Relegated
3. Etar (Veliko Tarnovo) 30 4 2 24 21:82 14 Relegated

Promoted Septemvri (Sofia), Pirin (Blagoevgrad), Shumen (Shumen).

1997/98 season details

1998/99

1998/99 season details

Competition system As of 1999/2000 the Cup Winners' Cup is merged into the UEFA Cup, thus the cup winner from now on qualifies for the UEFA Cup.

                       **"A" PFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Litex (Lovech) 29 23 4 2 81:24 73 [*] Champions [CL]
2. Levski (Sofia) 29 22 5 2 52:11 71 [*] [UC]
3. Levski (Kyustendil) 29 18 3 8 57:29 57 [*]
4. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 17 4 9 46:30 55
5. CSKA (Sofia) 29 15 5 9 54:39 50 [*] [UC - cup]
6. Neftohimik (Burgas) 30 15 4 11 52:38 49
7. Slavia (Sofia) 30 11 8 11 47:36 41
8. Minyor (Pernik) 30 11 7 12 44:46 40
9. Dobrudzha (Dobrich) 30 11 3 16 45:55 36
10. Metalurg (Pernik) 28 11 2 15 32:41 35 [*] Relegated
11. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 10 4 16 35:58 34 [+]
12. Spartak (Varna) 30 10 4 16 39:50 34 [ITC]
13. Botev (Plovdiv) 30 9 5 16 34:55 32

1. Shumen (Shumen) 30 8 8 14 36:56 32 [+] [*]
2. Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 30 4 5 21 26:73 17 Relegated
3. Septemvri (Sofia) 30 4 5 21 34:73 17 [+] Relegated

[*] - days before the start of the 1999/2000 season, amid internal squabbles, club officials of Metalurg showed evidence of their home matches with Litex (Lovech) and Levski (Sofia) being fixed (both games were in the spring part of the season and lost by Metalurg). The matches in question were annulled, and Metalurg relegated to second level. Litex and Levski (Sf) however remained in "A" PFG without any further penalties. Also, contrary to competition relegations the group was not completed with the next best team from the lower level (in that cause that would have been 4th placed in second level Maritsa (Plovdiv)), but Shumen, which were already relegated, were brought back to the group instead. - the match Levski (Kyustendil) - CSKA (Sofia) was abandoned at half time and was later not awarded to any of the teams, but instead annulled.

Promoted Chernomorets (Burgas), Belasitsa (Petrich), Olimpik (Teteven).

1998/99 season details

1999/00

1999/00 season details

Competition system It is decided that "A" PFG would be reduced to 14 teams for next season, as a result the bottom three clubs from "A" PFG at the end of the season are directly relegated to second level to be replaced by only the winner of the second level. The clubs, placed 12th and 13th meet in a playoffs over a single leg at a neutral venue with the 3rd and 2nd from second level respectively.

                       **"A" PFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski (Sofia) 30 23 5 2 66:17 74 Champions [CL]
2. CSKA (Sofia) 30 20 4 6 60:26 64 [UC]
3. Velbazhd (Kyustendil) * 30 17 4 9 52:32 55 [ITC]
4. Neftohimik (Burgas) 30 14 11 5 42:21 53 [UC - cup]
5. Lovech (Lovech) * 30 15 4 11 61:34 49
6. Slavia (Sofia) 30 13 6 11 38:40 45
7. Spartak (Varna) 30 12 5 13 42:51 41
8. Botev (Plovdiv) 30 12 4 14 43:42 40
9. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 10 9 11 54:37 39
10. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 10 7 13 31:40 37 [+]
11. Minyor (Pernik) 30 11 3 16 44:58 36

1. Dobrudzha (Dobrich) 30 10 5 15 30:43 35 Playoff - Relegated
2. Olimpik-Beroe (Stara Zagora) * 30 10 4 16 28:47 34 [+] Playoff

1. Belasitsa (Petrich) 30 9 6 15 28:57 33 [+] Relegated
2. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 10 3 17 31:50 33 Relegated
3. Shumen (Shumen) 30 3 2 25 13:68 8 [*] Relegated

[*] - Shumen had 3 points deducted for a no-show.

• • before the start of the season Levski (Kyustendil) renamed to Velbazhd.
  • before the start of the season Litex (Lovech) renamed to Lovech.
  • before the start of the season Olimpik (Teteven) relocated to Stara Zagora and merged with Beroe (Stara Zagora) from 4th level to form Olimpik-Beroe (Stara Zagora).

