Championnat de France Amateurs
Encyclopedia
The Championnat de France amateur, commonly referred to as simply CFA and formerly known as National 2, is a football league competition. The league serves as the fourth division of the French football league system
French football league system
The French football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in France. At the top two levels of the system is the Ligue de Football Professionnel, which consists of two professional national divisions, Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. Below that are a number of leagues run by the...

 behind Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....

, Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...

, and the Championnat National
Championnat National
The Championnat de France National, commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3, serves as the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...

. Contested by 72 clubs, the Championnat de France amateur operates on a system of promotion and relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...

 with the Championnat National and the Championnat de France amateur 2, the fifth division of French football. Seasons run from August to May, with teams in four groups playing 34 games each totalling 1360 games in the season. Most games are played on Saturdays and Sundays, with a few games played during weekday evenings. Play is regularly suspended the last weekend before Christmas for two weeks before returning in the second week of January.

The Championnat de France amateur was initially founded by the French Football Federation
French Football Federation
The French Football Federation is the governing body of association football in France, as well as the overseas departments and territories . It was formed in 1919 and is based in the capital Paris...

 in 1927 and was composed of the regional amateur league champions. The league served as the first division of French football until 1929 before the league was converted to the professional league that exists today in 1932. The current incarnation of the CFA was founded in 1993 as National 2 and lasted for five years before being converted to the current format used today. Most clubs that participate in the league are amateur clubs, hence the league name, but a small amount of clubs are semi-professional
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...

. The matches in the league attract on average between 800 and 1,000 spectators per match. However, this average is dragged down by the minuscule turnouts for the pros' home reserve matches. The current champions are Colmar
SR Colmar
Sports Réunis Colmar is a French association football team founded in 1920.-History:They are based in Colmar, Alsace and are currently playing in the Championnat National, the third tier in the French football after winning Group A of the Championnat de France amateur in the 2009–10 season. The...

 who accumulated 103 points in Groupe A to earn promotion to the third division. The winners of the Groupe B, Groupe C, and Groupe D were Gap
Gap FC
Gap Hautes-Alpes Football Club is a French association football club based in Gap, the capital city of the Hautes-Alpes department. The club was formed in 1970 as a result of a merger between Sporting Club Olympique Gapençais and CSL Louis Jean and currently play in the Championnat de France...

, Niort, and Orléans
US Orléans
Union Sportive Orléanaise Loiret Football is a French association football club based in Orléans. The club was founded in 1920 and currently play in the Championnat National, the third division of French football, having achieved promotion from the Championnat de France amateur in the 2009–10...

, respectively. All three clubs, alongside the champions, earned promotion to the Championnat National.

History

The amateur championship of France was created in 1993 under the name National 2 as an heir to the now-defunct Division 3
Division 3
Division 3 is the fifth level in the league system of Swedish football and comprises 144 Swedish football teams. Division 3 had status as the official third level from 1928 to 1986, but was replaced by Division 2 in 1987...

. The league's debut coincided with the creation of the Championnat National
Championnat National
The Championnat de France National, commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3, serves as the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...

, the third division of French football, which is commonly known as National. For the first three years of the competition, an amateur champion was crowned in France regardless of whether the club was amateur or a reserve team. In 1998, the French Football Federation
French Football Federation
The French Football Federation is the governing body of association football in France, as well as the overseas departments and territories . It was formed in 1919 and is based in the capital Paris...

 changed the competition's format creating two separate tables; one for the amateur clubs and another for the reserve teams of professional clubs. The dual tables allowed the league to declare a champion for the amateurs and the reserves with four team tournaments being held following the conclusion of league play to determine the champions. In 2001, the federation ended this style and reverted to the original format allowing both the amateur clubs and reserve teams to be grouped together based on their regional location. The winner of each group would then earn promotion to the Championnat National, unless the club is a reserve team. Meanwhile, the reserve teams continued to use the previous format with the best reserve teams of each group being inserted into a tournament to decide the reserves' champion.

Competition format

There are 72 clubs that participate in the Championnat de France amateur annually. The clubs are split into four parallel groups of 18 with their group affiliation being based on the regional location
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...

