Hapoel Rehovot ( he, הפועל רחובות) was an Israeli football club based in

Rehovot Rehovot ( he, רְחוֹבוֹת ''Rəḥōvōt'', ar, رحوڤوت ''Reḥūfūt'') is a city in the Central District of Israel, about south of Tel Aviv. In it had a population of . Etymology Israel Belkind, founder of the Bilu movement, ...

. The club spent three seasons in the top division prior to the

Israeli Declaration of Independence The Israeli Declaration of Independence, formally the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel ( he, הכרזה על הקמת מדינת ישראל), was proclaimed on 14 May 1948 ( 5 Iyar 5708) by David Ben-Gurion, the Executive ...

. In 1968, the club merged with Hapoel Marmorek.

History

The Hapoel sport club in

was in existence in 1926, and the football section was opened 1933, as Hapoel Rehovot played their first match as a new team against

Hapoel Jerusalem Hapoel Jerusalem is a sport organization in Jerusalem as a local branch of the Hapoel movement. The branch was established in the 1920s and represents the city in more sports than any other sport organization in Jerusalem. Today, the club's leadi ...

.In Sport
Davar, 25.8.1933, Historical Jewish Press Prior to the

, the club played two seasons at the

top flight Top Flight (April 15, 1929 – 1949) was an American U.S. Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse. She was the leading American filly of her generation at two and three years of age. Background Bred in Kentucky by the very prominent horseman Harry ...

, where they reached the tenth place at the

1943–44 Palestine League The 1943-44 Palestine League was the tenth season of league football in the British Mandate for Palestine. The defending champions were Maccabi Tel Aviv. Fourteen clubs took part in the league. the league schedule was inconsistent, as no club comp ...

season and relegated at the end of the

1946–47 Palestine League The 1946-47 Palestine League was the eleventh season of league football in the British Mandate for Palestine. The defending champions were Hapoel Tel Aviv and the championship was won by Maccabi Tel Aviv. Hapoel Rehovot and Hapoel Herzliya were ...

season, after second bottom finish. Following the establishment of the state of

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

, the club competed in Liga Meuhedet, the temporary second tier in the 1949–50 season, where they finished runners-up in the Jerusalem and South division, and were placed in Liga Bet, then the second tier, in the following season. The final match of the 1953–54 season saw the club have a chance to return to the top flight, as they needed only a draw. However, they lost 1–2 to

Beitar Jerusalem Beitar Jerusalem Football Club ( he, מועדון כדורגל בית"ר ירושלים, Moadon Kaduregel Beitar Yerushalayim), commonly known as Beitar Jerusalem () or simply as Beitar (), is an Israeli football club based in the city of Jeru ...

, which were promoted instead. In the 1961–62 season, the club finished bottom in Liga Alef South division and relegated to Liga Bet, then the third tier. In the following season, whilst Hapoel Rehovot was placed in Liga Bet South A division, another Hapoel club from Rehovot, Hapoel Marmorek, achieved promotion to Liga Alef from Liga Bet South B division. In the summer of 1968, the two clubs merged, with the merged club which went to compete in Liga Alef, became officially known as Hapoel Marmorek-Rehovot.Hapoel Marmorek and Rehovot merged into one team
Maariv, 25.6.1968, Historical Jewish Press As a result, the club rights were transferred to Hapoel Kiryat Gat (which took Hapoel Rehovot's spot in Liga Bet) and Hapoel Rehovot disappeared from football,Maccabi and Hapoel Rehovot disappeared
Davar, 8.5.1977, Historical Jewish Press although, in the following season, Hapoel Kiryat Gat played under the name of Hapoel Kiryat Gat Rehovot.Four promoted teams determined
Maariv, 25.5.1969, Historical Jewish Press Two of the club players, Avraham Ginzburg (in 1953, 1954) and Meir Tobias (in 1953), went on to play for the

Israel national football team The Israel national football team ( he, נבחרת ישראל בכדורגל, ) represents Israel in international football, and is governed by the Israel Football Association (IFA). Israel's national team is the direct successor of the M ...

.Hapoel Rehovot F.C., Rehovot
eu-football.info

Honours

League League or The League may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Leagues'' (band), an American rock band * ''The League'', an American sitcom broadcast on FX and FXX about fantasy football Sports * Sports league * Rugby league, full contact footba ...

Other

References

{{Football in Israel

Association football clubs established in 1933 Association football clubs disestablished in 1968

1933 establishments in Mandatory Palestine 1968 disestablishments in Israel Sport in Rehovot