Professional association football club based in Kherson, Ukraine
Football club
Krystal Kherson is a professional football club from Kherson in Ukraine that has a long history in the Soviet and then the Ukrainian Leagues. As of the 2020–21 season, it will play in the Ukrainian First League, the second tier of Ukrainian football, following promotion from the 2019–20 Ukrainian Second League.
History
Predecessors (Spartak Kherson)
The modern Kherson Oblast was established in 1944. In 1937–1941 Kherson was part of Mykolaiv Oblast.
The first Kherson team made its random appearance in the so called Ukrainian Championship of cities in 1921, yet it was not until 1936 the Kherson city team competed regularly by debuting in the 1936 Football Championship of the Ukrainian SSR at Tretia Hrupa (Ukrainian tier 3). It continued its participation until 1938 when it was renamed as "Znannia". Further participation of the team was interrupted by the World War II.
The Kherson teams renewed their participation in 1946 when the city team representing the Spartak sports society took part in the 1946 Football Championship of the Ukrainian SSR. In Ukraine after World War II, Spartak sports teams represented a regional government. That season of republican competitions conditionally is called as the "Soviet Third Group" (Tretya Gruppa). Spartak placed only second in its group behind Bilshovyk Zaporizhia, but were admitted next year to the All-Union competitions, nonetheless. It made its debut in the 1947 Vtoraya Gruppa (tier 2), Ukrainian Conference (Zone). The first season Spartak finished 7th among 13 teams. The team remained in the competitions until 1949 when it was relegated due to competition reorganization (establishment of Class A and Class B) back to republican championship.
After admission of Spartak to the All-Union competitions in 1947, at republican competition Kherson was represented by Dynamo Kherson which in the 1947 Football Championship of the Ukrainian SSR qualified for the final group placing 4th. In the next couple of seasons Kherson at republican level was represented by Avanhard Kherson until return of Spartak. Performance of Avanhard in those seasons was weak finishing at the bottom of tables.
In 1957, Spartak played for the last time at republican level. In 1958, Spartak Kherson was admitted to the Soviet Class B.
Following promotion of Spartak again to the All-Union competitions, in 1958 and 1959, Kherson was represented by Avanhard in Ukrainian republican competitions, while Spartak continued to play in Class B.
Club's history
Names
| Year
|
Name
|
Year
|
Name
|
| 1961—1962
|
Majak Kherson
|
1992—1994
|
Tavriya Kherson
|
| 1963—1964
|
Budivelnyk Kherson
|
1995
|
Vodnyk Kherson
|
| 1965—1975
|
Lokomotiv Kherson
|
1996—1999
|
Krystal Kherson
|
| 1975—1992
|
Krystal Kherson
|
2000—2003
|
SC Kherson
|
|
|
|
2003—present
|
Krystal Kherson
|
Original club
The club was formed in 1961 at the Kherson Semiconductor Factory as Mayak (English: Lighthouse). The club replaced the previous city team of masters Spartak Kherson that represented Kherson since 1958.
In 1963, the club was renamed as Stroitel (Budivelnyk). Due to reforms in Soviet football, the division where Stroitel played was demoted the third tier.
In 1965, the club was renamed again as Lokomotyv. The very same year another Lokomotyv Kherson also played in the newly formed competitions among physical fitness clubs. In 1968, the Kherson club was promoted and for couple of seasons played at Class A until 1970 reform when it was admitted to the newly formed Soviet Second League (again as the third tier).
In 1976, the club was renamed for the third time as Krystal.
When Ukraine became independent, the club entered the Persha Liha. Unfortunately, the club was relegated to the Druha Liha where it competed until the club's administration dissolved the club in 2006 and for the first time since 1958 the city did not have own professional club.
Second edition
The club was revived and entered into Ukrainian Amateur competition (Fourth level) in 2011. After a five-year absence from the professional leagues Krystal Kherson applied for readmittance to the Professional Football League of Ukraine and was admitted. The club will compete in the Ukrainian Second League for the 2011–12 season.[1]
In 2017, the club was reorganized and started out again from afresh as the city's club from the Amateurs.[2]
Other clubs
In 1982 and 1988, there also existed club Shlyakhovyk that played in competitions among physical culture clubs (KFK).
Current squad
- As of 11 February 2022[4][5]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
