Bulgaria Championship History 1924-20091921/22Sofia Football League10 participants from SofiaFirst Match [Sep 18]SC Levski 3-1 Athletic Winners: SlaviaNB: no national championship1922/23[date ?]SC Levski 3-2 SlaviaWinners: Levski; runners-up: SlaviaNB: no national championship1923/24The first State championship was organized in 1924 by the BulgarianNational Sports Federation (BNSF), which was created on 16 Dec 1923.The title was to be contested between the winners of the existing sixregional "sports federations" ("sportni federatsii").Competition systemDirect eliminations over a single leg.Extra time played if scores are level, and if still level at the endof extra time - the match is replayed on the next day at the same venue.The final is to be played in Sofia.ParticipantsTeam Sports Federation Area coveredVladislav (Varna) Severobulgarska SF NE and N Central BulgariaOrel (Vratsa) Bdinska SF NW BulgariaLevski (Sofia) Sofiyska SF SofiaKrakra (Pernik) Yugozapadna SF SW BulgariaPobeda (Plovdiv) Trakiyska SF S Central BulgariaChernomorets (Burgas) Primorska SF SE BulgariaRound 1Chernomorets (Burgas) - Levski (Sofia) 0:7Orel (Vratsa) - Krakra (Pernik) 1:0Vladislav (Varna) byePobeda (Plovdiv) byeRound 2 (1/2 finals)Pobeda (Plovdiv) - Orel (Vratsa) 5:0Levski (Sofia) - Vladislav (Varna) 0:0replay:Levski (Sofia) - Vladislav (Varna) npd ** - no extra time played because of darkness. Vladislav refuse to replaythe game on the next day in Sofia, and leave for Varna, demanding thereplay to be staged there. BNSF at first sets a new date for the replaywhich is again to take place in Sofia, then give in and allow for thegame to be played in Varna, but only if Vladislav and the SBSF cover thelosses for the Sofia replay that didn't take place. At the end BNSF andVladislav do not reach final agreement and the championship is abandoned.1924/25ParticipantsTeam Sports Federation Area coveredVladislav (Varna) Severobulgarska SF NE and N Central BulgariaOrel (Vratsa) Bdinska SF NW BulgariaLevski (Sofia) Sofiyska SF SofiaLevski (Dupnitsa) Yugozapadna SF SW BulgariaBP 25 (Plovdiv) * Trakiyska SF S Central BulgariaAsenovets (Sliven) Primorska SF SE Bulgaria* - full name Benkovski-Pobeda 25.Round 1Levski (Dupnitsa) - Orel (Vratsa) 5:0Vladislav (Varna) - Asenovets (Sliven) 3:0 awdLevski (Sofia) byeBP 25 (Plovdiv) byeRound 2 (1/2 finals)Vladislav (Varna) - Levski (Dupnitsa) 4:0BP 25 (Plovdiv) - Levski (Sofia) 0:4Final[30 Aug 1925]Levski (Sofia) - Vladislav (Varna) 0:21925/26ChangeThe six regional sports federations are disbanded and several "okrazhnisportni oblasti", covering lesser area than their predecessors, arecreated on their place.Again, the winners from each OSO qualify for the State championship.ParticipantsOSO TeamVarnenska OSO Vladislav (Varna)Shumenska OSO Sokol (Shumen)Rusenska OSO Levski (Ruse)Tarnovska OSO Etar (Tarnovo) *Plevenska OSO no representativeVrachanska OSO Orel (Vratsa)Bdinska OSO no representativeSofiyska 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 1Sokol (Shumen) - Etar (Tarnovo) 6:0Slavia (Sofia) - Levski (Dupnitsa) 9:1Botev (Pazardzhik) - Beroya (Stara Zagora) 4:0Chegan (Burgas) - Borislav (Borisovgrad) 4:1Vladislav (Varna) byeLevski (Ruse) byeOrel (Vratsa) byeRound 2Vladislav (Varna) - Chegan (Burgas) 9:0Levski (Ruse) - Sokol (Shumen) 1:0Botev (Pazardzhik) - Orel (Vratsa) 5:1Slavia (Sofia) byeRound 3 (1/2 finals)Vladislav (Varna) - Levski (Ruse) 5:1Botev (Pazardzhik) - Slavia (Sofia) 2:6Final[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 thefollowing day. The teams were present, but the appointed referee didn'tshow up. BNSF immediately found among the crowd and appointed a newreferee. Vladislav on their turn chose their own referee, however hedeclined to be in charge of the game. Nevertheless Vladislav refused toplay with the BNSF appointed substitute referee and left the field.Slavia were duly awarded the match and the title. Vladislav howeverchallenged this decision in court, and their appeal won. Because of thisBNSF had to comply and a new match was scheduled for 26 Dec 1926. Bothteams agreed to this, but Sofiyska OSO forbid Slavia to play as they feltthe decision to revoke the awarded title was unjust. New arguments ensuedand yet another date for the replay was set - 7 Apr 1927. Slavia thoughagain complied with the decision by SOSO and boycotted the game. Becauseof this, this time the championship title was finally awarded to Vladislav. 1926/27Not heldFollowing the bitter dispute from last season, that dragged on well intothe spring of 1927, Slavia (Sofia), which won Sofiyska OSO, refused toenter the championship. Furthermore, only three other OSO winners weredetermined before the alotted deadline for participation in the Statechampionship. Those were Vladislav (Varna) from Varnenska OSO, Levski (Ruse)from Rusenska OSO and Levski (Plovdiv) from Plovdivska OSO. Because ofthis the championship for this season had to be cancelled.1927/28NoteOnly five teams were admitted to the championship as many OSOs again didn'tdetermine their winners before the deadline. For most of the OSOs from thesouth of the country this was also due to the two devastating earthquakesnear Chirpan in April 1928.ParticipantsOSO TeamVarnenska OSO Vladislav (Varna)Rusenska OSO Levski (Ruse)Bdinska OSO Maria Luisa (Lom)Sofiyska OSO Slavia (Sofia)Plovdivska OSO Levski (Plovdiv)Round 1Maria Luisa (Lom) - Slavia (Sofia) 0:4Vladislav (Varna) byeLevski (Ruse) byeLevski (Plovdiv) byeRound 2 (1/2 finals)Vladislav (Varna) - Levski (Ruse) 5:1Slavia (Sofia) - Levski (Plovdiv) 4:0Final[30 Sep 1928]Slavia (Sofia) - Vladislav (Varna) 4:01928/29ParticipantsOSO TeamVarnenska OSO Shipchenski sokol (Varna)Shumenska OSO Han Omurtag (Shumen)Rusenska OSO Rakovski (Ruse)Tarnovska OSO Chardafon (Gabrovo)Plevenska OSO Levski (Pleven)Vrachanska OSO no representativeBdinska OSO Maria Luisa (Lom)Sofiyska OSO Levski (Sofia)Rilska OSO no representativePlovdivska OSO Botev (Plovdiv)Haskovska OSO no representativeStarozagorska OSO Trayana (Stara Zagora)Primorska OSO Levski (Burgas)Round 1Shipchenski sokol (Varna) - Han Omurtag (Shumen) 5:0Rakovski (Ruse) - Chardafon (Gabrovo) 3:2Levski (Pleven) - Maria Luisa (Lom) 2:0Levski (Burgas) - Trayana (Stara Zagora) 3:1Levski (Sofia) byeBotev (Plovdiv) byeRound 2Shipchenski sokol (Varna) - Rakovski (Ruse) 2:0Levski (Sofia) - Levski (Pleven) 2:0Botev (Plovdiv) - Levski (Burgas) 3:1Round 3Botev (Plovdiv) - Shipchenski sokol (Varna) 3:1Final[3 Oct 1929]Levski (Sofia) - Botev (Plovdiv) 0:11929/30ParticipantsOSO TeamVarnenska OSO Vladislav (Varna)Shumenska OSO Han Omurtag (Shumen)Rusenska OSO Rakovski (Ruse)Tarnovska OSO Etar (Tarnovo) *Plevenska OSO no representativeVrachanska OSO no representativeBdinska OSO Viktoria 23 (Vidin)Sofiyska OSO Slavia (Sofia)Rilska OSO Krakra (Pernik)Plovdivska OSO Botev (Plovdiv)Haskovska OSO no representativeStarozagorska OSO no representativePrimorska OSO Slava (Yambol)* - city's contemporary name: Tarnovo -> Veliko Tarnovo.Round 1Vladislav (Varna) - Slava (Yambol) 7:1Rakovski (Ruse) - Han Omurtag (Shumen) 0:6Etar (Tarnovo) - Viktoria 23 (Vidin) 6:2Krakra (Pernik) - Slavia (Sofia) 0:4Botev (Plovdiv) byeRound 2Vladislav (Varna) - Han Omurtag (Shumen) 4:2Slavia (Sofia) - Etar (Tarnovo) 4:2Botev (Plovdiv) byeRound 3Slavia (Sofia) - Botev (Plovdiv) 2:1 aetVladislav (Varna) byeFinal[3 Oct 1930]Slavia (Sofia) - Vladislav (Varna) 4:11930/31ChangeAll the State championship matches are now played during a singletournament, held in Sofia.ParticipantsOSO TeamVarnenska 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 representativePrimorska OSO Slava (Yambol)* - city's contemporary name: Tarnovo -> Veliko Tarnovo.