. The league is open to the best reserve teams in France and amateur clubs in France, although only the amateur clubs are eligible for promotion to the Championnat National. During the course of a season, usually from August to May, each club plays the others in their respective group twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 34 games. Since the league it is considered amateur, teams receive four points for a win and two points for a draw. One point is awarded for a loss. A club gets no points from a game for certain disciplinary reasons or if they forfeit. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference
Goal difference
In sports such as ice hockey and association football, goal difference is often the first tiebreaker used to rank teams which finish a league competition with an equal number of points....

, and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points, regardless of the group, is crowned champion and promoted to the Championnat National. If points are equal, head-to-head match results, followed by the goal difference, and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship or for relegation, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank. The three other highest-placed amateur teams in the other groups are also promoted, while the 4 lowest-placed teams from each group are relegated to the Championnat de France amateur 2 and the eight winners of the eight groups and the top four second-place finishers from the Championnat de France amateur 2 are promoted in their place.

Teams

The following teams are competing in the Championnat de France amateur for the 2009–10 season
2009–10 Championnat de France amateur
The 2009–10 Championnat de France Amateurs season is the 12th edition of the competition since its establishment. The competition officially began on 8 August and will end in May 2010. The competition consists of 73 clubs spread into 4 parallel groups of 18 with one of the groups containing 19 clubs...

.

Groupe A

Club Name
UJA Alfortville
UJA Alfortville
Union de la Jeunesse Arménienne de Paris is a French association football club based in Alfortville, a suburb of Paris. The club was founded in 1926 and currently play in the Championnat de France amateur Groupe A, the fourth division of French football...

CSO Amnéville
CSO Amnéville
Club Sportif Orne 1919 Amnéville-les-Thermes is a French association football team founded in 1919. They are based in Amnéville, France and are currently playing in the Championnat de France Amateurs Group A, the fourth tier in the French football league system...

Besançon RC
Besançon RC
Besançon Racing Club is a French football club based in Besançon. It was founded in 1904-1905. They play at the Stade Léo Lagrange.- Current squad :As of September 2011.- Coaching staff :...

SR Colmar
SR Colmar
Sports Réunis Colmar is a French association football team founded in 1920.-History:They are based in Colmar, Alsace and are currently playing in the Championnat National, the third tier in the French football after winning Group A of the Championnat de France amateur in the 2009–10 season. The...

AFC Compiègne
AFC Compiègne
L'Association Football Club de Compiègne or AFC Compiègne is a French football club based in the commune of Compiègne.They currently play in the Championnat de France Amateurs Group A. Their kit colours are yellow and blue...

JA Drancy
JA Drancy
La Jeanne d'Arc de Drancy are a French football club based in Drancy, a suburbia of Paris. The club was founded in 1903. The club currently plays in the Championnat de France amateur, the 4th division of French football.-Current status:...

USL Dunkerque
USL Dunkerque
USL Dunkerque is a French football club based in the commune of Dunkirk.They currently play in the Championnat de France Amateurs Group A. The club's nickname is The Doves. Their kit colours are white and blue. They play their home matches at the Stade Tribut in Dunkirk.-History:The club was...

SAS Épinal
SAS Épinal
Stade Athletique Spinalien Épinal is a French football club based in the commune of Épinal.They currently play in the Championnat de France Amateurs Group A. Their kit colours are yellow and blue...

RC Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...

 Reserves
Lille OSC
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...

 Reserves
AS Marck
AS Marck
Association Sportive de Marck is a French association football team. They are based in Marck, Pas-de-Calais, France and are currently playing in the Championnat de France amateur Group A, the fourth tier in the French football league system.- Current squad :...

FC Mulhouse
FC Mulhouse
Football Club de Mulhouse is a French association football club based in Mulhouse. The club was founded in 1893 and currently play in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth level of French football. Mulhouse plays its home matches at the Stade de l'Ill located within the city...

AS Nancy
AS Nancy
Association Sportive Nancy-Lorraine is a French association football club based in Nancy. The club was founded in 1967 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Nancy plays its home matches at the Stade Marcel Picot in Tomblaine, a commune located in the Arrondissement of...

