Norwegian Second Division

This article is about the men's division. For the women's division, see Norwegian Second Division (women).
Norwegian Second Division
Founded2016– (as PostNord-ligaen)
2012–2015 (as Oddsen-ligaen)
2009–2011 (as Fair Play ligaen)
1991–2008 (as 2. divisjon)
1963–1990 (as 3. divisjon)
CountryNorway
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams28 (divided into 2 groups of 14)
Level on pyramid3
Promotion toNorwegian First Division
Relegation toNorwegian Third Division
Domestic cup(s)Norwegian Cup
Current championsHødd (Group 1), Skeid (Group 2)
(2024)
Websitefotball.no
Current: 2024 Norwegian Second Division
Norwegian football
league structure
Eliteserien (Tier 1)
First Division (Tier 2)
Second Division (Tier 3)
Third Division (Tier 4)
Fourth Division (Tier 5)
Fifth Division (Tier 6)
Sixth Division (Tier 7)
Seventh Division (Tier 8)
Eighth Division (Tier 9)
Ninth Division (Tier 10)

The Norwegian Second Division, also called 2. divisjon and often referred to as PostNord-ligaen for sponsorship reasons, is the third-highest level of the Norwegian football league system.

There are 28 teams divided into two groups, and at the end of the season the winner of each group earns promotion to the second-highest division, 1. divisjon. The teams finishing in second place in their respective group will qualify for the promotion play-offs, where they will face each other. The winner will play against the 14th placed team in 1. divisjon for promotion. The bottom three teams in each group are relegated to 3. divisjon.

2. divisjon is the highest league a reserve team can participate in, and only reserve teams from the Eliteserien clubs (first tier) are allowed to enter. The participation of reserve teams stirs debate from time to time.[1]

History

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Between 1963 and 1990, 2. divisjon was the second highest level of the Norwegian football league system, therefore the name of the third highest level was 3. divisjon. When the highest level was rebranded in 1991, this level changed its name to 2. divisjon. From 2009 to 2011, the official name of the league was Fair Play ligaen, and from 2012 to 2015 the name was Oddsen-ligaen (after the main sponsor Norsk Tipping's betting-game called Oddsen).[2][3] The league is currently branded as PostNord-ligaen, sponsored by PostNord.

Current members

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class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2023 Norwegian Second Division teams.
Green: Group 1; Red: Group 2.

The following 28 clubs are competing in the 2023 Norwegian Second Division.[4][5][6]

Club Group Location Stadium Capacity
Aalesund 2 1 Ålesund Color Line Stadion 10,778
Alta 2 Alta Finnmarkshallen 1,200
Arendal 1 Arendal Norac Stadion 5,000
Brattvåg 1 Brattvåg Brattvåg Stadion 1,500
Bærum 2 Sandvika Sandvika Stadion 1,500
Brann 2 2 Bergen Varden Amfi 3,500
Egersund 1 Egersund Idrettsparken 2,000
Fløy 1 Flekkerøy Flekkerøy Kunstgress 2,000
Fram Larvik 1 Larvik Framparken 2,500
Gjøvik-Lyn 2 Gjøvik Gjøvik Stadion 3,000
Grorud 1 Oslo Grorud Arctic Match 1,700
Junkeren 2 Bodø Nordlandshallen 5,500
Kjelsås 1 Oslo Grefsen Stadion 2,000
Kvik Halden 2 Halden Halden Stadion 4,200
Levanger 2 Levanger TOBB Arena 2,200
Lyn 1 Oslo Bislett Stadion 15,400
Notodden 1 Notodden Idrettsparken 4,000
Sotra 2 Sotra Straume Idrettspark 1,200
Stjørdals-Blink 2 Stjørdal M.U.S Stadion Sandskogan 2,000
Strømmen 2 Strømmen Strømmen Stadion 1,850
Strømsgodset 2 2 Drammen Marienlyst Stadion 8,935
Tromsdalen 2 Tromsø TUIL Arena 3,000
Træff 1 Molde Reknesbanen 1,500
Ull/Kisa 2 Jessheim Jessheim Stadion 4,500
Ullern 2 Oslo CC Vest Arena 1,500
Vålerenga 2 1 Oslo Intility Arena 16,555
Vard Haugesund 1 Haugesund Haugesund Stadion 8,754
Ørn Horten 1 Horten Lystlunden Stadion 3,000

Winners

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1991–1995

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All group winners, excluding second teams of top division teams, were promoted to 1. divisjon.

