Crown League

VFL Crown League

Founded	27 April 1974 (1974-04-27)
Country	Vionna-Frankenlisch
Confederation	CIFA
Number of teams	20
Level on pyramid	1
Relegation to	VFL National
Domestic cup(s)	National Cup
League cup(s)	VFL Grand Cup
International cup(s)	Imperial Cup
Current champions	Gestoria (1st title) (2019–20)
2020–21 Crown League

The Crown League is the top level of the Vionna-Frankenlischian football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Vionna-Frankenlischian League (VFL). Seasons run from August to May with each team playing 38 matches (playing all 19 other teams both home and away). Most games are played on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The Crown League is one of the contributing football leagues to the Imperial Cup, a competition drawn from the associations of the Frankenlischian Commonwealth.

The competition was founded as the Worker's League in 1974 as part of the Marton Reforms, a series of reforms by socialist Culture Minister John Marton intended to promote working-class sports and cultural activities to overtake the customs of the old aristocracy. The main feature of the reforms was the overhaul of the Vionna-Frankenlischian football league system which had previously been much smaller and divided between the kingdoms of Vionna and Frankenlisch. The Marton Reforms merged the two systems into one and founded the VFL to manage the seven tiers of professional Vionna-Frankenlischian football. The reorganisation, combined with government subsidies, increased the national popularity of association football and ensured the sport's survival following the restoration of the Vionna-Frankenlischian monarchy.

The Crown League is the most-attended sports event in Vionna-Frankenlisch and the centre of the Vionna-Frankenlischian sport sector. Though originally state-funded and its clubs self-organised, it has become heavily commercialised and clubs are now privately-owned. All Crown League matches are broadcast on radio and filmed for distribution to shops and cinemas.

Format

Competition

There are 20 clubs in the Premier League. During the course of a season (from August to May) each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents', for 38 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank.

Promotion and relegation

A system of promotion and relegation exists between the Crown League and the VFL National League. The three lowest placed teams in the Premier League are relegated to the National League, and the top two teams from the National League promoted to the Crown League, with an additional team promoted after a series of play-offs involving the third, fourth, fifth and sixth placed clubs.

Clubs

Main article: List of Crown League clubs

2020–21 season

Twenty clubs are competing in the Crown League’s 2020-21 season:

• Gestoria F.C.
• Larkinge City
• Larkinge County
• Grythshead Imperial
• Teutonberg United
• Vladimirska F.C.
• King's Grove F.C.
• Brumley City
• Royal Barbican
• Donaldia F.C.
• Lawrenceburgh F.C.
• Cunaris F.C.
• Edrington F.C.
• Trades Union F.C.
• Castle Road F.C.
• Marienberg City
• Weissberg F.C.
• Saxondale Duchy
• Oxbridge City
• Royal Westonland