Moryaki FC Chernomorets Novorossiysk
Russia · Founded: 1907
FC Chernomorets Novorossiysk is the oldest Russian football club, founded in 1907 in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk as the football section of the Olympia sports club. Known as the Sailors, the club has played under several names: Tsement Novorossiysk in 1960–1969 and 1978–1991, Trud in the 1970s and Gekris in 1992–1993. It plays at the Central Stadium.
After decades in the lower Soviet leagues, Chernomorets won the Russian First Division in 1994 and spent seven seasons in the Top Division from 1995 to 2001. Its best results were sixth places in 1997 and 2000, the latter earning a place in the 2001–02 UEFA Cup, where it was knocked out by Valencia in the first round.
After relegation the club lost its professional licence in 2004 and restarted in the amateur league, briefly as FC Novorossiysk. It later returned to the professional divisions, winning promotion to the Russian First League in 2023.