FC Volgar Astrakhan

Volgar FC is an association football club based in Astrakhan, Russia. They play in the Russian First League. History The club has been known under following names: Pishchevik (food industry worker) (1925−1958) Trud (labour) (1958–59) Volgar (1960–94) (2012–) Volgar-Gazprom (1995–2007), (2010–2012) Volgar-Gazprom-2 (2007–10) Pishchevik played in the Second Group of the Soviet League. Trud (and later Volgar) played in the Class B (1958, 1960–1967), in Class A, Group 2 (1968–1969), in Class A, Group 1 (1970), Soviet First League (1971), Soviet Second League (1972–1990), Soviet Second League B (1991). In 1992 Volgar entered the Russian Second League, played in the Third League in 1994 (finished top and were promoted), returned to the Second League in 1995 and stayed until 1998. In 1998 Volgar-Gazprom were promoted and in 1999 they started playing in the Russian First Division. With the exception of the relegation for the 2004 season, Volgar-Gazprom had been in the First Division until 2006. The club was denied the professional licence and thus relegated to amateur level in 2007. Another club was organized called FC Volgar-Gazprom-2. The new club advanced to the Russian First Division for the 2009 season. After the 2017–18 season, the club experienced financial difficulties and decided to be voluntarily relegated to the third-tier PFL.