Nea Salamis FC the Wandering Club

Nea Salamis FC the Wandering Club

By Stephen Kountourou 

Nea Salamina Famagusta at 1989-90 Cypriot Cup Final.

I have talked about several notable upsets in which some sides have had to fight through extenuating circumstances, like being displaced from their original stadium and becoming a refugee club without a permanent home ground. This was certainly the case for Famagusta side Nea Salamis, who along with some other teams were unable to compete in their native town or city due to the Invasion in 1974. Even with these troubles, the Ethyrolefki defied the odds in 1989/90 by winning their most major piece of silverware to date, the Cypriot Cup in one of the few big upsets in Cyprus football and proving that any team can overcome the most difficult of situations to and achieve something great for their fans. So for this week, I will be highlighting the Ammochostos sides historic cup victory, looking briefly at their history prior and also seeing how the club performed since.  

A Brief History of the Club

Nea Salamis or Nea Salamina FC was formed on the 7th of March 1948 in Famagusta after leftist Cypriots decided that another club should be formed in the city, after the more right wing Anorthosis had been formed in 1911. So towards the end of the 40s Nea Salamina Sports Club came to fruition becoming the first left wing Athletic side in Cyprus. During the early years, the club competed in the Cypriot Amateur Football division before joining the second tier of the unified football league pyramid that was formed in 1953. 

Two seasons later Nea Salamis won promotion to the first division for the first time in their history. The Ethryolefki became regulars in the top tier of Cypriot football for many years, coming close on one or two occasions to even winning an elusive league title but would always fall short at the final hurdle. For the most part, however, Nea Salamis were a mid-table side and were certainly the second team in the reign when compared to their more successful rivals Anorthosis. 

 

The first big tragedy struck the club in 1974 after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and occupation of the northern half of the Island meant that most of Ammochostos were taken with Anorthosis and Nea Salamis no longer being able to play in their home grounds and becoming refugee clubs. Over the mid 70s, Nea Salamis was forced to jump from one ground to another while also still competing in the first division.

Both organisations decided to make the neighbouring reign of Larnaka their temporary homes where they have competed ever since. Sadly, Nea Salamis suffered what would be their first relegation from the top flight after 25 years in 1979, epitomising the struggles of the club not only on the pitch but also on its club’s struggles.

 

However, they would bounce back the very next season, winning their second division two title and returning to the top of Cypriot football. Over the next decade, Nea Salamis would re-established themselves as a first division side, even finishing 4th during the 1988/89 season. It would not be until the turn of the decade, however, where the side from Famagusta would truly taste sweet victory. 

The Cup Run 

With regards to the actual 1989/90 domestic season, it was a rather unspectacular one as Salamina finished 10th, only three points off of second bottom Evagoras who along with Ethnikos Achna were relegated. In the Cypriot Cup, Nea Salamis shocked the Island Nation by going on an extraordinary run to the final. With their previous best finish in the up being a handful of Semi final appearances not many expected the Ammochostos side to be contending for the trophy let alone even reach the final.

 

The club began the competition in the First Round against Strovolos side Keravnos Strovolou FC, where over two legs they dispatched the second-tier side 7-0 on aggregate. The Second Round saw another comfortable tie as the Ethrylefki faced off against fellow Famagusta side Fotiakos Frenarou. The 4th division side was no match for their vastly superior neighbours and Salamina went through to the last eight of the Cup 12-0 on aggregate. Upon reaching the Quarter Finals, Nea Salamis faced their first real test against Alki Larnaka who were also attempting to stay in the first division that season. After a 0-1 victory away for Salamina, the return home tie saw Alki almost level proceedings as the game stood at 2-2 but that was also how the match would finish and the side from Famagusta edged past their opponents to the semi finals 2-3 on overall.

 

The last four saw Nea Salamis face off against Olympiakos Nicosia, another first tier side and one with more domestic pedigree than any team they had faced yet. Once again it would be the away leg that settled the tie, as the Ethrylefki overcame the Mavroprasini 0-2 in the capital before returning home to draw 2-2. With a 4-2 victory on aggregate under their belts, Nea Salamis had reached the first ever Cypriot Cup final in their history.  

The Final 

The final that was hosted in Tsirio Stadium in Limassol seemed an almost foregone conclusion before a ball was even kicked. Even with the achievement of plucky little Nea Salamis reaching the final they still had the biggest task of their season so far. Last season's winners Omonia lay in wait who were huge favourites to claim their 9th Cypriot Cup and continue their domestic dominance that they had maintained over the decade. This did not seem to deter Nea Salamis however they took the game to the Trifilli and just after the half an hour mark it would be the Ammochostos side that took a shock lead. It did not take long for Omonia to retaliate however as Soteris Tsikkos equalised just before half time to end the first half level with their Famagusta opponents. 

 

It would not be until midway through the second half where Nea Salamis would take the game by the scruff of the neck scoring just past the hour mark to retake the lead through Christakis Mavros and then doubling their lead ten minutes later through Charalambos Andreou. Omonia despite being behind still pressed to try and level proceedings but despite scoring a late penalty to make it 3-2 it was merely a consolation as Nea Salamis defied the odds to claim their first major piece of silverware by winning the Cypriot Cup. After all that the club and its supporters had been through over the last few decades, it was a special victory to celebrate not only for the team but for the people of Famagusta. 

Hellas Football 

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