Playoffs

Note: Both matches played in Sofia.

Round 1

Dobrudzha (Dobrich) - Iskar (Sofia) 0:2 Olimpik-Beroe (Stara Zagora) - Spartak (Pleven) 1:0

Promoted Cherno more (Varna), Iskar (Sofia) - through playoffs.

1999/00 season details

2000/01

2000/01 season details

Change "A" PFG is renamed to Vissha profesionalna futbolna liga - VPFL (Premier Professional Football League).

Competition system The bottom two clubs at the end of the season are directly relegated, with the top two teams from second level replacing them, while the 12th placed team enters a playoff with the 3rd placed team from second level over a single leg at a neutral venue.

                       **VPFL - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski (Sofia) 26 22 3 1 63:13 69 Champions [CL]
2. CSKA (Sofia) 26 19 5 2 65:16 62 [UC]
3. Velbazhd (Kyustendil) 26 18 3 5 48:29 57
4. Lovech (Lovech) 26 17 4 5 70:23 55 [UC - cup]
5. Neftohimik (Burgas) 26 12 6 8 47:34 42
6. Slavia (Sofia) 26 10 5 11 35:35 35
7. Spartak (Varna) 26 10 4 12 38:40 34 [ITC]
8. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 26 9 6 11 37:37 33
9. Hebar 1920 (Pazardzhik) * 26 7 5 14 39:55 26 [+]
10. Cherno more (Varna) 26 7 5 14 20:49 26 [+]
11. Chernomorets (Burgas) 26 6 4 16 22:48 22

1. Beroe (Stara Zagora) * 26 6 4 16 21:47 22 Playoff

1. Botev (Plovdiv) 26 6 2 18 28:55 20 Relegated
2. Minyor (Pernik) 26 3 4 19 19:71 13 Relegated

• • at the winter break of last season Iskar (Sofia) relocated to Pazardzhik and merged with Hebar (Pazardzhik) from 3rd level to form Hebar 1920 (Pazardzhik). This officially came into effect before the start of this season.
  • Olimpik-Beroe (Stara Zagora) renamed to Beroe.

Playoff

Note: Played in Sofia.

Beroe (Stara Zagora) - Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 1:0

Promoted

Spartak (Pleven), Marek (Dupnitsa).

2000/01 season details

2001/02

2001/02 season details

Competition system The VPFL season is divided in two stages.

In the first stage teams meet home and away twice for a total of 26 matches. Then the top 6 clubs and the bottom 8 clubs form two separate groups, within which they meet each other again twice for an additional 10 matches in the top-6 group and 14 matches in the bottom-8 group respectively. The teams start this second stages with their points totals from the first stage halved, rounded up.

The bottom three clubs from the bottom-8 group at the end of the second stage are relegated directly to second level, and are replaced by the top three teams from second level.

                       **VPFL - First Stage:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski (Sofia) 26 20 5 1 58:21 65 Top 6 Group
2. Litex (Lovech) * 26 16 7 3 50:27 55 Top 6 Group
3. Lokomotiv 1936 (Plovdiv) * 26 16 5 5 42:23 53 Top 6 Group
4. CSKA (Sofia) 26 15 7 4 48:17 52 Top 6 Group
5. Naftex (Burgas) * 26 12 6 8 35:25 42 Top 6 Group
6. Slavia (Sofia) 26 10 7 9 30:32 37 Top 6 Group

1. Spartak (Pleven) 26 10 3 13 40:44 33 [+] Bottom 8 Group

2. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 26 7 8 11 33:32 29 Bottom 8 Group

3. Spartak (Varna) 26 5 11 10 29:39 26 Bottom 8 Group

4. Chernomorets (Burgas) 26 7 5 14 24:54 26 Bottom 8 Group

5. Marek (Dupnitsa) 26 6 6 14 22:42 24 [+] Bottom 8 Group

6. Cherno more (Varna) 26 6 6 14 28:36 24 Bottom 8 Group

7. Belasitsa (Petrich) * 26 6 5 15 21:35 23 Bottom 8 Group

8. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 26 3 5 18 13:46 14 Bottom 8 Group

