Country | Thailand |
---|---|
Confederation | AFC |
Founded | 2006 |
Number of teams | 64 |
Level on pyramid |
3 (2006-2016) 4 (since 2017) |
Promotion to | Thai League 3 |
Relegation to | Thai Football Amateur Tournament |
Domestic cup(s) | Thai FA Cup |
League cup(s) | Thai League Cup |
Current champions |
Trat Kasetsart Nongbua Pitchaya Surat Thani (2016) |
TV partners | |
Website | http://www.thaileague.co.th/official/t4 |
2017 season |
Thai League 4 (Thai: ไทยลีก 4) , commonly known as the T4, is the 4th Level League in Thailand. In 2009, it was divided into five groups by geographic region. Each group contained 16 clubs except for the Southern Region group which contained 13 clubs. It was sponsored by AIS and therefore officially known as the AIS Regional League Division 2. In 2016, Khor Royal Cup became a trophy for Regional League Division 2. In 2017, Football Association of Thailand rebranded the league to Thai League 4.
The 3rd Level League was formed in 2006 with 10 member clubs. The league was created so that clubs from regional leagues could come together and play in a national league with the onus being on promotion and relegation so clubs could easily move up the Thai football system ladder depending on performances on the football pitch rather than performances behind the scenes.
The league was also created so it would combat against the rival Provincial League. With future growth moving the Pro League to join the 2nd Division.
The league suffered another contraction after 2016 season, as 31 teams joined the newly created Thai League Championship. It also moved a tier down the pyramid, making it 4th Level League since 2017.
In 2006, the first season, 10 clubs played each other twice, with promotion going to the championship winner Chula-Sinthana FC. No relegation occurred in 2006.
In 2007, the league was expanded to 12 clubs, with the top two in the championship achieving promotion (Mueang Thong NongJork United and PTT FC) and the bottom two clubs getting relegated (Thai Christian Sports Club and Thai Department of Agriculture).
In 2008, although two clubs were relegated at the end of the 2007 season, the league was again expanded the following year, to 22 clubs. 2 Groups would be created. 11 clubs in Group A and 11 clubs in Group B.
At the end of the season, 2 clubs from each group would be promoted with the league receiving four relegated teams from the Thailand Division 1 League. At the end of the season, the four clubs who achieved promotion would play off in an end of year competition to determine the overall league winner.