** - full name Atletik-Slava 23.Round 1Shipchenski sokol (Varna) - Botev (Plovdiv) 1:0Slava (Yambol) - Sportist (Vidin) 3:1AS 23 (Sofia) - Etar (Tarnovo) 5:0Napredak (Ruse) - Pobeda 26 (Pleven) 3:1Han Omurtag (Shumen) - Levski (Dupnitsa) 2:0Bulgaria (Haskovo) - Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) 6:2Round 2AS 23 (Sofia) - Slava (Yambol) 7:0Shipchenski sokol (Varna) - Bulgaria (Haskovo) 5:1Napredak (Ruse) - Han Omurtag (Shumen) 3:1Round 3AS 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 pairAS 23 - Slava will have a bye at Round 3, however Shipchenski sokolthreatened to leave the tournament if the winner of their pair was notgiven 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 aftera clash a player from the Varna team had to leave the field with abroken leg. The Varna players demand from the referee to show a redcard to the AS 23 player that participated in the collision, but thereferee refused to send him off, as he judged that there was nointention in the AS 23 player's action. At that, Shipchenski sokolleft the field. Later it was awarded 3:0 to AS 23 by the BNSF.1931/32ChangeThe old system of matches being played at the home ground of one ofthe teams from each pair is restored.ParticipantsOSO TeamVarnenska 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 1Slavia (Sofia) - Levski (Dupnitsa) 4:0Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) - Levski (Lom) 2:1Shipchenski sokol (Varna) - Han Omurtag (Shumen) 6:2Slava (Yambol) - Borislav (Stara Zagora) 3:0Chardafon (Gabrovo) - Pobeda 26 (Pleven) 1:0 annulled *replay in Pavlikeni:Chardafon (Gabrovo) - Pobeda 26 (Pleven) 1:3Levski (Ruse) byeSokol (Plovdiv) byeBulgaria (Haskovo) bye* - Pobeda 26 contested the first match claiming "unplayable pitch".The original game was annulled and a replay in Pavlikeni was ordered.Round 2Slavia (Sofia) - Slava (Yambol) 5:0Levski (Ruse) - Shipchenski sokol (Varna) 0:2Pobeda 26 (Pleven) - Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) 3:2Sokol (Plovdiv) - Bulgaria (Haskovo) 3:1Round 3 (1/2 finals)Slavia (Sofia) - Sokol (Plovdiv) 5:0Shipchenski sokol (Varna) - Pobeda 26 (Pleven) 4:1Final[18 Sep 1932]Slavia (Sofia) - Shipchenski sokol (Varna) 1:1; 1:2 aet1932/33ChangeA new Tundzhanska OSO is created out of part of Primorska OSO.ParticipantsOSO TeamVarnenska OSO Shipchenski sokol (Varna)Shumenska OSO no representativeRusenska 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 1Borislav (Kyustendil) - Petar Parchevich (Plovdiv) 3:2Botev (Yambol) - Chernomorets (Burgas) 0:0; 1:0 aetNapredak (Ruse) - Maria Luisa (Lom) 3:0Shipchenski sokol (Varna) - Chardafon (Gabrovo) 3:0Borislav (Stara Zagora) - Levski (Svilengrad) 0:0; 1:0 aetLevski (Pleven) - Botev (Vratsa) 6:0Levski (Sofia) byeRound 2Levski (Sofia) - Borislav (Kyustendil) 9:1Levski (Pleven) - Napredak (Ruse) 1:2Botev (Yambol) - Borislav (Stara Zagora) 5:1Shipchenski sokol (Varna) byeRound 3 (1/2 finals)Napredak (Ruse) - Shipchenski sokol (Varna) 1:4Levski (Sofia) - Botev (Yambol) 4:2Final[3 Oct 1933]Levski (Sofia) - Shipchenski sokol (Varna) 3:11933/34ChangeThe 14 okrazhni sportni oblasti are renamed to just "sportni oblasti".ParticipantsSO TeamVarnenska 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 1Slavia (Sofia) - Pobeda 26 (Pleven) 8:0Han Omurtag (Shumen) - Vladislav (Varna) 1:4Maria Luisa (Lom) - Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) 3:2Shipka (Plovdiv) - Botev (Yambol) 1:4 *Napredak (Ruse) - Chardafon (Gabrovo) 1:1; 3:1 aetSvetoslav (Stara Zagora) - Levski (Burgas) 3:3; 4:3 aetBorislav (Kyustendil) byeBulgaria (Haskovo) bye* - match abandoned in 75' at 1:4 by the referee because ofexcessively rough play by the Shipka players. Result stood.Round 2 (1/4 finals)Slavia (Sofia) - Borislav (Kyustendil) 9:1Napredak (Ruse) - Maria Luisa (Lom) 2:2; 3:2 aetVladislav (Varna) - Botev (Yambol) 6:0Svetoslav (Stara Zagora) - Bulgaria (Haskovo) 5:1Round 3 (1/2 finals)Slavia (Sofia) - Svetoslav (Stara Zagora) 4:0Vladislav (Varna) - Napredak (Ruse) 3:1Final[16 Sep 1934]Slavia (Sofia) - Vladislav (Varna) 0:21934/35ChangeFrom this season, both the semi-finals as well as the final are played in Sofia.ParticipantsSO TeamVarnenska 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 representativeStarozagorska SO DFV (Kazanlak)Primorska SO Levski (Burgas)Tundzhanska SO Botev (Yambol)Round 1Maria Luisa (Lom) - Sportklub (Sofia) 1:1 aetStrumska slava (Radomir) - Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) 0:1Napredak (Ruse) - DFV (Kazanlak) 3:3 aetPobeda 26 (Pleven) - Botev (Yambol) 3:2Levski (Gorna Oryahovitsa) - Panayot Volov (Shumen) 0:6replays:Maria Luisa (Lom) - Sportklub (Sofia) 0:3 awdNapredak (Ruse) - DFV (Kazanlak) 2:0Ticha (Varna) byeBotev (Pazardzhik) byeLevski (Burgas) byeRound 2 (1/4 finals)Sportklub (Sofia) - Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) 2:1Botev (Pazardzhik) - Pobeda 26 (Pleven) 7:1Levski (Burgas) - Ticha (Varna) 1:0 annulled *Panayot Volov (Shumen) - Napredak (Ruse) 3:2replay in Sofia:Levski (Burgas) - Ticha (Varna) 0:3* - Ticha contested the game because of ineligible player in the Levskisquad. The match was annulled and a replay in Sofia was ordered.Round 3 (1/2 finals)Sportklub (Sofia) - Panayot Volov (Shumen) 1:0in Sofia:Ticha (Varna) - Botev (Pazardzhik) 7:0Final[3 Oct 1935]Sportklub (Sofia) - Ticha (Varna) 4:01935/36ParticipantsSO TeamVarnenska 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 representativeBdinska SO Viktoria 23 (Vidin)Sofiyska SO Slavia (Sofia)Rilska SO Krakra (Pernik)Plovdivska SO Botev (Plovdiv)Haskovska SO Urli (Harmanli)Starozagorska SO no representativePrimorska SO Levski (Burgas)Tundzhanska SO Georgi Drazhev (Yambol)Round 1Viktoria 23 (Vidin) - Pobeda 26 (Pleven) 4:2Levski (Ruse) - Panayot Volov (Shumen) 3:0Krakra (Pernik) - Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) 2:1Georgi Drazhev (Yambol) - Urli (Harmanli) 8:0Ticha (Varna) byeSlavia (Sofia) byeBotev (Plovdiv) byeLevski (Burgas) byeRound 2 (1/4 finals)Levski (Ruse) - Krakra (Pernik) 0:1Georgi Drazhev (Yambol) - Botev (Plovdiv) 1:0Ticha (Varna) - Levski (Burgas) 1:0Viktoria 23 (Vidin) - Slavia (Sofia) 1:6Round 3 (1/2 finals)Slavia (Sofia) - Georgi Drazhev (Yambol) 6:0in Sofia:Ticha (Varna) - Krakra (Pernik) 1:0Final[4 Oct 1936]Slavia (Sofia) - Ticha (Varna) ppd *[18 Oct 1936]Slavia (Sofia) - Ticha (Varna) 2:0* - postponed because of bad weather.1936/37ChangeFrom this season, the semi-finals are again played at the home groundof one of the teams from each pair.ParticipantsSO TeamVarnenska 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 1Belite orleta (Pleven) - Tsar Krum (Byala Slatina) 4:1Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) - ZhSK (Stara Zagora) 3:1Levski (Sofia) - Levski (Dupnitsa) 7:1Vladislav (Varna) - Panayot Volov (Shumen) 3:0 awd *Levski (Ruse) - Bdin (Vidin) 3:0Georgi Drazhev (Yambol) - Chernomorets (Burgas) 3:2Botev (Plovdiv) - Bulgaria (Haskovo) 6:0* - match initially postponed because of a friendly game of anotherVarna club - Ticha - against the crew of HMS Delhi (I74) at the sametime. Panayot Volov didn't show up on the newly set date.Round 2Levski (Ruse) - Belite orleta (Pleven) 2:0Botev (Plovdiv) - Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) 4:0Vladislav (Varna) - Georgi Drazhev (Yambol) 1:0Levski (Sofia) byeRound 3 (1/2 finals)Levski (Sofia) - Botev (Plovdiv) 1:0Levski (Ruse) - Vladislav (Varna) 1:1; 1:1 aetreplay:Levski (Ruse) - Vladislav (Varna) 3:0 awd ** - Vladislav left Ruse after the first match and didn't show up forthe 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 equalizinggoal by Levski (Ruse) at 1:0 was at first given by the referee, andthen disallowed following a signal from his assistant and amidvigorous protests from both teams. Levski (Ruse) played until theend of the game, which finished regularly at 3:0, but afterwardsleft the field immediately in protest before the official handingof the championship title.1937/38ChangeFrom this season for the first time a nation-wide top level league isestablished. Initially it was decided that the league, called"Natsionalna futbolna diviziya" - National Football Division - wouldconsist of 8 teams - the top 3 teams from Sofiyska SO, the top 2 teamsfrom Varnenska SO, and the top team from Rusenska, Plovdivska andPrimorska SO from 1936/37. The winner of Primorska SO - Chernomoretswas excluded in favour of the winner of Tundzhanska SO because ofpoor quality of its football ground. Eventually though after publicpressure from Burgas, it was decided that the league would consist of10 clubs, with Chernomorets, as well as the 4th team from Sofiyska SO,which happened to be the influential team of Slavia (Sofia), making upthe numbers.Competition systemThe teams meet each other twice on a home-and-away basis for a totalof 18 matches for each team. 2 points for a win, 1 - for a draw and 0for 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 totheir respective SOs, with the two teams to replace them determinedfollowing qualifications among one representative from each of theSOs. The SOs grow in number from 14 to 16, after the sepparation ofBalkanska SO from Tarnovska SO and of Pirinska SO from Rilska SO.ParticipantsSO 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 33:21 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 [+]------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. Botev (Plovdiv) 18 5 2 11 28:44 12 [+] Relegated10. Georgi Drazhev (Yambol) 18 3 4 11 18:44 10 [+] RelegatedPromotedAS 23 (Sofia) *, Sportklub (Plovdiv).* - full name Atletik-Slava 23.1938/39 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 18:18 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 28:25 18 8. FK 13 (Sofia) * 18 6 5 7 28:27 17------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. Shipka (Sofia) 18 6 3 9 28:28 15 [*]10. Chernomorets (Burgas) 18 0 4 14 17:61 4 Relegated[*] - Shipka due to be relegated because of its league position but alsowon 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 promotedinstead of two.PromotedZhSK (Sofia) *.* - clubs' full names: Atletik-Slava 23, Futbol klub 13, Zheleznicharski sporten klub.1939/40 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------------------------------------------------------------------ 9. Levski (Ruse) 18 4 4 10 13:27 12 Relegated10. Vladislav (Varna) 18 3 5 10 14:31 11 RelegatedPromotedBotev (Sofia), Botev (Plovdiv).* - clubs' full names: Zheleznicharski sporten klub, Atletik-Slava 23, Futbol klub 13.1940/41ChangeAt the start of this season the NFD was disbanded. Two were the majorreasons for that - on one hand, the costs for the clubs, competing inthe division were too high, on the other, the clubs from outside Sofiawere getting increasingly unhappy by the big number of Sofia clubs inthe division, which for the 1940/41 season would have been up to 7 outof 10 total teams. This initially resulted in a decision for the NFDto be reduced to 8 teams, of which only 3 from Sofia, 2 from Varna andnot more than one of the rest of the SO. On this basis, the new NFDwould have consisted of the top-3 Sofia teams from 1939/40 - ZhSK,Levski and Slavia (thus resulting in the other 3 teams from Sofia beingexcluded from the league, as well as Botev (Sofia) denied promotion);the two Varna teams in the NFD from 1939/40 - Ticha and Vladislav (thussaving Vladislav from relegation), Sportklub (Plovdiv) (not allowingBotev (Plovdiv) to promote as only one team from SOs other than Sofiaor Varna would be allowed, Napredak (Ruse) (which would substitute forLevski (Ruse) - that originally would have avoided relegation but wereexcluded from the BNSF until 1943, because of not showing up for TheTsar's Cup final in 1939/40); and one other unknown team.This naturally sparked huge uproar from the Sofia clubs, and thoughat 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 wouldqualify for the State championship. The 7 NFD Sofia clubs formed thenew top level of Sofiyska SO (the old top level being reduced to 2ndlevel status). The top 3 teams from that would qualify for the Statechampionship. The SOs of the other cities with clubs in NFD in 1939/40- Varna, Plovdiv and Ruse - would also feed clubs directly to the Statechampionship - 2 teams from Varna and 1 team each from Plovdiv andRuse. One place is also allocated for a team from the "newly liberatedlands" - i.e. the parts of Vardarska Makedonia and Belomorska Trakia,which were under Bulgarian administration at the time. Finally, theBNSF established two football divisions of 8 teams that would give 2teams each for the State championship and would consist of teams fromthe other SOs."Severobulgarska" FD