Season Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Group 6
1991 Odd Bærum Vard Haugesund Brann 2[nb 1] Rosenborg 2[nb 2] Bodø/Glimt
1992 Lillestrøm 2[nb 3] Skeid Åssiden Åsane Nardo Mjølner
1993 Jevnaker Åndalsnes Stabæk Vidar Stjørdals-Blink Alta
1994 Sarpsborg FK Odd Grenland Sandefjord BK Haugesund Aalesund Stålkameratene
1995 Elverum Ullern Mjøndalen Vidar Byåsen Harstad
  1. ^ Os were promoted
  2. ^ Stjørdals/Blink were promoted
  3. ^ Ski were promoted

1996–2000

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Each group winner played qualification play-offs to decide which teams promote to 1. divisjon. Teams in bold promoted to 1. divisjon through qualification play-offs.

Season Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Group 6 Group 7 Group 8
1996[nb 1] Sarpsborg FK Skjetten Runar Vigør Rosenborg 2[nb 2] Finnsnes — —
1997 Kjelsås Raufoss Ullern Vidar Fana Kolstad Strindheim Lofoten
1998 Liv/Fossekallen Skjetten Ørn-Horten Vidar Fyllingen Clausenengen Rosenborg 2[nb 3] Lofoten
1999 HamKam Asker Sandefjord Vidar Fyllingen Aalesund Strindheim Tromsdalen
2000 Skjetten FF Lillehammer Ørn-Horten Mandalskameratene Hødd Aalesund Stålkameratene Lofoten
  1. ^ Byåsen and Harstad from 1. divisjon played qualification games against group winners from 2. divisjon
  2. ^ Verdal finished second in Group 5 and qualified for promotion play-offs, but was not promoted.
  3. ^ Mo finished second in Group 7 and qualified for promotion play-offs, but was not promoted.

2001–2016

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All group winners, excluding second teams of top division teams, were promoted to 1. divisjon.

Season Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4
2001 Skeid Åsane Oslo Øst Lørenskog
2002 Fredrikstad Bærum Mandalskameratene Alta
2003 Pors Grenland Kongsvinger Vard Haugesund Tromsdalen
2004 FK Tønsberg Follo Løv-Ham Alta
2005 Sparta Sarpsborg Oslo Øst Viking 2[nb 1] Tromsdalen
2006 Notodden Skeid Mandalskameratene Raufoss
2007 Nybergsund Hødd Sandnes Ulf Alta
2008 Mjøndalen Skeid Stavanger Tromsdalen
2009 Strømmen Follo Sandnes Ulf Ranheim
2010 Asker Hødd Randaberg HamKam
2011 Ullensaker/Kisa Bærum Notodden Tromsdalen
2012 Elverum Kristiansund Vard Haugesund Follo
2013 Bærum Alta Nest-Sotra Tromsdalen
2014 Jerv Levanger Åsane Follo
2015 KFUM Raufoss Ullensaker/Kisa Kongsvinger
2016 Tromsdalen Elverum Florø Arendal
  1. ^ Haugesund finished second in Group 3 and was promoted

2017–

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Teams in bold were promoted to 1. divisjon.
Teams in italics were relegated to 2. divisjon.