                      **VPFL - Final Table, Top 6:**
   
                                   M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

9. Levski (Sofia) 36 27 7 2 77:27 56 Champions [CL]

10. Litex (Lovech) * 36 23 8 5 66:34 50 [UC]

11. CSKA (Sofia) 36 19 7 10 60:29 38 [UC - cup]

12. Lokomotiv 1936 (Plovdiv) * 36 18 6 12 48:41 34

13. Slavia (Sofia) 36 14 8 14 42:48 32

14. Naftex (Burgas) * 36 14 9 13 44:40 30

                       **VPFL - Final Table, Bottom 8:**
    
                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

15. Marek (Dupnitsa) 40 14 8 18 46:57 38 [+] [ITC]

16. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 40 14 9 17 49:48 37

17. Spartak (Varna) 40 12 13 15 50:51 36

18. Chernomorets (Burgas) 40 13 9 18 41:69 35

19. Cherno more (Varna) 40 12 11 17 47:51 35

1. Spartak (Pleven) 40 15 4 21 58:66 33 [+] Relegated
2. Belasitsa (Petrich) * 40 12 7 21 34:50 32 Relegated
3. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 40 4 8 28 19:70 13 Relegated

• • before the start of the season Lovech (Lovech) renamed to Litex.
  • before the start of the season Velbazhd (Kyustendil) relocated to Plovdiv and merged with Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) from second level to form Lokomotiv 1936 (Plovdiv).
  • at the winter break Neftohimik (Burgas) renamed to Naftex.
  • before the start of the season Hebar 1920 (Pazardzhik) relocated to Petrich and merged with Belasitsa (Petrich) from second level to form Belasitsa (Petrich).

Promoted Rilski sportist (Samokov), Dobrudzha (Dobrich), Botev (Plovdiv).

2001/02 season details

2002/03

2002/03 season details

Competition system It is decided that the group would be expanded to 16 teams from next season. As a result only the bottom two clubs are relegated to second level, with four teams from second level getting promoted on their place.

The old system with teams meeting each other only twice - home and away is restored.

                       **VPFL - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CSKA (Sofia) 26 21 3 2 67:16 66 Champions [CL]
2. Levski (Sofia) 26 19 3 4 61:19 60 [UC - cup]
3. Litex (Lovech) 26 17 4 5 49:22 55 [UC]
4. Slavia (Sofia) 26 16 3 7 57:30 51
5. Cherno more (Varna) 26 14 6 6 42:21 48
6. Lokomotiv 1936 (Plovdiv) 26 16 2 8 56:33 47 [*]
7. Spartak (Varna) 26 10 4 12 25:34 34
8. Naftex (Burgas) 26 10 3 13 31:36 33
9. Marek (Dupnitsa) 26 8 6 12 35:42 30 [ITC]
10. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 26 7 4 15 23:37 25
11. Chernomorets (Burgas) 26 7 3 16 32:56 24
12. Botev (Plovdiv) 26 6 3 17 26:61 21 [+]

1. Dobrudzha (Dobrich) 26 4 2 20 19:73 14 [+] Relegated
2. Rilski sportist (Samokov) 26 1 6 19 20:63 9 [+] Relegated

Promoted Rodopa (Smolyan), Makedonska slava (Simitli), Vidima-Rakovski (Sevlievo), Belasitsa (Petrich).

2002/03 season details

2003/04

2003/04 season details

Change VPFL again returns its original name - "A" PFG.

Competition system The bottom three clubs are relegated directly to second level and are replaced by the top three clubs from second level.

Bulgaria gets a third spot in the UEFA Cup.

                       **"A" PFG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Lokomotiv 1936 (Plovdiv) 30 24 3 3 74:24 75 Champions [CL]
2. Levski (Sofia) 30 22 6 2 59:16 72 [UC]
3. CSKA (Sofia) 30 20 5 5 65:28 65 [UC]
4. Litex (Lovech) 30 18 10 2 43:20 64 [UC - cup]
5. Slavia (Sofia) 30 18 3 9 57:30 57
6. Cherno more (Varna) 30 10 8 12 45:53 38
7. Marek (Dupnitsa) 30 12 2 16 33:50 38 [ITC]
8. Naftex (Burgas) 30 9 8 13 49:38 35
9. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 8 9 13 37:48 33
10. Rodopa (Smolyan) 30 10 3 17 28:47 33 [+]
11. Belasitsa (Petrich) 30 8 7 15 34:52 31 [+]
12. Vidima-Rakovski (Sevlievo) 30 6 12 12 32:48 30 [+]
13. Spartak (Varna) 30 8 6 16 35:46 30

1. Botev (Plovdiv) 30 7 6 17 33:60 27 Relegated
2. Makedonska slava (Simitli) 30 8 2 20 32:58 26 [+] Relegated
3. Chernomorets (Burgas) 30 4 6 20 30:68 18 Relegated

Promoted Beroe (Stara Zagora), Pirin (Blagoevgrad), Nesebar (Nesebar).

