Volga Nizhniy Novgorod

FC Volga was founded in 1998 and is based in Nizhny Novgorod.

In 1992 a youth team was organized at the ‘Sormovich’ sports complex. Later the team got the name ‘Elektronika’. In 1995 the team managed to finish second at the famous ‘Kozhany Myach’ amateur tournament. In 1996 they finished in the third place of the Russian championship Povolzhye zone. The team also won many city competitions in Nizhny Novgorod.

Actually, this youth team was a foundation for FC Volga. The team played their first two seasons in the Russian championship Povolzhye zone (second league) where they finished seventh and third. In 2000 the team got the status of a professional club and in 2001-2008 they played in the Russian second league championship: first it was Povolzhye zone, later – Ural-Povolzhye zone. In 2004 Elektronika changed its name for Volga.

In 2008 FC Volga made a resounding performance in the Russian Cup after defeating FC Saturn Ramenskoye and winning the second division championship. The team got promoted to the first division and needed mere two years to make it to the elite championship (they finished in the fourth place during the first season).

In November 2010 the tam was finishing at least second already one round before the end of the championship, which meant they got the right to play in the Russian Premier League next season. The deciding match was played against the fellow-city team – FC Nizhny Novgorod – and ended in a draw 2-2. Many people thought the result was predetermined but there was no proof behind it.

In 2011 Volga made its long-awaited debut in the Premier League. And the start turned out rather successful. The team won their first matches against Tom, Rostov and Dinamo Moscow (the latter being literally flattened on the home pitch). After four match days FC Volga was on the top of the tournament table.

As time went by, the course of affairs returned to the usual: the modest novice occupied its place low in the tournament table and struggled to avoid relegation till the end of the season.

In 2014 Volga were relegated back to FNL.