Post by sandbachhatter on Apr 23, 2017 20:44:37 GMT
This week's host is Archie.....
Loosely linked by a reference to objects that can be seen in the night sky we start our trawl through the S bends of space with...
Playing in blue and black striped shirts/black shorts (all white away strip), the current squad is all Russian but over the years they have been represented by internationals from several countries from Europe, Africa and South America. One of their better known players was Russian born Finnish international, Alexei Eremenko, who played over 60 games for Kilmarnock in two spells between 2010 and 2015.
Loosely linked by a reference to objects that can be seen in the night sky we start our trawl through the S bends of space with...
FC Saturn Ramenskoye (Russia)
Based in the Moscow suburb of Ramenskoye and founded in 1946, the club was previously called Krylya Sovetov (1946–1957), Trud (1958–1959) and Saturn-REN TV (February 2002 to January 2004). In 2006 the club beat the record of drawn matches played in the Russian Premier League during one season - 16 times. It has something of a chequered history, in that due to huge debts it was dissolved in January 2011, but was recreated on the base of their former farm club FC Saturn-2 Moscow Region. It returned to the professional level in the Russian Professional Football League in the 2013-14 season. Before the 2015–16 season, the club didn't receive its professional license and moved back to amateur levels. It returned to the third-tier once again for the 2016–17 season.
The club has several nicknames including the Aliens and the Extraterrestrials but the supporters movement tends to go with the Humanoids.
Playing in blue and black striped shirts/black shorts (all white away strip), the current squad is all Russian but over the years they have been represented by internationals from several countries from Europe, Africa and South America. One of their better known players was Russian born Finnish international, Alexei Eremenko, who played over 60 games for Kilmarnock in two spells between 2010 and 2015.
Home games are played at the 14685 capacity Saturn Stadium:
Somewhat in character with the reputation of Russian supporters, there appears to be a lively discussion about whether or not there should be an official graffiti wall.
So, from a planet we move on to a star in the East as represented by the badge of...
The first team squad is mainly from the Balkans although there are two Africans and three Brazilians, the best of whom is probably Ricardinho who, although listed as a midfielder, had scored 40 goals in 84 senior appearances to the end of 2016. First colours are yellow with a black trim with the imaginative away strip of black with a yellow trim.
Home games are played at the 14000 capacity Sheriff Stadium, part of the impressive Sheriff Sports Complex which includes a smaller stadium (8000 capacity and artificial pitch), practice pitches and an indoor arena.
The complex was built by the Sheriff company whose founders were members of 'special services'. Tiraspol is in the province of Transnistria which would like self-determination and Sheriff seem to be performing a delicate balancing act between local and national politicians. Whether this will eventually impact on the club is unknown but it can't be a comfortable position for the players.
At this stage I'll own up to the fact that a last minute change of club makes the earlier link of the night sky inaccurate. I was going to go with a club that celebrates a person who flies in from the north and breaks in to children's bedrooms overnight once a year (FC Santa Claus) but instead I've decided to select...
Formed in 1986 and based in the village of the same name, FC Santa Coloma became one of the founder members of Primera Divisió in 1995. Since 2001 the club has enjoyed great success in all Andorran competitions holding the winners' records for the Premier Andorran League (10) and Andorran Cup (8). It also has two unique achievements for an Andorran team in European competitions. It is the only team from Andorra to win a match in any European competition and the only team that did not concede a goal in a match in a European competition.
For most of its history, club colours were all white but recent team photos show red shorts. (NB: Apologies to Archie, the recent photo showing red shorts wouldn't work - this is an old photo!)
Second colours are all blue with all red as an a third strip. As befits an area torn between Catalan and Spanish influences, most of the players are from Andorra or Spain and probably the most famous recent player is Spanish international full-back Joan Capdevila who played over 350 games for Atletico Madrid, Deportivo La Coruna, Villareal and Espanyol as well as 60 games for his country.
The local Andorran El Classic is between FC Santa and Sant Julia but the Santa Coloma El Derbi is between FC Santa and UE (Unio Esportivo) Santa who are usually the top two clubs in the league. However, there is no home advantage because all Andorran league games are played at the Estadi Comunal.
Get voting!
So, from a planet we move on to a star in the East as represented by the badge of...
FC Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova)
Quite big-time in the context of Moldovan football, in that, although only founded in 1997 (by employees of the Sheriff company which has interests in many business areas) they have won the Moldovan National Division title fourteen times since 2001. In 80 matches in the Champions League and Europa League, they have been victorious 25 times including wins over Dinamo Kiev and Twente Enschede. The first team squad is mainly from the Balkans although there are two Africans and three Brazilians, the best of whom is probably Ricardinho who, although listed as a midfielder, had scored 40 goals in 84 senior appearances to the end of 2016. First colours are yellow with a black trim with the imaginative away strip of black with a yellow trim.
Home games are played at the 14000 capacity Sheriff Stadium, part of the impressive Sheriff Sports Complex which includes a smaller stadium (8000 capacity and artificial pitch), practice pitches and an indoor arena.
The complex was built by the Sheriff company whose founders were members of 'special services'. Tiraspol is in the province of Transnistria which would like self-determination and Sheriff seem to be performing a delicate balancing act between local and national politicians. Whether this will eventually impact on the club is unknown but it can't be a comfortable position for the players.
At this stage I'll own up to the fact that a last minute change of club makes the earlier link of the night sky inaccurate. I was going to go with a club that celebrates a person who flies in from the north and breaks in to children's bedrooms overnight once a year (FC Santa Claus) but instead I've decided to select...
FC Santa Coloma (Andorra)
There is, however, still a link to the sky during the day as the club badge includes a dove as a depiction of the Catalan word, coloma(=dove). Formed in 1986 and based in the village of the same name, FC Santa Coloma became one of the founder members of Primera Divisió in 1995. Since 2001 the club has enjoyed great success in all Andorran competitions holding the winners' records for the Premier Andorran League (10) and Andorran Cup (8). It also has two unique achievements for an Andorran team in European competitions. It is the only team from Andorra to win a match in any European competition and the only team that did not concede a goal in a match in a European competition.
For most of its history, club colours were all white but recent team photos show red shorts. (NB: Apologies to Archie, the recent photo showing red shorts wouldn't work - this is an old photo!)
Second colours are all blue with all red as an a third strip. As befits an area torn between Catalan and Spanish influences, most of the players are from Andorra or Spain and probably the most famous recent player is Spanish international full-back Joan Capdevila who played over 350 games for Atletico Madrid, Deportivo La Coruna, Villareal and Espanyol as well as 60 games for his country.
The local Andorran El Classic is between FC Santa and Sant Julia but the Santa Coloma El Derbi is between FC Santa and UE (Unio Esportivo) Santa who are usually the top two clubs in the league. However, there is no home advantage because all Andorran league games are played at the Estadi Comunal.
Get voting!
