Heraklion Football Clubs Association

The Heraklion Football Clubs Association (Greek: Ένωση Ποδοσφαιρικών Σωματείων Ηρακλείου or Ε.Π.Σ.Η.) is an association responsible for administering football in the region of Heraklion. It is based in the city of Heraklion and is a member of the Hellenic Football Federation.^[1] The Association is responsible for organizing regional Championship and Cup competitions for both adult and youth teams playing in its divisions.

The Association is currently one of the largest Football Clubs Associations in Greece, consisting of over 85 clubs. Its colors are blue and white and its crest features a Griffin, the official seal of the Municipality of Heraklion.

History

During 1925−1929, Heraklion football was dominated by the two major sporting clubs of the time, EGOI (est. 1924) and OFI (est. 1925). In the autumn of 1926, the first football league in Heraklion was organized and held with a limited number of participants, mainly feeder clubs for EGOI and OFI. This first, informal competition was won by EGOI, and was organized again two years later in 1928, when it was won by OFI.^[2] In the mean time, several initiatives for the establishment of football clubs that would compete with OFI and EGOI were carried out during 1928−1932.^[2] This rapid establishment of football clubs during 1925−1931 (e.g. Ergotelis and Olympiakos Heraklion in 1929, Iraklis Heraklion in 1930 and Ermis in 1932) birthed the need to create a governing body for the coordination and organization of football clubs and competitions. Therefore, the Cretan Football Association was established in 1929.^[2] Two years later, and after several disputes over administration issues among the founding members, the union was reformed into the Heraklion Football Clubs Association, which was granted the full administrative and organizational control over the football events in the regions of Heraklion and Lasithi. The association was officially recognized by the HFF in 1931.^[3]

Football League System

Heraklion FCA Football Leagues

First season	1928–29
Divisions	4
Level on pyramid	4–7
Promotion to	Gamma Ethniki (via the FCA Winners' Championship)
Domestic cup(s)	Heraklion FCA Cup
Most championships	OFI Crete (14)
TV partners	Kriti TV (Highlights)
Website	http://epsirak.gr/ (in Greek)
2016−17

The Heraklion FCA football league system consists of four divisions, namely the A1 Division, the top-level football league in Heraklion (therefore also known as the Heraklion FCA Championship), the Α2 Division, second tier in the pyramid, the B Division comprising two Groups and constituting the third tier of the league system and finally the C Division, lowest regional division organized in Heraklion.

From its foundation to 1959 (they year of the foundation of the nationwide championship of the Alpha Ethniki), the Heraklion FCA organised a league that was considered the top tier of football in Crete, and later specifically the region of Heraklion (after Chania, Lasithi and Rethymno founded Football Clubs Associations of their own.^[4]

2016−17 Season

The following teams competed in the Heraklion FCA Championships during the 2016–17 season. As of the 2013−14 season, the winner of the A1 Division Championship takes part in the FCA Winners' Championship, held in post-season during the summer, to determine the final 28 clubs to earn promotion to the Gamma Ethniki, the third tier of the Greek football league system.

A1 Division

Updated to games played on 21 May 2017.
Source: Hellenic Football Federation (in Greek)
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd head-to-head points; 3rd head-to-head goal difference
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

• ¹Zaros deducted two points for this season.
• ²Asteras Myrtia deducted six points for this season.
• ³Rouvas deducted six points for this season.

List of Champions

Informal (prior to the FCA)

• 1925−26: EGOI
• 1926−27: Not held
• 1927−28: OFI
• 1928−29: OFI
• 1929−30: EGOI

Formal FCA Championship (A1 Division)

Source:^[2][4]

Cup

Heraklion FCA Cup

Founded	1971
Related competitions	Greek Football Amateur Cup
Most successful club(s)	Atsalenios (11)
Television broadcasters	Kriti TV (Highlights)
2016−17

The Heraklion FCA Cup is a football competition in which all clubs competing in any of the Heraklion FCA Football Leagues participate. The competition was founded in 1971, and has since been held annually.

2016−17 Season

List of Heraklion FCA Cup Winners

1.^ Currently a member of the Lasithi Football Clubs Association.

Source:^[5][6][7]

Heraklion FCA clubs in national divisions

Heraklion FCA Clubs National Titles & honours

Contemporary

• Greek Cup Winners: (1)
  • OFI Crete (1): 1986–87
• Football League Winners: (3)
  • OFI Crete (2): 1965–66, 1975–76
  • Ergotelis (1): 2005–06
• Gamma Ethniki Winners: (3)
  • OFI Crete (1): 2015–16
  • Ergotelis (2): 1965–66, 2016–17
• Greek Amateur Cup Winners: (3)
  • Ergotelis (1): 1982−83
  • PANO Malia (1): 1999−2000
  • Irodotos (1): 2016−17
• Amateurs' Super Cup Winners: (1)
  • Irodotos (1): 2016–17

Defunct

• Delta Ethniki Winners: (9)
  • Ergotelis (2): 1984–85, 1995–96
  • Irodotos (2): 1991−92, 2003–04
  • Atsalenios (2): 2002−03, 2012–13
  • Poseidon Heraklion (1): 1990–91
  • Olympiakos Chersonissos (1): 2007−08
  • Rouvas (1): 2010−11

Heraklion FCA clubs in European competitions

Heraklion FCA Clubs European Titles & honours

Defunct

• Balkans Cup Winners: (1)
  • OFI Crete: 1989

References

External links

• Official website