In 1971, the Division 3 replaced the previous version of the Championnat de France Amateur.
In contrast to the former CFA, the D3 permitted the best amateur clubs to be promoted to the Division 2.
The fathers of this evolution in the French football pyramid were Fernand Sastre and Henri Patrelle, who were fighting for almost a decade to break this segregation between amateur and professional clubs present since 1932.
At the end of the season, the winners of each group (both amateur clubs and reserve sides) played against each other in order to crown a champion of the Division 3.
In 1981, ASPV Strasbourg refused promotion to the Division 2, and therefore won two consecutive D3 titles (in 1980–81 and 1981–82).