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{{Unreferenced|date=June 2019|bot=noref (GreenC bot)}}
'''Soviet Union football league system''' has changed a lot since introduction of national league competitions in 1936.
The '''Soviet Union football league system''' was a series of [[League system|interconnected leagues]] for men's [[association football]] clubs in the [[Soviet Union]] which included "teams of masters" (a term for a professional association football team) from constituent [[union republics]]. The system has a hierarchical format with [[promotion and relegation]] between leagues at different levels, allowing even the smallest club the theoretical possibility of ultimately rising to the very top of the system. For most of its time, the all-union level had two tiers, while for a good portion of the Soviet period there existed a third tier, and for a much less period, a fourth.


The exact number of Soviet teams of masters varied from year to year as clubs (teams) joined and left leagues, folded or merged altogether. On occasions a season competition format included multiple stages with several groups including the top tier. The third tier (better known as the Second League) since its revival in 1963 consisted from about five to nine groups known as zones, the winners of which qualified to a promotional play-off tournament.
==1990==

Rotation between republican competitions and the all-union football "pyramid" existed only for the [[Russian SFSR]] and the [[Ukrainian SSR]].

The Soviet Union football league system was dominated by teams of masters from the [[Russian SFSR]] and particularly from [[Moscow]]. The focal game of the top league initially involved the Moscow derby between Spartak and Dinamo (see [[Oldest Russian derby]]). Following [[World War II]], there appeared winning CDKA{{clarification needed|date=April 2022}} (today known as CSKA), which was also known as the team of lieutenants. Following some reforms in the organization of competitions in the early 1960s, the top league champion's title was gained by clubs outside of Moscow as the Soviet Union football league system was expanded with more teams of masters from various union republics and their regions (provinces). By 1980 the main game of the [[Soviet Top League]] became a rivalry between Russian and Ukrainian capitals Spartak Moscow and Dinamo Kiev (Dynamo Kyiv) (see [[Spartak Moscow–Dynamo Kyiv rivalry]]).

The pyramid for [[women's football in the Soviet Union]] existed only in 1990 and 1991 (during the process of [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]]) ran separately to three tiers.

==1990–1991==
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|-
!style="width:4%"|Level
!style="width:4%"|Level
!colspan="10" style="width:90%"|League(s)/Division(s)
!colspan="10" style="width:90%"|League(s)/division(s)
!style="width:6%"|P/R
!style="width:6%"|P/R
|-bgcolor=powderblue
|-bgcolor=powderblue
||1||colspan="10"|'''[[Soviet Top League|Supreme League]]'''<br />''Vysshaya Liga''<br />''13-16 teams''||<br />{{decrease}} 0-1
||1||colspan="10"|'''[[Soviet Top League|Top League]]'''<br />''Vysshaya Liga''<br />''13-16 teams''||<br />{{decrease}} 0–1
|-bgcolor=lightblue
|-bgcolor=lightblue
||2||colspan="10"|'''[[Soviet First League|First League]]'''<br />''Pervaya Liga''<br />''20-22 teams''||{{increase}} 3<br />{{decrease}} 1
||2||colspan="10"|'''[[Soviet First League|First League]]'''<br />''Pervaya Liga''<br />''20-22 teams''||{{increase}} 3<br />{{decrease}} 1
Line 16: Line 25:
|colspan="3"|'''West'''<br />||colspan="3"|'''Center'''<br />||colspan="4"|'''East'''<br />
|colspan="3"|'''West'''<br />||colspan="3"|'''Center'''<br />||colspan="4"|'''East'''<br />
|- bgcolor=lightblue
|- bgcolor=lightblue
|rowspan="2"|4||colspan="10"|'''[[Soviet Second League B|Lower Second League]]''' <br />''Nisshaya Vtoraya Liga''||rowspan="2"|
|rowspan="2"|4||colspan="10"|'''[[Soviet Second League B|Lower Second League]]''' <br />''Nizshaya Vtoraya Liga''||rowspan="2"|
|-bgcolor=lightblue
|-bgcolor=lightblue
|'''Zone 1'''<br />||'''Zone 2'''<br />||'''Zone 3'''<br />||'''Zone 4'''<br />||'''Zone 5'''<br />||'''Zone 6'''<br />||'''Zone 7'''<br />||'''Zone 8'''<br />||'''Zone 9'''<br />||'''Zone 10'''<br />
|'''Zone 1'''<br />||'''Zone 2'''<br />||'''Zone 3'''<br />||'''Zone 4'''<br />||'''Zone 5'''<br />||'''Zone 6'''<br />||'''Zone 7'''<br />||'''Zone 8'''<br />||'''Zone 9'''<br />||'''Zone 10'''<br />
|}
|}


