The 2019–20 Gibraltar National League season was the first edition of the

Gibraltar National League The Gibraltar Football League is the only senior tier of association football in Gibraltar, founded in 2019 as the Gibraltar National League after a merger of the Gibraltar Premier Division, which served as the top division of football on the ...

Gibraltar Gibraltar ( , ) is a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory and British overseas cities, city located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, on the Bay of Gibraltar, near the exit of the Mediterranean Sea into the A ...

, and the 121st edition of football in the territory overall. The league was announced in June 2018 when the

Gibraltar Football Association The Gibraltar Football Association or also Gibraltar FA (GFA) is the governing body for Gibraltarian football and futsal. It was formed as the ''Gibraltar Civilian Football Association'' in 1895, changing to its current name in later years. It is ...

decided to merge the

Gibraltar Premier Division The Gibraltar Premier Division was a football league established by the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) in 1905, and the top tier of football in Gibraltar. It originally contained eight member clubs, but it has grown over the years. In 1 ...

and

Gibraltar Second Division The Gibraltar Second Division was the second tier of association football, football in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, run by the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA). The league was founded in 1909 after the expansion of the Gibra ...

at the conclusion of the 2018–19 season. On 1 August 2019, it was confirmed that the league would be contested by 16 teams. Eleven days later, the GFA revealed that two teams had withdrawn and the league would be contested by 14 teams. That number was reduced to 13 the following day when Leo also withdrew from the league.

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

would cause the season to be suspended in March 2020. The Challenge Group was abandoned, while the Gibraltar FA looked to conclude the Championship Group in some form. On 1 May 2020, the

announced that the domestic football season had been terminated. After the league had discussions of whether the title would be awarded, the Gibraltar FA announced on 7 May 2020 the season was declared null and void; the title would remain vacant.

Format

On 1 August 2019, the GFA confirmed details of the restructure of domestic football in Gibraltar, and the format of the a new 16 team league. By 12 August, the GFA confirmed two teams would not participate and 14 teams would contest the league. With Leo's withdrawal the next day, the league was reduced to 13. Teams will play one round of games as a single league, before splitting into two groups: the Championship Group contested by the top 7 sides, and the Challenge Group between the bottom 6 sides. The winners of the Challenge Group will receive the GFA Challenge Trophy and receive a bye to the second round of the next season's

Rock Cup The Rock Cup is Gibraltar's premier cup football competition, and is organized annually by the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA). From 1894/95 Gibraltar's Cup Competition was known as "The Senior Merchant's Cup". In 1935 a new trophy was prese ...

Teams

16 teams were initially expected to participate in the inaugural National League, with Hound Dogs dropping down to the 2019–20 Gibraltar Intermediate League, having been granted special dispensation by the GFA. On 9 August, Gibraltar Phoenix withdrew from the league. Two days before, Gibraltar United were threatened with expulsion if they failed to repay debts by 12 August. On 12 August, the GFA confirmed the withdrawal of Gibraltar Phoenix and Gibraltar United. The day after,

Leo Leo is the Latin word for lion. It most often refers to: * Leo (constellation), a constellation of stars in the night sky * Leo (astrology), an astrological sign of the zodiac * Leo (given name), a given name in several languages, usually mas ...

withdrew from the league too, after a takeover by King's Lynn Town owner Stephen Cleeve was blocked by the GFA. On 22 August, it was reported that Olympique 13 were at risk of withdrawing from the league, having forfeited their game against

Europa Europa may refer to: Places * Europa (Roman province), a province within the Diocese of Thrace * Europa (Seville Metro), Seville, Spain; a station on the Seville Metro * Europa City, Paris, France; a planned development * Europa Cliffs, Alexan ...

due to a shortage of players. They were expelled on 11 September. Teams with a blue background played in the

2018–19 Gibraltar Premier Division The 2018–19 Gibraltar Premier Division was the 120th season of the top-tier state Association football, football league in Gibraltar, as well as the sixth season since the Gibraltar Football Association joined UEFA in 2013. The league was conte ...

. Teams with a red background played in the

2018–19 Gibraltar Second Division The 2018–19 Gibraltar Second Division was the sixth and final season of the second tier football in Gibraltar since the Gibraltar Football Association joined UEFA. The season began on 15 August 2018. After the expulsion of Angels F.C., Angels th ...

. Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under

FIFA The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (), more commonly known by its acronym FIFA ( ), is the international self-regulatory governing body of association football, beach soccer, and futsal. It was founded on 21 May 1904 to o ...

eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Managerial changes

League table

Results

Season statistics

Scoring

Top scorers

Hat-tricks

Clean Sheets

Awards

Player of the week

Monthly awards

End-of-season awards

End of season awards were handed out by Football Gibraltar, the

's official UEFA correspondents, on 28 May and 2 June 2020.FG Awards 20: Challenge Group Player and Young Player of the Season
Football Gibraltar. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020. ;Fans' Team of the Season

References

External links

Gibraltar Football AssociationGibraltar Football Association–Championship GroupGibraltar Football Association–Challenge Group
{{DEFAULTSORT:2019-20 Gibraltar National League Gibraltar National League seasons

Gib Gib or GIB may refer to: Places * Gibraltar, British overseas territory ** Gibraltar International Airport, IATA code GIB ** Gibraltar national football team, FIFA code GIB * Mount Gibraltar, known as The Gib, New South Wales, Australia * Gib ...