Turkey II Division

Turkey, II Division. Four teams were promoted at the end of the season and gradually the lower level of Turkish football was becoming more fierce and competitive – of course, most clubs playing there were practically unknown outside the country, but there were quite a few well known names.

Balikesirspor – a typical lower level Turkish club. Most of Second Division was clubs like that. But there were others too:

Rizespor had some First Division experience. Standing from left: Hasan Fehmi, Bahadır, Mehmet, Refah, Neşat, Hüsnü.

First row: Hüseyin, Muhammet, Erol, Ergün

Eskisehirspor was quit successful only a few years ago.

Goztepe (Izmir) was still one of the most familiar to Europeans Turkish club – it was even surprising to find it in the Second Division. And one expected Goztepe along with Eskisehirspor to be promoted. But they were not. Instead, the winners were a mix bag:

Orduspor, with very little top level experience.

Karagümrük SK (Istanbul), which hardly ever played top level football and, if anything, a glimpse of the depth of Istanbul football – there was much more than Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas.

Gençlerbirligi SK (Ankara), returning to top flight after short exile. The club was never strong, but still was forceful part of Ankara’s attempt to rival Istanbul.

Denizlispor – hardly well known, but with a club with long First Division history.

Good luck to the promoted in the next season, although at least two of them were expected only to try to stay in the league.