# 1952–53 Tercera División

The 1952–53 Tercera División season was the 17th since its establishment.

## Format

99 clubs participated in 6 geographic groups. One club, Tomelloso CF, withdrew at the start of the season. The 6 group winners were promoted to the Segunda División. The 6 runners-up joined the teams in 12th and 13th place in Segunda División Grupo I and the team in 13th place in Segunda División Grupo II to form one play-off group of 5 teams (Grupo I) and another of 4 teams (Grupo II). The winner and runner up of Grupo I earned a place in the Segunda División as did the winner of Grupo II. The 12th team in Segunda División Grupo II played off against Tenerife, champions of the Canarias Regional League (not part of the Tercera División).

## League tables
### Group I

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | La Felguera | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 57 | 27 | +30 | 41 |
| 2 | Cultural Leonesa | 30 | 18 | 4 | 8 | 78 | 36 | +42 | 40 |
| 3 | Ponferradina | 30 | 18 | 2 | 10 | 69 | 38 | +31 | 38 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 30 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 53 | 41 | +12 | 34 |
| 5 | Juvenil | 30 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 49 | 45 | +4 | 34 |
| 6 | Arosa | 30 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 47 | 47 | 0 | 33 |
| 7 | Polvorín | 30 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 37 | 35 | +2 | 32 |
| 8 | Atlético de Zamora | 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 42 | 43 | −1 | 29 |
| 9 | Calzada | 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 41 | 47 | −6 | 29 |
| 10 | Langreano | 30 | 12 | 3 | 15 | 38 | 59 | −21 | 27 |
| 11 | Lemos | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 37 | 56 | −19 | 26 |
| 12 | Pontevedra | 30 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 55 | 57 | −2 | 25 |
| 13 | Turón | 30 | 11 | 3 | 16 | 47 | 62 | −15 | 25 |
| 14 | Santiago | 30 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 41 | 63 | −22 | 23 |
| 15 | Marín | 30 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 44 | 60 | −16 | 22 |
| 16 | Vetusta | 30 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 42 | 61 | −19 | 22 |

### Group II

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Eibar | 34 | 23 | 6 | 5 | 93 | 40 | +53 | 52 |
| 2 | Sestao | 34 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 62 | 33 | +29 | 43 |
| 3 | Mirandés | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 73 | 48 | +25 | 42 |
| 4 | Getxo | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 67 | 45 | +22 | 42 |
| 5 | Mondragón | 34 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 69 | 51 | +18 | 40 |
| 6 | Baskonia | 34 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 65 | 62 | +3 | 37 |
| 7 | Numancia | 34 | 17 | 3 | 14 | 60 | 61 | −1 | 37 |
| 8 | Izarra | 34 | 17 | 2 | 15 | 68 | 60 | +8 | 36 |
| 9 | Indautxu | 34 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 54 | 51 | +3 | 34 |
| 10 | Portugalete | 34 | 11 | 8 | 15 | 43 | 52 | −9 | 30 |
| 11 | Arenas de Getxo | 34 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 46 | 67 | −21 | 30 |
| 12 | Rayo Cantabria | 34 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 54 | 66 | −12 | 29 |
| 13 | Garellano | 34 | 11 | 7 | 16 | 57 | 72 | −15 | 29 |
| 14 | Azkoyen | 34 | 13 | 3 | 18 | 48 | 80 | −32 | 29 |
| 15 | Calatayud | 34 | 13 | 2 | 19 | 40 | 68 | −28 | 28 |
| 16 | Erandio | 34 | 10 | 6 | 18 | 58 | 61 | −3 | 26 |
| 17 | Recreación de Logroño | 34 | 9 | 7 | 18 | 48 | 60 | −12 | 24 |
| 18 | Calahorra | 34 | 9 | 5 | 20 | 51 | 79 | −28 | 23 |
* ↑ 1 point deducted. Recreación de Logroño fielded an ineligible player in a 5-0 win over Rayo Cantabria. The win was awarded to Rayo.

