Dubocica

Early years (1923–1944)

On May Day, 1924 the trade unionist and revolutionary Kosta Stamenković initiated the establishment of a football physical-cultural society in Leskovac, Serbia, then part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later renamed Yugoslavia). The club's explicit aim was the propagation of Marxists-Leninist ideology amongst the working-class youth of Leskovac, and to serve as a front for assembling members of the underground Communist Party of Yugoslavia. Radnički sportski klub Crvena zastava (English: Workers Sporting Club Red Flag) was co-founded by Kosta Stamenković, first club president Jovan Živković, and ten other trade unionists during an annual meeting on 20 August 1923.

The new club came under immediate suspicion by the authorities who refused to register the association due to its overtly political name and membership, nonetheless RSK Red Flag continued playing unofficial matches, the first-ever being a 3–2 win over Jug Bogdan from Prokupje in August 1923. Red Flag changed its name the following year to Radnički sportski klub Proleter (English: Workers Sporting Club Proletarian), but continued having issues with the authorities and failed to have its registration approved.

On 18 January 1925, RSK Proleter officially changed its name to Leskovački radnički sportski klub Sloboda (English: Leskovac Sporting Club Liberty), this time the club's registration was excepted by the Belgrade Football Subassociation, and the club was allowed to compete in the Morava District League for season 1925–26 under instructions that further political activism would lead to its suspension. On 28 March 1925 the club played its first officially recognized match, losing 4–1 to visiting Radnički Kragujevac.

Following the 6 January dictatorship of King Alexander I, LRSK Sloboda decided to alter its name midway through season 1928–29 to Građanski sport klub Sloboda (English: Citizens Sport Club Liberty), that same season Sloboda celebrated its first title finishing top of the Morava District. After only three months GSK Sloboda underwent yet another name change, this time to Leskovački sport klub Građanski (English: Leskovac Sport Club Citizens), after being accused of speeding "Communist propaganda" by fellow rivals GSK Momčilo.

Građanski were sitting first midway season 1931–32 in the newly established Leskovac District League when the club was accused by rivals OSK Josif, and Momčilo of clandestine revolutionary activity and hooliganism. Due to these accusations, Građanski was suppressed by the authorities. Following failed attempts at registration Kosta Stamenković approached Dimitrije Nikolić, president of the newly renamed Romani club, Leskovački sportski klub Dubočica (previously SK Veternica), to forge a mutually beneficial merger. A general meeting was held between the two club's on 10 March 1932 with Nikolić agreeing to the proposition, believing the inclusion of the defunct Građanski would strengthen Dubočica, however strong opposition to the merger was aired from Romani members who were against any merger, refusing to play alongside "dissidents" and mix with "white's". A compromised proposal of fielding segregated team's was rejected with the Romani boycotting the meeting and later forming the football club "Gajret".

The latter interwar period was a successful one as the Crveni were crowned Leskovac District League champions in season's 1935–36, 1937–38, and 1938–39. On-field triumphs were marred by internal disagreement following the merger of town rivals Fabrički klub Jugoslavija with Dubočica on 15 June 1939. The internal dispute led to the ousting of Dimitrije Nikolić and the election of Kosta Stamenković as new club president.

On 11 April 1941 Leskovac was occupied by the German Army. As active Communists, the club's leadership including Kosta Stamenković, Vlada Đorđević and Stanimir Veljković went underground, whilst many club members and sympathisers were arrested, others joining the Partisan resistance. Dubočica had diminished during the occupation but continued competing, even winning the impeded 1940–41 district league. In October 1941 the team playing a secret friendly match between Grafičar for the purpose of raising funds for the local Partisan Detachment.

On 26 March 1942 tragedy struck Dubočica as club president Stamenković committed suicide during a gunfight with Chetniks who had surrounded him in the village of Šilovo. Dubočica's 1943–44 District League title was further overshadowed by the arrest of club members on suspicious illegal activities and by August 1944 most remaining players had joined the resistance.

Ups and downs (1944–1968)

Dubočica became the foremost football team in Leskovac following the city's liberation on 11 October 1944. Many rival club's were suppressed, whilst Dubočica was allowed to function due to its ties with the new regime. In 1945 the club changed its name to Radnički sport klub Kosta Stamenković (English: Worker's Sport Club Kosta Stamenković), in honour of the fallen club co-founder and president.

RSK Kosta Stamenković won the 1946 district league twice, the first a slapdash tournament featuring only two other clubs, whilst the second featured six. The club entered the regional Serbian Championship (Group III) for season 1946–47 and incorporated fellow city rivals Omladinac into its ranks. 1947 witnessed the club's Yugoslav Cup debut, being eventually eliminated away by rivals Radnički Niš in an epic 7–5 encounter. RSK Kosta Stamenković won the 1948–49 Serbian Championship (Zone V), but we're unsuccessful in qualifying for the Serbian League for the second year running, after losing 1–0 in neutral Kruševac in a match deciding the previous 3–3 aggregate playoff against Radnički Kragujevac. Due to the proclamation of Kosta Stamenković as a National Hero of Yugoslavia on 14 December 1949, a decision was made by the club to revert to its previous name of Dubočica.

Dubočica qualified for the Serbian Football League in 1950 after a two leg play-off against Jedinstvo, winning 7–0 on aggregate. Celebrations were short-lived with the team finishing 13th with only 9 points, culminating in Dubočica's relegation to the Niš Football Subasociation. In 1952 Dubočica centre forward Zare Trajković achieved legendary status when he scoring 4 goals after half time against FK Vlasina, who had been up 3–0. This memorable comeback inspired the popular proverb in the Leskovac dialect "Ne se znaje, Zare igra!" (lit.It's not known, Zare's playing!"). The idiom means never-say-never or anything is possible.