Season Group 1 Group 2 Play-off teams
2017 Ham-Kam Nest-Sotra Fredrikstad (1. div), Raufoss (2. div, gr. 1), Notodden (2. div, gr. 2)
2018 Raufoss Skeid Åsane (1. div), Fredrikstad (2. div, gr. 1), KFUM Oslo (2. div, gr. 2)
2019 Stjørdals-Blink Grorud Notodden (1. div), Kvik Halden (2. div, gr. 1), Åsane (2. div, gr. 2)
2020 Fredrikstad Bryne Stjørdals-Blink (1. div), Skeid (2. div, gr. 1), Asker (2. div, gr. 2)
2021 Kongsvinger Skeid Stjørdals-Blink (1. div), Hødd (2. div, gr. 1), Arendal (2. div, gr. 2)
2022 Moss Hødd Skeid (1. div), Arendal (2. div, gr. 1), Ull/Kisa (2. div, gr. 2)
2023 Egersund Levanger Hødd (1. div), Lyn (2. div, gr. 1), Tromsdalen (2. div, gr. 2)

Reserve teams

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Main article: Norwegian reserve football teams

Reserve teams of clubs from the two top divisions can participate in the 2. divisjon. Reserve teams of clubs from the 1. divisjon can not play in the 2. divisjon, so if a team is relegated from the 1. divisjon, the club's reserve team will be relegated to the 3. divisjon regardless of their final position in the league.[7]

Sponsorship

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From 2016, 2. divisjon has its title sponsorship rights sold to PostNord.

Period Sponsor Name
1963–1990 No sponsor 3. divisjon
1991–2008 2. divisjon
2009–2011 Fair Play ligaen
2012–2015 Norsk Tipping Oddsen-ligaen
2016– PostNord PostNord-ligaen

Records and statistics

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Team records

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2001–2016

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4 groups
Record Team Season
Most points 70 (Kongsvinger) 2003
Fewest points 3 (Stord and Skjervøy) 2001 and 2003
Most goals in one season 105 (Tromsdalen) 2011
Fewest goals in one season 18 (Langevåg) 2003
Most goals conceded in one season 130 (Skjervøy) 2003
Fewest goals conceded in one season 13 (Elverum) 2016
Most goals in one game 15–0 (Strindheim – Salangen)
15–0 (Sparta Sarpsborg – Fram Larvik) 		2004
2005
Biggest win 15–0 (Strindheim – Salangen)
15–0 (Sparta Sarpsborg – Fram Larvik) 		2004
2005

2017–

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2 groups
Record Team Season
Most points 65 (HamKam) 2017
Fewest points 13 (Byåsen) 2017
Most goals in one season 66 (Åsane) 2019
Fewest goals in one season 21 (Brumunddal) 2017
Most goals conceded in one season 69 (Odd 2 and Stabæk 2) 2017 and 2018
Fewest goals conceded in one season 18 (HamKam) 2017
Most goals in one game 5–5 (Bærum – Oppsal)
 2019
Biggest win 8–0 (Raufoss – Follo) 2017

Average attendances

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Season Average
2014 258
2015 285
2016 262
2017 350
2018 493
2019 474

Top ten most attended games

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No. Season Game Attendance
1 2018 Fredrikstad–Moss 10 413
2 2019 Fredrikstad–Byåsen 7 912
3 2002 Fredrikstad–Kvik Halden 7 013
4 2018 Fredrikstad–Asker 5 691
5 2002 Fredrikstad–Eidsvold Turn 5 370
6 2003 Kongsvinger–Ullensaker/Kisa 5 024
7 2010 Hamarkameratene–Brumunddal 4 565
8 2019 Fredrikstad–Kvik Halden 4 462
9 2018 Fredrikstad–Raufoss 4 291
10 2019 Fredrikstad–Stjørdals-Blink 4 245

References

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  1. ^ Aarre, Eivind (5 September 2007). "Foreslår 2.-lagene i egen liga". Stavanger Aftenblad. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-04.
  2. ^ "Fair Play Ligaen 2009". Mo IL. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
  3. ^ "2. divisjon skifter navn". nettavisen.no (in Norwegian). Nettavisen. 7 February 2012. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  4. ^ "Avdelingene for PostNord-ligaen 2023". Norwegian Football Federation (in Norwegian). 25 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Stadiums in PostNord-ligaen avd 1 2022". Nordic Stadiums. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Stadiums in PostNord-ligaen avd 2 2022". Nordic Stadiums. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  7. ^ Norwegian Football Association website (in Norwegian)
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