 Reserves
Olympique Noisy-le-Sec
Olympique Noisy-le-Sec
Olympique Noisy-le-Sec Banlieue 93 is a French association football team founded in 1943. They are based in Noisy-le-Sec, France and are currently playing in the Championnat de France Amateurs Group A, the fourth tier in the French football league system...

US Raon-l'Étape
US Raon-l'Étape
Union Sportive Raonnaise is a French association football team founded in 1921. They are based in Raon-l'Étape, Lorraine, France and are currently playing in the fourth-tier CFA. They play at the Stade Paul-Gasser in Raon-l'Étape, which has a capacity of 4,000....

L'Entente SSG
RC Strasbourg
RC Strasbourg
Racing Club de Strasbourg is a French association football club founded in 1906 and professional since 1933, based in the city of Strasbourg, in Alsace...

 Reserves
Vesoul Haute-Saône
Vesoul Haute-Saône
Vesoul Haute-Saône Football is a French association football team founded in 1921. They are based in Vesoul, France and are currently playing in the Championnat de France Amateurs Group A. They play at the Stade René Hologne in Vesoul, which has a capacity of 6,000.- Current squad :As of November...

Villemomble Sports
Villemomble Sports
Villemomble Sports is a French football club based in Villemomble . Founded in 1922, it currently plays in the Championnat de France Amateurs , holding hold home games at the Stade Georges Pompidou, which has a capacity of 1,000.Team colours are blue and white.-Honours:*Amateur Championship :...



Groupe B

Club Name
RCO Agde
RCO Agde
RCO Agde |football]] club. The club is based at the 3500-seat Stade Louis Sanguin in Agde.RCO Agde was created in 1999 from the merger of Racing Club Agathois and Football Olympique Agathois. They play in the Championnat de France amateur, Groupe B...

Gazélec Ajaccio
Gazélec Ajaccio
Gazélec Football Club Olympique Ajaccio was founded in 1910. The club is based in Ajaccio, Corsica.- Honours :* French Amateur Champions: 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968.* Corsican Champions: 1937, 1938, 1956, 1957, 1961.-Current squad:...

ASF Andrézieux
ASF Andrézieux
L'Association Sportive Forezienne Andrézieux-Bouthéon is a French association football team founded in 1947. They are based in Andrézieux-Bouthéon, Rhône-Alpes, France and are currently playing in the Championnat de France amateur Group B, the fourth tier in the French football league system...

CA Bastia
CA Bastia
Cercle Athlétique Bastiais or CA Bastia is a French association football team founded in 1920. They are based in Bastia, Corsica, France and are currently playing in the Championnat de France Amateurs Group B. They play at the Stade d'Erbajolo in Bastia....

FC Bourg-Péronnas
FC Bourg-Péronnas
Football Club Bourg-Péronnas is a French association football team founded in 1942. They are based in Péronnas, Rhône-Alpes, France and are currently playing in the Championnat de France amateur Group B, the fourth tier in the French football league system...

Gap FC
Gap FC
Gap Hautes-Alpes Football Club is a French association football club based in Gap, the capital city of the Hautes-Alpes department. The club was formed in 1970 as a result of a merger between Sporting Club Olympique Gapençais and CSL Louis Jean and currently play in the Championnat de France...

Grenoble
Grenoble Foot 38
Grenoble Foot 38, commonly referred to as simply Grenoble, is a French association football club based in Grenoble, a city situated at the foot of the French Alps. The original incarnation of the club was founded in 1892 and, in 1997, was formed into the club that exists today as a result of a merger...

 Reserves
Jura Sud Foot
US Le Pontet
US Le Pontet
Union Sportive Le Pontet Football is a football club based in Le Pontet, Vaucluse, France. They play at the Stade de Montbord in Le Pontet.-History:The club was formed in 1980 under the name of Olympique Pontétien...

AS Lyon-Duchère
Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...

 Reserves
US Marignane
US Marignane
Union Sportive Marignanaise is a French football club based in Marignane, Bouches-du-Rhône. It was founded in 1924. The club currently plays in the Championnat de France Amateurs, the fourth tier of the French league system.- Current squad :...

