FC Guria Lanchkhuti

Early period

Formed in 1924 as FC Kimi, the team ceased to exist after the start of World War 2 and resumed functioning in 1952 under the name "Kolmeurne", a Georgian word for the collective farm worker. In 1960 the club was renamed as Guria. The next year they gained a first title by becoming champions of the republican league. During the subsequent decade the team won the Georgian Cup three times and the domestic league two more times, in 1966 and 1971, which enabled them to advance to the Soviet Association football.

1972–79: in the Soviet second league

Starting from 1972 Guria played in the Second League, the third tier of the Soviet football league, for seven years.

*Note: Lost promotion play-offs to Uralmash Sverdlovsk Overall results shown by Guria in II League are the following:

Guria's remarkable progress was largely attributed to Shalva Kakabadze, who worked as head coach for record twenty years continuously from 1959 until 1980, and local government chairman Evgrapi Shevardnadze, brother of the Soviet Communist Party leader in Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze.

1980–86: Road to the top flight

After the winning season in 1979, Guria were promoted to the First League, where they played for another seven consecutive years.

Source The very fact of promotion to the Soviet Top League for the team representing a provincial town seemed amazing. Football fervour around Guria grew so high that in most cases not a single seat was available during…

Leagues

Soviet period

Soviet First League: (level 2) Soviet Second League: (level 3) Winners: 1976, 1979 Runners-up: 1986, 1989 Georgian Soviet Championship: (level 4) Winners: 1961, 1966, 1971 Runners-up: 1960

Georgia

Umaglesi Liga (level 1) Runners-up: 1990, 1991 Pirveli Liga: (level 2) Winners: 2000–01, 2012–13 (West) Meore Liga/Liga 3: (level 3) Runners-up: 2007–08

Cups

Georgian Soviet Cup: Winners: 1965, 1966, 1971 Georgian Cup: Winners: 1990

Otar Korghalidze – Top scorers – 14 goals, 1991 season Otar Korghalidze – Top scorers – 40 goals, 1991–92 season Zviad Endeladze – European Golden Boot – 40 goals, 1995–96 season (for Margveti Zestaponi) In early 2020, by decree of the Georgian Ministry of Sport Begi Sikharulidze, Teimuraz Chkhaidze and Gigla Imnadze were awarded the Knight of Sport title for their distinguished contribution to Guria's victorious season in 1986. A year later Begi Sikharulidze was awarded the title Honorary Citizen of Lanchkhuti.