FC Mertskhali Ozurgeti

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Football Club Mertskhali Ozurgeti
FC Mertskhali.png
Founded1936
GroundMegobroba Stadium
Ozurgeti, Georgia
Capacity3,500
LeagueRegionuli Liga
20217th of 9, Regionuli Liga Group West

FC Mertskhali (Georgian: მერცხალი ოზურგეთი; English: Swallows) is a Georgian association football club from Ozurgeti, currently playing in Regionuli Liga, the fifth tier of the national league system.

The club has spent four seasons in Umaglesi Liga, the top Georgian division.

History[]

Early period[]

In 1938 the team finished 2nd in Division 2 and advanced to the main league of the Soviet Georgian championship. In 1958 they claimed bronze medals and in the next two years twice clinched the Republican Cup. Also in 1964 and 1966 the club again came the third, and in 1967 became a winner of the league, which paved the way for their participation in the Soviet championship. Mertskhali played there for seven consecutive seasons and later, in 1980s, spent five more years in the third tier of the Soviet league system. Twice they came close to the promotion to the First League and in 1985 unsuccessfully took part in the play-offs.[1]

Since 1990[]

After Georgia restored its independence, the club played in Umaglesi Liga during the first three seasons after 1990 and also in 2003–04 season. In 2011/12 they finished 2nd in Liga 2 and booked a place in promotion play-offs, but lost the tournament.[2]

For the next three years the club was mainly in mid-table, although the crisis begun in 2015/16 sank them to the fourth division within two years. In early 2019 due to unfavourable financial situation at the club a local government official proposed it for sale,[3] though as of late 2021 no change has occurred.

Since 2017 Mertskhali have been a member of Regionuli Liga Group West.

Honours[]

  • Georgian Soviet Championship
    • Champion: 1967, 1982, 1987
  • Georgian Soviet Cup
    • Champion: 1982
  • Pirveli Liga
    • Silver Medal winner: 1994, 2003
    • Bronze Medal winner: 1997
  • Soviet Second League
    • Silver Medal winner: 1984
    • Bronze Medal winner: 1968, 1985

Stadium[]

Megobroba (literally - Friendship) football ground with the capacity of 10,000 seats was built in 1968,[4] although later after the reconstruction it was reduced to 3,500.

Names[]

1938-46 Makharadze* district team

1946-47 Dinamo

1947-54 Makharadze district team

1954-59 Kolmeurne

1960 Sikharuli

1961-93 Mertskhali

1993-95 Anako

Note: Makharadze was a Soviet-time name for Ozurgeti.

References[]

  1. ^ "Mertskhali in League 2". Wildstat.
  2. ^ "Play-offs 1/2". soccerway.
  3. ^ "ოზურგეთის მერცხალი შესაძლოა გაიყიდოს". crystalsport.ge (in Georgian). 3 March 2019.
  4. ^ "როდის დაარსდა ოზურგეთის "მერცხალი" – პირველი ნაბიჯები და წარმატება". guriismoambe.com (in Georgian).

External Links[]

Profile on Soccerway

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