ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd sˈɪkstiːn sˈɛvəntˌiːn θˈɜːd lˈiːɡ sˈiːzən mˈæɹɪtsə plˈoʊvdɪv fˈɪnɪʃt sˈɛkənd ɪn ðɛɹ ɹˈiːdʒənəl dᵻvˈɪʒən, bˌʌt ɡˈeɪnd pɹəmˈoʊʃən, bɪkˈʌz ðə fˈɜːst ɹˈæŋkt tˈiːm ˌɛfsˈiː zˈæɡɔːɹəts dᵻklˈaɪnd ðɪ ˈɔfɚ tə pɑːɹtˈɪsᵻpˌeɪt ɪnðə sˈɛkənd pɹəfˈɛʃənəl lˈiːɡ.
In 2016–17 Third League season Maritsa Plovdiv finished second in their regional division, but gained promotion, because the first ranked team – FC Zagorets declined the offer to participate in the Second Professional League.