==1971-1990==
==1971-1989==
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|-
!style="width:4%"|Level
!style="width:4%"|Level
!colspan="9" style="width:90%"|League(s)/Division(s)
!colspan="9" style="width:90%"|League(s)/division(s)
!style="width:6%"|P/R
!style="width:6%"|P/R
|-bgcolor=powderblue
|-bgcolor=powderblue
||1||colspan="9"|'''[[Soviet Top League|Supreme League]]'''<br />''Vysshaya Liga''<br />''16-18 teams''||<br />{{decrease}} 2
||1||colspan="9"|'''[[Soviet Top League|Top League]]'''<br />''Vysshaya Liga''<br />''16-18 teams''||<br />{{decrease}} 2
|-bgcolor=lightblue
|-bgcolor=lightblue
||2||colspan="9"|'''[[Soviet First League]]'''<br />''Pervaya Liga''<br />''22 teams''||{{increase}} 2<br />{{decrease}} 3
||2||colspan="9"|'''[[Soviet First League]]'''<br />''Pervaya Liga''<br />''22 teams''||{{increase}} 2<br />{{decrease}} 3
Line 34: Line 43:
|rowspan="2"|3||colspan="9"|'''[[Soviet Second League|Second League]]''' <br />''Vtoraya Liga''||rowspan="2"|{{increase}} 3
|rowspan="2"|3||colspan="9"|'''[[Soviet Second League|Second League]]''' <br />''Vtoraya Liga''||rowspan="2"|{{increase}} 3
|-bgcolor=lightblue
|-bgcolor=lightblue
|'''Zone 1'''<br />||'''Zone 2'''<br />||'''Zone 3'''<br />||'''Zone 4'''<br />||'''Zone 5'''<br />||'''Zone 6'''<br />||'''Zone 7'''<br />(1972-73, 1980-90)||'''Zone 8'''<br />(1980-90)||'''Zone 9'''<br />(1980-90)
|'''Zone 1'''<br />||'''Zone 2'''<br />||'''Zone 3'''<br />||'''Zone 4'''<br />||'''Zone 5'''<br />||'''Zone 6'''<br />||'''Zone 7'''<br />(1972–73, 1980–90)||'''Zone 8'''<br />(1980–90)||'''Zone 9'''<br />(1980–90)
|}
|}