FC Martigues
FC Martigues
FC Martigues play in the Championnat National, which is the third level of football in France. The club was formed in 1921 and played regional football until the early 1970s when the club gained promotion to the professional Second Division.The club's greatest achievement was winning promotion to...

FC Montceau Bourgogne
FC Montceau Bourgogne
Football Club Montceau Bourgogne is a French association football team founded in 1948. They are based in Montceau-les-Mines, Bourgogne, France and are currently playing in the Championnat de France Amateurs Group B...

Montpellier HSC
Montpellier HSC
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club is a French association football club based in the city of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1919 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Montpellier plays its home matches at the Stade de la Mosson, located within the city...

 Reserves
Sochaux
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city...

 Reserves
Sporting Toulon Var
Sporting Toulon Var
Sporting Toulon Var is a football club from Toulon, France, who currently play in the French sixth division . The club, which was founded in 1944, is presided by Jacques Jayet and managed by Luigi Alfano.- History :...

FC Villefranche
FC Villefranche
Football Club Villefranche-Beaujolais is a French association football club founded in 1927. They are based in Villefranche-sur-Saône, Rhône-Alpes and are currently playing in the Championnat de France amateur Group B, the fourth tier in the French football league system...



Groupe C

Club Name
US Albi
US Albi
Union Sportive Albigeoise is a French association football team founded in 1912. They are based in Albi, Midi-Pyrénées, France and are currently playing in the Championnat de France Amateurs Group C...

Genêts Anglet
Genêts Anglet
Les Genêts d'Anglet Football is a French association football team founded in 1910. They are based in Anglet, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France and are currently playing in the Championnat de France Amateurs Group C. They play at the Stade Choisy in Anglet....

Aurillac FCA
Aurillac FCA
Aurillac Foot Cantal Auvergne is a French association football team founded in 1953. They are based in Aurillac, Cantal, France and are currently playing in the Championnat de France Amateurs Group C. They play at the Stade de Baradel in Aurillac, which has a capacity of 3,000.- Current squad :As...

Balma SC
Balma SC
Balma Sporting Club is a French association football team founded in 1947. They are based in Balma, near Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, France and are currently playing in the Championnat de France amateur Group C...

Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....

 Reserves
US Colomiers
Vendée Fontenay Foot
Vendée Fontenay Foot
Vendée Fontenay Foot is a French football club based in Fontenay-le-Comte, Vendée. It was founded in 1991 in a merger of two local teams. The club currently plays in the Championnat de France Amateurs, the fourth tier of the French football league system....

Le Mans Reserves
Les Herbiers VF
Les Herbiers VF
Les Herbiers Vendée Football is a French football club based in Les Herbiers . It was founded in 1919. They play at the Stade Massabielle, which has a capacity of 3,000 people...

FC Libourne-Saint-Seurin
FC Libourne-Saint-Seurin
FC Libourne-Saint-Seurin are a French football team from the town of Libourne in Aquitaine. They currently play in the Championnat de France amateur Group C.-History:...

Vendée Luçon Football
Vendée Luçon Football
Vendée Luçon Football is a French football club, located in Luçon.- History :In the 2008-2009 season, the club played in the CFA . Run by Michel Reculeau, the club has played in National 2 since the 1993-1994 season...

EDS Montluçon
ÉDS Montluçon
ÉDS Montluçon is a French football club based in Montluçon . It was founded in 1937. They play at the Stade Dunlop, which has a capacity of 9,000. The colours of the club are yellow and black....

Chamois Niortais FC
Chamois Niortais FC
Chamois Niortais Football Club is a French association football club based in the commune of Niort, in the Deux-Sèvres department of western France. It was founded in 1925 by Charles Boinot, the son of the owner of a local chamois leather factory. The club's badge shows a chamois goat standing on...

Paris SG Reserves
Pau FC
Pau FC
Pau FC is a French football club based in Pau. The team, founded in 1904 as Bleuets Notre-Dame de Pau, are currently competing in the CFA, the fourth tier of French football. They play at the Stade du Hameau. The team plays in a yellow and blue strip....

