Heraklion Football Clubs Association

The Heraklion Football Clubs Association (Greek: Ένωση Ποδοσφαιρικών Σωματείων Ηρακλείου or Ε.Π.Σ.Η.) is an association responsible for administering football in the region of Heraklion. It is based in the city of Heraklion and is a member of the Hellenic Football Federation.[1] The association is responsible for organizing regional Championship and Cup competitions for both adult and youth teams playing in its divisions.

Heraklion Football Clubs Association
HFF
Founded1929
HeadquartersHeraklion
FIFA affiliationHellenic Football Federation
PresidentNikos Tzortzoglou
Websitehttp://epsirak.gr/ (in Greek)

The association is currently one of the largest Football Clubs Associations in Greece, consisting of over 85 clubs. Its colors are blue and white and its crest features a Griffin, the official seal of the Municipality of Heraklion.

History

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During 1925−1929, Heraklion football was dominated by the two major sporting clubs of the time, EGOI (est. 1924) and OFI (est. 1925). In the autumn of 1926, the first football league in Heraklion was organized and held with a limited number of participants, mainly feeder clubs for EGOI and OFI. This first, informal competition was won by EGOI, and was organized again two years later in 1928, when it was won by OFI.[2] In the meantime, several initiatives for the establishment of football clubs that would compete with OFI and EGOI were carried out during 1928−1932.[2] This rapid establishment of football clubs during 1925−1931 (e.g. Ergotelis and Olympiakos Heraklion in 1929, Iraklis Heraklion in 1930 and Ermis in 1932) birthed the need to create a governing body for the coordination and organization of football clubs and competitions. Therefore, the Cretan Football Association was established in 1929.[2] Two years later, and after several disputes over administration issues among the founding members, the union was reformed into the Heraklion Football Clubs Association, which was granted the full administrative and organizational control over the football events in the regions of Heraklion and Lasithi. The association was officially recognized by the HFF in 1931.[3]

Football League System

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Heraklion FCA Football Leagues
First season1928–29
Divisions4
Level on pyramid4–7
Promotion toGamma Ethniki
Domestic cup(s)Heraklion FCA Cup
Current championsPoros (1st title)
(2017–18)
Most championshipsOFI Crete (18 titles)
TV partnersKriti TV (Highlights)
Websitehttp://epsirak.gr/ (in Greek)
Current: 2019−20

The Heraklion FCA football league system consists of four divisions, namely the A1 Division (Greek: Α1 ΕΠΣΗ), the top-level football league in Heraklion (therefore also known as the Heraklion FCA Championship), the Α2 Division (Greek: Α2 ΕΠΣΗ), second tier in the pyramid, the B Division (Greek: Β ΕΠΣΗ) comprising two Groups and constituting the third tier of the league system and finally the C Division (Greek: Γ ΕΠΣΗ), lowest regional division organized in Heraklion.

From its foundation to 1959 (they year of the foundation of the nationwide championship of the Alpha Ethniki), the Heraklion FCA organised a league that was considered the top tier of football in Crete, and later specifically the region of Heraklion (after Chania, Lasithi and Rethymno founded Football Clubs Associations of their own.[4]

2018−19 season

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The following teams compete in the Heraklion FCA Championships during the 2018–19 season. The winner of the A1 Division Championship earns promotion to the Gamma Ethniki, the third tier of the Greek football league system.

A1 Division

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AEK
 
Agia Varvara
 
Almyros
 
Tympaki
 
Anthestion
 
Faistos
 
Gortys
 
Minoiki
 
Moires
 
Poros
 
Romanos
 
Tritonia
 
Tylissos
 
Zaros
Location of teams in 2018−19 Heraklion FCA A1 Division
Team Location Stadium Capacity Last season
A.E. Katsampas Karteros AEK Stadium N/A A1, 8th
Agia Varvara Agia Varvara Agia Varvara Stadium N/A A2, 2nd
Almyros Gazi Almyros Stadium N/A A1, 7th
AO Tympaki Tympaki Tympaki Stadium 1,000 A1, 5th
Anthestion Thrapsano Thrapsano Stadium N/A A1, 4th
Faistos Voroi Voroi Stadium N/A A1, 14th
Gortys Agioi Deka Agioi Deka Stadium N/A A1, 9th
Minoiki Heraklion Fortetsa Heraklion University Stadium N/A A1, 3rd
Moires Moires Moires Stadium N/A A1, 6th
P.A.O. Krousonas Krousonas Krousonas Municipal Stadium 1,500 A1, 13th
PANO Malia Malia Malia Stadium N/A A1, 2nd
AO Poros Poros, Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis Stadium 600 A2, 1st
Romanos Elia Elia Elia Stadium N/A A1, 11th
Tritonia Astritsi Astritsi Astritsi Stadium N/A A2, 3rd
Tylissos Tylissos Tylissos Stadium N/A A1, 11th
Zaros Zaros Zaros Stadium N/A A1, 10th