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|-
|-
!style="width:4%"|Level
!style="width:4%"|Level
!colspan="8" style="width:90%"|League(s)/Division(s)
!colspan="8" style="width:90%"|League(s)/division(s)
!style="width:6%"|P/R
!style="width:6%"|P/R
|-bgcolor=powderblue
|-bgcolor=powderblue
Line 61: Line 70:
|-
|-
!style="width:4%"|Level
!style="width:4%"|Level
!colspan="11" style="width:90%"|League(s)/Division(s)
!colspan="11" style="width:90%"|League(s)/division(s)
!style="width:6%"|P/R
!style="width:6%"|P/R
|-bgcolor=powderblue
|-bgcolor=powderblue
Line 81: Line 90:
|-
|-
!style="width:4%"|Level
!style="width:4%"|Level
!colspan="5" style="width:90%"|League(s)/Division(s)
!colspan="5" style="width:90%"|League(s)/division(s)
!style="width:6%"|P/R
!style="width:6%"|P/R
|-bgcolor=powderblue
|-bgcolor=powderblue
||1||colspan="5"|'''[[Soviet Top League|Class A]]'''<br />''Klass A''<br />''16-18 teams''||<br />{{decrease}} 2
||1||colspan="5"|'''[[Soviet Top League|Class A]]'''<br />''Klass A''<br />''16-18 teams''||<br />{{decrease}} 2
|-bgcolor=lightblue
|-bgcolor=green
|rowspan="3"|2||colspan="5"|'''[[Soviet First League|Class B]]'''<br />''Klass B''<br />||rowspan="3"|{{increase}} 2<br />{{decrease}} 3
|rowspan="3"|2||colspan="5"|'''[[Soviet First League|Class B]]'''<br />''Klass B''<br />||rowspan="3"|{{increase}} 2<br />{{decrease}} 3
|-bgcolor=lightblue
|-bgcolor=lightblue
Line 97: Line 106:
|-
|-
!style="width:4%"|Level
!style="width:4%"|Level
!colspan="7" style="width:90%"|League(s)/Division(s)
!colspan="7" style="width:90%"|League(s)/division(s)
!style="width:6%"|P/R
!style="width:6%"|P/R
|-bgcolor=powderblue
|-bgcolor=powderblue
Line 104: Line 113:
|rowspan="2"|2||colspan="7"|'''[[Soviet First League|Class B]]'''<br />''Klass B''<br />||rowspan="2"|{{increase}} 2<br />{{decrease}} 3
|rowspan="2"|2||colspan="7"|'''[[Soviet First League|Class B]]'''<br />''Klass B''<br />||rowspan="2"|{{increase}} 2<br />{{decrease}} 3
|-bgcolor=lightblue
|-bgcolor=lightblue
|'''Zone 1'''<br />||'''Zone 2'''<br />||'''Zone 3'''<br />(1953-54, 1957-59)||'''Zone 4'''<br />(1957-59)||'''Zone 5'''<br />(1958-59)||'''Zone 6'''<br />(1958-59)||'''Zone 7'''<br />(1959)
|'''Zone 1'''<br />||'''Zone 2'''<br />||'''Zone 3'''<br />(1953–54, 1957–59)||'''Zone 4'''<br />(1957–59)||'''Zone 5'''<br />(1958–59)||'''Zone 6'''<br />(1958–59)||'''Zone 7'''<br />(1959)
|}
|}


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|-
|-
!style="width:4%"|Level
!style="width:4%"|Level
!style="width:90%"|League(s)/Division(s)
!style="width:90%"|League(s)/division(s)
!style="width:6%"|P/R
!style="width:6%"|P/R
|-bgcolor=powderblue
|-bgcolor=powderblue
Line 123: Line 132:
|-
|-
!style="width:4%"|Level
!style="width:4%"|Level
!colspan="6" style="width:90%"|League(s)/Division(s)
!colspan="6" style="width:90%"|League(s)/division(s)
!style="width:6%"|P/R
!style="width:6%"|P/R
|-bgcolor=powderblue
|-bgcolor=powderblue
Line 137: Line 146:
|-
|-
!style="width:4%"|Level
!style="width:4%"|Level
!colspan="7" style="width:90%"|League(s)/Division(s)
!colspan="7" style="width:90%"|League(s)/division(s)
!style="width:6%"|P/R
!style="width:6%"|P/R
|-bgcolor=powderblue
|-bgcolor=powderblue
||1||colspan="7"|'''[[Soviet Top League|First Group]]'''<br />''Pervaya Gruppa''<br />''12 teams''||<br />{{decrease}} 2
||1||colspan="7"|'''[[Soviet Top League|First Group]]'''<br />''Pervaya Gruppa''<br />''12 teams''||<br />{{decrease}} 2
|-bgcolor=lightblue
|-bgcolor=red
|rowspan="2"|2||colspan="7"|'''[[Soviet First League|Second Group]]'''<br />''Vtoraya Gruppa''<br />''18 teams'' (1945)||rowspan="2"|{{increase}} 2<br />{{decrease}} 3
|rowspan="2"|2||colspan="7"|'''[[Soviet First League|Second Group]]'''<br />''Vtoraya Gruppa''<br />''18 teams'' (1945)||rowspan="2"|{{increase}} 2<br />{{decrease}} 3
|-bgcolor=lightblue
|-bgcolor=lightblue
Line 154: Line 163:


==1936-1941==
==1936-1941==
Initially, for the Spring championship of 1936 there were only seven teams participating in the top group, while for the Fall championship amount of participants was increased to eight. A similar case scenario took place in the second group as for the spring championship saw some withdrawals. In the third group the number of participants was unchanged at eight for both parts of 1936 season. At same time in the fourth group initially there were five teams for the spring half and six for the autumn.
Initially, for the Spring championship of 1936 there were only seven teams participating in the top group, while for the Fall championship the number of participants was increased to eight. A similar scenario took place in the second group as the spring championship saw some withdrawals. In the third group the number of participants was unchanged at eight for both parts of the 1936 season. At same time in the fourth group initially there were five teams for the spring half and six for the autumn.


In 1937 the number of participants continue to grow. Some reshuffling took place between groups A and B, although initially both consisted of eight teams. Groups V and G increased their team pools to 10 and 12 participants, respectively. Also for the 1937 there was introduced the Group D with two subgroups.
In 1937 the number of participants continue to grow. Some reshuffling took place between groups A and B, although initially both consisted of eight teams. Groups V and G increased their team pools to 10 and 12 participants, respectively. Also for the 1937 there was introduced the Group D with two subgroups.
Line 167: Line 176:
|-
|-
!style="width:4%"|Level
!style="width:4%"|Level
!colspan="2" style="width:90%"|League(s)/Division(s)
!colspan="2" style="width:90%"|League(s)/division(s)
!style="width:6%"|P/R
!style="width:6%"|P/R
|-bgcolor=powderblue
|-bgcolor=powderblue
||1||colspan="2"|'''[[Soviet Top League|Group A]]'''<br />''Gruppa A''<br />''7-26 teams''||<br />
||1||colspan="2"|'''[[Soviet Top League|Group A]]'''<br />''Gruppa A''<br />''7-26 teams''||<br />
|-bgcolor=lightblue
|-bgcolor=lightblue
||2||colspan="2"|'''[[Soviet First League|Group B]]'''<br />''Gruppa B''<br />''7-23 teams'' (1936-37, 1939-40)||{{increase}} <br />{{decrease}}
||2||colspan="2"|'''[[Soviet First League|Group B]]'''<br />''Gruppa B''<br />''7-23 teams'' (1936–37, 1939–40)||{{increase}} <br />{{decrease}}
|- bgcolor=lightblue
|- bgcolor=lightblue
|3||colspan="2"|'''[[Soviet Second League|Group V]]''' <br />''Gruppa V''<br />''8-10 teams'' (1936-37)||
|3||colspan="2"|'''[[Soviet Second League|Group V]]''' <br />''Gruppa V''<br />''8-10 teams'' (1936–37)||
|- bgcolor=lightblue
|- bgcolor=lightblue
|4||colspan="2"|'''[[Soviet Second League B|Group G]]''' <br />''Gruppa G''<br />''5-12 teams'' (1936-37)||
|4||colspan="2"|'''[[Soviet Second League B|Group G]]''' <br />''Gruppa G''<br />''5-12 teams'' (1936–37)||
|- bgcolor=lightblue
|- bgcolor=lightblue
|5||'''Group D''' <br />''Gruppa D''<br />''11 teams'' (1937)||'''Group D (Cities of the East)''' <br />''Gruppa D (Goroda Vostoka)''<br />''9 teams'' (1937)||
|5||'''Group D''' <br />''Gruppa D''<br />''11 teams'' (1937)||'''Group D (Cities of the East)''' <br />''Gruppa D (Goroda Vostoka)''<br />''9 teams'' (1937)||
|}