### Group III

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Escoriaza | 34 | 23 | 2 | 9 | 106 | 53 | +53 | 48 |
| 2 | Mataró | 34 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 74 | 52 | +22 | 45 |
| 3 | Terrassa | 34 | 20 | 3 | 11 | 69 | 53 | +16 | 43 |
| 4 | Badalona | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 94 | 61 | +33 | 42 |
| 5 | Manresa | 34 | 18 | 3 | 13 | 83 | 65 | +18 | 39 |
| 6 | Europa | 34 | 18 | 3 | 13 | 83 | 69 | +14 | 39 |
| 7 | Sants | 34 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 64 | 54 | +10 | 39 |
| 8 | Granollers | 34 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 87 | 67 | +20 | 38 |
| 9 | Girona | 34 | 16 | 6 | 12 | 61 | 44 | +17 | 38 |
| 10 | Binéfar | 34 | 17 | 2 | 15 | 76 | 68 | +8 | 36 |
| 11 | Arenas de Zaragoza | 34 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 64 | 61 | +3 | 33 |
| 12 | Amistad | 34 | 14 | 5 | 15 | 66 | 79 | −13 | 33 |
| 13 | Tortosa | 34 | 14 | 3 | 17 | 61 | 68 | −7 | 31 |
| 14 | Martinenc | 34 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 43 | 56 | −13 | 30 |
| 15 | Horta | 34 | 13 | 3 | 18 | 48 | 83 | −35 | 29 |
| 16 | Atlético Universitario | 34 | 12 | 3 | 19 | 58 | 81 | −23 | 27 |
| 17 | Igualada | 34 | 6 | 5 | 23 | 45 | 77 | −32 | 17 |
| 18 | Tàrrega | 34 | 2 | 1 | 31 | 26 | 117 | −91 | 3 |
* ↑ 2 points deducted. Tàrrega failed to appear for their match at Arenas de Zaragoza. The win was awarded to Arenas.

### Group IV

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Badajoz | 26 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 99 | 32 | +67 | 41 |
| 2 | Calvo Sotelo | 26 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 75 | 35 | +40 | 37 |
| 3 | Extremadura | 26 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 69 | 36 | +33 | 34 |
| 4 | Manchego | 26 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 73 | 44 | +29 | 30 |
| 5 | Toledo | 26 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 64 | 45 | +19 | 28 |
| 6 | Girod | 26 | 12 | 4 | 10 | 50 | 47 | +3 | 28 |
| 7 | Rayo Vallecano | 26 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 34 | 50 | −16 | 26 |
| 8 | Cuatro Caminos | 26 | 11 | 3 | 12 | 46 | 55 | −9 | 25 |
| 9 | Emeritense | 26 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 52 | 53 | −1 | 24 |
| 10 | Valdepeñas | 26 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 40 | 60 | −20 | 24 |
| 11 | Guadalajara | 26 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 39 | 69 | −30 | 22 |
| 12 | San Lorenzo | 26 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 45 | 62 | −17 | 19 |
| 13 | Europa Delicias | 26 | 6 | 4 | 16 | 30 | 66 | −36 | 16 |
| 14 | Conquense | 26 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 24 | 86 | −62 | 10 |

### Group V

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Castellón | 30 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 79 | 40 | +39 | 41 |
| 2 | Levante | 30 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 81 | 46 | +35 | 37 |
| 3 | Hellín | 30 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 71 | 49 | +22 | 34 |
| 4 | Albacete | 30 | 16 | 2 | 12 | 68 | 56 | +12 | 34 |
| 5 | Alzira | 30 | 14 | 4 | 12 | 51 | 60 | −9 | 32 |
| 6 | Alicante | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 58 | 44 | +14 | 30 |
| 7 | Villena | 30 | 14 | 2 | 14 | 83 | 74 | +9 | 30 |
| 8 | Manacor | 30 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 55 | 52 | +3 | 30 |
| 9 | Aspense | 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 50 | 66 | −16 | 29 |
| 10 | Novelda | 30 | 13 | 3 | 14 | 59 | 86 | −27 | 29 |
| 11 | Lorca | 30 | 12 | 4 | 14 | 57 | 60 | −3 | 28 |
| 12 | Maó | 30 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 52 | 62 | −10 | 28 |
| 13 | Soriano | 30 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 59 | 58 | +1 | 26 |
| 14 | Catarroja | 30 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 54 | 69 | −15 | 24 |
| 15 | Naval | 30 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 51 | 75 | −24 | 24 |
| 16 | Elche | 30 | 11 | 2 | 17 | 42 | 73 | −31 | 24 |

