Last updated : Monday, 22 April 2024
Introduction
The First League 1 is an amateur football league in the Netherlands. It is the third highest level of amateur football in the country, below the Tweede Divisie and the Derde Divisie. The league is divided into two groups, North and South, with each group containing 14 teams. The season runs from September to April, with each team playing each other team in their group twice, once at home and once away.
History
The First League 1 was founded in 2016 as a replacement for the Topklasse, which was the highest level of amateur football in the Netherlands at the time. The decision to create the First League 1 was made in order to increase the level of competition between amateur clubs and to create a more clear pathway for clubs to progress to the professional leagues.
Promotion and relegation
The top two teams from each group of the First League 1 are promoted to the Tweede Divisie, while the bottom two teams from each group are relegated to the Vierde Divisie. The winner of the KNVB Cup for amateur clubs also earns promotion to the Tweede Divisie.
Current season
The current season of the First League 1 began on September 3, 2022 and is scheduled to end on April 29, 2023. The defending champions are Quick '20, who won the title in the 2021-22 season.
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