Algarve Football Association



The Associação de Futebol do Algarve is one of the 22 district football associations that are affiliated to the Portuguese Football Federation. The AF Algarve administers lower tier football in the district of Faro.

Background
Associação de Futebol do Algarve, commonly referred to as AF Algarve, is the governing body for football in the district of Faro. The Football Association is based in Penha in Faro, close to Piscinas Municipais de Faro (Faro Municipal Swimming Pool) and Complexo Desportivo da Penha (Sports Complex of Penha). The Association's President is António Coelho Matosa.

The organisation was established on 22 January 1922 following an initial meeting on 15 October 1921 at the Ginásio Clube Farense by representatives from a number of Algarve clubs including Sporting Clube Farense, Sport Lisboa e Faro, Boxing Futebol Clube (Portimão), Sporting Clube Olhanense, Lusitano Futebol Clube, Glória Futebol Clube, Portimonense Sporting Clube, Sport Club União, Sport Club "Os Leões Portimonenses" and Esperança Futebol Clube. The two previous attempts to establish a Football Association ended in failure.

Competitions
Algarve clubs compete in the three national levels of the Portuguese football league system in competitions run by the Portuguese League for Professional Football (Primeira Liga and LigaPro) and Portuguese Football Federation (Campeonato de Portugal (league)).

Below the Campeonato de Portugal, the competitions are organised at a district level (known in Portuguese as Distritais) with each District Association organising its competitions according to geographical and other factors. The AF Algarve runs two league competitions with the Division One (1ª divisão) being at the fourth level of the league system and Division Two (2ª divisão) at the fifth level. At one time this second tier was divided into two groups on a geographical basis.

In more general terms the AF Algarve currently organises District Championships for Football and Futsal for men and women for all age groups including Senior, Junior, Youth, Beginners, Infants and Schools.

Notable clubs affiliated to AF Algarve

 * Primeira Liga (tier 1)
 * Portimonense SC
 * SC Farense


 * Campeonato de Portugal (league) (tier 3)
 * Esperança de Lagos
 * Louletano DC
 * Moncarapachense
 * SC Olhanense


 * Distritais (tiers 4 & 5)
 * Almancilense
 * C.D.R. Quarteirense
 * Ferreiras
 * Imortal Desportivo Clube
 * Lusitano FC
 * Operário
 * Silves F.C.

2020–21
AF Algarve Division One covering the regional fourth tier of the Portuguese football league system.

Division One (1ª divisão)

 * Associação Farense 1910
 * C.D.R. Quarteirense
 * C.D Odiáxere
 * C.F. Esperança Lagos
 * C.U. Culatrense
 * F.C. Ferreiras
 * F.C. Os 11 Esperanças
 * G.D. Lagoa
 * Guia F.C.
 * Imortal Desportivo Club Albufeira
 * Louletano D.C.
 * Lusitano FC
 * Quarteira S.C.
 * Silves F.C.
 * S.R. Almancilense

At the end of the season the champions will be promoted to the national third tier. The team placed second gains entry to the Portuguese FA Cup. The three lowest teams will be relegated to Algarve League Division Two.

Division Two (2ª divisão)

 * 4 ao Cubo Olhāo
 * Carvoeiro United
 * C.D. Marítimo Olhanense
 * C.D.R. Quarteirense
 * International Club Almancil
 * JS Campinense
 * Padernense Clube
 * Portimenense S.C. B
 * S.C. Farense B
 * UDR Sambrasense

The winners will be promoted to Division One.

Taça do Algarve
The regional cup competition is competed for by the teams above, plus those in the national third tier.

It is of note that the number of clubs in the Algarve has declined significantly in recent years. Among the casualties are Campinense, Castromarinense, Infante de Sagres, Beira Mar Monte Gordo, Serrano (São Marcos da Serra), Bensafrim. Os Machados and Internacional Almancil.

Former participants
Other clubs that have competed in the Distritais include:


 * Algarve United Futebol SAD
 * Associação Académica da Universidade do Algarve
 * Associação Ases de Alcantarilha
 * Associação Cultural de Salir
 * Associação Recreativa Cultural Amorosa
 * Casa do Povo da Mexilhoeira Grande
 * Centro de Educação Desportiva de Lagos
 * Clube de Futebol Montes Alvorense
 * Clube de Futebol Os Bonjoanenses
 * Clube Desportivo Boliqueime
 * Clube Desportivo e Recreativo Santaluziense
 * Clube Oriental de Pechão
 * Clube Recreativo Infante de Sagres
 * Clube Recreativo Praia da Salema
 * Clube Recreativo Vila do Bispo
 * Futebol Clube de Bias
 * Futebol Clube Ferreiras (B)
 * Futebol Clube Império
 * Gil Eanes Juventude Portimonense Clube
 * Grupo Desportivo Beira Mar
 * Grupo Desportivo Beira Mar (B)
 * Grupo Desportivo Cultural Salgados
 * Grupo Desportivo da Atalaia
 * Grupo Desportivo de Alcoutim
 * Grupo Desportivo de Burgau
 * Grupo Desportivo e Cultural Jograis António Aleixo
 * Grupo Desportivo e Recreativo Alvorense
 * Grupo Desportivo Odeceixense
 * Grupo Desportivo Safol Olhanense
 * Grupo Desportivo Torralta
 * Guia Futebol Clube (B)
 * India Futebol Clube Olhanense
 * Instituto D. Francisco Gomes – Casa dos Rapazes
 * Internacional Clube de Almancil
 * Juventude Desportiva Monchiquense (B)
 * Leões Futebol Clube Tavira
 * Sociedade Recreativa Boa União Parchalense
 * Sport Clube de Benafim
 * Sport Lagos e Benfica
 * Sport Lisboa e Faro
 * Sport Lisboa e Fuzeta
 * Sporting Clube Olhanense (B)
 * União Desportiva e Recreativa Sambrazense (B)

Historic champions

 * Titles


 * SC Olhanense - 16
 * Lusitano VRSA - 6
 * SC Farense - 5
 * Portimonense SC - 1

List of member clubs

 * Footnote:
 * 1-10 games in Portuguese Cup.    *
 * 11-100 games in Portuguese Cup. * *
 * 101+ games in Portuguese Cup.    * * *