consisted of 6 winners of the SOs in NorthernBulgaria from 1939/40 (other than Rusenska and Varnenska SO) withadditional teams from Bdinska and Vrachanska SO. "Yuzhnobulgarska" FDconsisted 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 promtoedto the NFD, despite the fact that Plovdivska SO would have itsseparate competition and slot for the State championship.Some of the SOs that didn't give direct access to the State championshipbecause of the two newly created divisions continued running (and atplaces even including any teams that competed in the divisions), othersran only unofficially and some stopped running at all.The NFD remained to exist only in name, as the State championship wasnow named Natsionalna futbolna diviziya (despite the fact it consistedonly of eliminatory games).Competition systemDirect eliminations over two legs on a home-and-away basis. If theoverall score is equal after the second leg (regardless of number ofaway goals) extra time is played. If the overall score is still equalat the end of extra time, a third match is played, but it's not clearwhether that third game should be at the field of the hosts of thesecond leg, or at a neutral venue, which would prove to cause someproblems (see below).ParticipantsSO TeamVarnenska 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 1Note: 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; 1:0Levski (Plovdiv) - Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) 4:1; 0:1 **Napredak (Ruse) - ZhSK (Sofia) 1:3; 2:1Ticha (Varna) - Slavia (Sofia) 1:2; 0:0Makedonia (Skopie) - Sportklub (Plovdiv) 2:1; 0:3 awd **** - Vladislav didn't show up for the first leg after demandingtheir travel expences to be covered, while regulations show thatthe 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 perregulations, the match continued with extra time. It the 8thminute of extra time however the game was abandoned, after thereferee sent off a player from Makedonia and the team left thefield in protest. Thus the game was awarded to Sportklub.Round 2Slavia (Sofia) - FK 13 (Sofia) 0:0; 4:1Tsar 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 thereferee didn't give extra time following the game. The third matchwas again played in Plovdiv and ended again in a draw - 1:1, withextra time given this time round in which Levski prevailed. TsarKrum however contested the game because the referee didn't giveextra time after the second leg, and because they demanded thatthe 3rd match should be played at a neutral venue. As this wasn'tclearly dealt with in the regulations, no decision is taken andLevski progress through to the next round.Round 3Levski (Plovdiv) - Slavia (Sofia) 0:3; 0:2ZhSK (Sofia) byeFinal[21 Sep 1941] - 1st legSlavia (Sofia) - ZhSK (Sofia) 0:0[28 Sep 1941] - 2nd legZhSK (Sofia) - Slavia (Sofia) 1:21941/42ChangeThe Severobulgarska and Yuzhnobulgarska FDs were disbanded and onceagain all the teams qualify for the NFD through the competitions inthe different SOs.Varnenska SO remained with 2 berths for the NFD, Plovdivska SO also gota second berth, while Sofiyska SO was given additional 3 berths - upto 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 teamsin the second level of the SO.The team of Makedonia (Skopie) was moved to play in the first level ofSofiyska SO (and as can be seen below, qualified through there). Thenewly acquired lands of Southern Dobrudzha (following the Treaty ofCraiova in September 1940) were incorporated into a newly createdDobrichka SO. The parts of Vardarska Makedonia that were under Bulgarianadministration 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 eliminationfollowing a single game for the earlier rounds, with the home-and-awayelimination starting from Round 3.ParticipantsSO TeamVarnenska 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 representativeBalkanska SO no representativePlevenska SO 1. SP 39 (Pleven) *Vrachanska SO no representativeBdinska 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 representativeSkopska 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 representativePrimorska SO no representativeTundzhanska 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 contemporaryMacedonia.Round 1Ticha (Varna) - Tsar Boris III (Dobrich) 4:0Han Kubrat (Popovo) - Pobeda (Varna) 1:2Knyaginya Maria Luisa (Lom) - Botev (Sofia) 3:1Atletik (Dupnitsa) - Knyaz Kiril Preslavski (Sofia) 1:0Botev (Plovdiv) - Levski (Sofia) 2:5Botev (Haskovo) - Sportklub (Plovdiv) 1:4SP 39 (Pleven) - ZhSK (Sofia) 0:1Slavia (Sofia) - Georgi Drazhev (Yambol) 6:0ZhSK (Skopie) - Gotse Delchev (Prilep) 8:0Makedonia (Bitolya) - Vardar (Skopie) 4:1ZhSK (Ruse) byeMakedonia (Skopie) byeRound 2Slavia (Sofia) - Makedonia (Bitolya) 1:0Ticha (Varna) - ZhSK (Ruse) 4:0ZhSK (Sofia) - ZhSK (Skopie) 3:0Levski (Sofia) - Atletik (Dupnitsa) 5:2Sportklub (Plovdiv) - Makedonia (Skopie) 0:2Pobeda (Varna) - Knyaginya Maria Luisa (Lom) 4:0Round 3Note: The teams shown in first place were hosts in the first legs.Levski (Sofia) - Ticha (Varna) 4:0; 2:0Pobeda (Varna) - Slavia (Sofia) 1:1; 0:0, 0:0 aet; 1:3Makedonia (Skopie) - ZhSK (Sofia) 3:1; 3:0 awdRound 4Makedonia (Skopie) - Slavia (Sofia) 5:1; 0:3Levski (Sofia) byeFinal[11 Oct 1942]Makedonia (Skopie) - Levski (Sofia) 0:2[18 Oct 1942]Levski (Sofia) - Makedonia (Skopie) 1:01942/43ChangeThe system of direct eliminations over two legs on a home-and-awaybasis was again introduced from the first round of the competition.The parts of Belomorska Trakia that were under Bulgarian administrationwere organized into Belomorska SO. Sofiyska SO's quota is reducedfrom 6 to 5 teams (now only the winner of the 2nd level qualifies).ParticipantsSO TeamVarnenska 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 1Note: The teams shown in first place were hosts in the first legs.Levski (Dobrich) - ZhSK (Ruse) 2:4; 2:4Belomorets (Kavala) - Botev (Haskovo) 4:1; 2:1Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) - Knyaginya Maria Luisa (Lom) 1:2; 2:4Georgi Drazhev (Yambol) - Levski (Burgas) 2:1; 1:2, 1:3 aetKnyaz Simeon Tarnovski (Pavlikeni) - Chardafon (Gabrovo) 3:0 awd *SP 39 (Pleven) - Sportist (Sofia) 1:4; 0:3ZhSK (Skopie) - Makedonia (Bitolya) 3:0; 1:0Han Kubrat (Popovo) - Vladislav (Varna) 1:1; 0:3Tritsvet (Chirpan) - Botev (Plovdiv) 1:4; 0:3ZhSK (Sofia) - Ticha (Varna) 2:0; 0:0Botev (Gorna Dzhumaya) - Atletik (Dupnitsa) 1:3; 0:3Bitolya (Bitolya) - Vardar (Skopie) npd; npd */**Levski (Sofia) byeSlavia (Sofia) byeMakedonia (Skopie) byeLevski (Plovdiv) bye* - Chardafon is eliminated without a return leg, because of a no-showfor the first leg; both Bitolya and Vardar fail to participate in thecompetition.