Norwegian Second Division

This article is about the men's division. For the women's division, see Norwegian Second Division (women).

Football league

Norwegian Second Division

Founded| 2016– (as PostNord-ligaen)
2012–2015 (as Oddsen-ligaen)
2009–2011 (as Fair Play ligaen)
1991–2008 (as 2. divisjon)
1963–1990 (as 3. divisjon)
Country| Norway
Confederation| UEFA
Number of clubs| 28 (divided into 2 groups of 14)
Level on pyramid| 3
Promotion to| Norwegian First Division
Relegation to| Norwegian Third Division
Domestic cup(s)| Norwegian Cup
Current champions| Hødd (Group 1), Skeid (Group 2)
(2024)
Website| fotball.no
Current: 2025 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)
Tenth Division (Tier 11)

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

The following 28 clubs are competing in the 2025 Norwegian Second Division.[4]

Group 1

* Arendal
* Brann 2
* Brattvåg
* Eik Tønsberg
* Fløy
* Jerv
* Lysekloster
* Notodden
* Pors
* Sandnes Ulf
* Sandviken
* Sotra
* Træff
* Vard Haugesund

Group 2

* Alta
* Asker
* Eidsvold Turn
* Follo
* Grorud
* Hønefoss
* Kjelsås
* Levanger
* Rana
* Stjørdals-Blink
* Strindheim
* Strømmen
* Tromsdalen
* Ull/Kisa

|

## Winners

[edit]

### 1991–1995

[edit]

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

|
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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

[edit]

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

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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

[edit]

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–

[edit]

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)
2024 | Hødd | Skeid | Mjøndalen (1. div), Jerv (2. div, gr. 1), Tromsdalen (2. div, gr. 2)

## Reserve teams

[edit]

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.[5]

## Sponsorship

[edit]

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

[edit]

### Team records

[edit]

#### 2001–2016

[edit]

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–

[edit]

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (December 2024)

|

2 groups  Record | Team | Season

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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

[edit]

Season  | Average

|

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

### Top ten most attended games

[edit]

No.  | Season  | Game  | Attendance

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|
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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

[edit]

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. ^ "Her er avdelingene i PostNord- og Norsk Tipping-ligaen 2025". Norwegian Football Federation (in Norwegian). 6 December 2024.
5. ^ Norwegian Football Association website (in Norwegian)

## External links

[edit]

* Current 2. divisjon table, results and fixtures at Soccerway
* 2\. divisjon stats at Fotballen.eu
* DF-02 (divisjonsforeningen av 2002) an interest group for the 2. divisjon

* v
* t
* e

2025 Norwegian Second Division

Group 1|

* Arendal
* Brann 2
* Brattvåg
* Eik Tønsberg
* Fløy
* Jerv
* Lysekloster
* Notodden
* Pors
* Sandnes Ulf
* Sandviken
* Sotra
* Træff
* Vard Haugesund

Group 2|

* Alta
* Asker
* Eidsvold Turn
* Follo
* Grorud
* Hønefoss
* Kjelsås
* Levanger
* Rana
* Stjørdals-Blink
* Strindheim
* Strømmen
* Tromsdalen
* Ull/Kisa

* v
* t
* e

Men's third level football seasons in Norway

Third Division|

* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990

Second Division|

* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Play-offs|

* Play-offs to the Norwegian Second Division (defunct from 2011)
* Play-offs to the Norwegian First Division (defunct from 2001)

* v
* t
* e

Football in Norway

League competitions|

| Men|

* Eliteserien
* First Division
* Second Division
* Third Division
* Fourth Division
* Fifth Division
* Sixth Division
* Seventh Division
* Eighth Division
* Ninth Division
* Tenth Division

|

Women|

* Toppserien
* First Division
* Second Division
* Third Division
* Fourth Division
* Fifth Division

Cup competitions|

| Men|

* Norwegian Football Cup

|

Women|

* Norwegian Women's Cup

Defunct cup competitions|

* Northern Norwegian Cup (1929–1969)
* Mesterfinalen (2009–2010, 2017–2018)

Playoff competitions|

| Men|

* Eliteserien play-offs
* To the First Division (1996–2000)
* To the Second Division (2001–2010)

|

Women|

* To the First Division

Youth competitions|

| Boys|

* U19
* U16

|

National teams|

* Men
* B
* U21
* U20
* U19
* U17
* Women
* U23
* U19
* U17

Others|

* Reserve teams

Lists and categories|

* Clubs
* Competitions
* Players
* foreign
* Stadiums

* Norwegian Football Federation
* District Football Associations
* Women's football in Norway

* v
* t
* e

Third-level football leagues of Europe (UEFA)

Current|

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* Division A
* Scotland
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Former|

* Belgium
* England
* Third Division
* Third Division North
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* Second Division
* Finland
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* Greece
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* A Championship
* B Division
* Ulster
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* Malta
* Netherlands
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* Portugal
* Second Division
* Third Division
* Campeonato de Portugal
* Scotland
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* North
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* Third League
* Croatia
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