Pierikos

The foundation

The club was founded on 11 April 1961 from the merger between Megas Alexandros (meaning Alexander the Great) Katerinis and Olympos Katerinis. Megas Alexandros had played in the 1st Division of Greek football in its first season (1959–60) but finished in the 15th position and thus relegated in the 2nd Division. Neither Megas Alexandros nor Olympos gained promotion in the following season. Unification of the two clubs has seen as the only way for the city of Katerini to have a team in the 1st Division. Therefore, Pierikos was born.

History

In 1963, Pierikos played for the first time in the First National Division where he stayed for 9 whole years, while in the same year reached the final of the Greek Cup facing Olympiakos. Club's performances were often impressive, as it consistently finished in the top 10 of scoreboard of the league. In 1972 was demoted but returned soon. In 1975 the team got promoted to the First Division again and remained for 3 years. The club was then demoted again. Pierikos was promoted three more times to the First National, but never managed to establish itself again in the 1st Division. The biggest distinction of the club was to finish 3 times in the 5th place of the championship, but also the Cup final against Olympiakos in 1963 where it was defeated 3–0.

The 1960s

In its first season (1961–62) Pierikos took the place of Megas Alexandros in the 2nd Division. It played in the Group of Western and Central Macedonia and finished 1st. Therefore, it was able to play in the 2nd Division play-offs. In the final Pierikos won 2–0 in a match against Olympiakos Kozanis and gained promotion to the 1st Division. In this season Pierikos scored 108 goals and conceded 28.

In its first season (1962–63), in the 1st division Pierikos finished in the 9th position scoring 36 goals and conceding 37. His biggest win was a 4–0 against Aris Pierikos also played in the Greek Cup final this season. The club suffered a 3–0 defeat by Olympiacos.

In the 1963–64 season, Pierikos finished in the 7th position. Their biggest wins were, a 5–1 against Doxa Drama and a 4–0 against Ethnikos Piraeus. The club scored 34 and conceded 42 goals. Pierikos also played in the Greek Cup semi-final, where they suffered a 3–1 defeat by AEK Athens. By that victory AEK essentially won the trophy, because the other semi-final between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos never ended and they were both injected from the tournament. Thus AEK were awarded the Greek Cup by the HFF.

The 1964–65 season is, probably, the best season in the history of Pierikos. Pierikos finished in the 5th position scoring 39 and conceding 39. Its biggest win was a 4–0 against Niki Volos.

In the 1965–66 season, Pierikos finished in the 8th position. Its biggest win was a 5–1 against AO Trikala. The club scored 40 and conceded 40 goals.

In the 1966–67 season, Pierikos finished in the 14th position. Its biggest win was a 4–1 against Vyzas Megaron. The club scored 36 and conceded 51 goals.

In the 1967–68 season, Pierikos finished in the 5th position. Its biggest win was a 9–1 against Olympiakos Nicosia. This is the biggest victory of the club, in the 1st Division, ever. The club scored 42 and conceded 46 goals.

In the 1968–69 season, Pierikos finished in the 9th position. Its biggest win was a 5–1 against Apollon Athens. The club scored 31 and conceded 37 goals.

The 1970s

In the 1969–70 season, Pierikos finished in the 7th position. Its biggest win was a 3–0 against Olympiakos Nicosia. The club scored 45 and conceded 44 goals.

In the 1970–71 season, Pierikos finished in the 14th position. The club didn't manage to win any single game by more than one goal. The club scored 31 and conceded 43 goals. The club started showing signs of fatigue.

And these signs became totally clear in the 1971–72 season. Pierikos finished in the 16th position (out of 18 clubs) and thus relegated from the 1st Division. Its biggest wins were a 3–0 against Olympiakos Nicosia, a 3–0 against Panionios and a 3–0 against Olympiacos Volos. The club scored 26 and conceded 48 goals.

In the 1972–73 season, Pierikos participated in the Northern Group of the 2nd Division (the 2nd division was then divided into 3 groups). The club finished in the 4th position of the group managing to score 49 goals and conceding 32.

In the 1973–74 season, Pierikos participated in the Northern Group of the 2nd Division again. The club finished in the 2nd position of the group. Its biggest win was a 6–0 versus Doxa Drama.

In the 1974–75 season, Pierikos participated in the 2nd division and gained promotion to the 1st Division.

In the 1975–76 season, Pierikos participated in the 1st Division. The club finished in the 11th position. It scored 26 and conceded 38 goals. Its biggest wins were a 3–0 against PAS Giannina and a 4–1 against Iraklis.

In the 1976–77 season, Pierikos finished in the 12th position. Its biggest wins were a 4–1 against Aris, a 4–1 against Panserraikos and a 5–2 against Apollon Athens.

In the 1977–78 season, Pierikos finished in the 17th position and relegated from the 1st Division. Its biggest wins were a 4–0 against Panachaiki and a 4–0 against Egaleo. In this season Pierikos scored 46 goals and conceded 56. The club had the 4th best offense in the division but also the worst defense by far.

The 1978–79 season, is a black page in the history of the club. Pierikos plays in the Northern Group of the 2nd Division (the 2nd Division was then divided in two groups, each one having 20 clubs). The club finished in the 3rd position having lost a lot of games without match. In that season Pierikos scored a fantastic 10–1 victory against Makedonikos Siatista But in the end of the season, Pierikos was accused of bribing players of Niki Volos in a 3–0 away victory. After these claims, the club was relegated to the National Amateur Division (3rd Division) instead of getting promotion to the 1st Division.

The 1980s

In the 1979–80 season, Pierikos played in Group C of the National Amateur Division (3rd Division). The club finished in the 1st position of Group C and gained promotion to the 2nd Division. In that season Pierikos won 12–0 in a home game against AO Artaki, which is the biggest league victory of the club ever. In the Greek Cup scores an amazing 16–0 against minnows Arahos. This is the biggest victory of the club ever.