competition. The league became more consisted with number of teams in league and relegation/promotion rules. 1936-1940 Gruppa B (no competition in 1938) 1945-1949 Vtoraya Gruppa 1950-1962 Class B 1963-1969 Vtoraya Gruppa (Class A) 1970-1970 Pervaya Gruppa (Class A) 1971-1991 Pervaya Liga One unusual feature of the league was one that have taken place before 1989. The Soviet Football Union tried to eliminate the growing amount of drawn games, thus, intensify the competition. The participated clubs were receiving a point for each drawn game, but the amount of all their drawn games could not exceed a third of all their games played. After that they received no points for any further draws that they earned. In 1987, for example, FC Fakel Voronezh was relegated by being short of a point having received no points for their two extra drawn games. Laureates of the Soviet second tier competitions The teams that either won its group or participated in play-offs are included as well. All seasons are double-round robin unless otherwise indicated in "Notes". Gruppa B (Group B) Vtoraya Gruppa (Second Group) Class B Vtoraya Gruppa Klassa A (Second Group of the Class A) Pervaya Gruppa Klassa A (First Group of the Class A) Pervaya Liga (First League) Winners Podium sweep Russia (1963) Ukraine (1980) All-time table (top 20) There were over 260 teams that played in the Soviet First League. In the list with green background are clubs with over 30 seasons in the league. 1Three points for a win. In 1973, a point for a draw was awarded only to a team that won the subsequent penalty shootout. In 1978–1988, the number of draws for which points were awarded was limited. Soviet football championship among reserves Notes References Further reading Evgeni Kazakov. The Soviet First Football League (Первая лига СССР по футболу). History of Soviet football championships. Volume 1 (1936–1969). Litres, 2019. External links Compilation of all game reports for the Soviet second tier. FC Dynamo Moscow website. 2 Defunct second level football leagues in Europe Sports leagues established in 1970 Sports leagues disestablished in 1991 1970 establishments in the Soviet Union 1991 disestablishments in the Soviet Union