Hapoel Hapoel (, ) is an Israeli Jewish sports association established in 1926 by the Histadrut Labor Federation. History During the Mandate for Palestine, British Mandate of Palestine period Hapoel had a bitter rivalry with Maccabi World Union, Maccab ...

Eilat () was an Israeli football club based in

Eilat Eilat ( , ; ; ) is Israel's southernmost city, with a population of , a busy port of Eilat, port and popular resort at the northern tip of the Red Sea, on what is known in Israel as the Gulf of Eilat and in Jordan as the Gulf of Aqaba. The c ...

, Israel's

southernmost The most southerly geographical features of various types are listed here. Cities and settlements Geography Islands The southernmost point of Berkner Island is further south than any of these, but its bedrock lies entirely below sea l ...

city. The club played four seasons in

Liga Alef Liga Alef () is the third tier of the Israeli football league system. It is divided into two regional divisions, north and south. History League football began in Israel in 1949–50, a year after the Israeli Declaration of Independence. Howe ...

, then the second tier of

Israeli football league system The Israeli football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in Israel. The system has a hierarchical format with promotion and relegation between leagues at different levels, and allows even the smallest club to dream ...

History

The club was founded in 1951. During the 1950s, the club played mostly in friendlies against military teams,Eilat wins in football
Al Hamishmar, 31.12.51, Historical Jewish Press In a few lines
Davar, 12.10.55, Historical Jewish Press and in regional independent league, comprising clubs from Eilat and nearby.Fourth place for Beitar in Eilat football league
Heruth, 28.1.58, Historical Jewish Press Eilat love sports for its own sake
Davar, 16.11.58, Historical Jewish Press In 1958, Hapoel Eilat were admitted to the

Israel Football Association The Israel Football Association (IFA; , ''HaHit'aḥdut leKaduregel beIsrael'', ) is the governing body of football in Israel. It organizes a variety of association football leagues where the highest level is the Israeli Premier League; as well a ...

and joined

Liga Gimel Liga Gimel (, lit. ''League C'') is, since 2009, the fifth and bottom division of Israeli football league system, Israeli Football League. From Liga Alef and downwards, including Liga Gimel, each league is separated by region. History Liga Gimel ...

.Eilat – To Liga Gimel
Davar, 7.12.58, Historical Jewish Press At the end of the 1959–60 season, Eilat were promoted to

Liga Bet Liga Bet () is the fourth tier of the Israeli football league system. It is divided into four regional divisions. History League football started in Israel in 1949–50, a year after the Israeli Declaration of Independence. However, the financial ...

, the third tier of Israeli football at the time, after they finished at the top four of the Promotion play-offs for

clubs.Hapoel Eilat promoted to Liga Bet (Page 4)
Hadshot HaSport, 10.7.60, archive.football.co.il In the 1968–69 season, the club won Liga Bet South B division, and were promoted to

for the first time in their history. In 1969–70, the club's first season at the second tier, they reached their best placing ever, which was seventh. The club played in Liga Alef South division until the

1972–73 Year 197 ( CXCVII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Magius and Rufinus (or, less frequently, year 950 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination 197 for this y ...

, in which they finished second bottom, and relegated back to Liga Bet, after four seasons playing in the second tier. In the 1977–78 season, they finished second bottom in Liga Bet South B division, and dropped to Liga Gimel, which at the time became the fifth tier of Israeli football, since the creation of

Liga Artzit Liga Artzit (, lit. ''Country League'') is the defunct third division of Israeli Football League, beneath its highest division Premier League and the second division Liga Leumit. Before being cancelled in 2009, it was run by the Israel Football A ...

in 1976. In 1984–85, the club returned to Liga Bet, where they played until they were suspended from the league, prior to the 1999–2000 season, and eventually folded. A successor club, A.S. Eilat, was founded and reached Liga Bet. However A.S. Eilat folded as well, after last being active at the 2004–05 season.Liga Bet South B
One Currently football in Eilat is represented by Bnei Eilat F.C., which are not related to the football clubs which have previously operated in Eilat. (Hapoel Eilat and A.S. Eilat).Team in a day: Bnei Eilat
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Honours

League League or The League may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Leagues'' (band), an American rock band * ''The League'', an American sitcom broadcast on FX and FXX about fantasy football * ''League of Legends'', a 2009 multiplayer online battle a ...

References

{{Football in Israel

Association football clubs established in 1951 Association football clubs disestablished in 1999

Sport in Eilat 1951 establishments in Israel 1999 disestablishments in Israel

History

Honours

League League or The League may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Leagues'' (band), an American rock band * ''The League'', an American sitcom broadcast on FX and FXX about fantasy football * ''League of Legends'', a 2009 multiplayer online battle a ...

See also

References