==Evolution of the Soviet football league system==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! Tier\Years !! 1936-37 !! 1938 !! 1939–40 !! 1941 !! 1942–44 !! 1945-46 !! 1947-49 !! 1950–52 !! 1953-59 !! 1960–62 !! 1963-69 !! 1970 !! 1971-89 !! 1990–91
|-
| 1 || bgcolor=gold|Gruppa A || rowspan=5 bgcolor=gold|Gruppa A || colspan=2 bgcolor=gold|Gruppa A || rowspan=6 bgcolor= |Eastern Front<br>World War II || colspan=2 bgcolor=gold|Pervaya Gruppa || colspan=3 bgcolor=gold|Class A || colspan=1 bgcolor=gold|Class A 1<sup>a</sup> Gruppa || colspan=1 bgcolor=gold|Class A Vysshaya Gruppa || colspan=2 bgcolor=gold|Vysshaya Liga
|-
| 2 || bgcolor=silver|Gruppa B || colspan=1 bgcolor=silver|Gruppa B || None || colspan=2 bgcolor=silver|Vtoraya Gruppa || colspan=3 bgcolor=silver|Class B || colspan=1 bgcolor=silver|Class A 2<sup>a</sup> Gruppa || colspan=1 bgcolor=silver|Class A 1<sup>a</sup> Gruppa || colspan=2 bgcolor=silver|Pervaya Liga
|-
| 3 || bgcolor=tan|Gruppa V || rowspan=3 colspan=2|None || bgcolor=tan|Tretia Gruppa || colspan=4|None || bgcolor=tan|Class B || bgcolor=tan|Class A 2<sup>a</sup> Gruppa || colspan=2 bgcolor=tan|Vtoraya Liga
|-
| 4 || bgcolor=lightblue|Gruppa G || rowspan=3 colspan=6|''Republican level'' || bgcolor=lightblue|Class B || None ||bgcolor=lightblue|Nizshaya Vtoraya Liga
|-
| 5 || bgcolor=lightgreen|Gruppa D || rowspan=2 colspan=3|''Republican level''
|-
| 6 || colspan=4|''Republican level''
|-
| 7+|| colspan=14|''Regional level''
|}
|}


{{Football in the Soviet Union}}
{{Football in the Soviet Union}}


[[Category:Football league systems]]
[[Category:Football league systems in Europe]]
[[Category:Football leagues in the Soviet Union| ]]
[[Category:1936 establishments in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:1991 disestablishments in the Soviet Union]]

Latest revision as of 04:37, 20 April 2024

The Soviet Union football league system was a series of interconnected leagues for men's association football clubs in the Soviet Union which included "teams of masters" (a term for a professional association football team) from constituent union republics. The system has a hierarchical format with promotion and relegation between leagues at different levels, allowing even the smallest club the theoretical possibility of ultimately rising to the very top of the system. For most of its time, the all-union level had two tiers, while for a good portion of the Soviet period there existed a third tier, and for a much less period, a fourth.

The exact number of Soviet teams of masters varied from year to year as clubs (teams) joined and left leagues, folded or merged altogether. On occasions a season competition format included multiple stages with several groups including the top tier. The third tier (better known as the Second League) since its revival in 1963 consisted from about five to nine groups known as zones, the winners of which qualified to a promotional play-off tournament.

Rotation between republican competitions and the all-union football "pyramid" existed only for the Russian SFSR and the Ukrainian SSR.

