Beyoğluspor
Encyclopedia
Beyoğluspor is a sports club in Istanbul
, Turkey
. It fields teams in volleyball
, basketball
and football at the amateur level.
community of Istanbul founded several sports clubs and organized sports activities such as the Pan-Constantinopolitan Games. In 1877 Hermes Sports Club was founded in Beyoğlu
with significant activity until 1922, when it was forced to close by the local authorities.
Beyoğluspor was founded in 1914 under the name Greek Football Team and soon became one of the most significant sports clubs of the city. With the establishment of the Republic of Turkey (1923) it was renamed to "Peran Sports Club" and later, that year, to Beyoğlusport.
Until 1926, the club's activities were housed in the deserted gym of Hermes S.C.. However, after 1926 the club moved to the building of the "Ladies Charity Fraternity of Pera", also located in the region of Beyoğlu. Initially, Beyoğluspor maintained two departments, football and gymnastics. Later, there were established departments of wrestling and boxing and in 1926 of basketball and volleyball.
During its history, many of the club's departments had been awarded in a variety of competitions. The Volleyball department of Beyoğluspor was one of the most distinguished teams in Turkey during the 1940s and 1950s, while it also won the Turkish championship
for some years that period. The footbal team managed to capture the 5th place at the Istanbul Football League
in 1945, while in the early 1960s it competed in the Super League. The efforts of the club managers and presidents, such as G. Chalkousis, S. Kanakis, G. Mouzakis, A. Tripos, played a determining part in thes successes. On the other hand, several athletes were distinguished both in Greek but also in international level, like the World Champion in weightlifting and latter coach of the Greek weightlifting team, Christos Iakovou.
, a football player of Greek descend and one of the best players in Turkey in 1950s and 1960s, played for Fenerbahçe
, turning most of the local Greeks to change temporarily their support to Fenerbahçe.
, basketball
and football at the amateur level.
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. It fields teams in volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and football at the amateur level.
History
Since the second half of the 19th century the GreekGreeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
community of Istanbul founded several sports clubs and organized sports activities such as the Pan-Constantinopolitan Games. In 1877 Hermes Sports Club was founded in Beyoğlu
Beyoglu
Beyoğlu is a district located on the European side of İstanbul, Turkey, separated from the old city by the Golden Horn...
with significant activity until 1922, when it was forced to close by the local authorities.
Beyoğluspor was founded in 1914 under the name Greek Football Team and soon became one of the most significant sports clubs of the city. With the establishment of the Republic of Turkey (1923) it was renamed to "Peran Sports Club" and later, that year, to Beyoğlusport.
Until 1926, the club's activities were housed in the deserted gym of Hermes S.C.. However, after 1926 the club moved to the building of the "Ladies Charity Fraternity of Pera", also located in the region of Beyoğlu. Initially, Beyoğluspor maintained two departments, football and gymnastics. Later, there were established departments of wrestling and boxing and in 1926 of basketball and volleyball.
During its history, many of the club's departments had been awarded in a variety of competitions. The Volleyball department of Beyoğluspor was one of the most distinguished teams in Turkey during the 1940s and 1950s, while it also won the Turkish championship
Turkish Men's Volleyball Championship
The Turkish Men's Volleyball Championship is a defunct volleyball league competition in Turkish volleyball, run by the Turkish Volleyball Federation from 1948 to 1970.-Champions:-All champions:...
for some years that period. The footbal team managed to capture the 5th place at the Istanbul Football League
Istanbul Football League
Istanbul Lig or originally Constantinople Football Association League was founded by James La Fontaine and Henry Pears and started with the 1904-05 season with only four teams as "Istanbul Sunday League". The matches between the four teams, Moda FC, HMS Imogene FC, Elpis FC, and Cadi-Keuy FC were...
in 1945, while in the early 1960s it competed in the Super League. The efforts of the club managers and presidents, such as G. Chalkousis, S. Kanakis, G. Mouzakis, A. Tripos, played a determining part in thes successes. On the other hand, several athletes were distinguished both in Greek but also in international level, like the World Champion in weightlifting and latter coach of the Greek weightlifting team, Christos Iakovou.
Popularity
The majority of the funs were among the Greek community of the city. However, Beyoğluspor witnessed a dramatic decrease of its supporters for a period when Lefter KüçükandonyadisLefter Küçükandonyadis
Lefter Küçükandonyadis , born 22 December 1925 in Istanbul, is a Turkish football player of Greek descent, who is recognised as one of the greatest footballers to play for Turkey.-Early life and club career:...
, a football player of Greek descend and one of the best players in Turkey in 1950s and 1960s, played for Fenerbahçe
Fenerbahçe S.K. (football)
Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü is a Turkish professional football club based in the district of Kadıköy, Istanbul, and part of the larger Fenerbahçe multisports club...
, turning most of the local Greeks to change temporarily their support to Fenerbahçe.
Present situation
Today, Beyoğluspor is one of the few surviving Greek foundations of the city and fields teams in volleyballVolleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and football at the amateur level.
Notable athletes
- Christos Iakovou, weightlifter and former coach of Greek National Weightlifting Team
- Alekos SofianidisAlekos SofianidisAlekos Sofianidis was a former Turkish-Greek football player and manager. Sofianidis was a left back. He is known as Aleko Sofyanidis in Turkey.-Playing career:...
, football player - Kostas NegrepontisKostas NegrepontisKonstantinos Negrepontis was a Greek football forward of the 1920s and 1930s. Born in Constantinople in 1897, he started his football career in Turkey, playing for the Pera-based Pera Club. He also played in France and Fenerbahçe S.K. for a time before eventually settling in Greece to play for...
, football player