Spanish Championship. RFEF Third Division. Group 5
RFEF Third Division Group 5 is one of five regional groups in Spain's Tercera Federación, the fifth tier of the Spanish football pyramid blending professional and semi-pro clubs. Featuring 18 teams mostly from eastern Andalusia, Murcia, and Alicante, it's a hotbed of gritty competition where underdog sides from small towns battle for survival and promotion dreams.
History and foundation
Established in 2020 amid the Tercera División's revamp into RFEF, Group 5 evolved from old Groups 4 and 13. A standout moment: UCAM Murcia CF's 2021 dominance with 78 points, though they faltered in playoffs. In 2022/23, CD Huétor Tájar topped the table, while Lorca Deportiva's phoenix-like return post-bankruptcy added drama. The group has witnessed reserve teams like Real Murcia Imperial rise and harsh relegations, epitomizing tier volatility.
Tournament format
The setup is straightforward: 18 teams in a double round-robin, 34 matches each. Top finisher promotes directly to Segunda RFEF; 2nd-5th enter playoffs for another shot. Bottom six (13th-18th) face relegation to Preferente, with 9th-12th in a relegation playoff. Season runs September to May, with a winter break. Recent seasons introduced stricter financial fair play to stabilize clubs.
Interesting facts
Matches average 2.7 goals, spiking to 4.1 in rivalries like Murcia-Lorca clashes. Leading scorers include Cristian Martín (Hércules B, 22 goals in 2022/23) and José Antonio Galdós (CAP Ciudad de Murcia, 19). Standouts: Miguel Mercado from UD Ibiza B, now in Segunda, and Pablo Sarmiento of Lorca FC with 150+ career goals. Talents like Kevin Rodríguez honed skills here before higher leagues.