2012–13 Championnat National


The 2012–13 Championnat National season was the 15th season since its establishment. The previous season's champions were Nîmes. The league schedule was announced in May 2012 and the fixtures were determined on 7 July. The season began on 3 August and ended on 24 May 2013. The winter break took place from 23 December to 12 January 2013.

Teams

There were four promoted teams from the Championnat de France amateur, replacing the four teams that were relegated from the Championnat National following the 2011–12 season. There were also three teams relegated from Ligue 2, the second division in France, replacing the clubs that were promoted to Ligue 2 from National for the 2012–13 season. A total of 20 teams competed in the league. Due to a 2010 federation ruling, beginning with the 2013–14 season, the Championnat National will downsize to 18 teams. Therefore, six clubs will suffer relegation to the fourth division, Championnat de France amateur in the 2012–13 season. All clubs that secured National status for the season were subject to approval by the DNCG before becoming eligible to participate.
Amiens was the first club to suffer relegation to the Championnat National in the 2011–12 Ligue 2 season. The club's drop was confirmed on 27 April 2012 following the team's 5–0 loss to Nantes. Amiens returned to the third division after only one season in Ligue 2. Two weeks later, Boulogne relegation to National was confirmed following the club's 2–1 defeat to Angers. Boulogne returned to the amateur level after five seasons playing at the professional level; included in those five years was a year's stint in Ligue 1. On the final day of the 2011–12 Ligue 2 season, Metz became the final club to fall to the third division following a 1–1 draw with Tours. Metz played in the Championnat National for the first time in club history having never appeared below Ligue 2 since the inception of professionalism in 1932.
On 18 May 2012, Uzès Pont du Gard became the first club from the Championnat de France amateur to earn promotion to the third division following a 1–0 win over Béziers. The club appeared in the Championnat National for the first time in its history. On the final day of the Championnat de France amateur season, CA Bastia, Bourg-Péronnas, and Carquefou all earned promotion to National after achieving positive results that made it impossible for the second-placed club in their respective groups to surpass them. Like Uzès, CA Bastia made its debut in the third division, while Carquefou and Bourg-Péronnas returned to the league after extended stays below the third division.

DNCG rulings

On 12 June 2012, following a preliminary review of each club's administrative and financial accounts in the Championnat National, the DNCG ruled that Cherbourg would be relegated to the Championnat de France amateur due to the club possessing a financial debt of €200,000. Following the announcement, Cherbourg president Gérard Gohel announced that the club would appeal the decision. On 5 July, the DNCG reversed its decision to relegate Cherbourg after the club gained the €200,000 required to remain in the division.

Stadia and locations

ClubLocationVenueCapacityAverage attendance1
AmiensStade de la Licorne12,0975644
Boulogne-sur-MerStade de la Libération15,0043541
PéronnasStade Municipal de Péronnas3,5001472
BastiaStade Erbajolo2,000569
CarquefouStade du Moulin Boisseau2,5001258
Cherbourg-OctevilleStade Maurice Postaire7,000802
ColmarColmar Stadium7,0001916
CréteilStade Dominique Duvauchelle12,150945
ÉpinalStade de la Colombière8,000859
FréjusStade Pourcin2,5001368
Le Poiré-sur-VieStade de l'Idonnière1,9502405
LuzenacStade Paul Fédou1,000718
MetzStade Saint-Symphorien26,7008665
OrléansStade de la Source6,0001565
ParisStade Sébastien Charléty20,000294
Le Petit-QuevillyStade Lozai2,500733
Saint-OuenStade Bauer10,0001147
RouenStade Robert Diochon10,0002727
UzèsStade Pautex2,500658
VannesStade de la Rabine8,0002426

1Source:

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
TeamManager1Captain1Kit Manufacturer1Main Sponsor1
AmiensThomas MiennielKappaAmiens Métropole
BoulogneGuillaume LoriotUhlsportBoostyle
Bourg-PéronnasYannick GoyonLottoRelais Pneus
CA BastiaRémy ArnouxErreàCorsicatour
CarquefouSébastien Le PaihDuarigJacques Métay
CherbourgLoïc BinetNikeMaîtres Laitiers du Cotentin
ColmarSylvain MeslienNikePatrick Sports
CréteilSebastien GondouinNikeSFB Béton
ÉpinalAbdellah AsbabouNikeFromages Ermitage
FréjusVincent FernandezLottoGéant
Le Poiré-sur-VieLudovic PallierNikeYves Cougnaud
LuzenacSébastien MignotteErreàGroupe Scopelec
MetzAlbert CartierGregory PromentNikeMoselle
OrléansYozip LeméeUmbroCTVL
ParisIbrahima FayéNikeNexity
QuevillyFrédéric WeisNikeMatmut
Red StarBertrand AbissononoAdidas-
RouenPierre VignaudHummelPromaritime International
Uzès Pont du GardFlorian FabreDuarigCarrefour
VannesPatrick LeugueunAdidasBreizh Cola

1 Subject to change prior to the start of the season.

Managerial changes

League table

Results

Season statistics

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1Romain PastorelliCA Bastia26
2Diafra SakhoMetz19
2Emiliano SalaOrléans19
4Christian BekamengaCarquefou17
4Kévin LefaixLe Poiré-sur-Vie17
6Oussoumane FofanaQuevilly15
6Mathieu ScarpelliFréjus15
8Faneva Imà AndriatsimaCréteil14
8Florian MartinCarquefou14
10Samir BenmezianeUzès Pont du Gard13

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