Astograthian First Division

The First Division (Astograthian: Taldo Lehan) of the Astograthian Football League is the top professional association football division in Astograth. It is contested by 20 teams, with the three lowest placed teams relegated to the Second Division and replaced by the top two teams in that division, plus the winner of a play-off series. A total of 40 teams have competed in the First Division, seven of which have been crowned champions. Founded in 634, the league was initially dominated by Royal Rumiatzi, Ituraitz FC, Iturributa United and Sporting Iturributa; following the departure in 647 of the latter two a number of clubs rose to prominence, namely Urbizania Wanderers, Echegoyan FC and Astograth University. Dissolved and inactive between 662 and 673, the league has run continuously since 674 to the present.

The First Division used to be consistently among the strongest leagues affiliated to the Union of International Club Associations (UICA), with two of its clubs winning the highly coveted Champions’ Cup. Currently, First Division clubs qualify to compete internationally in the IFCF Champions League and Challengers Cup, as well as the Rushmore Copa de Campeones.

Competition Format
The competition format follows the common double round-robin format. During the course of a season, which is year-long, each club plays every other club twice, once at home and once away, for a total of 38 matches. Teams receive three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, with the highest-ranked club at the end of the season crowned champion. If points are equal between two or more clubs, the rules are:

A system of promotion and relegation exists between the First Division and the Astograthian Second Division, whereby the three lowest placed teams in the First Division are relegated to the Second Division, and the top two teams from the Second Division promoted to the First Division, with an additional club promoted after a series of play-offs involving the third, fourth, fifth and sixth placed clubs.
 * If all clubs involved have played each other twice:
 * If the tie is between two clubs, then the tie is broken using the head-to-head goal difference (without the away goals rule)
 * If the tie is between more than two clubs, then the tie is broken, using the games the clubs have played against each other:
 * a) head-to-head points
 * b) head-to-head goal difference
 * c) head-to-head goals scored
 * If two legged games between all clubs involved have not been played, or the tie is not broken by the rules above, it is broken using total goal difference.
 * If the tie is still not broken, it is to be resolved by number of wins and finally alphabetical order, unless the title, an international qualification place or a relegation spot is in dispute. In these cases, number of wins is replaced as a tie-breaker by a special play-off match at the neutral ground of Grand Duke's Stadium in Rumiatzi; however, this method has yet to be used.

Throughout the First Division's history it has gradually increased the amount of clubs in competition:
 * 10 clubs = 634–637
 * 12 clubs = 638
 * 14 clubs = 639
 * 16 clubs = 640–656
 * 18 clubs = 657–661
 * 20 clubs = 674–

Formation
In November 632, by order of the Astograthian Ministry of Sport, the Futbol Astograthiko Federazioa was formed with president Eneko Gandiaga at its head. It quickly embarked on the task of forming the first Astograthian national league system since the modern country's unification. After much debate regarding the size of the league and who would take part, the FAF eventually agreed that ten teams would take part in the inaugural First Division and would be selected according to their standings in the most recent edition of their respective regional league, with some regions ranked above others on sporting and historic criteria.

Ituraitz FC were selected as champions of the Northwest Premier League, Sporting Iturributa as champions of the Iturributa Province Division One, Royal Rumiatzi as champions of the Rumiatzi Football Union, Urbizania Wanderers as champions of the Capital Region Elite League and Echegoyan FC as champions of the Blue Mountain Challenge Series. Iturributa United and Athletic Club Rumiatzi were further chosen as runners-up of the Iturributa Province Division One and the Rumiatzi Football Union respectively. Blue Mountain Range, runners-up of the Blue Mountain Challenge Series, earned their place after winning a play-off against Ituraitz Victory, runners-up of the Northwest Premier League. Royal Association, third-placed in the Iturributa Province Division One, were also chosen after beating Royal Garitzeta, champions of the Northeast Champions’ League; likewise South Factory, runners-up of the Capital Region Elite League, who defeated Oak-Builders FC, Anzar League I winners.

Three of the founding clubs, Royal Rumiatzi, Ituraitz FC, and Urbizania Wanderers, have played every First Division season.

Emergence (630s)
The first two seasons of the Astograthian First Division were both won by Royal Rumiatzi and were essentially trial runs, with no promotion or relegation system. The league proved popular and profitable, such that from the third season on out promotion and relegation began to function and the Football League became affiliated to the Union of International Club Associations (UICA), sending teams to the Champions’ Cup and Globe Cup from then on out. This also coincided with the creation of the Astograthian national team and the free inscription of foreign players in the First Division; Cotdelapomais Louis-Yves Lafayette and Kagdazkan Slava Semënov were the first to arrive, at Urbizania Wanderers and Royal Rumiatzi respectively.

