AS 23 Sofia

Athletic Slava 1923

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Full name	Athletic Slava 1923
Nickname(s)	„Asistite“
Short name	AS '23
Founded	28 October 1923 (1923-10-28)
Dissolved	9 November 1944 (1944-11-09)
Ground	Stadium AS 23, Sofia
Ground Capacity	15,000
League	A PFG
Home colours Away colours

O.S.K. Athletic Slava 1923 (Bulgarian: ОСК Атлетик Слава 1923) (English:OSC Athletic Glory 1923) or simply AS 23 was a Bulgarian football club from the city of Sofia. The colours of the club were black and white, the badge was black lion on white shield and their home ground was the Stadium AS 23. AS 23 won the Bulgarian Championship in 1931 and Bulgarian Cup in 1941. In 1944, after the soviet army occupation of Bulgaria, the sport in the nation changе dramatically.The club was known as the faschist sports club but the communinst regime executed 2 of the people running the club who were war veterans from WWI and also made the players who were left alive to play for the new communist club CDNA. In the same year the club merges with Shipka (Sofia) to become Chavdar (Sofia) and eventually gave the basis to what is known today as PFC CSKA Sofia.

The club motto is "Athleticism and glory".

History

AS-23 in the mid-1930s

AS 23 was founded on 28 October 1923 after merging of three football clubs – Athletic Sofia, Slava Sofia and Officer Sport Club Sofia. The name of the new founded club was Officer Sport Club Athletic-Slava 23. The first chairman of the club was lieutenant colonel Nikola Karagyozov.

During 1930–31 season the club wins the local Sofia division. In the play-offs AS 23 defeats Etar Veliko Tarnovo 5–0, Sila Yambol 7–0, Napredak Ruse 3–1 and wins in the final against Shipchenski Sokol 3–0. They managed to do domestic double, when they won the Bulgarian Cup in the same season.

In 1940–41 season some of the key footballers of AS 23 were called into the army and they finished 5th in the Sofia Elite Division, but they won the new created tournament Tsar Cup by winning the final against Napredak Ruse 4–2. The club experienced financial problem during the 40s, but the foundation "Brannik" provided great financial help. Ministry of Defence provided sport kits for the club.

The club was dissolved on 9 November 1944, when he was merged with Shipka-Pobeda and Spartak Poduene into a new club – Chavdar Sofia. AS 23 and Chavdar Sofia are predecessors of CSKA Sofia.

Stadium

See also: Balgarska Armia Stadium

Stadium AS 23 (also known as Atletic Park) was at the place of the current Balgarska Armia Stadium. On 27 January 1925 the Municipality of Sofia gives the club the place for the stadium. During the 30s AS 23 receives the deed of the facility. In the early 40s the stadium is closed. In 1944 the pitch is provided to Chavdar Sofia, and afterwards to the Ministry of Defence.

Honours

Bulgarian State Football Championship:

• Champions (1): 1931

Bulgarian Cup:

• Winners (1): 1941

External links

• The fan made website of AS-23