Football Cup of the Ukrainian SSR
Football Cup of the Ukrainian SSR was a playoff republican competitions in association football that were taken place in Ukrainian SSR in 1936–1991 and were predecessors of the Ukrainian Cup. The competition was originally called as a Football championship of UkrSSR among the best teams of sports societies in 1936 and 1937. The first cup was awarded in 1937 and starting since 1938, the competition was renamed as Football cup competitions of the Ukrainian SSR as it was commemorated on the Soviet envelope.
History
The participation was allowed to everybody whether it was a team of the Soviet Top League or a team of some education institution as long as none of the players competed in the Soviet Cup simultaneously. Early seasons of the cup tournament were called as a spring challenge, which allowed to consider them as a championship title competition rather than cup competition. However, older documents of the Ministry of Youth and Sports show that the spring challenge competitions were indeed considered as a football cup competition.In 1938, the Ukrainian Cup qualification stage was included into the 1938 Soviet Cup qualification for the first time, while in both later stages of the 1938 tournaments were conducted parallel to each other. It also was the first time when the Ukrainian Spring Championship was referred to as the Ukrainian Cup. Following that season, participation of the better Ukrainian teams in the Ukrainian Cup was disrupted and the 1939 season of the Ukrainian Cup did not include teams of masters that competed only in the Soviet Cup. In 1940 season had a similar organization as the previous 1939, but the 1940 Soviet Cup failed to take place due to scheduling issues and no Ukrainian teams of masters participated in any cup competition that season. The competition was interrupted in 1941–1943 due to the World War II.
In 1944 the Ukrainian Cup was renewed and played after the 1944 Soviet Cup. It also included all three better Ukrainian teams that competed in the Soviet Cup. In 1945 both the 1945 Ukrainian Cup and the 1945 Soviet Cup included better Ukrainian teams such as Dynamo Kyiv, Shakhtar Donetsk and others. The both tournaments were conducted in the same timeframe during the autumn of 1945. The 1946 Soviet Cup was shortened and only two teams from Ukraine competed in it, while the 1946 Ukrainian Cup was conducted in full. In 1947, the 1947 Soviet Cup was conducted in the summer and included only teams from Pervaya Grouppa and Vtoraya Grouppa involving all Ukrainian teams of those "Grouppas", while the 1947 Ukrainian Cup was conducted in the fall and also included all Ukrainian teams of those "Grouppas" as well as other teams. The 1948 Soviet Cup was once again shortened and only two Ukrainian teams competed in it, while the 1948 Ukrainian Cup involved participation of most of the Ukrainian teams.
In 1949, there was a big reform of the Soviet Cup, all participants of the Soviet Pervaya and Vtoraya "Grouppas" were excused from participation in their republican cup tournaments and had to competed only in the Soviet Cup, while winners of the republican cup tournaments were awarded a guaranteed place in the 1949 Soviet Cup. It revived the tournament organization of the 1939 Soviet Cup. Since then, the Ukrainian Cup was completely degraded as a regional level qualification stage of the Soviet Cup.
In 1957 all republican level cup competitions were removed from qualification for the Soviet Cup and winners of them were qualifying for the Soviet Amateur Cup, while the Soviet Cup was made exclusive predominantly for the league teams. Since then, the Ukrainian Cup was officially regarded as the competition of the collective of physical culture, a Soviet term for the amateur sports.
In 1972, for the next five seasons, there was established Ukrainian Cup for the Ukrainian teams of the Pervaya and Vtoraya leagues as the award of the "Radianska Ukrayina" newspaper. It was revived once more in 1990. The last winner FC Temp Shepetivka of the Soviet Ukrainian Cup among the Second League teams was allowed to join the Ukrainian Premier League in 1991.
Following dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Ukrainian Cup was re-established as a normal competition which involves participation of all professional football clubs. Later in 1996, the Football Federation of Ukraine reorganized the Ukrainian Cup by introducing the Ukrainian Amateur Cup and limiting participation of the non-League clubs in the national cup competition.
During the World War II, the crystal trophy, cup of the Ukrainian SSR, was not evacuated and was stolen by one of employees of the All-Ukrainian Council of Physical Culture. During the Nazi occupation of Kiev, the trophy appeared in a store of random things at Velyka Vasylkivska street and was spotted by Kiev footballers who stayed behind and played for a local team Rukh Kyiv. The athletes informed the municipal department of education and culture which in turn on 19 May 1942 wrote a letter to the administration of the antique store with a request to return them the Cup and inform the name of individual who pawned it in the store. It is unknown if the person who stole the trophy was ever found, but the Cup was returned. In such way the athletes who later labeled as "traitors" by the Soviet regime saved the trophy for Ukrainian football of post war period.