List of Champions

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Informal (prior to the FCA)

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Season Champion(s)
1925−26 EGOI
1926−27 Not held
1927−28 OFI
1928−29 OFI
1929−30 EGOI

Formal FCA Championship (1930−1959)

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Season Champion(s)
1930−31 OFI
1931−32 OFI, EGOI
1932−33 OFI
1933−34 EGOI
1934−35 OFI
1935−36 Not held
1936−37 Iraklis Heraklion
1937−38 EGOI
1938−39 Νo data available
1939−40 Not finished due to World War II
Season Champion(s)
1940−41 Not held
1941−42 Not held
1942−43 Not held
1943−44 Not held
1944−45 Not held
1945−46 Iraklis Heraklion
1946−47 Νo data available
1947−48 OFI[5]
1948−49 OFI[6]
1949−50 Ergotelis
Season Champion(s)
1950−51 EGOI
1951−52 OFI
1952−53 Ergotelis
1953−54 OFI
1954−55 OFI
1955−56 OFI
1956−57 OFI
1957−58 OFI
1958−59 OFI

FCA Championship A1 Division (1959−current)

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Season Champion(s)
1959−60 OFI
1960−61 OFI
1961−62 OFI[7]
1962−63 Atsalenios[8]
1963−64 Ergotelis[9]
1964−65 Irodotos[10]
1965−66 Atsalenios[11]
1966−67 No data available
1967−68 Ergotelis
1968−69 Irodotos
1969−70 Ergotelis
1970−71 Atsalenios
1971−72 Irodotos
1972−73 N.A.P.O. Poseidon Heraklion
1973−74 Atsalenios
Season Champion(s)
1974−75 Ergotelis
1975−76 Irodotos
1976−77 Ergotelis
1977−78 No data available
1978−79 No data available
1979−80 AO Agios Nikolaos1
1980−81 N.A.P.O. Poseidon Heraklion
1981−82 No data available
1982−83 EGOI
1983−84 N.A.P.O. Poseidon Heraklion
1984−85 Atsalenios, AO Tympaki
1985−86 N.A.P.O. Poseidon Heraklion, Tylissos
1986−87 Minoiki Heraklion
1987−88 Atsalenios
1988−89 N.A.P.O. Poseidon Heraklion
Season Champion(s)
1989−90 EGOI
1990−91 A.E. Katsampas
1991−92 AO Tympaki
1992−93 Olympiakos Chersonissos
1993−94 AO Tympaki
1994−95 Atsalenios
1995−96 PANO Malia
1996−97 Atsalenios
1997−98 PANO Malia
1998−99 OFI '94
1999−2000 Olympiakos Chersonissos
2000−01 Irodotos
2001−02 Irodotos
2002−03 Minoiki Heraklion
2003−04 A.E. Katsampas
Season Champion(s)
2004−05 AO Tympaki
2005−06 P.A.O. Krousonas
2006−07 Mochos
2007−08 Asites
2008−09 Rouvas
2009−10 Asites
2010−11 Zaros
2011−12 A.E. Katsampas
2012−13 Zaros
2013−14 Zaros
2014−15 Rouvas, Atsalenios
2015−16 Irodotos, Atsalenios
2016−17 Irodotos
2017−18 Giouchtas
2018−19 Poros

Performance by club (1925−)

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Club Titles Years
OFI 18 1928, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962
Atsalenios 9 1963, 1966, 1971, 1974, 1985, 1988, 1995, 1997, 2016
EGOI 8 1926, 1930, 1932, 1934, 1938, 1951, 1983, 1990
Ergotelis 7 1950, 1953, 1964, 1968, 1970, 1975, 1977
Irodotos 1965, 1969, 1972, 1976, 2001, 2002, 2017
N.A.P.O. Poseidon Heraklion 5 1973, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1989
A.E. Katsampas 3 1991, 2004, 2012
AO Tympaki 1992, 1994, 2005
Zaros 2011, 2013, 2014
Iraklis Heraklion 2 1937, 1946
Minoiki Heraklion 1987, 2003
Olympiakos Chersonissos 1993, 2000
PANO Malia 1996, 1998
Asites 2008, 2010
Rouvas 2009, 2015
AO Agios Nikolaos1 1 1980
OFI '94 1999
P.A.O. Krousonas 2006
Mochos 2007
Giouchtas 2018
Poros 2019

