In the first Greek Championship that took place in 1927-28, only three teams participated, Aris, Ethnikos, Atromitos of Athens, the champions of Thessaloniki, Piraeus and Athens respectively. This system worked till 1930.
From 1930-31 Championship, which started in January ´31, the best eight teams from Athens, Piraeus and Thessaloniki participated (by decision of the Executive Board of H.F.F., taken on December 14th, 1930). In this Championship the following teams participated: Panathinaikos-AEK-Apollon, Olympiakos-Ethinkos and PAOK, Aris, Iraklis. This system worked till 1939-40. In the 1928-29 season, no Championship was organized, due to severe financial difficulties and in 34-35, the Championship began but didn´t reach completion. The reason was the fact that our country had undertaken the organization of the 4th Balkan Football Cup.
During the B´ World War, every athletic activities having to do with football ceased, as to official matches. In 1945-46 the championship starts again, in the form of «city championship», and finals between the first three of Athens-Piraeus-Thessaloniki. The only novelty being now -till 1959-60- the fact that teams from provincial towns join in too, in an effort to create, «National Division» in a very first version.
From 1959-60, A´ Division starts out (sometime with 16 and sometime with 18 teams) and,
From 1979-80 we enter the Professional Championship period.
From 1979-1980 till 1982-83, in the professional A´ Division 18 teams participated, whilst, from 1983-84 till 1988-89, 16 teams did. From 1989-90 till 2000-01, 18 teams participated. Finally, in 2001-02, 14 teams joined in and the sasons 2002-03 and 2003-2004, 2004-2005 championship, 16 teams.
THE H.F.F.