The Soviet Union football league system was dominated by teams of masters from the Russian SFSR and particularly from Moscow. The focal game of the top league initially involved the Moscow derby between Spartak and Dinamo (see Oldest Russian derby). Following World War II, there appeared winning CDKA[clarification needed] (today known as CSKA), which was also known as the team of lieutenants. Following some reforms in the organization of competitions in the early 1960s, the top league champion's title was gained by clubs outside of Moscow as the Soviet Union football league system was expanded with more teams of masters from various union republics and their regions (provinces). By 1980 the main game of the Soviet Top League became a rivalry between Russian and Ukrainian capitals Spartak Moscow and Dinamo Kiev (Dynamo Kyiv) (see Spartak Moscow–Dynamo Kyiv rivalry).

The pyramid for women's football in the Soviet Union existed only in 1990 and 1991 (during the process of dissolution of the Soviet Union) ran separately to three tiers.

1990–1991

[edit]
Level League(s)/division(s) P/R
1 Top League
Vysshaya Liga
13-16 teams
Decrease 0–1
2 First League
Pervaya Liga
20-22 teams		 Increase 3
Decrease 1
3 Second League
Vtoraya Liga
West
 Center
 East
4 Lower Second League
Nizshaya Vtoraya Liga
Zone 1
 Zone 2
 Zone 3
 Zone 4
 Zone 5
 Zone 6
 Zone 7
 Zone 8
 Zone 9
 Zone 10

1971-1989

[edit]
Level League(s)/division(s) P/R
1 Top League
Vysshaya Liga
16-18 teams
Decrease 2
2 Soviet First League
Pervaya Liga
22 teams		 Increase 2
Decrease 3
3 Second League
Vtoraya Liga		 Increase 3
Zone 1
 Zone 2
 Zone 3
 Zone 4
 Zone 5
 Zone 6
 Zone 7
(1972–73, 1980–90)		 Zone 8
(1980–90)		 Zone 9
(1980–90)

1970

[edit]
Level League(s)/division(s) P/R
1 Supreme Group A
Vysshaya Gruppa A
16-18 teams
Decrease 2
2 First Group A
Pervaya Grouppa A
22 teams		 Increase 2
Decrease 3
3 Second Group A
Vtoraya Gruppa A		 Increase 3
Zone 1
 Zone 2
 Zone 3
4 Class B
Klass B		 Increase 3
Zone 1
(Russia)		 Zone 2
(Russia)		 Zone 3
(Russia)		 Zone 4
(Russia)		 Zone 5
(Ukraine)		 Zone 6
(Ukraine)		 Zone 7
(Kazakhstan)		 Zone 8
(Middle Asia)

1963-1969

[edit]
Level League(s)/division(s) P/R
1 First Group A
Pervaya Gruppa A
16-18 teams
Decrease 2
2 Second Group A
Vtoraya Grouppa A
 Increase 2
Decrease 3
Subgroup 1
 Subgroup 2
 Subgroup 3
 Subgroup 4
3 Class B
Klass B		 Increase 3
Russian SFSR Ukrainian SSR Union republics
Zone 1
 Zone 2
 Zone 3
 Zone 4
 Zone 5
 Zone 6
 Zone 1
 Zone 2
 Zone 3
 Zone 1
 Zone 2

1960-1962

[edit]
Level League(s)/division(s) P/R
1 Class A
Klass A
16-18 teams
Decrease 2
2 Class B
Klass B
 Increase 2
Decrease 3
Zone 1 (Russia)
 Zone 2 (Russia)
 Zone 3 (Russia)
 Zone 4 (Russia)
 Zone 5 (Russia)
Zone 1 (Union republics)
 Zone 2 (Union republics)
 Zone 1 (Ukraine)
 Zone 2 (Ukraine)
 Zone 6 (Russia) (Zone 3 Ukraine)
1961 (1962)

1953-1959

[edit]
Level League(s)/division(s) P/R
1 Class A
Klass A
12-13 teams
Decrease 2
2 Class B
Klass B
 Increase 2
Decrease 3
Zone 1
 Zone 2
 Zone 3
(1953–54, 1957–59)		 Zone 4
(1957–59)		 Zone 5
(1958–59)		 Zone 6
(1958–59)		 Zone 7
(1959)

