FC Zirka Kirovohrad
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| Full name | FC Zirka Kropyvnytskyi |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Zirka" – Star |
| Founded | 1911 |
| Ground | "Zirka" Stadium, Kropyvnytskyi |
| Capacity | 14,628 |
| Chairman | Maksym Berezkin |
| Manager | Roman Monaryov (caretaker) |
| League | Ukrainian Premier League |
| 2015–16 | Ukrainian First League, 1st (promoted) |
| Website | Club home page |
FC Zirka Kropyvnytskyi (Ukrainian: ФК "Зірка Кропивницький") is a Ukrainian professional football club from Kropyvnytskyi, Kirovohrad Oblast, Ukraine with its senior squad (team) currently playing in the premier league.
The club traces its history back to the former Russian sports club Elvorti Yelizavetgrad that was founded in 1911 at the Elvorti Factory. The factory was later nationalized with establishment of the Soviet power and changed its name to "Chervona Zirka" (Red Star). After start of the World War I and the Ukrainian-Soviet War, most sports events in the region were suspended and in 1917 the club dissolved. Sports competitions were resumed in Lyzavetghrad in 1921 that saw participation of a team from the former Elvorti factory.
In 1922, based on the former sports club Elvorti Yelizavetgrad were created two Soviet clubs Chervona Zirka and Chervony Profintern that participated in Soviet competition. Some of Zirka's club shields contain 1922 as the club's year of establishment. In 1928 Chervona Zirka changed its name to Metallist Zinovyevsk (Metalist Zinovyivsk) and in 1934 – Selmash Kirovo (Silmash Kirove). After 1940 the club did not participate in any competitions due to the World War II. The being a member of the former Volunteer Sports Society Selmash, the Soviet club of Kirovohrad was revived as Traktor Kirovograd (Traktor Kirovohrad) in 1948 and after 1953 – Torpedo. In 1946–47 Kirovograd (Kirovohrad) was represented in football competitions by a law enforcement team "Dynamo".
In 1958, the club was renamed into Zvezda Kirovograd (Zirka Kirovohrad) when it advanced to the professional level of Soviet competitions, the B Class. As Zirka the club existed until 2006 when it went bankrupt. In 1962 the club temporarily did not participate in Soviet competitions and Kirovohrad was once again represented by Dynamo. From 1993 to 1997 the club carried a name of its title sponsor NIBAS as Zirka-NIBAS. In 2007 the club was revived in amateur regional competitions. On July 16, 2008 the club found consensus with another club from Kirovohrad, FC Olimpik Kirovohrad, that competed at professional level to yield its place in the Ukrainian Second League.
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