** - hosting could have been reversed.Round 2Sportist (Sofia) - Knyaginya Maria Luisa (Lom) 5:0; 4:0ZhSK (Ruse) - Vladislav (Varna) 2:4; 6:1 *Knyaz Simeon Tarnovski (Pavlikeni) - Levski (Burgas) 3:4; 1:2Belomorets (Kavala) - Botev (Plovdiv) 2:1; 0:1, 0:1 aet; 1:2Levski (Sofia) - Atletik (Dupnitsa) 2:1; 4:1Levski (Plovdiv) - ZhSK (Skopie) 3:1; 2:1ZhSK (Sofia) - Makedonia (Skopie) 3:0 awd; 3:0 awd **Slavia (Sofia) bye* - first leg originally ended 2:3, but was ordered to be replayedbecause the referee ended the first half 5 minutes early.** - due to the wartime situation, it was decided that both legs of thetie were to take place in two consecutive days in Sofia. Makedonia didnot agree with that and didn't show up for the games.Round 3 (1/4 finals)Levski (Sofia) - ZhSK (Sofia) 2:2; 2:1Sportist (Sofia) - Slavia (Sofia) 2:2; 0:1Levski (Burgas) - Botev (Plovdiv) 0:1; 0:3Levski (Plovdiv) - ZhSK (Ruse) 6:1; 1:3Round 4 (1/2 finals)Levski (Sofia) - Levski (Plovdiv) 3:1; 2:0Botev (Plovdiv) - Slavia (Sofia) 1:1; 1:5Final[10 Oct 1943]Slavia (Sofia) - Levski (Sofia) 1:0[17 Oct 1943]Levski (Sofia) - Slavia (Sofia) 0:11943/44ChangeSilistrenska SO is separated from Dobrichka SO, Sofiyska SO's quota isreduced to 4 berths (only the top 4 teams from first level), andMakedonia (Skopie) is moved from Sofiyska SO back to Skopska SO.ParticipantsSO TeamVarnenska 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 representativePlevenska 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 representativesPlovdivska 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 representativeof Balkanska SO.**** - Skopie is the contemporary capital of Macedonia - Skopje and Kavalais in contemporary Greece.Round 1Note: The teams shown in first place were hosts in the first legs.Shipchenski sokol (Varna) - ZhSK (Varna) 1:0; 1:0Orel-Chegan 30 (Vratsa) - Knyaz Simeon Tarnovski (Pavl) 3:3; 3:4 *ZhSK (Plovdiv) - Botev (Plovdiv) 3:1; 2:2Botev (Yambol) - ZhSK (Stara Zagora) 5:1; 3:2 *Slavia (Dupnitsa) - Makedonska slava (Gorna Dzhumaya) 4:2; 4:4Levski (Dobrich) - Vihar (Silistra) 2:1; 3:0 awdMomchil yunak (Kavala) - Bulgaria (Haskovo) 1:1; 3:0 awd *Levski (Sofia) - Slavia (Sofia) 4:3; 1:0Benkovski (Sofia) - AS 23 (Sofia) 3:1; 7:1Han Kubrat (Popovo) byeDobrudzha (Ruse) byeEtar (Tarnovo) byeSP 39 (Pleven) byeViktoria 23 (Vidin) byeMakedonia (Skopie) byeZhSK (Skopie) byeLevski (Burgas) bye* - Knyaz Simeon Tarnovski, Botev (Yambol) and Momchil yunak probablywithdrew from further participation, with ZhSK (Stara Zagora) and Bulgaria(Haskovo) taking the places in the next round of Botev and Momchil yunakrespectively, while Orel-Chegan 30 probably didn't want to continueparticipation either.Round 2 (1/8 finals)Viktoria 23 (Vidin) - Levski (Sofia) 2:9; 0:3 awd *Benkovski (Sofia) - Slavia (Dupnitsa) 6:0; 3:0SP 39 (Pleven) - Etar (Tarnovo) 3:0; 2:3Makedonia (Skopie) - ZhSK (Skopie) 0:1; ?:? **ZhSK (Plovdiv) - Bulgaria (Haskovo) 4:3; ?:? **ZhSK (Stara Zagora) - Levski (Burgas) 0:2; 0:3 awdLevski (Dobrich) - Shipchenski sokol (Varna) 2:1; 1:2; 0:3 awdDobrudzha (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 the1/4 finals was made, but the matches were never played because of theestablishment of communist rule on 9 September 1944 and the initial chaosthat ensued.1944/45ChangeThe SOs are disbanded, but nevertheless, qualification for the Statechampionship is still based on performance in regional leagues.The system of elimination over a single leg is again reinstated withonly the final being played over two legs.ParticipantsRegion TeamVarna 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 1Botev (Byala Slatina) - ZhSK-Botev (Pleven) 2:3 aetOrlovets (Gabrovo) - Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) 1:0Borislav (Borisovgrad) - ZhSK (Stara Zagora) 3:3; 1:0Botev (Mihaylovgrad) - Benkovski (Vidin) 0:1Botev (Gorna Dzhumaya) - Lokomotiv (Pernik) 3:1Levski-Dorostol (Silistra) - Angel Kanchev-Levski (Ruse) 0:2Nikolay Laskov (Yambol) - Slavia (Burgas) 2:1PSK Levski (Sofia) - ZhSK-Levski (Plovdiv) 4:0Spartak (Varna) byeTV 45 (Varna) byeVihar (Dobrich) byeStamo Kostov (Popovo) byeSportist (Sofia) byeLokomotiv (Sofia) byeBotev (Plovdiv) byeSP 45 (Plovdiv) byeRound 2 (1/8 finals)Benkovski (Vidin) - Sportist (Sofia) 1:2 [some sources give 1:3]Angel Kanchev-Levski (Ruse) - Spartak (Varna) 1:2Stamo Kostov (Popovo) - TV 45 (Varna) 1:2ZhSK-Botev (Pleven) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 1:4Orlovets (Gabrovo) - Vihar (Dobrich) 2:0Nikolay Laskov (Yambol) - Botev (Plovdiv) 0:3Borislav (Borisovgrad) - SP 45 (Plovdiv) 1:3Botev (Gorna Dzhumaya) - PSK Levski (Sofia) 1:2Round 3 (1/4 finals)Botev (Plovdiv) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 0:2Spartak (Varna) - Orlovets (Gabrovo) 3:0SP 45 (Plovdiv) - TV 45 (Varna) 2:2 aet; 4:1Sportist (Sofia) - PSK Levski (Sofia) 2:1Round 4 (1/2 finals)Sportist (Sofia) - Spartak (Varna) 3:2SP 45 (Plovdiv) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 0:0, 0:1 aetFinal[30 Sep 1945]Lokomotiv (Sofia) - Sportist (Sofia) 3:1[7 Oct 1945]Sportist (Sofia) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 1:11945/46ChangeThe number of participants in the State championship is reduced to 16.Elimination in two legs is now introduced for the semi-finals too.ParticipantsRegion TeamVarna 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) 1:4TV 45 (Varna) - YuBS 45 (Mihaylovgrad) 5:0Levski (Samokov) - Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) 1:1 aet; 1:1; 1:5Benkovski (Vidin) - Botev (Plovdiv) 5:3LB 45 (Burgas) - Kirkov-Yunak (Lovech) 2:1 aetPSK Levski (Sofia) - Ilinden (Petrich) 7:0Slavia (Plovdiv) - Slavia 45 (Sofia) 0:1Lokomotiv (Ruse) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 0:4Round 2 (1/4 finals)LB 45 (Burgas) - PSK Levski (Sofia) 0:2 aetBenkovski (Vidin) - Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) 2:1TV 45 (Varna) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 1:2Slavia 45 (Sofia) - Spartak (Varna) 1:3Round 3 (1/2 finals)Note: The teams shown in first place were hosts in the first legs.PSK Levski (Sofia) - Spartak (Varna) 3:0; 3:0Benkovski (Vidin) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 2:2; 0:2Final[6 Sep 1946]PSK Levski (Sofia) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 1:0[15 Sep 1946]Lokomotiv (Sofia) - PSK Levski (Sofia) 0:11946/47ParticipantsRegion TeamVarna 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) 2:0Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) - Slavia (Plovdiv) 3:2Republikanets (Lom) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 0:1Lyubislav (Burgas) - Spartak (Varna) 2:2; 0:1Levski (Sofia) - Ilinden (Petrich) 4:0Benkovski (Vidin) - Lokomotiv (Ruse) 2:1Spartak (Sofia) - Marek (Dupnitsa) 2:0Levski (Plovdiv) - Lokomotiv (Stara Zagora) 2:1Round 2 (1/4 finals)Lokomotiv (Sofia) - TVP (Varna) 3:0Spartak (Varna) - Levski (Sofia) 1:2Hadzhi Slavchev (Pavlikeni) - Spartak (Sofia) 0:1Benkovski (Vidin) - Levski (Plovdiv) 1:2Round 3 (1/2 finals)Note: The teams shown in first place were hosts in the first legs.Lokomotiv (Sofia) - Spartak (Sofia) 3:1; 3:0Levski (Plovdiv) - Levski (Sofia) 0:4; 1:5Final[29 Oct 1947]Levski (Sofia) - Lokomotiv (Sofia) 1:1[2 Nov 1947]Lokomotiv (Sofia) - Levski (Sofia) 0:11947/48ChangeElimination over two legs is introduced in all rounds.ParticipantsRegion TeamVarna 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 priTsentralen 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; 0:0Aprilov (Gabrovo) - Septemvri pri CDV (Sofia) 0:2; 1:2Hristo Mihaylov (Mihaylovgrad) - Marek (Dupnitsa) 3:4; 3:9Benkovski (Vidin) - Lokomotiv (Ruse) 2:0; 2:0Spartak (Sofia) - Ilinden (Petrich) 2:0; 1:0TVP (Varna) - Lokomotiv (Stara Zagora) 1:1; 6:2Spartak (Pleven) - Slavia (Plovdiv) 1:1; 0:3Botev (Plovdiv) - Spartak (Varna) 2:3; 0:1Round 2 (1/4 finals)Benkovski (Vidin) - Septemvri pri CDV (Sofia) 0:4; 1:2Marek (Dupnitsa) - Spartak (Sofia) 2:0; 0:0Levski (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 PetarChengelov (Plovdiv) into Slavia-Chengelov.Round 3 (1/2 finals)Spartak (Varna) - Septemvri pri CDV (Sofia) 1:2; 1:4Levski (Sofia) - Marek (Dupnitsa) 3:1; 3:2Final[5 Sep 1948]Septemvri pri CDV (Sofia) - Levski (Sofia) 1:2[9 Sep 1948]Levski (Sofia) - Septemvri pri CDV (Sofia) 1:31948/49ChangeFor the first time since the end of the 30s, a nation-wide toplevel league is established again. It was called "Republikanskafutbolna diviziya" - Republican Football Division, and consisted of10 teams, of which 5 were to be from Sofia. Qualification for thedivision was based on performance in the regional competitions in1947/48. The top-5 clubs from Sofia were: 1.Levski, 2.Septemvri priCDV, 3.Spartak, 4.Slavia and 5.Lokomotiv. The winners of the Plovdivand Varna regional competitions - respectively Slavia-Chengelov andTVP were also qualified, as well as Benkovski (Vidin), Lyubislav(Burgas) and Marek (Dupnitsa).Competition systemThe teams meet each other twice on a home-and-away basis for a totalof 18 matches for each team. 2 points for a win, 1 - for a draw and 0for 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 relegatedto second level, its place being taken by the winner of the predecessordivision 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 (homeand away) the teams, which are placed respectively 4th, 3rd and 2nd inthe 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 [+]- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7. Slavia (Plovdiv) * 18 4 8 6 16:21 16 [+] Playoff 8. Marek (Marek) * 18 2 4 12 16:42 8 [+] Playoff 9. Benkovski (Vidin) * 18 2 4 12 13:35 8 [+] Playoff - Relegated-------------------------------------------------------------------10. Botev (Burgas) * 18 2 3 13 15:38 7 [+] Relegated* - CDNV started as Septemvri pri CDV. At the winter brake Septemvri wasformed again and split from the team to be entered into the MFD, whilethe 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). Shortlyafter the start of the season the club was renamed Botev pri DNV (seeabove for meaning of DNV). - Slavia (Plovdiv) started as Slavia-Chengelov. At the winter brakethe club was renamed Slavia. - the city of Dupnitsa was renamed Marek in the summer of 1949. - Benkovski started as Benkovski-Sportist. Shortly afterwards theclub was renamed Benkovski. - Botev started as Lyubislav (Burgas). At the winter brake the teammerged with Udarnik (Burgas) to form Botev (Burgas).PlayoffsNote: The teams shown in first place were hosts in the first legs.Rosstroy (Pavlikeni) - Slavia (Plovdiv) 2:2; 2:4Septemvri (Sofia) - Marek (Marek) 2:0; 0:2; 0:1 *Benkovski (Vidin) - Borev pri DNV (Plovdiv) 1:3; 0:0* - 3rd leg in Kyustendil.PromotedSeptemvri (Pleven) - as winners of MFD, Botev pri DNV (Plovdiv) - through playoffs.1949/50NoteIt's not clear if the promotion/relegation rules had changed comparedto 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 1:3 010. Spartak (Sofia) 2 0 0 2 0:4 0* - CDNV stands for "Tsentralen dom na narodnata voyska" (Central clubof the people's army), respectively DNV stands for "Dom na narodnatavoyska".ChangeOn 27 Aug 1949 the communist party of Bulgaria takes the decision todrastically reform the sports organizations in the country, based on thecurrent 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 economysectors. Each DSO was supposed to have "branches" in every city andencompassed all kinds of sport, with every sportsman or woman being amember of the DSO, which is uniting the workers of the respective sectorof 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 ofthose working in the field of science;- DSO Dinamo - of those working in posts and the field of communication andin 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 theywere 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 educationsector (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 differentiatedbefore the reform and now continue to exist along the DSOs.Despite the drastic change, most of the big clubs - especially in thefew big cities did manage to preserve their identity, both through playersand staff participating in the DSOs and through already establishedaffiliation with the relative economy sectors (which allowed most of theplayers to pass on to the new DSO teams).As mentioned above, all the teams, which were already relativelywell-established practically remained intact (CDNV, the two Botevs in Varnaand Plovidv as an example). The football teams in most of the local TorpedoDSOs were almost entirely build around the Lokomotiv teams where they existedas naturally they were designated teams of the transport workers before thereform (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 werealready affiliated to the police, so they also projected themselves in thenew Spartak DSOs. The other Sofia teams at top level in 1949/50 were relatedto the new DSOs as follows: Slavia as a team related with Stroitelni voyskiwere projected into DSO Stroitel, and Levski as a team related with the postalservices were projected into DSO Dinamo. The clubs that were hit the hardestwere those in the smaller cities and towns, which were traditionally onlyone or two (especially after the mass mergers ongoing since 1944) and werenow effectively split among up to five or six new clubs. Usually though inthis cases most of the best players (so also those participating in thetraditional club before the reform) were funelled into a single DSO thatemerged as the strongest in that city or town with the other falling intoobscurity. Such was the case with Marek for example. As for the final teamthat participated in the RFD in 1949/50 - Slavia (Plovdiv), the DSO reformeffectively resulted into the team extinction.Following