FC Meskheti Akhaltsikhe
{{Infobox football club |
clubname = FC Meskheti Akhaltsikhe |
image = Mesxetis-gerbi-2.jpg |
upright = 0.6 |
fullname = FC Meskheti Akhaltsikhe |
nickname = |
founded = 2005|
dissolved= 2021|
ground = Mikheil Iadze Stadium |
capacity = 3,000 |
chairman = |
manager = |
league = N/A |
season = |
position = |
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1= |
leftarm1=ff8934|body1=ff8934|rightarm1=ff8934|shorts1=000000|socks1=000000|
}}
FC Meskheti ({{lang-ka|საფეხბურთო კლუბი მესხეთი}}) is a defunct Georgian football club based in Akhaltsikhe.
Most recently the club took part in Regionuli Liga, the fifth tier of Georgian league system, although in the late 2000s they spent two seasons in the top division.
Meskheti ceased their activities in early 2021.
History
Founded in 2005, the club initially participated in Pirveli Liga for the first two years. Meskheti finished 2nd in 2007 and gained promotion to Umaglesi Liga, where they spent two seasons.{{cite news |title=რამ განაპირობა ფეხბურთის გუნდის დაშლა? |url=https://www.tv9news.ge/ka/dghis-kithkhva/article/12036-ramganapirobafekhburthisgundisdashla |access-date=1 Dec 2021 |publisher=tv9news.ge (in Georgian) |date=16 March 2019}}
In 2008 certain financial problems hit the club, which was denied assistance from the local municipality.{{cite news |title=ახალციხის "მესხეთი" დაიშალა |url=https://samtskhe-javakheti.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-post_9339.html |access-date=1 Dec 2021 |publisher=samtskhe-javakheti.blogspot.com (in Georgian) |date=13 Oct 2010}}
The next July, unable to meet the requirements necessary for a top-league team, Meskheti were expelled to the second division with 3 points deducted. With the crisis unsolved, the club finished at the bottom of the table{{cite web |title=2011-12 in Pirveli Liga |url=https://us.soccerway.com/national/georgia/pirveli-liga/2009-2010/regular-season/r10209/ |website=soccerway.com}} and in the 2010–11 season they failed to take part in any league.
Meskheti rejoined Pirveli Liga in 2011. A year later the club once again suspended its participation in official tournaments.{{cite web |title=საფეხბურთო კლუბი "მესხეთი" ისევ დაიშალა |url=http://old.sknews.ge/index.php?newsid=355 |website=sknews.ge (in Georgian) |date=13 July 2012}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
|+ | |||||||||
| Season | Division | Pos | MP | W | D | L | GF–GA | P | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005/06 | Second | 6th of 18 | 34 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 50-30 | 57 | |
| 2006/07 | Second | 2nd of 18 | 34 | 22 | 6 | 6 | 69-19 | 72 | Promoted |
| 2007/08 | First | 6th of 14 | 26 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 29-30 | 39 | |
| 2008/09 | First | 8th of 11 | 30 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 23-42 | 29 | Expelled |
| 2009/10 | Second | 15th of 15 | 28 | 7 | 4 | 17 | 26-48 | 22 | -3 points |
| rowspan=2|2011/12 | Second, Group A | 8th of 10 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 19-25 | 17 | |
| 2nd Round | 6th of 8 | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 11-18 | 25 |
Later, in 2016, Meskheti participated in Group Centre of Meore Liga{{cite web |title=Meore Liga 2016 |url=https://us.soccerway.com/national/georgia/meore-liga/20162017/center/r38310/ |website=soccerway.com}} and then became a member of Regionuli Liga. After the 2020 season they withdrew.
| class="wikitable"
|+ | ||||||||
| Season | Division | Pos | MP | W | D | L | GF–GA | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Reg.Liga East A | 10th of 11 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 20-106 | 10 |
| 2019 | Reg.Liga East A | 6th of 9 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9-20 | 8 |
| 2020 | Reg.Liga East A | 13th of 14 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 24-62 | 7 |
Current squad
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=GK|name=Gela Dzadzunashvili}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=GK|name=Giorgi Somkhishvili}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=GK|name=Nika Tsikhelashvili}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=DF|name=Zurab Bardzimadze}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=DF|name=Zurab Dzamsashvili}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=DF|name=Zaza Kobesashvili}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=DF|name=Dmitri Lekishvili}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=DF|name=Aleksandr Metreveli}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=DF|name=Giorgi Nadirashvili}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=DF|name=Giga Zhvania}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=MF|name=Temur Apriamashvili}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=MF|name=Zviad Chkhetiani}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=MF|name=Paata Gvirchishvili}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=MF|name=Giorgi Kevlishvili}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=MF|name=Giorgi Turmanidze}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=FW|name=Mikheil Takadze}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=FW|name=David Inasaridze}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=FW|name=Aleksandr Kaidarashvili}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=FW|name=Mamuka Rusia}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=FW|name=Gela Sudadze}}
{{Fs player|no= |nat=GEO|pos=FW|name=Zurab Sudadze}}
{{Fs end}}
Honours
- Pirveli Liga
- Silver Medal winner: 2007
- Bronze Medal winner: 1995
City Derby
FC Samtskhe was established in the city in 2019. Meskheti lost 1–0 the only match held on 23 September 2020 between the rivals.{{cite web |title=სამცხე" "მესხეთის" წინააღმდეგ - ახალციხის გუნდები ერთმანეთის პირისპირ |url=https://tv9news.ge/ka/sporti/article/21622--samckhe-meskhethis-tsinaaghmdeg-akhalcikhis-gundebi-erthmanethis-pirispir |website=tv9news.ge (in Georgian) |date=23 September 2020}}
Name
Meskheti, being a synonym of Samtskhe, is a part of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region.