Thai League 4 ( th, ไทยลีก 4), commonly known as the T4, was the fourth level
association football
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
league in Thailand. In 2009, it was divided into five groups by geographic region. Each group contained 16 clubs except for the Southern Region group which contained 13 clubs. It was sponsored by
AIS AIS may refer to:
Medicine
* Abbreviated Injury Scale, an anatomical-based coding system to classify and describe the severity of injuries
* Acute ischemic stroke, the thromboembolic type of stroke
* Androgen insensitivity syndrome, an intersex ...
and therefore officially known as the AIS Regional League Division 2. In 2016,
Khor Royal Cup
Khor Royal Cup ( th, ถ้วยพระราชทาน ค.; ถ้วย ค.) is the fifth-highest level of club football competition which competed in the tournament in Thailand since 1963. It was founded by Football Association of Thaila ...
became a trophy for Regional League Division 2. In 2017,
Football Association of Thailand
The Football Association of Thailand under Patronage of His Majesty the King ( th, สมาคมกีฬาฟุตบอลแห่งประเทศไทย ในพระบรมราชูปถัมภ์), or FA Thailand for s ...
rebranded the league to Thai League 4.
League history
The 3rd Level League was formed in 2006 with ten member clubs. The league was created so that clubs from regional leagues could come together and play in a national league with the onus being on
promotion and relegation
In sports leagues, promotion and relegation is a process where teams are transferred between multiple divisions based on their performance for the completed season. Leagues that use promotion and relegation systems are often called open leagues. ...
so clubs could easily move up the Thai football system ladder depending on performances on the football pitch rather than performances behind the scenes.
The league was also created so it would combat against the rival
Provincial League
Provincial League (formerly known as Professional League) also known as Pro League was the old regional Football league in Thailand in 1999–2008. It was founded in 1999 under the name "Provincial League" organized by Sports Authority of Thailan ...
. With future growth moving the Pro League to join the 2nd Division.
The league suffered another contraction after 2016 season, as 31 teams joined the newly created
Thai League Championship
Thai League 3 or Thailand Regional Championship, commonly known as the T3, is the third level of Thai football. It was started in 2017 First season. In 2017, the League is divided in 2 regions and participated by 32 clubs 1st-4th clubs from 8 ...
. It also moved a tier down the pyramid, making it 4th Level League since 2017.
In 2006, the first season, ten clubs played each other twice, with promotion going to the championship winner
Chula-Sinthana FC
BBCU Football Club, known fully as Big Bang Chula United Football Club ( th, สโมสรฟุตบอล บีบีซียู), is a defunct Thai professional football club based in Bangkok, Thailand, owned by Montri Suwannoi. Found ...
. No relegation occurred in 2006.
In 2007, the league was expanded to twelve clubs, with the top two in the championship achieving promotion (
Mueang Thong NongJork United and
PTT FC
Petroleum Authority of Thailand Rayong Football Club, also referred to as simply PTT Rayong ( th, สโมสรฟุตบอลปตท.ระยอง), was a Thai professional football club based in Rayong Province. They competed in Tha ...
) and the bottom two clubs getting relegated (Thai Christian Sports Club and Thai Department of Agriculture).
In 2008, although two clubs were relegated at the end of the 2007 season, the league was again expanded the following year, to 22 clubs. Two groups would be created: 11 clubs in Group A and 11 clubs in Group B.
At the end of the season, two clubs from each group would be promoted with the league receiving four relegated teams from the
Thailand Division 1 League
Thai League 2 ( th, ไทยลีก 2), commonly known as the T2, formally called Thai Division 1 League, is the second-tier professional league in the Thai football league system. The top 3 are promoted to Thai League 1 at the end of the s ...
. At the end of the season, the four clubs who achieved promotion would play off in an end of year competition to determine the overall league winner.
No clubs would be relegated due to re-structuring of the league system again for the 2009 season. But all clubs who wish to play at this level were asked to re-submit to the league and each club would be graded such items as club structure and ground stadium. Each club was expected to have certain criteria in place to achieve league status.
