Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem F.C.

The FC Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem (Hebrew: הפועל קטמון ירושלים ), often only Katamon, is an Israeli football team from Jerusalem, which plays in the Liga Leumit, the second Israeli league. Hapoel Katamon was founded by Hapoel Jerusalem fans who were unhappy with the board of the association. The association is thus the first team in Israel, which is founded and run by their fans. Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem was named after the Katamon neighborhood in Jerusalem, where was the original stadium of Hapoel Jerusalem.

History

The football club Hapoel Jerusalem was founded in 1926. The club was one of the " Histadrut ", Israel's trade union federation, and advocated socialist values ​​. In 1957, the club was promoted to the first Israeli League for the first time. In the 1960s and 70s, " the golden phase " of the club, Hapoel outstripped urban rivals Beitar Jerusalem - an association of right-wing " revisionist " movement - both on the field and in the stands. 1973 succeeded the team their biggest success in club history - winning the Israeli Cup.

Since the early 1980s, Hapoel Jerusalem has lost its leading position in the city against Beitar Jerusalem. In 1993 the club was purchased by Josi Sasi, who began his friend, Viktor Jonah as chairman. In the late 1990s arose a violent dispute between the two over the ownership of Hapoel Jerusalem. The dispute, which continually reflected in judicial proceedings, caused the sporting and economic decline of the team that constantly between the second and the third division to ascend and descend.

After Hapoel Jerusalem fans had spent years trying unsuccessfully to find a contractor who would want the club by Sasi and Jonah buy, initiated in 2007, some fans, headed by journalist Uri Sheratzky and with the support of Nir Barkat, the purchase of the club. After this attempt was also unsuccessful, they decided on a new company under a different name. Many fans switched to Hapoel Mevaseret Zion, a club who played in the fourth division. Since they built " Hapoel Katamon " on.

Managers and fans of the original club Hapoel Jerusaelem criticized this approach; the remaining fans argued " real fans " never left their team, regardless of how bad it was ordered by the club. Nevertheless moved the majority of fans to " Katamon ".

Go to the top of its first season (2007/ 08 ) were purchased about 1,000 season tickets. Coach of the team was Miro Ben Shimon. To kick off game at the stadium of the Hebrew University in Givat Ram, were about 3,000 fans, an impressive number in Israel, where even feature in the Premier League a few clubs about such support. In this game, " Katamon " Hapoel Nahalat Yehuda won 2-1.

The team reached the seventh round of the Israeli Cup in which they defeated Maccabi Ironi Kiryat Ata only ( 3 league). At the end of the first season after the founding team was in second place. Just to make a point of first place and thus the promotion to the third division was missed.

Also in the 2008/ 09 season, it is " Katamon " rise despite amplification of the squad did not succeed. At the end of the season the club was on the seventh place, and different again from first in the seventh round of the cup. After the season, a further negotiation between the Fanmannschaft and Hapoel Jerusalem from Josi Sasi took place in order to achieve a union of the two teams. This failed because of the required sum of money, which was rejected by Sasi excessive. He also refused to disclose documents relating to an allegedly high level of debt. This failed attempt served for many fans as evidence that it could not find an amicable solution. As a consequence, the Fanmannschaft decided to come to the "true" successor Hapoel Jerusalem alone. The fans voted for secession from Hapoel Mevaseret, and for the formation of a new team in the league Gimel ( the fifth and last Israeli league). This team should henceforth bear the name " Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem."

In advance of the 2009/10 season the Jerusalem municipality of the newly formed team has given consent to be able to deliver their home games at University Stadium in Givat Ram. Lior Zada was hired as coach. The former Hapoel Jerusalem legend Amir Gola could be persuaded to withdraw from resignation and took over as captain of Katamon the leadership of the team. As at the end of this season, the team rose to the fourth league, proving just how important this decision was. In the deciding match Katamon Beitar Ashkelon defeated before 4,000 fans at the Teddy Kollek Stadium in Jerusalem 2-1.

Prior to the 2010/11 season also joined the crowd favorite Shai Aharon to Hapoel Katamon. In the preseason Aharon had played as captain of Hapoel Jerusalem. This change was strongly criticized by the leaders of the original association. Hapoel Jerusalem increased between periods from the third Israeli league and was only able to mobilize a small number of about 100-150 fans per game.

As in the previous season, managed Hapoel Jerusalem Katamon to land 2010/11 on the first place in the league and Alef Darom, the third League South to rise. In the deciding match Katamor Shaaraym Maccabee defeated before 4000 fans in the Teddy Kollek Stadium 3-1.

In the 2012/13 season Hapoel Jerusalem Katamon succeeded in promotion to the Liga Leumit.

Coexistence

In contrast to Beitar Jerusalem, in his entire club history not committed an Arab player, Hapoel Jerusalem has a long tradition of Arabian players like Ali Othman and Amar Salman, mainly from the village of Bet Tsafafa in South Jerusalem. Today, Amar Salman is working as an assistant coach at Hapoel Jerusalem. For Hapoel Katamon this season Maher El- Hamda plays from the village of Segev Shalom in southern Israel. The team has also Arab fans as the writer Sayed Kashua.

Fans

The fan base of the Hapoel Jerusalem Katamon recruited mainly from young political left liberal Jerusalemites, for which the club is one of the last options.

Social activity of the Fans

The Hapoel Katamon fans not only focus on athletic achievements, but also on fairness, coexistence and the rejection of violence.

Accordingly, the fans have also prescribed social engagement. So they brought, for example, immigrants from Ethiopia in Hebrew, or supervised children from the bilingual Yad Yad be school. Today, this social initiative focused on the " League of the district " in which children from six schools from all over Jerusalem (including East Jerusalem) play. In addition, the participating children receive educational support of Hapoel fans.

During the Passover holidays the team will hold a Fans' Tournament under the name " Kovshei Katamon ". The tournament take part fans, kids and adults.

The pubs Stardust, Sira and Hataklit, in downtown Jerusalem, known as meeting places for the fans.

The fans are also taking part in exchanges with other clubs. The end of 2008 took fans of Hapoel Katamon fans of Werder Bremen in Jerusalem. An additional exchange with fans of Werder Bremen was in October 2010 in Germany. March 2011, the Bremer arrived in Israel for a return visit, on which she spent a weekend at the fans of Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem. At this exchange, which is related to an initiative against racism, also take part fans of the Israeli clubs Maccabi Netanya and Bnei Sakhnin.