The 2020 Esiliiga B was the eighth season of the Esiliiga B, the third tier of the Estonian football league system. The competition was organised by the Estonian Football Association (EJL) and functioned as an intermediary division between the fourth‑level II Liiga and the second‑tier Esiliiga.
Season dates – The league commenced on 8 March 2020 and concluded on 22 November 2020.
Participating clubs – Ten clubs competed:
- Paide Linnameeskond U21
- Tartu JK Welco
- JK Tallinna Kalev U21
- JK Tabasalu
- Viimsi JK
- Läänemaa JK
- JK Nõmme Kalju U21
- JK Keila
- Rakvere JK Tarvas
- Võru FC Helios
Four clubs entered the division for the 2020 season: Welco, Tarvas, Läänemaa and Tallinna Kalev U21. Six clubs remained from the previous 2019 season after the promotion of Nõmme United, Vändra and Pärnu JK and the relegation of Põhja‑Tallinna JK Volta to the II Liiga.
Final standings – Paide Linnameeskond U21 finished as champions, winning 23 of their 30 matches, scoring 112 goals and conceding 40, for a goal difference of +72 and accumulating 71 points. Their title secured promotion to the 2021 Esiliiga.
Welco placed second with 62 points and also earned promotion. Tallinna Kalev U21 finished third.
Relegated clubs were Võru FC Helios, JK Keila and Rakvere JK Tarvas, each finishing in the bottom three positions and moving to the II Liiga for the following season.
Top goalscorers – Eduard Desjatski and Ander Ott Valge jointly led the scoring chart, each netting 24 goals.
Stadiums and locations – Matches were hosted across a range of municipal stadiums, with capacities varying from 300 (Hiiu Stadium, Tallinn) to 1 500 (Tartu Tamme Stadium, Tartu). Notable venues included Paide linnastaadion (500 capacity) and Rakvere linnastaadion (1 100 capacity).
Competition format – Each club played the others three times, resulting in a 30‑match season for most teams. Standard point allocation applied (three points for a win, one for a draw). The league table determined promotion to the Esiliiga, qualification for promotion play‑offs, and relegation to the II Liiga.
Significance – As the third tier of Estonian football, the Esiliiga B provides a development platform for reserve sides of top‑flight clubs (e.g., U21 teams) and serves as a pathway for semi‑professional clubs aiming to ascend the national league hierarchy.
References – Information derived from the Wikipedia entry “2020 Esiliiga B” (accessed via a public web archive).