### Group VI

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Xerez | 30 | 20 | 3 | 7 | 88 | 42 | +46 | 43 |
| 2 | España de Tánger | 30 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 94 | 41 | +53 | 42 |
| 3 | Cádiz | 30 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 73 | 47 | +26 | 37 |
| 4 | Algeciras | 30 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 102 | 45 | +57 | 36 |
| 5 | Real Betis | 30 | 17 | 2 | 11 | 72 | 58 | +14 | 36 |
| 6 | Ceuta | 30 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 55 | 47 | +8 | 33 |
| 7 | Recreativo de Granada | 30 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 56 | 57 | −1 | 33 |
| 8 | Recreativo de Huelva | 30 | 15 | 2 | 13 | 83 | 66 | +17 | 32 |
| 9 | Almería | 30 | 15 | 2 | 13 | 55 | 49 | +6 | 32 |
| 10 | Iliturgi | 30 | 15 | 1 | 14 | 75 | 74 | +1 | 31 |
| 11 | San Fernando | 30 | 13 | 1 | 16 | 52 | 77 | −25 | 27 |
| 12 | Español de Tetuán | 30 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 47 | 74 | −27 | 27 |
| 13 | Unión Sevillana | 30 | 12 | 2 | 16 | 58 | 86 | −28 | 26 |
| 14 | Úbeda | 30 | 11 | 1 | 18 | 52 | 79 | −27 | 23 |
| 15 | Utrera | 30 | 6 | 2 | 22 | 38 | 91 | −53 | 14 |
| 16 | Atlético Malagueño | 30 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 34 | 101 | −67 | 5 |
* ↑ 3 points deducted. Atlético Malagueño fielded 2 ineligible players in a 2-0 win at home to Real Betis. The win was awarded to Betis.

## Promotion playoff
### Group I

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Gimnástica de Torrelavega | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 11 | +6 | 10 |
| 2 | Cultural Leonesa | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 21 | 19 | +2 | 8 |
| 3 | Mataró | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 17 | 16 | +1 | 8 |
| 4 | Salamanca | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 10 | +2 | 8 |
| 5 | Sestao | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 22 | −11 | 6 |
Note: Gimnástica de Torrelavega retained their place in the Segunda División and Cultural Leonesa were promoted. UD Salamanca were later reprieved from relegation following the withdrawal of CD San Andrés from the Segunda División.

### Group II

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | España de Tánger | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 5 | +7 | 8 |
| 2 | Levante | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 11 | +4 | 8 |
| 3 | Córdoba | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 16 | −3 | 5 |
| 4 | Calvo Sotelo | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 20 | −8 | 3 |
Note: España de Tánger were promoted to the Segunda División.

### Group III

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Orihuela | 2–4 | Tenerife | 2–1 | 0–3 |
Note: CD Tenerife were promoted to the Segunda División.

## Season records

* Most wins: 23, Eibar and Escoriaza.
* Most draws: 10, Arenas de Getxo and Alicante.
* Most losses: 31, Tàrrega.
* Most goals for: 106, Escoriaza.
* Most goals against: 117, Tàrrega.
* Most points: 52, Eibar.
* Fewest wins: 2, Tàrrega and Atlético Malagueño.
* Fewest draws: 1, Tàrrega, Iliturgi, San Fernando and Úbeda.
* Fewest losses: 4, Badajoz.
* Fewest goals for: 24, Conquense.
* Fewest goals against: 27, La Felguera.
* Fewest points: 3, Tàrrega.