Hapoel Hadera F.C.

Infobox Football club
clubname = Hapoel Hadera


fullname = Hapoel Hadera Football Club מועדון כדורגל הפועל חדרה
founded =
ground =
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chairman =
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league = Liga Alef South
season = 2006-07
position = Liga Bet South A, 1st

Hapoel Hadera F.C. ( _he. מועדון כדורגל הפועל חדרה) is an Israeli football club from Hadera. They currently play in Liga Alef, the fourth level of Israeli football, but have previously spent eight seasons in the top division.

History

The club was promoted to Liga Alef, then the top division, in 1954. However, they were relegated at the end of their first season in the top tier, after finishing second from bottom. In 1957 they finished high enough in Liga Alef (by then the second tier) to compete in the play-offs for promotion to Liga Leumit, but missed out on goal difference by one goal.

The club had to wait until 1970 for another promotion, when they went up as Liga Alef champions. They narrowly avoided relegation in the 1970-71 season, finishing above relegated Maccabi Petah Tikva on goal difference. However, they were relegated the following season after finishing bottom. This time they bounced back immediately as Liga Alef runners-up, and finished 13th in 1973-74, a single point above the relegation zone. [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/israhist.html Israel - List of Final Tables] RSSSF]

Although 1974-75 saw the club finish in their highest-ever position, 7th, they were relegated the folllowing season. The club made a second immediate return to the top flight as Liga Artzit (the new second division) champions, but were relegated again in 1979, marking their last appearance to date in the top division.

In 1986 and 1989 the club won the Liga Artzit Toto Cup. In 1994 they were deducted 12 points after being found guilty of match-fixing in a league game against Hakoah Ramat Gan. They were relegated to the third tier in 1997, [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/isra97.html Israel 1996/97] RSSSF] and following league restructuring in 1999, sank into the fourth division. They were relegated again to Liga Bet in 2003. In the 2007-08 season the club won the South A division of Liga Bet and were promoted back to Liga Alef.

References