Hapoel Eilat ( he, הפועל אילת) was an Israeli football club based in

Eilat Eilat ( , ; he, אֵילַת ; ar, إِيلَات, Īlāt) is Israel's southernmost city, with a population of , a busy port and popular resort at the northern tip of the Red Sea, on what is known in Israel as the Gulf of Eilat and in Jordan ...

, Israel's southernmost city. The club played four seasons in Liga Alef, then the second tier of Israeli football league system.

History

The club was founded in 1951. During the 1950s, the club played mostly in

friendlies An exhibition game (also known as a friendly, a scrimmage, a demonstration, a preseason game, a warmup match, or a preparation match, depending at least in part on the sport) is a sporting event whose prize money and impact on the player's or ...

against military teams,Eilat wins in football
Al Hamishmar, 31.12.51, Historical Jewish Press In a few lines
Davar, 12.10.55, Historical Jewish Press and in regional independent league, comprising clubs from Eilat and nearby.Fourth place for Beitar in Eilat football league
Heruth, 28.1.58, Historical Jewish Press Eilat love sports for its own sake
Davar, 16.11.58, Historical Jewish Press In 1958, Hapoel Eilat were admitted to the Israel Football Association and joined Liga Gimel.Eilat – To Liga Gimel
Davar, 7.12.58, Historical Jewish Press At the end of the 1959–60 season, Eilat were promoted to Liga Bet, the third tier of Israeli football at the time, after they finished at the top four of the Promotion play-offs for Liga Gimel clubs.Hapoel Eilat promoted to Liga Bet (Page 4)
Hadshot HaSport, 10.7.60, archive.football.co.il In the 1968–69 season, the club won Liga Bet South B division, and were promoted to Liga Alef for the first time in their history. In 1969–70, the club's first season at the second tier, they reached their best placing ever, which was seventh. The club played in Liga Alef South division until the 1972–73, in which they finished second bottom, and relegated back to Liga Bet, after four seasons playing in the second tier. In the 1977–78 season, they finished second bottom in Liga Bet South B division, and dropped to Liga Gimel, which at the time became the fifth tier of

Israeli football Football ( he, כַּדוּרֶגֶל, ''Kaduregel'') is the most popular sport in Israel. Football as an organised sport, first developed in the United Kingdom, who controlled Mandatory Palestine during the days of the British Mandate. The ...

, since the creation of Liga Artzit in 1976. In 1984–85, the club returned to Liga Bet, where they played until they were suspended from the league, prior to the 1999–2000 season, and eventually folded. A successor club, A.S. Eilat, was founded and reached Liga Bet. However A.S. Eilat folded as well, after last being active at the 2004–05 season.Liga Bet South B
One Currently football in Eilat is represented by

Bnei Eilat F.C. Bnei Eilat Football Club ( he, מועדון כדורגל בני אילת) is an Israeli football club based in Eilat. They are currently in Liga Alef South division. History Bnei Eilat were founded in 2006 and are not related to the football clu ...

, which are not related to the football clubs which have previously operated in Eilat. (Hapoel Eilat and A.S. Eilat).Team in a day: Bnei Eilat
Doublepass

Honours

League

References

{{Football in Israel

Association football clubs established in 1951 Association football clubs disestablished in 1999

Sport in Eilat 1951 establishments in Israel 1999 disestablishments in Israel

History

Honours

League

See also

References