Gragjanski Skopje

Gragjanski Skopje (Macedonian: Гpaѓaнcки Cкoпje, Serbian: Гpaђaнcки Cкoпљe or Građanski Skoplje) was a football club from Skopje. The club's major achievements were the two participations in the Yugoslav First League during the period of 1923 till 1940. Between 1941 and 1947 it was called Macedonia Skopje (Bulgarian: Македония Скопие, Macedonian: Македониja Cкoпje).

Contents

History

Gragjanski was the most successful and the only club to participate in the Yugoslav First League from the present day territory of Republic of Macedonia in the period between 1923 until the WWII. They competed in the local Vardar Royal League (Yugoslav regional tier) during the period of 1923 till 1940, winning all the championships. They were 17 time champions which is the all time record.

The club ceased to exist in 1941 at beginning of the World War II and the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia. Most of the region of the then Vardarska Banovina was occupied by the Bulgarian forces. Most of the players of Gragjanski just as their coach Illes Spitz joined the FC Makedonija, a newly formed club by the Bulgarian authorities by the merge of several previously existing clubs in Skopje: Gragjanski, SSK (Skopski sport klub), ŽSK, Pobeda and Jug.[1] The club competed in the Bulgarian Championship between 1941 and 1944 having archived to finish second in 1942, by losing the final against Levski.

After the end of the war, in 1947, the club was merged with Pobeda to become the newly formed FK Vardar[2] which will be the most successful club from Macedonia within the Yugoslav First League.

Yugoslav First League participations

Gragjanski achieved to participate twice in the national top league.

In 1940, after the formation of a separate Croatian league, the club participated in the 1940–41 Serbian League where it finished at 8th place among 10 teams, with 14 points in 17 matches (the last match was not played), with 5 wins, 4 draws, and 8 losses; goal difference of 24-37.[4]

Vardar regional league titles

Gragjanski won all regional titles disputed between 1923 and 1940.

Notable former players

References

  1. ^ Илеш Шпиц најнова филмска инспирација at Utrinski Vesnik (Macedonian)
  2. ^ Го смени ли Вардар името? at Dnevnik.com.mk (Macedonian)
  3. ^ Yugoslav First League tables at RSSSF.
  4. ^ 1940-41 season at fkvojvodina.com
  5. ^ FK Makedonija at EU-Football.info

External sources