Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona
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| Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona הפועל עירוני קרית שמונה |
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| Ground | Ironi Stadium, Kiryat Shmona | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity | 2,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman |  Izi Shirsky |
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| Manager | Eyal Lakhman |
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| League | Liga Leumit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005/06 | Liga Leumit, 3rd | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona (Hebrew: הפועל עירוני קרית שמונה) are a football club from the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona. They are more commonly known as just Ironi Kiryat Shmona. The club plays in blue shirts and shorts and white socks and are currently in Liga Leumit, the second tier of Israeli football. Home matches are played at the Ironi Stadium.
[edit] History
Coming from such a small town (Kiryat Shmona's population is only around 20,000), it is no surprise that the club does not have a long or illustrious history. Up until the start of the 21st century, the club remained in the lowest leagues of Israeli football.
However, since the start of the millennium, the club has been transformed thanks to the backing of a wealthy American Jew, (name unknown). In an attempt to make life more bearable for the town's residents (the town's location near the Lebanese border means it is frequently hit by Hezbollah missiles), he decided to fund the town's football team. This has resulted in an influx of professional players, including several former Israeli internationals such as Guy Tzarfati.
In 2000-1, the club recorded its first triumph by winning the northern division of Liga Alef, resulting in promotion to Liga Artzit, the third division of Israeli football. Two seasons later, Kiryat Shmona finished second in Liga Artzit to win promotion to Liga Leumit, the second division.
The following season, the club recorded its highest-ever league placing, finishing third and only missing out on promotion to Ligat ha'Al on goal difference to Hapoel Nazareth Illit. In 2005-6 season, Eyal Lakhman (the man who had famously guided Bnei Sakhnin into Ligat ha'Al and kept them there for three seasons) took over as manager and the club finished third again, this time missing out on promotion by six points.
The club's recent success, and lack of significant alternative entertainment in the isolated Northern Galilee region, means that despite its small catchment area, the club is one of the better supported in Liga Leumit, with attendances averaging well over 1,000.
[edit] Honours
- Liga Alef (North)
- 2000-1
- Toto Cup (Liga Leumit)
- 2006-2007
[edit] Trivia
- "Hapoel" is translated as "The Worker"
- "Ironi" is translated as "Municipal"
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Liga Leumit 2006-7
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