ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

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The participation of Cypriot clubs in the Greek First National League was an innovation implemented during the period 1967-1974 following the initiative of the dictatorial regime of Athens, which he implemented with contacts in Cyprus with the Cyprus Football Federation (KOP) in late August 1967, then G.G. Sports Constantine Aslanidis.
More specifically, starting in the 1967-68 football season, Olympiacos Nicosia took part in the Greek championship, while the Cypriot I category was essentially converted into a fourth group of the Greek Second Division, so that its champion acquired the right to participate in the next Greek championship. In this way, the gradual unification of the two events was sought, but this could not be achieved, since the number of Cypriot clubs did not increase because of their obvious competitive weakness in relation to the Greek counterparts. The only team that managed to gain the right to maintain for the second consecutive year in the Greek First National was the 1973-74 APOEL, however the events that followed with the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in the summer of 1974 thwarted the further prospect of the project.

Under the regulations only one Cypriot team would participate in the 1st National Championship and she would be the Cypriot champion. In case a Cypriot team ensured its stay in the First National League, the new Cypriot champion did not have the right to participate in the first National Championship. By securing the stay of APOEL in 1973-74, the first-class champion 1973-74, Omonia Nicosia, had no right to participate in the 1st National Championship 1974-75.

The Cypriot teams competing in the Greek championship were in order: Olympiacos Nicosia (1967-68), Limassol S.A. (1968-69), Nicosia Olympiacos (1969-70), Larnaca E.P.A. (1970-71), Olympiacos Nicosia (1971-72), Nicosia Omonia (1972-73) and A.P.E.L. (1973-74).

Racing account

Statistics (by group)

Olympiacos Nicosia
Olympiacos Nicosia presented 23, 27 and 30 football players each of its three entries (1967-68, 1969-70 and 1971-72). Xypolytas and Avramides were not absent once in the first season taking part in all 34 matches given by their team, Efthymiades (with 33 entries) was the most loyal player in the second year and Aristidou (with 30 attendances) in the third. First scorers were, respectively, Mark (9 goals), Abram (also with 9 goals) and Euthymiades, with three goals.

H.E. Limassol
A.E. Limassol presented 24 football players, of whom ten had the surname Papadopoulos. First in entries was Tr. Harilaou who played in all matches (34), while Har. Papadopoulos became the club's top scorer with 7 goals.

E.P.A. Larnaca
The U.S. Larnaca featured 23 players. A. Theodorou and Kanjiliers arrived at 33 you