that decision for a month or so football competitions went onon inertia, with the teams' old names, but after 2 rounds of the RFD wereplayed, by the end of September, all championship games were put on hold.The reorganization of football (as well as all other sports) started inearnest. It was decided that (again, following Soviet model) the championshipwould move to a spring-fall cycle, with a new season starting in the springof 1950.As the new system's purpouse was effectively to terminate the traditionalclubs (a process started since 1944 with closing down of clubs and mainlywith mass mergers of clubs so that their identity can be diluted), themembership in the "new" top level (as well as the lower levels) due to startin 1950 was to be decided after qualifying tournaments.Each city was given a quota of teams to participate in the top level andthe two second level groups. The "A" Republikanska futbolna grupa (RepublicanFootball Group) was to remain with 10 teams, with the cities given a quotafor 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!), Marekand Pleven - 1 each.The DSO tournaments in this cities, were to determine the teams that shapethe new "A" RFG.City qualifications for "A" RFG 1950- in Varna, since the end of 1949 named Stalin, the winner of the citytournament was DSO Spartak;- in Pleven the winner was DSO Torpedo.- in Sofia the tournament was played between 8 teams, with a second armyteam (representing the air forces - VVS - "Voennovazdushni sili") alsoentering as the city has a total of 8 berths to allocate to the "A" RFGand 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------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. CDNV (Sofia) 7 3 1 3 15:11 7 7. DSO Spartak (Sofia) 7 1 3 3 5:11 5 8. VVS (Sofia) 7 1 0 6 7:15 2Due to the general chaos, the tournament was poorly organized and in theend the last match of the competition - between DSO Dinamo and DSO Akademikwas played after all the other games were played, despite being detrimentalto the final standings. With DSO Dinamo already ensured qualification for"A" RFG and needing only a point to win the tournament, and DSO Akademikalso 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 twoseasons, this game, though it didn't involve both teams, in a way cementedwhat is at present known as the "eternal rivalry" between present-day Levskiand CSKA.- in Marek (present-day Dupnitsa) the winner was DSO Cherveno zname.- in Plovdiv the winner was DSO Torpedo, with second placed DNV taking thecity's second berth for the "A" RFG.With the dramatic elimination of CDNV from "A" RFG though, it was decidedto "reorganize" the army teams with the four army teams in the top twolevels - DNV (Plovdiv), VMS (Stalin), CDNV (Sofia) and VVS (Sofia) - beingmerged 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 playersjoining in from DNV (Plovdiv).1950Competition systemThe teams meet each other twice on a home-and-away basis for a totalof 18 matches for each team. 2 points for a win, 1 - for a draw and 0for 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 relegatedto second level, their places being taken by the winners of the twosecond 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 [+]------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. DSO Torpedo (Sofia) 18 4 2 12 16:29 10 [+] Relegated10. DSO Cherveno zname (Marek) * 18 2 2 14 9:47 6 [+] Relegated* - cities' contemporary names: Stalin -> Varna, Marek -> Dupnitsa.PromotedDSO Torpedo (Ruse), DSO Spartak (Sofia).1951ChangeAs of 1 Jan 1951 two more DSOs are formed:- DSO Lokomotiv - splits from DSO Torpedo those working in thetransportation industry;- DSO Udarnik - splits from DSO Stroitel those in the system ofStroitelni voyski.As a result nearly all DSO Torpedo teams split into DSO Torpedo andDSO Lokomotiv teams. In "A" RFG the teams of DSO Torpedo in Pleven andRuse remain at the top level, while the DSO Lokomotiv teams start atlower levels, while in Plovdiv DSO Lokomotiv (carrying the projectionof pre-reform Lokomotiv from Plovdiv) remains in "A" RFG, while DSOTorpedo 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 enteredinto second level.The united army team Narodna voyska is also again split into its formingparts - 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 secondlevel 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) isalso admitted to "A" RFG to make the numbers up to 12.Competition systemThe promotion/relegation system is changed, so that a constant ratiois kept between the Sofia and non-Sofia teams. At the end of theseason the two worst placed non-Sofia teams are directly relegated tosecond level, with their places taken by the two best placed non-Sofiateams in the unified single second level group. The worst placed Sofiateam is also directly relegated, being replaced by the best placedSofia team from second level, while the second worst placed team fromSofia meets the second best placed Sofia team from second level ina 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 Relegated12. DSO Torpedo (Ruse) 22 0 4 18 8:83 4 [+] Relegated* - cities' contemporary names: Stalin -> Varna, Dimitrovo -> Pernik.PlayoffNote: The team shown in first place hosted in the first leg.DSO Cherveno zname (Sofia) - DSO Lokomotiv (Sofia) 0:2; 0:1PromotedDSO Udarnik (Sofia), DSO Lokomotiv (Sofia) - through playoff, VMS (Stalin),DSO Spartak (Pleven)1952ChangeAs of 1 Jan 1952 two more DSOs are formed:- DSO Minyor - splits from DSO Torpedo those working in the miningindustry;- DSO Septemvri - splits from several DSOs those working into theworkers' 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 systemIt 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 arerelegated to second level (or possibly the worst placed Sofia andnon-Sofia teams), with 6 teams to be promoted from second level (thebest 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 1910. DSO Minyor (Dimitrovo) ** 22 7 4 11 26:34 18-------------------------------------------------------------------11. DSO Akademik (Sofia) 22 6 6 10 19:32 18 Relegated12. DSO Spartak (Stalin) ** 22 4 6 12 16:37 14 Relegated* - after the start of the season CDNV (Sofia) and DNV (Plovdiv) wererenamed to CDNA ("Tsentralen dom na narodnata armiya") and DNArespectively.