Diyarbakırspor

Diyarbakırspor

Full name	Diyarbakırspor Kulübü
Nickname(s)	Diyar (Land)
Founded	1968
Ground	Diyarbakır Atatürk Stadium Diyarbakır, Turkey capacity = 12,963[1]
Chairman	Çetin Sümer
Manager	Mehmet Budakın
League	Süper Lig
2009–10	Süper Lig, 16th (relegated)
Home colours Away colours

Diyarbakırspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Diyarbakır. Formed in 1968, Diyarbakırspor are nicknamed Diyar (Land). The club colours are red and green, and they play their home matches at Diyarbakır Atatürk Stadium.^[1]

Historically, Diyarbakirspor hold the distinction of being the second club in the world to earn double promotion (with Nottingham Forest being the first).^[2] Domestically, they have finished runners-up for the 1.Lig (Second Division) once, in 1977, and have finished third place twice, in 1981 and 1986.^[3]

History

Diyarbakirspor was formed after the merger of Diclespor and Yıldızspor on 24 June 1968. Their club colours were red and green; red for Yıldızspor, green for Diclespor. Nejat Cemiloğlu was the first president of the club.The club competed in the 2.Lig^[4] from 1968 to 1975.^[2]

Under the guidance of president Ali Kahraman'ın and vice-president Şeyhmus Akçadağ, Diyarbakirspor earned double promotion to the 1.Lig^[5] in 1976 and 1977. Diyarbakirspor were the first Turkish club to achieve the feat of double promotion, and second in the world, behind Nottingham Forest.^[2]

In the first season of top-flight football, Diyarbakirspor spent five weeks at the top of the table. However, they finished in fifth place at the end of the season. They also qualified for the Balkans Cup. Diyarbakirspor were relegated for the first time in 1980, earned promotion back to the top-flight the following season, and were relegated once more the next season. They spent three years in the 2.Lig before winning promotion to the 1.Lig.^[2]

At the end of the 1986–87 season, Diyarbakirspor finished with a record for lowest points in the 1.Lig with 11. The club would compete in the 2.Lig until 2001 before earning promotion back to the Süper Lig. The club currently competes in the 1.Lig (Second Division).^[1][2]

Colours and badge

The club colours are red and green. They were the colours of the two clubs who merged to make up Diyarbakırspor, Yıldızspor (red) and Diclespor (green). The badge features the city walls of Diyarbakır. The city is home to the world's second largest walled structure, trailing behind the Great Wall of China. The badge also features a watermelon, a symbol of the city.^[2]

Stadium

Main article: Diyarbakır Atatürk Stadium

Diyarbakırspor play their home matches at Diyarbakır Atatürk Stadium, a multi-purpose stadium located in the city of Diyarbakır. The field measures 68 meters by 105 meters with working floodlights. The capacity is 12,963 seats.^[1]

Honours

• 1.Lig
  • Runners-up (1): 1976–77
  • Third place (2): 1980–81, 1985–86^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} DİYARBAKIRSPOR tff.org (Turkish), accessed 6 June 2010
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} TARİHÇE diyarbakirspor.org.tr (Turkish), accessed 6 June 2010
3. ^ ^{a b} ŞAMPİYONLAR Türkiye Profesyonel 2. Ligi ligtv.com.tr (Turkish), accessed 6 June 2010
4. ^ Known now as the 3.Lig.
5. ^ Known now as the Süper Lig.

External links

• Official website (Turkish)
• Diyarbakırspor News (Turkish)