The 1996 Russian Third League was the 3rd time competition on the fourth level of Russian football was professional. There were 6 zones with 102 teams starting the competition (6 were excluded before the end of the season).
Zone 1
Overview
Standings
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Notes.
- FC Uralan-d Elista were excluded from the league after playing 18 games and gaining 23 points. Opponents were awarded a win in the remaining games. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
- FC Gofrokarton Digora were excluded from the league after playing 29 games and gaining 20 points. Opponents were awarded a win in the remaining games. They played their first professional season. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
- FC Gekris Anapa renamed to FC Spartak.
- FC Dynamo Makhachkala renamed to FC Dynamo-Imamat.
- FC Kuban-d Krasnodar and PFC Spartak-d Nalchik played their first professional season.
- FC Anzhi-2 Makhachkala moved to Kaspiysk.
- FC Iriston Mozdok renamed to FC Mozdok.
- FC Astrateks Astrakhan and FC Derbent did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
- FC Spartak-2 Nartkala renamed to FC Nart.
- FC Kabardey-ZET Nizhny Cherek promoted from the Amateur Football League. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
- FC Druzhba-d Maykop renamed to FC Kommunalnik-Druzhba-d Maykop. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
Top goalscorers
23 goals
21 goals
20 goals
19 goals
17 goals
16 goals
15 goals
Zone 2
Overview
Standings
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Notes.
- FC Istochnik Rostov-on-Don were excluded from the league after playing 14 games and gaining 30 points. All their results were discarded. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
- FC Salyut-YuKOS Belgorod and FC Lokomotiv Yelets awarded 1 home win each.
- FC Salyut Belgorod renamed to FC Salyut-YuKOS.
- FC Dynamo-Zhemchuzhina-2 Sochi played their first professional season.
- FC Avangard-Kolos Taganrog and FC Chernomorets-d Novorossiysk played their first professional season. They did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
- FC Zvezda Gorodishche did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
- FC Izumrud Timashyovsk promoted from the Amateur Football League.
- FC Rostselmash-d Rostov-on-Don did not play professionally in 1995.
Top goalscorers
32 goals
20 goals
15 goals
14 goals
13 goals
12 goals
Zone 3
Overview
Standings
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Notes.
- FC TRASKO Moscow were excluded from the league after playing 18 games and gaining 7 points. All their results were discarded.
- FC Mashinostroitel Sergiyev Posad awarded 1 home win.
- FC Dynamo-d Moscow was not promoted as reserve teams were not eligible for promotion.
- FC Torpedo-d Moscow renamed to FC Torpedo-Luzhniki-d.
- FC Roda Moscow promoted from the Amateur Football League.
- FC Obninsk did not play professionally in 1995 and did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
Top goalscorers
25 goals
19 goals
18 goals
17 goals
16 goals
15 goals
14 goals
Zone 4
Overview
Standings
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Notes.
- FC Karelia-Erzi Petrozavodsk were excluded from the league after playing 24 games and gaining 24 points. Opponents were awarded a win in the remaining games. They did not play professionally in 1995 and did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997
- FC Trion-Volga Tver renamed to FC Volga.
- FC Lokomotiv-d St. Petersburg played their first professional season.
- FC Spartak Bryansk promoted from the Amateur Football League.
- FC Kristall Dyatkovo and FC Bulat Cherepovets did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
Top goalscorers
18 goals
15 goals
14 goals
13 goals
11 goals
10 goals
9 goals
8 goals
Zone 5
Overview
Standings
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Notes.
- FC Energetik Uren and FC Lokomotiv-d Nizhny Novgorod played their first professional season.
- FC Biokhimik-Mordovia Saransk promoted from the Amateur Football League where it played in 1995 as FC Biokhimik Saransk.
- FC Stroitel Morshansk and FC Iskra Engels promoted from the Amateur Football League.
- FC Kraneks Ivanovo did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
Top goalscorers
25 goals
19 goals
15 goals
14 goals
12 goals
11 goals
10 goals
Zone 6
Overview
Standings
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Notes.
- FC Gornyak-Vanadiy Kachkanar renamed to FC Gornyak. Gornyak was excluded from the league after playing 12 games and gaining 22 points. Opponents were awarded a win in the remaining games.
- FC Dynamo Perm awarded 1 home win.
- FC Planeta Bugulma renamed to FC Neftyanik.
- FC Dynamo-Gazovik-d Tyumen, FC Gornyak Kushva and FC Uralmash-d Yekaterinburg did not play in any national-level competitions in 1997.
Top goalscorers
13 goals
- Konstantin Ilyinykh (FC Dynamo Perm)
12 goals
11 goals
9 goals
8 goals
See also