2003/04 season details

2004/05

2004/05 season details

Change "A" PFG is renamed to "A" FG ("A" Football Group). Note that all the clubs in the group still remain fully professional despite that part being dropped from the official name of the competition.

Competition system No team enters the Intertoto Cup.

                       **"A" FG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CSKA (Sofia) 30 25 4 1 81:16 79 Champions [CL]
2. Levski (Sofia) 30 24 4 2 76:19 76 [UC - cup]
3. Lokomotiv 1936 (Plovdiv) 30 18 4 8 65:34 58 [UC]
4. Litex (Lovech) 30 16 4 10 45:27 52 [UC]
5. Slavia (Sofia) 30 13 9 8 43:33 48
6. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 14 7 9 43:35 46 [*]
7. Naftex (Burgas) 30 10 5 15 24:38 35
8. Cherno more (Varna) 30 10 5 15 30:38 35
9. Marek (Dupnitsa) 30 9 8 13 34:44 35
10. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 9 8 13 32:36 35 [+]
11. Belasitsa (Petrich) 30 9 7 14 25:48 34
12. Rodopa (Smolyan) 30 9 6 15 33:43 33
13. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 30 7 12 11 31:40 33 [+]

1. Vidima-Rakovski (Sevlievo) 30 9 5 16 32:51 32 Relegated
2. Nesebar (Nesebar) 30 5 5 20 26:63 20 [+] Relegated
3. Spartak (Varna) 30 5 3 22 18:73 18 Relegated

[*] - Lokomotiv (Sofia) deducted 3 points on FIFA decision for failure to pay salaries to former player.

Promoted Vihren (Sandanski), Botev (Plovdiv), Pirin 1922 (Blagoevgrad).

2004/05 season details

2005/06

2005/06 season details

Competition system One team enters the Intertoto Cup again.

                       **"A" FG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski (Sofia) 28 21 5 2 71:23 68 Champions [CL]
2. CSKA (Sofia) 28 20 5 3 73:22 65 [UC - cup]
3. Litex (Lovech) 28 18 6 4 51:22 60 [UC]
4. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 28 18 0 10 49:29 54 [UC]
5. Lokomotiv 1936 (Plovdiv) 28 11 7 10 43:42 40 [ITC]
6. Belasitsa (Petrich) 28 11 6 11 33:33 39
7. Slavia (Sofia) 28 12 3 13 33:34 39
8. Cherno more (Varna) 28 10 7 11 29:27 37
9. Vihren (Sandanski) 28 10 2 16 35:55 32 [+]
10. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 28 8 8 12 36:53 32
11. Marek (Dupnitsa) 28 8 7 13 23:37 31
12. Rodopa (Smolyan) 28 7 4 17 23:52 25
13. Botev (Plovdiv) 28 4 12 12 20:38 24 [+]

1. Pirin 1922 (Blagoevgrad) 28 5 8 15 23:46 23 [+] Relegated
2. Naftex (Burgas) 28 4 6 18 14:43 18 Relegated --. Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 2 0 0 2 0:3 - [*] Relegated

[*] - after two rounds have been played, Pirin had their professional license revoked for failure to settle their debts. Their results were annulled and they continued the season in third level.

Promoted Spartak (Varna), Rilski sportist (Samokov), Koneliano (German).

2005/06 season details

2006/07

2006/07 season details

                       **"A" FG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski (Sofia) 30 24 5 1 96:13 77 Champions [CL]
2. CSKA (Sofia) 30 23 3 4 68:13 72 [UC]
3. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 23 3 4 70:28 72 [UC]
4. Litex (Lovech) 30 19 5 6 65:29 62 [UC - cup]
5. Slavia (Sofia) 30 14 7 9 47:35 49
6. Cherno more (Varna) 30 14 5 11 35:29 47 [ITC]
7. Lokomotiv 1936 (Plovdiv) 30 13 4 13 48:43 43
8. Belasitsa (Petrich) 30 11 5 14 38:43 38
9. Vihren (Sandanski) 30 11 4 15 27:39 37
10. Botev (Plovdiv) 30 11 4 15 41:45 37
11. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 10 6 14 34:33 36
12. Marek (Dupnitsa) 30 9 7 14 39:58 34
13. Spartak (Varna) 30 10 3 17 27:52 33 [+]

1. Rilski sportist (Samokov) 30 10 0 20 31:53 30 [+] Relegated
2. Rodopa (Smolyan) 30 5 4 21 22:52 19 Relegated
3. Chernomorets Burgas (Sofia) * 30 0 1 29 8:131 -2 [+] Relegated [*]

[*] - Chernomorets Burgas had three points deducted for failing to organize their round 1 match (at home to Levski) because of not having registered enough youth playes.