List of finals
Springtime Contest
The competition was known as the Springtime Contest. It was conducted in spring unlike regular round-robin championship was taking place in the fall.| Year | Venue | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
| 1936 Final | 24 June 1936 18:00 Kiev – Balytskyi Stadium Attendance: 35,000 | Dynamo Kyiv Viktor Shylovsky Konstantin Shchegotsky Mykola Korotkykh | 6 – 0 | Dynamo Odessa Volodymyr Tokar |
| 1937 Final | 18 May 1937 18:00 Kiev – Balytskyi Stadium Attendance: 25,000 | Dynamo Kyiv Oleksiy Klymenko Makar Honcharenko Viktor Shylovsky Mykola Makhynia | 4 – 2 | Dynamo Odessa Leonid Oriekhov |
Ukrainian Cup
The competition was integrated into the Soviet Cup. For 1938, both competitions ran parallel, the 1938 season was partially used as the preliminary stage. Ten teams, that qualified from 5 regional zones, joined with 6 teams of masters. These 16 teams qualified for both the Soviet Cup and the Football Cup of Ukraine which ran separately. In 1939 and 1940, only the winner of the Ukrainian Cup would qualify for the Soviet Cup. Following the World War II, the Ukrainian Cup once again was conducted as a separate competition among all teams including the "teams of masters". Starting from 1949, the competition was finally integrated into the Soviet Cup as its preliminary stage for good.List of finals (after 1957)
Since 1957, the Ukrainian Cup, as the prize of the "Radyanska Ukrayina" newspaper, became a preliminary competition for the Soviet Amateur Cup. In 1970s, there was an attempt to organize a parallel competition for the "teams of masters" which did not last for long.Starting from 1960, all quarterfinalists qualified to the Soviet Amateur Cup beside the finalists.
Football Cup of the Ukrainian SSR participants
In 1936 to 1950| Region | Teams |
| Cherkasy | Rot-Front Smila, DO Cherkasy, Lokomotyv Smila |
| Chernihiv | Dynamo Chernihiv, komuna imeni Balytskoho Pryluki, Spartak Chernihiv, Vympel Chernihiv, Mashynobudivnyk Pryluky, Chernihiv |
| Chernivtsi | Dynamo Chernivtsi, Spartak Chernivtsi, Chervonyi Prapor Chernivtsi |
| Dnipropetrovsk | Dynamo Dnipropetrovsk, zavod imeni Lenina Dnipropetrovsk, Dynamo Kryvyi Rih, Lokomotyv Dnipropetrovsk, zavod imeni Liebknechta Dnipropetrovsk, Stal Dnipropetrovsk, Metalurh Dniprodzerzhynsk, Burevisnyk Kryvyi Rih, Ruda Kryvyi Rih, Budivelnyk Kryvyi Rih, Stal Kryvyi Rih, Tekhnikum Fizkultury Dnipropetrovsk, Spartak Dnipropetrovsk, Budivelnyk Dniprodzerzhynsk, zavod imeni Kominterna Dnipropetrovsk, Lokomotyv Synelnykove, Spartak Kryvyi Rih, Torpedo Dnipropetrovsk |
| Donetsk | Stakhanovets Horlivka, Shakhtar Donetsk, Lokomotyv Yasynuvata, Avanhard Kramatorsk, Zenit Stalino, Metalurh Kostiantynivka, Avanhard Horlivka, Azot Nova Horlivka, Burevisnyk Stalino, zavod imeni Lenina Krasnohorivka, Stakhanovets Chystiakove, Avanhard Druzhkivka, Lokomotyv Sloviansk, Avanhard Kramatorsk, Stakhanovets Krasnoarmiysk, Avanhard Stalino, Shakhta No.30 Rutchenkove, Stal Makiivka, Stal Stalino, Koksokhimichnyi zavod Makiivka, Stakhanovets Yenakieve, Stal Mariupol, Lokomotyv Artemivsk, Shakhtar Makiivka, Stalino Oblast, Shakhtar-Smolianka Donetsk |
| Ivano-Frankivsk | Dynamo Stanislav, Spartak Ivano-Frankivsk, Stanislav |
| Kharkiv | Dzerzhynets Kharkiv, Dynamo Kharkiv, Stalinets Kharkiv, Kanatnyi zavod imeni Petrovskoho Kharkiv, Zdorovia Kharkiv, Lokomotyv Kharkiv, Torpedo Kharkiv, Silmash Kharkiv, Spartak Kharkiv, zavod imeni Konminterna Kharkiv, Silmash-2 Kharkiv, Avtomotor Kharkiv, Blyskavka Kharkiv, Avanhard Kharkiv, Zenit Kharkiv, Metalist Kharkiv, Lokomotyv Lozova VVS Kharkiv, Urozhai Kharkiv, Kahanovytskyi Raion Kharkiv, Dzerzhynskyi Raion Kharkiv |
