The club traces its history of a football team that existed at the British factory of Elvorti (Elworthy) since 1911. After the Bolshevik Revolution, the factory was nationalized and converted into Soviet factory "Chervona Zirka", and likewise, the former team was dissolved, and the Soviet football team Chervona Zirka was formed in 1922. The club's professional football history started in 1958 when it was admitted to the Class B competitions.
History
Newspaper article of 1911 about a game between the Sports Society Elvorti and the 1st Team of Male Gymnasium
The club traces its history back to the former Russian sports club Elvorti Yelizavetgrad that was founded in 1911 at the Elvorti Factory. The factory was later nationalized with establishment of the Soviet power and changed its name to "Chervona Zirka" (Red Star). After start of World War I and the Ukrainian-Soviet War, most sports events in the region were suspended and in 1917 the club dissolved. Sports competitions were resumed in Lyzavetghrad in 1921 that saw participation of a team.
Zirka Kropyvnytsky in 2016-17
In 1922, based on the former sports club Elvorti Yelizavetgrad were created two Soviet clubs Chervona Zirka and Chervony Profintern that participated in Soviet competition. Some of Zirka's club shields contain 1922 as the club's year of establishment. In 1928 Chervona Zirka changed its name to Metallist Zinovyevsk (Metalist Zinovyivsk) and in 1934 – Selmash Kirovo (Silmash Kirove). During the World War II the team was dissolved once again.
It was not revived until 1948 when by being a member of the former Volunteer Sports Society Selmash, it was reorganised as Traktor Kirovograd (Traktor Kirovohrad) and after 1953 – Torpedo.
In first post-War years 1946–47 Kirovograd (Kirovohrad) was represented in football competitions by a law enforcement team "Dynamo".
In 1958, the club was renamed into Zvezda Kirovograd (Zirka Kirovohrad) when it advanced to the professional level of Soviet competitions, the B Class. As Zirka the club existed until 2006 when it went bankrupt. In 1962 the club temporarily did not participate in Soviet competitions and Kirovohrad was once again represented by Dynamo. From 1993 to 1997 the club carried a name of its title sponsor NIBAS as Zirka-NIBAS. In 2007 the club was revived in amateur regional competitions. On July 15, 2008 the Professional Football League of Ukraine approved exchange names between Zirka and another club from Kirovohrad, FC Olimpik Kirovohrad, that competed at professional level to yield its place in the Ukrainian Second League.[2]
Previously, Zirka debuted at a top level for the 1994–95 season, where they finished 6th. In the 1999–2000 season they finished in last place and were relegated to the Ukrainian First League. They were promoted immediately as champions once again for the 2003–04 season, but finished in last place and were demoted again.
In July 2016, the name of Zirka's hometown was renamed to Kropyvnytskyi.[3] The next day the club announced it had changed its name to FC Zirka Kropyvnytskyi and its logo accordingly.[4]
Team names and crest
Emblem 2008–11Emblem Zirka NIBASEmblem before 2008
Current club's crest (logo) was adopted in 2012. In 2016 as part of decommunisation process, the club changed its city's name and year of establishment claiming its heritage of the previously existing team of British factory "Elvorti".
In 2008-2011 the club's crest contained the Red Star (the club's former name and the name of factory which owned the club) and most of elements of coat of arms of the city of Kropyvnytskyi.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Soviet competitions
The republican football competitions in Ukraine during the Soviet period is poorly documented, so there is little information available about the Zirka's competition record before 1958.
^Club name changed to FC Zirka, the name of the team that has represented Kirovohrad historically
^"PFL Disciplinary committee decision № 24"(PDF) (in Ukrainian). PFL. January 28, 2010. Archived from the original(PDF) on June 10, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2010. Deducted 3 points for failure of payment to contracted players. (January 28, 2010)
^Competition was played in two phases. Official final league standings are cumulative from both phases. Zirka competed in the Relegation Group in Phase II. "Ліга Парі-Матч Сезон 2016/17" [League Pari-Match 2016–17 Season]. Ukrainian Premier League. 31 May 2017. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
^Competition was played in two phases. Official final league standings are cumulative from both phases. Zirka competed in the Relegation Group in Phase II. Fussball, Fedya (13 June 2018). "Ukrainian Premier League 2017/18". Rsssf.
