Hapoel Lod F.C.

infobox Football club
clubname = Hapoel Lod


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fullname = Hapoel Lod Football Club
nickname =
shortname =
founded = 1957
dissolved = 2002
ground = Lod Municipal Stadium, Lod
capacity =
league =
season = 2001-02
position = Liga Alef (relegated)
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pattern_so1 = | leftarm1 = | body1 = | rightarm1 =
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body2 = | rightarm2 = | shorts2 = | socks2 =

Hapoel Lod ( _he. הפועל לוד) was an Israeli football club based in Lod. The club spent several seasons in the top division in the 1960s and 1980s, and won the State Cup in 1984. After several relegations, they folded in 2002.

History

The club was established in 1957. In 1963 they were promoted to Liga Leumit (then the top division) for the first time. However, in their first season in the league, they finished bottom and were relegated back to Liga Alef.

They returned to Liga Leumit in 1983, finishing seventh in their first season back in the top division, and reaching the State Cup final for the first time. In the final they beat Hapoel Be'er Sheva 3-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw. [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/isracuphist.html Israel - List of Cup Finals] RSSSF]

The club was relegated back the second tier at the end of the 1984-85 season, in which they finished second from bottom. The following season they finished third in Liga Artzit (then the second division) and made an immediate return to Liga Leumit.

In 1986-87 Hapoel finished fourth, their highest ever league position. However, the following season they finished second bottom and were relegated again. In 1989-90 they finished bottom of Liga Artzit and were relegated to Liga Alef.

They returned to Liga Artzit in 1997, but in 1998-99 finished 14th, and were due to be relegated to the third tier. However, after their budget was not approved by Israel Football Association, the club was demoted a further division, to Liga Alef. [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/isra3-00.html Israel Third Level 1999/2000] RSSSF] At the end of the 2001-02 season the club were relegated to Liga Bet, and folded.

A new club, Hapoel Maxim Lod was established soon afterwards (named after a former Lod mayor, Maxim Levy). In 2006 the new club won the South B division of Liga Bet, and in 2007 won the South Division of Liga Alef to earn promotion to Liga Artzit. However, the new club folded in the summer of 2007 and Hapoel Kfar Shalem were promoted in their place.

Honours

*State Cup
**Winners 1984

References