FC Vorskla Poltava

Kolos Poltava

The club draws its history from 1955 when in the city of Poltava was established a football club Kolhospnyk within the republican trade union sports society Kolos. In 1957 the club obtained its professional status and was included in the competitions of the Soviet third division (then "Class B"). However, in 1982 the club went into bankruptcy and was dissolved. In 1983 many players moved to play for an amateur football team Kooperator from Poltava that represented the Poltava Institute of Cooperation. During its history for a short period of time from 1968–72 Kolos was also carrying names Silbud and Budivelnyk.

Vorskla Poltava

In 1984 the club was reanimated as Vorskla after the river Vorskla, which flows through Poltava. In 1986 Vorskla entered the Soviet professional ranks of the third division where it participated to the collapse of the Soviet system.

Upon establishing of the Ukrainian football competitions in 1992 the club was admitted to the Ukrainian First League which it won in 1996. The team debuted in the Ukrainian Premier League in the 1996–97 season, taking that season the 3rd place, the highest achievement in team's history. Vorskla have remained in the Premier League since, and participated twice in UEFA Cup. In 2009 Vorskla met Shakhtar Donetsk in the 2009 Ukrainian Cup Final. Mykola Pavlov's men won the match 1–0 after Vasyl Sachko's goal in the 49th minute.

As a Domestic Cup winner Vorskla participated in the annual opening game of the season Ukrainian Super Cup meeting the champions Dynamo Kyiv. After a 0–0 draw at full-time Vorskla lost the cup to Dynamo on penalties.

Its home games the main team plays at Butovsky Memorial Vorskla Stadium which is named after one of the founders of the modern Olympic games and the International Olympic Committee in 1894. Oleksiy Dmytrovych also was a lieutenant-general of the Russian Army and a teacher. He wrote several books on the physical training in various conditions.

The biggest success of Vorskla in the European competitions was their qualification to the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League group phase.

On 26 July 2014, the club's president Oleh Babayev was shot dead, while police has opened a criminal cases under Article premeditated murder".

Stadium

Vorskla plays its games at Oleksiy Butovskyi Vorskla Stadium (Ukrainian: Стадіон «Ворскла» імені Олексія Бутовського). Vorskla has been playing there since 1955. The stadium underwent significant reconstruction between 1968 and 1975 and 1995 and 2000.

Supporters & Rivalries

Development of fan movement in Poltava started in 1985. Then on the stadium began to appear first green-white scarves and fan chants. In the 1990s fans began to actively go abroad. In particular Vorskla fans were present at the legendary match between Ukraine and Russia October 9, 1999 in Moscow. European competition games with FC Daugava from Latvia and Anderlecht from Brussels in 1997 allowed fans try their hand on the European stage.

All fans are patriots of Ukraine and their hometown. Many fans took part in the Ukrainian Revolution and now also fighting in eastern Ukraine. The largest group of fans is Crew of Golden Eagle.

Vorskla maintains friendly relations with Shakhtar Donetsk and Chornomorets Odesa fans. Strained relations with: Metalist Kharkiv, Karpaty Lviv, Dynamo Kyiv, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, Zorya Luhansk and Obolon Kyiv. Now all fans have declared a truce because of the war in Eastern Ukraine.

Reserve team

The reserve team of Vorskla, Vorskla Poltava Reserves (Ukrainian: ФК "Ворскла" Полтава дубль) are playing in the Ukrainian Premier Reserve League.

Honours

European record

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.