In 2009, 52 clubs played Division 2 League was combined with
Provincial League
Provincial League (formerly known as Professional League) also known as Pro League was the old regional Football league in Thailand in 1999–2008. It was founded in 1999 under the name "Provincial League" organized by Sports Authority of Thailan ...
by
Football Association of Thailand
The Football Association of Thailand under Patronage of His Majesty the King ( th, สมาคมกีฬาฟุตบอลแห่งประเทศไทย ในพระบรมราชูปถัมภ์), or FA Thailand for s ...
. The league was again split from two groups into five groups covering the North of Thailand, North East (Isan) region, Central East Zone, Bangkok central zone and South of Thailand. The league was also renamed as the ''Regional League Division 2''. Five group winners would enter a championship round to determine which three teams would gain promotion to the
Thai Division 1 League
Thai League 2 ( th, ไทยลีก 2), commonly known as the T2, formally called Thai Division 1 League, is the second-tier professional league in the Thai football league system. The top 3 are promoted to Thai League 1 at the end of the s ...
. Raj Pracha duly won the championship stage and were promoted with Chiangrai United of the Northern League and Narathiwat of the Southern League.
75 teams were confirmed to play in the Regional League for the 2010 season. The number of teams in each region were as follows: North Region - 16 Teams, North East Region - 16 Teams, Central Region - 16 Teams, Southern Region - 14 Teams, Bangkok Region - 13 Teams
Four teams would automatically be promoted to Division 1. The four promoted teams would be decided by two mini leagues at the conclusion of the regular season. The total number of teams competing in the mini leagues will be 12, they will be made up of the top two from each league with the best two third placed teams from the Northern, North-east and Central-East leagues The top two from each mini league will gain promotion. The sides coming in third and fourth position in the mini leagues would again play playoff matches against the bottom four clubs of Division 1 in order to gain promotion.
94 teams were confirmed to play in the Regional League for the 2016 season. The number of teams in each region were as follows: North Region - 12 Teams, North East Region - 14 Teams, East Region - 12 Teams, West Region - 12 Teams, South Region - 12 Teams, Bangkok Region - 11 Teams, Bangkok-East Region - 10 Teams, Central Region - 11 Teams
In 2017, FA Thailand rebranded the Regional League as Thai League 4 and separated it into six zones: the northern region, northeastern region, eastern region, western region, Bangkok metropolitan region and southern region.
In 2020, due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
, the season was postponed to start in late 2020 and end in early 2021. In addition, the Thai League 4 had combined with the
Thai League 3
Thai League 3 or Thailand Regional Championship, commonly known as the T3, is the third level of Thai football. It was started in 2017 First season. In 2017, the League is divided in 2 regions and participated by 32 clubs 1st-4th clubs from 8 ...
and will compete as Thai League 3 as of this season.
Promotion and relegation
2008 promotion and relegation
The top two sides at the end of the 2008 season from A & B will be promoted to
Thai Division 1 League
Thai League 2 ( th, ไทยลีก 2), commonly known as the T2, formally called Thai Division 1 League, is the second-tier professional league in the Thai football league system. The top 3 are promoted to Thai League 1 at the end of the s ...
. No teams would be relegated due to a re-structuring process.
2009 promotion and relegation
The league winner of the five groups (North-east, Northern, Central & East, Bangkok Metropolitan, Southern) entered a final round group,
Regional League Championships 2009
2009 Regional League Division 2 was contested by the five regional league winners of the 3rd level championships of Thailand.
Five teams met on a home and away basis, with the top three teams gaining promotion to the Thai 1st Division for the 20 ...
, played on a home and away basis. The top three teams of this championship group will achieve promotion to
Thai Division 1 League
Thai League 2 ( th, ไทยลีก 2), commonly known as the T2, formally called Thai Division 1 League, is the second-tier professional league in the Thai football league system. The top 3 are promoted to Thai League 1 at the end of the s ...
. No teams would be relegated.
