# Maltese Challenge League

The Maltese Challenge League (referred to as the BOV Challenge League for sponsorship reasons) is the second-highest division in Maltese football, behind the Maltese Premier League. The First Division was the precursor of the present Premier League until the latter was revamped for the 1980–81 season with the Maltese Challenge League instituted for the 2020–21 season following the premature end of the previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Format

Since the 2022–23 season, the league is made up of eighteen teams. Over the course of the season, each team plays twice against the others in the league, resulting in each team completing thirty-four games in total. Three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the table by:
* Total points gained
In the need of a tie-breaker, a play-off game is played. At the end of the season, the top two teams are directly promoted to the Premier League; an additional place is reserved for the winner of the relegation play-off between the twelfth-placed Premier League team and the third-placed Maltese Challenge League side. The four lowest-finishing teams are relegated to the National Amateur League.

## Venues

| Centenary StadiumVictor Tedesco Stadium | Ta' Qali | Hamrun |
| Centenary StadiumVictor Tedesco Stadium | Centenary Stadium | Victor Tedesco Stadium |
| Centenary StadiumVictor Tedesco Stadium | Capacity: 3,000 | Capacity: 1,962 |

## Results

| Year | Champions | Runner-up | Third place (Promotion) | Relegated |
| 1996–97 | Xgħajra Tornados | Tarxien Rainbows | | Santa Luċija, Għaxaq |
| 1997–98 | Rabat Ajax | Żabbar St. Patrick | | St. George's, Dingli Swallows |
| 1998–99 | Gozo | Żurrieq | | Mellieħa, Siggiewi |
| 1999–00 | Ħamrun Spartans | Xgħajra Tornados | | Gżira United, Żebbuġ Rangers |
| 2000–01 | Marsa | Lija Athletic | | Tarxien Rainbows, Żurrieq |
| 2001–02 | Marsaxlokk | Mosta | | Qormi, St. Andrews |
| 2002–03 | Msida St. Joseph | Balzan | | Gozo, Xgħajra Tornados |
| 2003–04 | Żabbar St. Patrick | Lija Athletic | | Tarxien Rainbows, Rabat Ajax |
| 2004–05 | Ħamrun Spartans | Mosta | | Balzan, Gozo |
| 2005–06 | St. George's | Marsa | | Lija Athletic, St. Andrews |
| 2006–07 | Ħamrun Spartans | Mqabba | | San Ġwann, Naxxar Lions |
| 2007–08 | Tarxien Rainbows | Qormi | | Mellieħa, Marsa |
| 2008–09 | Dingli Swallows | Vittoriosa Stars (No Promotion) | | Rabat Ajax, Senglea Athletic |
| 2009–10 | Marsaxlokk | Vittoriosa Stars | | Żabbar St. Patrick, San Ġwann |
| 2010–11 | Balzan | Mqabba | Mosta | Pietà Hotspurs, Msida St. Joseph |
| 2011–12 | Melita | Rabat Ajax | | Żabbar St. Patrick, St. George's |
| 2012–13 | Naxxar Lions | Vittoriosa Stars | | Dingli Swallows, Mqabba |
| 2013–14 | Pietà Hotspurs | Żebbuġ Rangers | | Ħamrun Spartans, Żejtun Corinthians |
| 2014–15 | Pembroke Athleta | St. Andrews | | Żurrieq, Msida St. Joseph, Birżebbuġa St. Peter's |
| 2015–16 | Gżira United | Ħamrun Spartans | | Gudja United, St. George's, San Ġwann |
| 2016–17 | Lija Athetlic | Senglea Athletic | Naxxar Lions | Fgura United, Għargħur |
| 2017–18 | Qormi | Pietà Hotspurs | | Żabbar St. Patrick, Melita, Rabat Ajax |
| 2018–19 | Sirens | Gudja United | Santa Luċija | Marsa, San Ġwann |
| 2019–20 | Zejtun Corinthians | Lija Athetlic | | No Relegation |
| 2020–21 | No Promotion | No Promotion | No Promotion | Qormi |
| 2021–22 | Żebbuġ Rangers | Marsaxlokk (Group A Runner-up) Pietà Hotspurs (Group B Runner-up) | Marsaxlokk (Group A Runner-up) Pietà Hotspurs (Group B Runner-up) | Senglea Athletic, Mgarr United, Luqa St. Andrew's, Pembroke Athleta, Rabat Ajax, St. George’s, |
| 2022–23 | Sliema Wanderers | Naxxar Lions | | Marsaskala, Mqabba, Mtarfa, Qrendi, San Gwann, Vittoriosa Stars |
| 2023–24 | Melita | Żabbar St. Patrick | | Attard, Msida St. Joseph, Zejtun Corinthians, Luqa St.Andrew's |
| 2024–25 | | | | |