In 637 the Ides of March Cup was established, played between the champions of Astograth and Polar Islandstates. In 639 the FAF became affiliated to the Confederación Rushmori de Fútbol, and began sending First Division teams to the Rushmore Copa de Campeones and the Rushmore Copa de los Príncipes.

Ituraitz FC won the 636 season to much acclaim, while Royal Rumiatzi reclaimed the trophy to make it three out of four in 637. In 638 and 639. Iturributa United trumped Royal Rumiatzi with a memorable team that included Estebe Bularte, Petter Bielsen and Zuzen Barta.

Consolidation (640s)
Sporting Iturributa became the last of the so-called "Big 4" to win the First Division, in 640, but were superseded by an Ituraitz FC] side that won the double in 641 and the league title again in 642, with such players as Lester Sutton and Milian Erburu. [[Royal Rumiatzi then won their fourth title in dramatic fashion in 643 and were followed by the unexpected Echegoyan FC, who under the management of Gunutz Yaregi had gone from the Second Division to league champions in five years. The next champions were Sporting Iturributa in 645, who went on to reach the UICA Champions’ Cup semifinals the following year. In 646, the Free Republic of Iturributa unilaterally declared independence from Astograth, prompting all Iturributan-based clubs except for Royal Association to abandon the Astograthian league system and coalesce in the Iturributan Premier Division. Iturributa United, who won the 646 Astograthian championship, went on to represent Astograth in UICA competition the following year, an arrangement the FAF were forced to uphold by UICA. Iturributa United excelled and reached the final of the Champions’ Cup, becoming the first "Astograthian" club to do so, before losing on penalties to the now five-time champions Yuba United.

In a 647 season that was markedly different owing to the absence of Iturributan teams, Ituraitz FC won their fourth title, fielding a formidable team that starred Tomas Aer, Ikatz Ansotegi, Dima Petersen, Dei Ormache and Ikatz Alberro. The following year the champions would be Royal Rumiatzi, in large part thanks to the efforts of Polarian striker Ellis Elmsvikur, controversially signed from Iturributa United that season. The decade would end with the first championship victory for unexpected winners Astograth University, whose success in beating Royal Rumiatzi to the pulse were largely attributed to star player Lekubegi Guerrikaechebarria.

Prominence (650s)
After five different champions in five seasons, Echegoyan FC won their second title in 650. In the following pre-season, however, it was runners-up Urbizania Wanderers who caught everyone's eye. Announcing the signing of Vanorian World Cup superstar Laborious Hawk, the most high-profile transfer in First Division history, Wanderers went on to win not only their first league title in 651 but also the UICA Champions’ Cup against Hondo FC of Valanora, the first Astograthian club to win the highest honour in club football. The same season, Echegoyan FC reached the final of the Rushmore Copa de Campeones, also a first for Astograth, but lost 1-0 to Iturributa United. Wanderers would get to the final of the 652 Copa de Campeones, losing to FC Axel Heiburg of Polar Islandstates, but were otherwise removed from the spotlight in the next few years.

Ituraitz FC and Echegoyan FC were the champions of 652 and 653 respectively. This was followed by two seasons in which Ituraitz FC became the most dominant side to come out of the First Division, and widely regarded as the best Astograthian team of all time. Winning both First Division titles, they additionally won the 655 Champions’ Cup, Copa de Campeones and UICA Super Cup, completing a quadruple-trophy-winning season that has not been replicated before or since in Astograthian football. Ituraitz would meet Liria Prizren of Mytanija, who won that season's Globe Cup, in the Copa de Campeones final and the UICA Super Cup, sparking an intense but short-lived rivalry with the Mytanar club. The following season, Ituraitz would win the Globe Cup and the two sides would again meet in the Copa de Campeones final. This time it would be Liria Prizren winning the regional competition.

These exploits made Ituraitz FC the most internationally and domestically successful club in Astograth. They were followed by a Royal Rumiatzi double in 656, who went on to win the Copa de Campeones in 657 after beating Sporting Iturributa 1-0 in a heated final. In 657 and 658 Urbizania Wanderers, again marshalled by Laborious Hawk, clinched their second and third titles, the latter as part of their first domestic double. The decade was rounded out by Royal Rumiatzi's seventh title win in 659, equalling Ituraitz FC's record.

Dissolution and Refounding (660s–670s)
The decade of the 660s kicked off with Astograth University winning their second First Division title and becoming the fourth club to win the Astograthian double. In 661, Royal Rumiatzi set a new record with their eighth league championship. Oyardo FC broke the mould by finishing in third place while their striker, Julius Carrera from Sameba, broke the league's top scoring record with 29 goals.