• • Koneliano (German) changed owner and renamed and relocated to Chernomorets Burgas (Sofia) before the start of the season.

Promoted Chernomorets Burgas (Burgas), Pirin Blagoevgrad (Blagoevgrad), Vidima-Rakovski (Sevlievo).

2006/07 season details

2007/08

2007/08 season details

                       **"A" FG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. CSKA (Sofia) 30 24 6 0 53:11 78 [*] Champions
2. Levski (Sofia) 30 19 5 6 56:19 62 [CL]
3. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 16 9 5 47:28 57 [UC]
4. Litex (Lovech) 30 16 8 6 51:26 56 [UC - cup]
5. Cherno more (Varna) 30 13 9 8 39:28 48 [UC]
6. Chernomorets Burgas (Burgas) 30 13 8 9 39:32 47 [+] [ITC]
7. Slavia (Sofia) 30 13 8 9 38:28 47
8. Pirin Blagoevgrad (Blagoevgrad) 30 13 7 10 33:29 46 [+]
9. Lokomotiv 1936 (Plovdiv) 30 12 7 11 37:28 43
10. Vihren (Sandanski) 30 9 6 15 26:29 33
11. Spartak (Varna) 30 8 7 15 21:34 31
12. Botev (Plovdiv) 30 8 6 16 36:54 30
13. Belasitsa (Petrich) 30 7 5 18 23:43 26

1. Beroe (Stara Zagora) 30 6 8 16 23:39 26 Relegated
2. Vidima-Rakovski (Sevlievo) 30 4 6 20 17:61 18 [+] Relegated
3. Marek (Dupnitsa) 30 5 3 22 16:66 18 Relegated

[*] - CSKA did not receive license for participation in the UEFA competitions in 2008/09. Because of this Levski represented Bulgaria in the UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Cup and Intertoto Cup places were also reallocated accordingly.

Promoted Sliven 2000 (Sliven), Lokomotiv (Mezdra), Minyor (Pernik).

2007/08 season details

2008/09

2008/09 season details

Competition system The UEFA Cup is restructured and renamed to the Europa League, while the UEFA Intertoto Cup is discontinued and incorporated into the Europa League. Bulgaria remains with a quota of 3 clubs for the new Europa League.

                       **"A" FG - Final Table:**

                                    M    W   D   L    GD    Pts

1. Levski (Sofia) 30 21 6 3 57:18 69 Champions [CL]
2. CSKA (Sofia) 30 21 5 4 54:22 68 [EL]
3. Cherno more (Varna) 30 18 6 6 48:19 60 [EL]
4. Litex (Lovech) 30 17 7 6 53:26 58 [EL - cup]
5. Lokomotiv (Sofia) 30 16 6 8 52:29 54
6. Lokomotiv 1936 (Plovdiv) 30 12 7 11 40:43 43
7. Chernomorets Burgas (Burgas) 30 11 10 9 41:37 43
8. Lokomotiv (Mezdra) 30 10 7 13 39:41 37 [+]
9. Slavia (Sofia) 30 11 4 15 41:38 37
10. Pirin Blagoevgrad (Blagoevgrad) 30 10 5 15 35:50 35
11. Minyor (Pernik) 30 9 8 13 24:39 35 [+]
12. Sliven 2000 (Sliven) 30 8 8 14 32:40 32 [+]
13. Botev (Plovdiv) 30 8 6 16 31:50 30

1. Vihren (Sandanski) 30 8 2 20 29:50 26 Relegated
2. Spartak (Varna) 30 5 10 15 19:46 25 Relegated
3. Belasitsa (Petrich) 30 4 5 21 24:71 17 Relegated

Promoted Beroe (Stara Zagora), Montana (Montana), Sportist (Svoge).

2008/09 season details

About this document

Thanks to Markus Schaal and Todor Krastev for earlier version of this file

Prepared and maintained by Iordan Tsirov for theRec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation

Author: Iordan Tsirov (i_tsirov@yahoo.com) Last updated: 26 May 2023

(C) Copyright Iordan Tsirov and RSSSF 1998/2023
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the author. All rights reserved.