FC Kolkheti-1913 Poti

The Soviet period

The football club from Poti under the name Kolkhida (Colchis) for many years was a member of the Georgian Soviet championship until early 1960s. From 1962 to 1990, they spent 24 seasons in fourth and third divisions of the Soviet football system, including last consecutive eleven years in zone 9 of the Second League, with the 2nd place in 1989 being the best result.^[4]

Earning league trophies

When GFF formed the national league in early 1990, Kolkheti-1913 took part in an opening game against Iberia Tbilisi. The historic match held at the Boris Paichadze stadium ended 1–0 in favour of the guest team.^[5] Therefore, Kolkheti became the first club to win a game in the history of Georgian national leagues.

Throughout the first decade, the Kolkhs were considered one of the strongest rivals. Apart from 1992–93, when they finished in 9th place, the club completed each season among top five teams with twice, in 1993–94 and 1996–97, coming second.^[6] In this period the team also earned the bronze medals three times.

This success of the club was largely contributed to their sponsors from the mid-1990s, the naval port of Poti.

Crisis begins

In 2006, after a foreign business company took over the port administration, the football club abruptly lost a significant income.^[7] Despite being 10th among 16 clubs in 2005–06, due to the severe financial crisis Kolkheti had to quit the league.^[8]

The club climbed back to the Umaglesi Liga following the 2009–10 season, but returned to the second league three years later.^[9] In 2011, a sponsorship deal with the naval port resumed to a less extent, which lasted for four years.^[10]

Battle for survival

Kolkheti were back in the top division in 2014–15, although further financial difficulties hit the club in 2018, which pushed them to the verge of bankruptcy. As Kolkheti amassed a large amount of debts, they were deducted six points. Eventually, the team was relegated.^[11]

While in Liga 2, Kolkheti still could not afford to pay off debts. In an emergency statement, the club appealed for urgent help.^[12] Meanwhile, they were slapped with another six-point deduction.^[13] The overall situation badly affected the team. Three managers were sacked for unsatisfactory results within initial five months of the season.^[14] The tide remained unchanged, though. Only in the last matchday did Kolkheti manage to avoid automatic relegation, but after being thrashed by Samgurali in play-offs they slumped to the third division.^[15]

Disappointment and triumph

In the initial two seasons Kolkheti were among primary promotion-chasers, although in both cases they suffered a setback in pursuit for an automatic promotion spot. The play-off results proved also unsuccessful despite the team's unbeaten aggregate score in the regular time. First they failed to beat WIT Georgia on penalties,^[16] and a year later lost in extra time to Rustavi on away goals.^[17]

In 2022, too, Kolkheti ended up in the 2nd place. However, due to changes made in the competition format before this season, the club ended its three-year tenure in this division and won automatic promotion back to Liga 2.^[18] This year another event occurred which had a big impact on Kolkheti. On 29 August, the municipal club was handed over to a company linked to football manager Mamuka Jugeli.^[19]

Kolkheti achieved a remarkable success in 2023. While reaching the national cup semifinals, the team under head coach Davit Kvirkvelia emerged victorious after a dramatic hard-fought battle against Gareji for the first place, which enabled them to return to the Erovnuli Liga after a five-year absence.^[20]