ASOA Issy
| Full name | Association Sportive Ararat Issy |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1975 |
| Ground | Parc des sports Issy-les-Moulineaux |
| League | CFA2 Group G |
| 2008-09 | CFA2 Group G, 11th |
Association Sportive Ararat Issy is a French football club founded in 1975 based in Issy-les-Moulineaux. Managed by Franck Toutoundjian, A.S.A Issy (or A.S Ararat Issy) plays in the CFA 2 in 2009-10.
In 1974, a group of friends decided to create a football club for Armenian community of Ile-de-France. It was essentially a way of sharing their passion for sport with the youth of the community at the same time as transmitting some of the rich cultural heritage of Armenia, one of the oldest civilisations in the world.
The Association Sportive Arménienne (A.S.A) decided to play in Issy-les-Moulineaux after the request of Armand Zarpanelian, former player who built the stadium in 1981. The club had around 60 players and played in the first Division in the District.
At the start of the 1990s, A.S.A Issy had been promoted three years running, and played in the first Division of the District of the D.H (Division d’Honneur). The match to get promoted to the P.H (Promotion d’Honneur) is well remembered. 1200 people watched the 3-0 victory for A.S.A Issy against F.C Montrouge 92, an attendance record for this level of match.
The team has not yet dropped back down to this level, but they have had difficult seasons in their history. It took a 2-0 victory against F.C Massy 91, to stay in the D.H (Division d’Honneur), with two extraordinary goals from Michel Milosevic, both player and general manager.
To begin with, the club only used players of Armenian origin. A.S.A Issy became progressively more open, and tries to conserve and develop a community and familial spirit. Franck Toutoundjian, club president, is quoted as saying: "the community aspect has never been a fixation, but we are the only community club playing in the C.F.A 2". This is why, in 2003, the club changed its name from Association Sportive Arménienne, to Association Sportive d’Origine Arménienne, so that A.S.A Issy became A.S.O.A Issy. The club currently has around 400 members, with thirty coaches and fifteen technicians. The club also has twelve refererees and two controllers represented on the board of the District of Hauts-de-Seine (92).
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