FC Chikhura Sachkhere

Football Club Chikhura Sachkhere, commonly known as Chikhura Sachkhere or simply Chikhura, is a Georgian football club based in Sachkhere. They play in the Erovnuli Liga 2.
History.
The club was founded in 1938. During World War II, the club disbanded, but re-formed after it ended. 
Since 2002, Chikhura has been financed by the Georgian businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili. 
The club spent many years in lower divisions before getting promotion to Umaglesi Liga in 2012. The league gained a stable and decent member, known as a tough rival for championship title candidates. From the outset the club proved they were going to challenge the best teams. In 2013 Chikhura knocked out top flight sides Shukura, Dila and Sioni and reached David Kipiani Cup final. Despite the defeat from Dinamo Tbilisi, they qualified for the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League 1st round. This was the first season that Chikhura Sachkhere appeared in European Competition, their first opponent was Liechtenstein's Cup Winners Vaduz. 
From now until 2020 the club started regularly taking part in UEFA Europa league competitions, missing out just one season in between. In almost each case this provincial team with relatively negligent financial resources, which hosted their matches mostly in far-away Tbilisi, could afford to show a fighting spirit against far stronger opponents. In this regard Chikhura drew attention and respect from Georgian fans during the European campaign regardless of who they supported in the domestic league. Interestingly, according to the statistics, the club achieved better results in away games.
The next season Chikhura eliminated Turkish club Bursaspor in the second round of Europa League. This remains one of the most memorable successes in the history of the club.
In 2016 Chikhura won White Group of the league by finishing six points clear of Dinamo Tbilisi and took part in championship play-offs, where they were beaten by Samtredia. This was the closest point to champion's title the club have ever reached in their history. 
The next season Chikhura finally reaped the fruits of their efforts. After reaching the finals or semifinals of the Cup for five successive seasons, they clinched their first title. Goalkeeper Dino Hamzić, who did not concede a single goal during the entire campaign, was named man of the match.
Giorgi Gabedava became another player, who was awarded following the 2018 season. He won in four nominations, including as the best striker of the season and top scorer with the latter shared with Budu Zivzivadze. In the summer the club made headlines yet again, this time after their victory over Beitar Jerusalem and a home draw with Maribor Ljubljana. 
2019 marked the beginning of the crisis. While thrashed by Aberdeen in Europa league, Chikhura failed to achieve anything noteworthy either in Erovnuli Liga or on the Cup and with key players departed, head coach Samson Pruidze left the club. The former Torpedo Kutaisi right-back had trained Chikhura for twelve seasons, an absolute record in national football history since the independence, which made him a legend among this generation of Georgian managers.
In 2020 Chikhura played all home games in Tbilisi and in the worst result in years finished in the drop-zone. Although the club avoided an automatic relegation, they suffered a defeat in both play-off games from in-form Samgurali. Following this season defender Shota Kashia, who spent eight seasons in Chikhura, including last six years as a captain, parted ways with the club. 
Stadium.
Their home is the 2,000-seat "Central stadium", where they have played since their establishment but for the Europa League they played at 27,223-seat Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, which is located 130 km from their hometown. 
Name.
Chikhura has had different names throughout their history, including "Spartaki", "Kolmeurne", "Peikari". 
The name Chikhura derives from the name of a river in Sachkhere. 