Apollon_Kalamarias_F.C

Apollon Kalamarias F.C.

Apollon Kalamarias (Greek: Απόλλων Καλαμαριάς) is a Greek association football club based in the district of Kalamaria, in southeast Thessaloniki, Greece.

The club will compete in Beta Ethniki for the 2008-2009 season.

History

When thousands of Pontic Greek refugees settled in and around Thessaloniki after the Greco-Turkish War and the subsequent population exchange, a group of them formed a musical club to continue their local traditions.The club's first emblem was the image of ancient Olympian god Apollo, Greek God of music and poetry.

Growing in popularity amongst the inhabitants of Kalamaria, the club soon expanded with a theatrical department, and later, a sports department. It was around this time the club colours were chosen - red, and black. The football club was formed in January, 1926.

The team had been in and out of Greek first division until international businessman and former owner of Kalamata FC, Stavros Papadopoulos, bought the team in 2001. Papadopoulos invested money into the team and brought in many young players from Brazil, and the team gained promotion to the Greek first division within two years. Papadopoulos has relinquished the running of the team since 2004.

The team is planning to build a new modern stadium (15,000 seats) in 2008.