2010 promotion and relegation
The league winners and runners up of the five regional groups (North-east, Northern, Central & East, Bangkok Metropolitan, Southern) along with the two best third placed teams from the North, North-east and Central/East would enter the
championships stage. From here, the top two teams from two groups of five would be promoted, the teams finishing in third and fourth place would enter another round of playoffs with the bottom four clubs of the
2010 Thai Division 1 League
2010 Thai League Division 1 is the 13th season of the League since its establishment in 1997. It is the feeder league for the Thai Premier League. A total of 16 teams will compete in the league.
League Expansion
It was announced at the end of th ...
to determine if any more clubs would be promoted. No teams would be relegated.
2016 promotion and relegation
The league winners and runners up of the eight regional groups (16 team) entered a final round group
Regional League Championships
Regional League Championships are contested by the five regional league winners of the 3rd level championships of Thailand.
Five teams meet on a home and away basis, with the top three teams getting promotion to the Thai Division 1 League, Thai ...
Knockout 3 team best promotion to the
Thai Division 1 League
Thai League 2 ( th, ไทยลีก 2), commonly known as the T2, formally called Thai Division 1 League, is the second-tier professional league in the Thai football league system. The top 3 are promoted to Thai League 1 at the end of the s ...
and 4-5 team best of the eight regional Promotion to the
Thai League Championship
Thai League 3 or Thailand Regional Championship, commonly known as the T3, is the third level of Thai football. It was started in 2017 First season. In 2017, the League is divided in 2 regions and participated by 32 clubs 1st-4th clubs from 8 ...
. Team worst of the eight regional groups (8 team) relegated to the
Thai Football Division 3
Football Division 3 ( th, ฟุตบอลดิวิชั่น 3) is the fourth level of Thai football organized by Football Association of Thailand. It was started in 2016 by an idea from General Police Somyot Poompanmoung, the president ...
.
2017 promotion and relegation
The league winners of the six regional groups and runners up of North-east, Central, East, Bangkok Metropolitan and third place of North-east and playoff winner with runners up of Northern-Southern (12 teams) entered the Champions League Knockout stage, The best five team in this stage will promoted to
Thai League 3
Thai League 3 or Thailand Regional Championship, commonly known as the T3, is the third level of Thai football. It was started in 2017 First season. In 2017, the League is divided in 2 regions and participated by 32 clubs 1st-4th clubs from 8 ...
. Team worst of all regional groups relegated to the
Thailand Amateur League
Thailand Amateur League ( th, ไทยแลนด์ อเมเจอร์ลีก), commonly known as the TA, is the fourth level of Thai football league system, Thai football organised by Thai League Co.,Ltd. It was started in 2017 by a ...
.
Thailand League Division 2 seasons
2006
2007
2008
Regional League Division 2 seasons
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Thai League 4 seasons
2017
2018
2019
Champions history
Champions of the third tier
Thai football league system Cup eligibility
Being members of a league at a particular level also affects the eligibility for Cup competitions.
*Thai FA Cup: Levels 1 to 5
*Thai League Cup: Levels 1 to 3
Current system
Former system
Before 1996 season
Before the top l ...
(Division 2)
Champions of the fourth tier
Thai football league system Cup eligibility
Being members of a league at a particular level also affects the eligibility for Cup competitions.
*Thai FA Cup: Levels 1 to 5
*Thai League Cup: Levels 1 to 3
Current system
Former system
Before 1996 season
Before the top l ...
(Thai League 4)
Regional league winners
* Broken down into regional leagues which started in 2009
See also
*
Football records in Thailand This page details football records in Thailand.
Most successful teams
Top-performing clubs - league structures
Thai League 1
The Invincibles
Unbeatable champions:
* Muangthong United in 2012
* Buriram United in 2013
* Buriram United in 2015
...
References
2008 League Fixtures
External links
Official website
Football Association of Thailand
kondivision2
Thai Division 2 League
{{Football in Thailand
Football leagues in Thailand
Sports leagues established in 2006
Sports leagues disestablished in 2020
2006 establishments in Thailand
2020 disestablishments in Thailand
Professional sports leagues in Thailand