Source:[2][4]

1.^ Currently a member of the Lasithi Football Clubs Association.
Heraklion FCA Cup
Founded1971
Related competitionsGreek Football Amateur Cup
Current championsAtsalenios (12th title)
Most successful club(s)Atsalenios (12 titles)
Television broadcastersKriti TV (Highlights)
  2019−20

The Heraklion FCA Cup (Greek: Κύπελλο ΕΠΣΗ) is a football competition in which the clubs competing in any of the Heraklion FCA Football Leagues participate. The competition was founded in 1971, and has since been held annually. As of 2018, the winner of the FCA Cup becomes eligible to participate in next year's Greek Football Cup competition.[12]

Format

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The current format features a minimum of 60 clubs. Participation of the teams competing in the A1 and A2 FCA Divisions along with the registered members of the FCA competing in the Gamma Ethniki is mandatory. Optionally, clubs competing in the FCA B and C Division may also participate, along with amateur outfits of professional registered members of the FCA. Teams are drawn at random to compete in single knockout matches, in which the club being drawn first is declared the home team. In case of a match-up between clubs playing at different competition levels, the club playing in the lower Division is declared the home team instead. This format is followed until the Semi-finals of the competition.

The Semi-finals are contested in double knock-out matches between the 4 remaining teams, and match-ups are determined by random draw. The two pairs of teams play each other home and away. In this case, away goals rule is in effect on the qualification, without however excluding the possibility for extra time or penalty shootout in the second leg.

The competition Final is contested by the qualifying teams of the Semi-finals. The Final is single match. In case of a draw, extra time is not held, but the winner is declared in an immediate penalty shootout.

List of Heraklion FCA Cup Winners

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Season Champion(s)
1971−72 N.A.P.O. Poseidon Heraklion
1972−73 N.A.P.O. Poseidon Heraklion
1973−74 N.A.P.O. Poseidon Heraklion
1974−75 Atsalenios
1975−76 Irodotos
1976−77 Ergotelis
1977−78 Atsalenios
1978−79 EGOI
1979−80 AO Agios Nikolaos1
1980−81 Ergotelis
1981−82 Ergotelis
1982−83 Ergotelis
1983−84 Atsalenios
1984−85 Ergotelis
1985−86 Atsalenios
1986−87 Atsalenios
Season Champion(s)
1987−88 Minoiki Heraklion
1988−89 EGOI
1989−90 N.A.P.O. Poseidon Heraklion
1990−91 Atsalenios
1991−92 AO Asimi
1992−93 AO Asimi
1993−94 AO Asimi
1994−95 Irodotos
1995−96 Ergotelis
1996−97 Atsalenios
1997−98 Atsalenios
1998−99 Olympiakos Chersonissos
1999−00 PANO Malia
2000−01 Atsalenios
2001−02 Irodotos
2002−03 Atsalenios
Season Champion(s)
2003−04 OFI Amateurs
2004−05 Almyros
2005−06 Irodotos
2006−07 PANO Malia
2007−08 Irodotos
2008−09 Giouchtas
2009−10 Giouchtas
2010−11 Rouvas
2011−12 Patouchas Viannos
2012−13 Irodotos
2013−14 Almyros
2014−15 Atsalenios
2015−16 Irodotos
2016−17 Irodotos
2017−18 PANO Malia
2018−19 Atsalenios

Performance by Club (1971−)

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Club Titles Years
Atsalenios 12 1975, 1978, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2015, 2019
Irodotos 8 1976, 1995, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2016, 2017
Ergotelis 6 1977, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1996
N.A.P.O. Poseidon Heraklion 4 1972, 1973, 1974, 1990
AO Asimi 3 1992, 1993, 1994
PANO Malia 2000, 2007, 2018
EGOI 2 1979, 1989
Almyros 2005, 2014
Giouchtas 2009, 2010
ΑΟ Agios Nikolaos1 1 1980
Minoiki Heraklion 1988
Olympiakos Chersonissos 1999
OFI Amateurs 2004
Rouvas 2011
Patouchas Viannos 2012
1.^ Currently a member of the Lasithi Football Clubs Association.