During the 661 season, the Reannexation of Iturributa took place, interrupting the ongoing season of the Iturributan Premier Division and placing all Iturributan clubs back under the jurisdiction of the FAF. The FAF's plan was to reorganise the Football League and admit certain Iturributan clubs into the Second Division B, third tier of the League. However, at the end of 661, all professional sports in Astograth were ordered to cease activities by decree of Regent Lord Protector Gaskon Ugarte. The only exemption granted was for clubs to fulfill their international obligations during the 662 season. Garitzeta Racing Club, who had been awarded the final Iturributan Premier Division and thus competed in the UICA Champions’ Cup representing Iturributa, reached the final of the competition against Nithgard GU of Earent, drawing 1–1 in full-time and, after extra-time, losing in a penalty shootout.

Following the end of the 662 international season, the FAF, all national team levels, and all national competitions were dissolved. For the next decade, clubs would compete in regional competitions similar to those that existed prior to the formation of the Astograthian Football League.

In 673, with the restitution of the FAF under the government of Grand Duke Gaxan, the Astograthian National Football Championship was organised between winners of that season's regional championships. Over two leagues, Urbizania Wanderers defeated Ituraitz FC in the finals to claim the championship, recognised as a First Division title by the FAF. The following season, the Astograthian Football League was relaunched with a 20-team First Division, a 24-team Second Division, and a 48-team Second Division B. For the 674 season of the refounded top flight, 12 teams qualified as regional champions, 7 as runners-up of the top regional leagues, and 1 team (Antiguoko FC) as winners of the League of Eastern Champions, a special cup competition. Though Astograthian teams would compete in international competitions during the 674 season, the league would remain largely isolated throughout the 670s, not entering further tournaments and remaining on the periphery of the international player market. Nevertheless, the decade would see five different champions in six seasons, as Iturributa United, Sporting Iturributa, Urbizania Wanderers, and Royal Rumiatzi each won a title, while Ituraitz FC achieved two in a row in 676 and 677. The latter of these was part of a domestic double and coincided with the club's centennary celebrations. Major players to emerge during the decade include Jê Çìró (Urbizania Wanderers), Azeari Duarte (Royal Rumiatzi), Mogel Doyenard (Sporting Iturributa), Baleren Narke (Ituraitz FC), Beltza Urkizo (Iturributa United), and Yasone Urdanibia (Oyardo FC and Royal Rumiatzi).

A new Top Five (680s)
The 680s were defined by three major milestones: the unprecedented three titles in a row won by Sporting Iturributa, the return of Astograthian clubs to international competition, and the first title win of Gortz United. The first of these, achieved by Sporting under the management of Zorion Legeren, established the team as the dominant domestic force of the early 80s; after Legeren's retirement in late 684, Sporting would continue to be the most consistent team of the decade, achieving four runners-up places in the following five seasons. On either side of Sportings' three-title run were a total of three titles for Urbizania Wanderers, the other most prominent team of the early 80s, stewarded by manager Eriz Bakaikoa and commanded on the pitch by Farf winger Jê Çìró, twice voted Best Player of the Season. The latter half of the 80s saw Astograth return to international competition, joining IFCF as an unranked association and rising to 16th place in the IFCF rankings by the end of the decade. Astograthian clubs also actively took part of the international player market, signing numerous international stars: these included World Cup winners Namakula Kawesa at Sporting Iturributa and Pristina Shine at Iturributa United. After Urbizania Wanderers' two titles in 684 and 685, Royal Rumiatzi managed by Galeano won the following two championships (686 and 687) in strong fashion. The second of these was overshadowed, however, by Iturributa United's Pristina Shine shattering the previous league scoring record of 29 by scoring 37 goals in 38 matches, and by Gortz United achieving their first-ever runners-up finish. Gortz's meteoric rise was mirrored by the equally rapid fall of Ituraitz FC, who sank into regular mid-table finishes. Gortz went on to win their first league title in 688, leading pundits in Astograth to state "a new Top Five" had been established in Astograth, as Gortz replace Ituraitz and join Urbizania Wanderers, Royal Rumiatzi, Iturributa United, and Sporting Iturributa as the Top Five who regularly challenge for the title. During the 688 season, Ituraitz Victory reached the final of the Cup Winners' Cup, losing 3–6 against Audioslavia's AC Izotz Zubia; this was the first Astograthian appearance in an international final in 26 years. The decade would close with Iturributa United ending a fifteen-year streak without winning the league title, their longest drought in history.

Clubs
20 teams contest the league in its current season, including the top 17 sides from the 690 season and three promoted from the 690 Second Division. Royal Arexa and Sporting Ibarguren were promoted directly, and Erribe United won the promotion play-off.

All-time First Division table
The all-time First Division table is an overall record of all match results, points, and goals of every team that has played in the First Division since its inception in 634. The table is accurate as of the end of the 690 season. Teams in bold are part of the 691 First Division.

Most goals
Boldface indicates a player still active in the First Division. Italics indicates a player still active outside the First Division.