ANORTHOSIS FAMAGUSTA FIRST UP IN EUROPE

Following Friday’s UEFA Cup 1st Round draw, we will be playing Anorthosis Famagusta at home in the 1st Leg of the tie on Thursday September 20, kick-off 9pm. This is a season ticket inclusive match. Tickets will be on sale to One Hotspur members from Wednesday September 5 at 9.30am.
The 2nd Leg of the tie will take place in Larnaca, Cyprus, on Thursday October 4. This match will kick-off at 8pm Malta time.

Anorthosis Famagusta have now confirmed that the match will be played in the Antonis Papadopolous stadium which has a capacity of 9,600.

Under UEFA Cup competition rules, Spurs are entitled to an allocation of 5% of the stadium capacity. This allocation will be used to meet all of the Club’s ticket requirements. Priority will be given to One Hotspur Platinum members, subject to ticket availability.

ANORTHOSIS FAMAGUSTA INFO:

Anorthosis Famagusta FC is a Cypriot football and a volleyball club which comes from Famagusta. It was founded in January 30 1911. After the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey in 1974, Anorthosis became a refugee team and is temporarily based in Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca. Anorthosis Home Stadium in occupied Famagusta is G.S.E. (Gymnastic Club Evagoras) which is abandoned and in bad condition since 1974.

Anorthosis won 12 championship titles, their last in season 2004-2005. They have won the Cyprus Cup 10 times (1949, 1959, 1962, 1964, 1971, 1975, 1998, 2002, 2003, and 2007). Additionally, they have won the Super Cup trophy 7 times.

The current president of the team is Andreas Panteli and the current coach is former Georgian International Timur Ketsbaia, who was also a player in the team.

On 26 July 2005 they achieved one of the greatest results in Cypriot football history when they beat the Turkish team Trabzonspor 3-1 in the first leg of their second round Champions League qualifying match. They lost the second leg 1-0 in Turkey, but progressed 3-2 on aggregate. In the third-round qualifying tie against the Scottish team Rangers, Anorthosis lost the first leg 2-1, and the second leg 2-0, so dropped into the first round of the UEFA Cup. They were then defeated 6-1 on aggregate by the Italian team Palermo.

THE STADIUM:

Anorthosis and the other team of Famagusta, Nea Salamis FC used to play until 1974 in GSE Stadium in Famagusta. After Anorthosis became a refugee team, because of the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, which resulted in Famagusta, the town that Anorthosis is based in- to fall under the Turkish occupation. The team used several stadiums like Dasaki Stadium in Dasaki Achnas, old and new GSZ Stadium in Larnaca and Tsirion Stadium in Limassol.

Finally in 1986 the team built its own stadium in Larnaca named Antonis Papadopoulos. The initial capacity of the stadium was about 6,000 but gradually increased during the years to 13,000. After a major recondition in 1997, capacity reduced to 9,319 (all seated).

In 2005 the east stand named "Quality Stand" in favor of the club's main sponsor was opened. "Quality Stand" is a two story stand which holds the newly-build VIP Boxes (upper story), Press Room, Dress Rooms, Bar etc.

In 2006 the stadium went through another recondition including the build of VIP Boxes in the upper section of west stand, the launching of the automatic ticketing issue and entrance system, the replacing of metal front fence with clear acrylic glass for security reasons and for maximized field view. Also some other facilities are offered in the west stand such as new restrooms, bar, fan's shop etc.

The stadium also is approved by UEFA for European games. It has hosted some matches of the Cyprus national football team. In that stadium, Cyprus national team achieved its greatest success against Spain by a score 3-2. On May 16, 1992, the stadium hosted the 1992 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship Third position final between Italy and Portugal, where Italy won 1-0.