Source:[13][14][15]

Super Cup

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Heraklion FCA Super Cup
SportFootball
Founded2010
No. of teams2
CountryGreece
Most recent
champion(s)
Atsalenios (3rd title)
Most titlesAtsalenios (3 titles)

The Heraklion FCA Super Cup (Greek: Σούπερ Καπ ΕΠΣΗ) is a football one match competition, which is contested annually by the Heraklion FCA A1 Division champion, and the winners of the Heraklion FCA Cup. In case of a double winner, the Super Cup is contested between the winner and runner-up of the FCA Cup.

The matches

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Season Winner Score Runner-up Venue
2010 Giouchtas 2–1 Asites Nikos Kazantzakis Stadium
2011 Rouvas 4–1 Zaros Moires Stadium
2012 A.E. Katsampas 2–1 Patouchas Viannos Nikos Kazantzakis Stadium
2013 Irodotos 3–1 Zaros Nikos Kazantzakis Stadium
2014 Zaros 2–2 (5-3 pen.) Almyros Atsalenios Stadium
2015 Atsalenios 1–0 Rouvas Nea Alikarnassos Municipal Stadium
2016 Atsalenios 2–1 Irodotos Pankritio Stadium
2017 Irodotos 2–1 Zaros Nikos Kazantzakis Stadium
2018 PANO Malia 1–1 (4-2 pen.) Giouchtas Arkalochori Municipal Stadium
2019 Atsalenios 3–2 Poros Damasta Municipal Stadium

Source:[16]

Heraklion FCA Clubs National Titles & honours

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Contemporary

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Defunct

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Heraklion FCA clubs in European competitions

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Club UEFA Champions League (Since 1955–56) UEFA Europa League (Since 1971–72) UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1960–1999) UEFA Intertoto Cup (1961–2008) Balkans Cup (1961–1994) Total Last appearance
OFI Crete 0 4 1 2 2 9 2007 UEFA Intertoto Cup
Total 0 4 1 2 2 9

Heraklion FCA Clubs European Titles & honours

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Defunct

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References

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  1. ^ ΝΟΜΟΣ ΗΡΑΚΛΕΙΟΥ (archive) epo.gr
  2. ^ a b c d Zaimakis, Yiannis (2012). "Δίκτυα κοινωνικότητας και σωματειακός αθλητισμός στο Ηράκλειο (1898-1940) (Greek)". academia.edu.
  3. ^ Εφημερίδα Αθλητικά Νέα, από το ψηφιοποιημένο αρχείο της βουλής των Ελλήνων
  4. ^ a b Mastrogiannopoulos, Alexander (5 June 2014). "Πρωταθλητές ΕΠΣ ΗΡΑΚΛΕΙΟΥ (ver.2) (Greek)". ellinikopodosfero, Greek Amateur Football blog.
  5. ^ «Athlitiki Echo» newspaper, 17 July 1948, p.2
  6. ^ «Athlitiki Echo» newspaper, 28 July 1949, p.4
  7. ^ «Athlitiki Echo» newspaper, 5 January 1962, p.4
  8. ^ «Kritikon Vima» newspaper, 8 June 1963, p.4
  9. ^ «Kritikon Vima» newspaper, 30 May 1964, p.4
  10. ^ «Athlitiki Echo» newspaper, 3 June 1965, p.3
  11. ^ «Athlitiki Echo» newspaper, 8 April 1966, p.3
  12. ^ "ΠΡΟΚΗΡΥΞΗ Κυπέλλου Ελλάδος περιόδου 2018-2019 (Greek)". Hellenic Football Federation. 10 July 2018.
  13. ^ [1] Archived 2017-10-05 at the Wayback Machine Η προϊστορία στο Κύπελλο ΕΠΣΗ (Greek)
  14. ^ [2][permanent dead link] Κύπελλο: Φλας-μπακ στους 19 προηγούμενους τελικούς
  15. ^ [3] Focus στους 22 τελευταίους τελικούς του Κυπέλλου ΕΠΣΗ (Greek)
  16. ^ [4] ΣΗΜΕΡΑ ΤΟ ΣΟΥΠΕΡ ΚΑΠ ΣΤΟ ΜΑΡΤΙΝΕΓΚΟ: Για την 5η κούπα ο Ηρόδοτος, για την ρεβάνς ο Ζαρός (Greek)
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