1950-1952

[edit]
Level League(s)/division(s) P/R
1 Class A
Klass A
15-19 teams
Decrease 2
2 Class B
Klass B
14-18 teams		 Increase 2
Decrease 3

1947-1949

[edit]
Level League(s)/division(s) P/R
1 First Group
Pervaya Gruppa
13-18 teams
Decrease 2
2 Second Group
Vtoraya Gruppa
 Increase 2
Decrease 3
Zone 1 (Russia)
 Zone 2 (Russia)
 Trans-Caucasus
Zone 3 (Russia) (1949)		 Middle-Asia
Zone 4 (Russia) (1949)		 Central Zone
 Ukraine

1945-1946

[edit]
Level League(s)/division(s) P/R
1 First Group
Pervaya Gruppa
12 teams
Decrease 2
2 Second Group
Vtoraya Gruppa
18 teams (1945)		 Increase 2
Decrease 3
Southern subgroup
13 teams (1946)		 Eastern Subgroup
13 teams (1946)
3 Third Group
Tretia Gruppa
(1946)		 Increase 2
Decrease 3
North-Caucasus Zone (Russia)
 Center Zone (Russia)
 Low-Volga Zone (Russia)
 Volga Zone (Russia)
 Ural Zone (Russia)
 Sibir Zone (Russia)
 Far-eastern Zone (Russia)
Western Zone
 Trans-Caucasus Zone
 Middle Asia Zone
 Center Zone (Ukraine)
 East Zone (Ukraine)
 South Zone (Ukraine)
 West Zone (Ukraine)

1936-1941

[edit]

Initially, for the Spring championship of 1936 there were only seven teams participating in the top group, while for the Fall championship the number of participants was increased to eight. A similar scenario took place in the second group as the spring championship saw some withdrawals. In the third group the number of participants was unchanged at eight for both parts of the 1936 season. At same time in the fourth group initially there were five teams for the spring half and six for the autumn.

In 1937 the number of participants continue to grow. Some reshuffling took place between groups A and B, although initially both consisted of eight teams. Groups V and G increased their team pools to 10 and 12 participants, respectively. Also for the 1937 there was introduced the Group D with two subgroups.

In 1938 all of groups were merged into one big super league of 26 teams.

In 1939 and 1940 season Group A consisted of 14 teams. There also was a revival of Group B with 23 teams at first and then reduced to 14 as well.

In 1941 season there was only Group A championship which was heavily adjusted to 15 teams.

Level League(s)/division(s) P/R
1 Group A
Gruppa A
7-26 teams
2 Group B
Gruppa B
7-23 teams (1936–37, 1939–40)		 Increase
Decrease
3 Group V
Gruppa V
8-10 teams (1936–37)
4 Group G
Gruppa G
5-12 teams (1936–37)
5 Group D
Gruppa D
11 teams (1937)		 Group D (Cities of the East)
Gruppa D (Goroda Vostoka)
9 teams (1937)

Evolution of the Soviet football league system

[edit]
Tier\Years 1936-37 1938 1939–40 1941 1942–44 1945-46 1947-49 1950–52 1953-59 1960–62 1963-69 1970 1971-89 1990–91
1 Gruppa A Gruppa A Gruppa A Eastern Front
World War II		 Pervaya Gruppa Class A Class A 1a Gruppa Class A Vysshaya Gruppa Vysshaya Liga
2 Gruppa B Gruppa B None Vtoraya Gruppa Class B Class A 2a Gruppa Class A 1a Gruppa Pervaya Liga
3 Gruppa V None Tretia Gruppa None Class B Class A 2a Gruppa Vtoraya Liga
4 Gruppa G Republican level Class B None Nizshaya Vtoraya Liga
5 Gruppa D Republican level
6 Republican level
7+ Regional level
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