FK Anykščiai
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| FSK Anykščiai | |||||||||||||||||
| Image:FSK Anykščiai.svg | |||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Futbolo Sporto Klubas Anykšciai | ||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname(s) | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1996 | ||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Anykšciu Miesto Stadionas Anykšciai (Capacity -) |
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| Chairman | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Manager | - | ||||||||||||||||
| League | 1 Lyga | ||||||||||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||||||||||
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FSK Anykščiai is a Lithuanian football team from the town of Anykščiai.
[edit] History
Football in Anykščiai was mentioned in local sourcebooks for the first time in 1931, when a friendly match was played between teams Anykščiai and Utena . One of the first football games in the post war period was played on the 31st of August, 1950, between Anykščiai Gymnasium and club Skaitykla.
In 1954, the team named Anykščių Žalgiris“ was formed. Afterwards, the name of this team changed several times; Spartakas, Nemunas, Puntukas, Vairas, Melioratorius, and Anykšta. There were even two teams in one period of time, which says a lot about the popularity of this sport in the small town of Anykščiai. Despite post war difficulties and Soviet occupation, the city‘s stadium was always crowded with fans of this sport.
Famous people of those times, such as Dr. Antanas Tyla (chairman of the Worldwide Community of emigrants from Anykščiai), S. Petraskas (embassador of folk), P. Kugys (meritorious basketball coach), and R. Augustinas (member of the Anykščiai Council) played in those times. In the late 1970s, a women's team was organized by R. Augustinas.
In the early 1980s, greater football interest among youth was felt after V. Burauskas arrived to Anykščiai. Anykščiai football teams participated in the final stages of Nemunas Union games and won severall times. K. Burneikis was the main supporter of local football at this time.
The famous Lithuanian goalkeeper, Rimantas Kalibatas was playing for the Anykščiai football team before joining such teams as Žalgiris Vilnius and Klaipėda. Other famous sportsmen such as S. Širmelis, M. Silo, V. Bačianskas, and V. Ivanauskas have played in Anykščiai as well.
There were a few youth teams that were supported by football enthusiasts Vytautas Leščius and Juozas Šiaučiulis in mid 1990s. This formed the foundation for the future football team and its success. One of the biggest wins in Anykščiai football history was in 1996 when the youth team (1978-80 born players that were directed by V. Leščius and V. Zlatkus) won third place in the finals of the Championship of Lithuanian Youth Clubs in Tauragė.
[edit] Establishment of the club
The present Anykščiai Football Club was established in 1996 by V. Lescius, M. Janulis, and J. Sereika. Without help from local government (mostly its chairman, Saulius Nefas, and director of personal company, Tauras“ Kčstutis Pakeltis), it would be difficult to imagine the revival of football in Anykščiai. Fans didn't have to wait too long for the first victory: FSK Anykščiai won the championship of the II league, zone "east", and was promoted to the higher division in the season of 1997-1998. Unfortunately, because of the lack of financial contribution, the team played in 1st division until 2001.
The year 1998 is also worth mentioning as FSK Anykščiai started playing tournaments abroad. The former mayor of Anykščiai, Mr. Saulius Nefas, supported competing with other small European clubs. Since 1998, friendly tournaments have been held in Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia in closely-cooperating Eastern European cities. FSK Anykščiai has won the transitional cup three times, the last time in 2005 (Wisla, Poland). Presently, the club is taking part in the Lithuanian Champioships II league, "eastern“ zone.
Football Sport Club Anykščiai very often organizes various football tournaments for young people: tournaments such as Mindaugo Karūna (7 against 7), and football games which could be easily be stated as worthy of the Guinness Records. In the summer of 2004, the non-stop 24-hour game was played between Anykščiai footballers and representatives of Lithuanian Wrestle Federation. The game was won by Anykščiai football players by a score of 126-96. All those facts testify to old traditions of football in Anykščiai that are upheld by Football Sport Club Anyksciai.
