Verbandsliga Niederrhein
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| Country |
 Germany
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|---|---|
| State |
 Nordrhein-Westfalen
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| Region | Lower Rhine |
| Confederation | Football Association of the Lower Rhine |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Number of teams | 18 |
| Level on pyramid | Level 5 |
| Promotion to | Regionalliga West |
| Relegation to | Landesliga Niederrhein (3 divisions) |
| Current champions |
Wuppertaler SV (2015–16) |
 2015–16 Oberliga Niederrhein
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The Oberliga Niederrhein (English: Premier League of the Lower Rhine) is a German amateur football division administered by the Football association of the Lower Rhine, one of the 21 German state football associations. Being the top flight of the Lower Rhine state association, the Oberliga is currently a level 5 division of the German football league system.
Until 1956, a total of ten Landesliga divisions, among them three divisions of Landesliga Niederrhein were the highest amateur level in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. After the regular season, the ten Landesliga champions had to play-off for two promotion spots to 2. Oberliga West. Upon decision of the superior Western German football association, in 1956 four divisions of Verbandsliga were introduced, one of them being the Verbandsliga Niederrhein. These four divisions of Verbandsliga still exist today, with the Verbandsliga Niederrhein in 2008 renamed to Niederrheinliga and later in 2012 renamed to Oberliga Niederrhein.
The Verbandsliga Niederrhein was upon its interception the third tier of the German football league system. The league champion had to play-off the winners of the Verbandsliga Mittelrhein and the two divisions of Verbandsliga Westfalen for two promotion spots to the 2. Oberliga West. Upon introduction of the Bundesliga in 1963, the league was set below the new Regionalliga West but remained as the third tier. With the exception of 1963 and 1974, when the league systems were changed, the champion continued to have the opportunity to win promotion. In 1964, 1970, 1976 and 1978, the league winner failed to do so, every other season they were successful. In 1977, the runners-up was promoted as Fortuna Düsseldorf II was ineligible.
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