Red Star FC
Red Star Saint-Ouen
Red Star Football Club 93 is a French association football club based in Saint-Ouen located in the northern suburbs of Paris. The club was founded in 1897 and currently play in the Championnat National, the third level of French football...

Toulouse Fontaines Club
Toulouse Fontaines Club
Toulouse Fontaines Club is a football club based in Toulouse, France. Their stadium is in the rue des Fontaines, in the Saint-Cyprien suburb of Toulouse.-History:...

AS Yzeure
AS Yzeure
AS Yzeure is a French football club based in Yzeure, founded in 1938. They play at the Stade de Bellevue in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth highest tier of French football.-Current squad:As of November 2009....



Groupe D

Club Name
AJ Auxerre
AJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...

 Reserves
US Avranches
US Avranches
L’Union Sportive Avranches Mont Saint Michel is a French football club based in Avranches, in the department of Manche, and founded in 1897.The club has been chaired by Gilbert Guérin since 1990...

SM Caen
SM Caen
Stade Malherbe Caen is a professional French football team, playing in the city of Caen, Normandy. The club was founded on 17 November 1913 following the merger of Club Malherbe Caennais and Club Sportif Caennais...

 Reserves
USJA Carquefou
USJA Carquefou
USJA Carquefou are a French football team currently playing in the Group D of Championnat de France amateur based in Carquefou, Loire-Atlantique.-History:...

AS Cherbourg
AS Cherbourg Football
AS Cherbourg or the Association Sportive de Cherbourg Football is a French football club currently playing in the Championnat National, which is the third division in France...

US Ivry
US Ivry
Union Sportive d'Ivry are a French multi-sports club based in Ivry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne. The club is primarily known for its football team and handball team. US Ivry play their home matches at the Stade Clerville, which seats 2,000 spectators.-History:...

Le Havre AC
Le Havre AC
Le Havre Athletic Club Football Association is a French association football club based in Le Havre. The club was founded originally as an athletics and rugby club in 1872, thus making it the oldest association football and rugby club registered in France...

 Reserves
FC Mantes
FC Mantes
Football Club Mantois 78 are a French football club that was founded in 1994. The club is based in Mantes-la-Ville in the suburbs of Paris and is of the Yvelines department. The club's relatively late foundation is due to a merger between three other clubs from the region...

US Sénart-Moissy
US Orléans
US Orléans
Union Sportive Orléanaise Loiret Football is a French association football club based in Orléans. The club was founded in 1920 and currently play in the Championnat National, the third division of French football, having achieved promotion from the Championnat de France amateur in the 2009–10...

GSI Pontivy
GSI Pontivy
GSI Pontivy is a French football club based in Pontivy . It was founded in 1935. They play at the Stade Municipal du Faubourg de Verdun, which has a capacity of 3,200...

US Quevilly
Quimper Cornouaille FC
Racing Club de France
Racing Club de France
Racing Club de France can refer to:*the former name of Racing Métro rugby union club*the former name of Racing Club de Paris football club*the former name of the basketball club Paris Basket Racing, a predecessor to today's Paris-Levallois Basket...

Rennes Reserves
SO Romorantin
SO Romorantin
Stade Olympique Romorantinais is a French association football team founded in 1930. They are based in Romorantin-Lanthenay, Centre, France and are currently playing in the Championnat de France amateur. They play at the Stade Jules Ladoumègue in Romorantin-Lanthenay, which has a capacity of 8,033...

ES Viry-Châtillon
ES Viry-Châtillon
L'Entente Sportive Viry-Châtillon is a French Association football team, based in Viry-Châtillon, Paris. It currently plays in Championnat de France amateur Group D, the fourth tier in the French football league system, holding home games at the Stade Henri Longuet, which has a capacity of...

La Vitréenne FC
La Vitréenne FC
La Vitréenne Football Club is a French football club which was founded in 1973. The club is based in Vitré, Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany. The club currently plays in the Championnat de France Amateurs Group D, the fourth tier of the French football league system....



External links

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