FC Gomel

History

Teams from Gomel, often a city or raion selection or the railway-based Lokomotiv, competed in the Belarusian SSR championships from the early 1920s. In 1946, the Byelorussian SSR league became a zone of the USSR third level for one season, and Lokomotiv Gomel became the first city team in the Soviet league. The modern club was founded in 1959 as Lokomotiv Gomel and played at the Soviet second level until 1968, finishing first in its zone in 1962 but last in 1959 and 1963; league reorganisations prevented promotion or relegation until 1969. Gomselmash then played at the third level from 1969 to 1989, when a reorganisation relegated it to the fourth level.

In 1992, Gomselmash joined the new Belarusian Premier League, was relegated in 1995, and changed its name to FC Gomel that year. Returning to the top flight in 1998, it won the championship in 2003, finished second in 2007, and third in 1999, also winning the Belarusian Cup in 2002 and reaching the final in 2004. In 2012, Gomel faced Liverpool in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds, losing 0–1 at home and 3–0 away.

League and cup history

In the Soviet Union, Lokomotiv finished last in its zone in 1960 but was saved from relegation because the second level expanded from 7 to 9 zones. Winning its zone in 1962 did not bring promotion because the top level was reduced from 22 to 20 teams; Lokomotiv stayed on the second level, which shrank from 10 zones to a single group of 18. A last-place finish in 1963 was followed by reprieve due to second-level expansion from 18 to 27 teams. In 1968, a play-off with the best-placed Belarusian team from the third level decided the right to play on the second level in 1969.

The next year, a play-off with the lowest-placed Belarusian team from the second level determined the right to stay in that level, which became the third level in 1970. A last-place finish in 1970 was saved by third-level expansion from 3 to 6 zones in 1971. In 1973, draws were followed by penalty shoot-outs, with the winner gaining 1 point and the loser 0.

Did You Know?

• The club changed its name six times between 1959 and 1995, including Spartak, Gomselmash, and Mashinostroitel.
• Gomel won the Belarusian Super Cup in 2012 and were runners-up in 2023.