** - cities' contemporary names: Stalin -> Varna, Dimitrovo -> Pernik.PromotedVVS (Sofia), DSO Stroitel (Sofia), DSO Cherveno zname (Sofia),DSO Cherveno zname (Stanke Dimitrov), DSO Akademik (Stalin),DSO Spartak (Plovdiv).1953ChangeAs of 1 Jan 1953 one more DSO is formed:- DSO Urozhay - splits from DSO Stroitel those working in agricultureand forestry.Probably shortly before the season it's decided to include the nationalteam of Bulgaria (under the name of "Sboren otbor na DSO") in "A" RFG,on the place of DSO Cherveno zname (Sofia) - the worst placed Sofiateam from those that should have been promoted. This is done in orderto help the national team prepare for the WC 1954 qualifications.After playing 10 games the team is removed from the group and theirresults are annulled. The team has preparatory camps for most of theseason though, and thus strips some of the leading clubs from theirkey players for many of their championship games. The hardest hitclubs are the Sofia sides DSO Udarnik, DSO Lokomotiv, DSO Spartak andSofiyski garnizon (that even had their coach taken away most of thetime as he was also coaching the national team). The latter two sidesalso suffered most from this, as it proved decisive in the race for thechampionship title between DSO Dinamo (Sofia) and OSG, as well as wasa pivotal factor in DSO Spartak being relegated.Competition systemIt's decided that "A" RFG is to be downsized to 14 teams for the nextseason, so all teams placed 10th or worse are to be relegated, withfive teams from the newly created five second level groups taking theirplace. "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 [+]-------------------------------------------------------------------10. DSO Akademik (Stalin) * 28 9 7 12 26:43 25 [+] Relegated11. DNA (Plovdiv) 28 8 8 12 29:31 24 Relegated12. DSO Spartak (Sofia) 28 5 14 9 24:34 24 Relegated13. DSO Stroitel (Sofia) 28 5 12 11 22:29 22 [+] Relegated14. VVS (Sofia) 28 6 9 13 26:35 21 [+] Relegated15. 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 violencein their home match with DSO Minyor (Dimitrovo). Their results so farstood, their last 8 matches were awarded 0:3 against them and they wererelegated not in their respective second level group, but in a lowerlevel. Sboren otbor na DSO (Sofia) represented the national team andwas excluded from the group after 13 matches played, all of which wereannulled.* - cities' contemporary names: Stalin -> Varna, Dimitrovo -> Pernik,Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa.** - afetr the start of the season CDNA (Sofia) were renamed Sofiyskigarnizon.PromotedDSO Spartak (Stalin), DSO Torpedo (Pleven), Zavod 12 (Sofia),DSO Cherveno zname (Kyustendil), DSO Udarnik (Stara Zagora).1954ChangeAs of 1 Jan 1954 DSO Stroitel is disbanded.Competition systemThe last three teams are relegated at the end of the season, withtheir places taken by the top 3 teams from a qualification tournamentbetween 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 2410. DSO Spartak (Stalin) ** 26 7 9 10 34:42 23 [+]11. DSO Spartak (Pleven) 26 6 11 9 17:25 23-------------------------------------------------------------------12. DSO Cherveno zname (Kyustendil) 26 7 6 13 19:50 20 [+] Relegated13. DSO Torpedo (Pleven) 26 5 5 16 13:51 15 [+] Relegated14. DSO Udarnik (Stara Zagora) 26 2 5 19 13:69 9 [+] Relegated* - before the start of the season Sofiyski garnizon (Sofia) wererenamed CDNA.* - Zavod 12 is a factory team in the system of DSO Torpedo (Sofia).** - cities' contemporary names: Stalin -> Varna, Dimitrovo -> Pernik.PromotedDNA (Plovdiv), VVS (Sofia), DSO Cherveno zname (Pavlikeni).1955Competition systemThe group is to be reduced to 12 teams for 1956. Because of this thebottom 3 clubs are relegated directly, with the 11th placed teamentering the qualification tournament of the winners of the fivesecond level groups. The top 2 teams of this tournament qualify for"A" RFG.From this season onwards the champion also qualifies for the EuropeanChampions' 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 2610. DNA (Plovdiv) 26 9 8 9 27:31 26 [+]- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -11. Zavod 12 (Sofia) 26 9 7 10 26:27 25 Playoff-------------------------------------------------------------------12. VMS (Stalin) * 26 10 5 11 26:28 25 Relegated13. DSO Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 26 6 6 14 18:29 18 Relegated14. DSO Cherveno zname (Pavlikeni) 26 5 4 17 12:45 14 Relegated[*] - VVS (Sofia) is relegated from the group to a lower level beforethe 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 participatingin the "A" RFG Qualification tournament for example, but rather by theteam of DSO Torpedo (Ruse), which even does not participate in secondlevel 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------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. DSO Dinamo (Plovdiv) 5 1 3 1 5:7 5 4. DSO Dinamo (Stanke Dimitrov) * 5 1 2 2 4:5 4 5. DSO Cherveno zname (Vidin) 5 1 2 2 4:13 4 6. DSO Septemvri (Tolbuhin) * 5 0 1 4 4:15 1* - cities' contemporary names: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa, Tolbuhin -> Dobrich.PromotedDSO Spartak (Sofia), DSO Torpedo (Ruse) - replacing VVS (Sofia).1956Competition systemThe last team at the end of the season is directly relegated to secondlevel, while the team placed 11th is to meet the winner of its respectivesecond level group (on geographical principle) in a playoff over twolegs. The winner of the playoff, together with the other six winners ofthe second level groups (now up to 7) enters a qualification tournamentwith 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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -11. Zavod 12 (Sofia) 22 5 9 8 20:29 19 Playoff - Relegated-------------------------------------------------------------------12. 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 itstraditional 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------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Zavod 12 (Sofia) 6 3 1 2 12:4 7 Relegated 4. DSO Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) 6 2 2 2 9:7 6 5. SKNA (Ruse) 6 2 1 3 4:4 5 6. DSO Udarnik (Stara Zagora) 6 2 1 3 4:13 5 7. DSO Lokomotiv (Lom) 6 0 2 4 6:15 2* - city's contemporary name: Stanke Dimitrov -> Dupnitsa.PromotedDSO Cherveno zname (Stanke Dimitrov), SKNA (Varna).1957ChangeSince the beginning of the year a decision to abolish the DSO systemis taken. Throughout April and May 1957 the DSOs are gradually dissolved,with new clubs being created either based on several DSOs, or onterritorial principle within each city. Some of the traditional clubswere restored, while others were based on established DSO clubs thatbecame popular. The newly established clubs simply take over the placesof the DSO clubs as the season progresses. Also most of the clubsretain their ties with industry or state (i.e. the Spartaks to thepolice, 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 Dinamois renamed to Levski and DSO Udarnik - to Slavia;- in Plovdiv SKNA is renamed to Botev (still retaining its ties withthe 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, whileDSO Cherveno zname (Stanke Dimitrov) changes name to Marek.Competition systemThe 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)