Football B Division

The Greek Football B Division or Beta Ethniki, is the division below the top-flight Football A Division or Alpha Ethniki. The top clubs of the Football B Division participate in the Alpha Ethniki in the following year. Similarly, the Alpha Ethniki's bottom clubs are relegated to the Football B Division. The number of teams going up has varied over the years. Currently the format calls for three teams to be relegated from the top league, to be replaced by the top three teams from Beta Ethniki with no playoffs involved.

History

At one time there were as many as 64 clubs, divided into 4 groups in the Beta Ethniki. Finishing atop of a 16-team group did not mean automatic promotion into the Alpha Ethniki as the 4 champion clubs then had to play a series of home and away games against each other. Over the years, the number of clubs has diminished and the standard of play in this league has vastly improved. Attendances for Beta Ethniki games usually are higher than those of the bottom clubs of the Alpha Ethniki.

Second division B' Ethniki 2005-2006

• Aris - Thessaloniki, founded in 1914 -- official website http://www.arisfc.gr/
• Veria FC - Veria
• Ethnikos Asteras - Kesariani Athens
• Ergotelis - Iraklio
• Ilisiakos FC - Zografou Athens
• Thrasivoulos FC - Fyli Athens
• Kalamata FC - Kalamata
• Kastoria FC - Kastoria
• Kerkyra FC - Kerkyra
• Niki Volos - Volos
• Olympiakos Volos - Volos
• Panachaiki - Patras, plays in the Pampelonnisiako Stadium
• Paniliakos (or Panileiakós) - Pyrgos, founded in 1957 -- fans website http://paniliakos.com/, [1]
• Panserraikos - Serres
• Proodeftiki - Nikaia/Korydallos (Piraeus), founded in 1927
• Chaidari FC - Chaidari Athens