| Kherson | Kharchovyk Kherson, Znannia Kherson, Vodnyk Kherson, Spartak Kherson, Dynamo Kherson, Avanhard Kherson |
| Khmelnytskyi | Dynamo Kamianets-Podilskyi, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Dynamo Khmelnytskyi |
| Kirovohrad | Traktor Kirovohrad, Dynamo Kirovohrad, Kirovohrad Oblast |
| Kyiv | Avanhard Fastiv, Fastiv, Urozhai Boryspil |
| Kyiv city | Lokomotyv, Dynamo, Vympel, Zenit, ODO, Spartak, Lokomotyv-2, Rot-Front, Tekhnikum Fizkultury, Vodnyk, Dynamo-2, Nauka, Dynamo, VVS KVO, Molniya, v/c 25750 |
| Luhansk | Metalurh Alchevsk, Stakhanovets Stakhanov, Dzerzhynets Luhansk, Stakhanovets Lysychansk, Spartak Starobilsk, Burevisnyk Krasnyi Luch, Stakhanovets Krasnyi Luch, Lokomotyv Popasna, Zenit Voroshylovhrad, Azot Rovenky, Dynamo Voroshylovhrad, VCh Voroshylovhrad, Shakhtar Krasnodon |
| Lviv | Zolochiv, Spartak Lviv, Spartak Drohobych, Dynamo Lviv, Burevisnyk Lviv, Dynamo Drohobych, Naftovyk Stryi, ODO Lviv, Naftovyk Drohobych |
| Moldavian ASSR | Spartak Tiraspol |
| Mykolaiv | Sudnobudivnyk Mykolaiv, Dynamo Mykolaiv, Lokomotyv Voznesensk, Sudnobudivnyk Mykolaiv, Dynamo Voznesensk, v/c 10756 Mykolaiv |
| Odesa | Dynamo Odesa, Lokomotyv Odesa, zavod KinAp Odesa, Lokomotyv Kotovsk, Kharchovyk Odesa, Snaiper Odesa, Spartak Odesa, Portovyk Odesa, Spartak Izmail, VVS Odesa, Odesa, Torpedo Odesa, Vodnyk Odesa, Dynamo Izmail, Izmail |
| Poltava | Lokomotyv Poltava, Tsukrovyk Karlivka, Rot-Front Poltava, Dynamo Poltava, Spartak Poltava, Dzerzhynets Kremenchuk, Dynamo Kremenchuk |
| Rivne | Spartak Rivne, Dynamo Rivne, Lokomotyv Rivne, DO Rivne |
| Sumy | Spartak Sumy, Avanhard Sumy, Tsukrovyk Sumy, Lokomotyv Konotop, Azot Shostka, Dynamo Sumy, Sumy, Mashynobudivnyk Sumy, Zirka Konotop |
| Ternopil | Lokomotyv Ternopil, Ternopil |
| Vinnytsia | Spartak Vinnytsia, Dynamo Mohyliv-Podilskyi, Temp Vinnytsia, Dynamo Vinnytsia, Znannia Vinnytsia, Vinnytsia, Lokomotyv Vinnytsia |
| Volyn | Spartak Lutsk, Dynamo Lutsk |
| Zakarpattia | Uzhhorod, Dynamo Mukachevo, Spartak Uzhhorod, Dynamo Uzhhorod, Bilshovyk Mukachevo, Iskra Mukachevo |
| Zaporizhia | Kryla Rad Zaporizhia, Lokomotyv Zaporizhia, Silmash Zaporizhia, Kryla Rad Berdyansk, Kolyormet Zaporizhia, zavod imeni Baranova Zaporizhia, Bilshovyk Zaporizhia, Traktor Osypenko, Metalurh Zaporizhia |
| Zhytomyr | DKA Korosten, Spartak Korosten, Dynamo Zhytomyr, Avanhard Berdychiv, Spartak Zhytomyr, Zhytomyr, DO Zhytomyr |
Ukrainian Clubs in the Soviet Cup
The number of participants per season and a comprehensive list per region. Until 1938, the teams from the Crimean ASSR represented the Russian Federation.| Region | Teams |
| Sevastopol | SKCF Sevastopol, Chaika Sevastopol |
| Crimea Oblast | Tavriya Simferopol, Okean Kerch |
| Cherkasy Oblast | Kolkhoz imeni Chapaeva Blahodatne, Dnipro Cherkasy |
| Chernihiv Oblast | Spartak Chernihiv, Desna Chernihiv |
| Chernivtsi Oblast | Dynamo Chernivtsi, Bukovyna Chernivtsi |
| Dnipropetrovsk Oblast | Dynamo Dnipro, Lokomotyv Dnipro, Stal Dnipro, Dnipro, Spartak Dnipro, Dynamo Kryvyi Rih, Hirnyk Kryvyi Rih, Budivelnyk Kryvyi Rih, Stal Kamianske, Burevisnyk Kryvyi Rih, Stal Kryvyi Rih, Ruda Kryvyi Rih, Zavod imeni Libknekhta Dnipro, Tekhnikum FK Dnipro, Lokomotyv Synelnykove, Budivelnyk Kamianske, Zavod imeni Kominterna Dnipro, Prometei Kamianske, Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih, Avanhard Zhovti Vody, Trubnyk Nikopol, Kolos Nikopol, Kolos Pavlohrad |
| Donetsk Oblast | Shakhtar Donetsk, Sitall Kostiantynivka, Avanhard Makiivka, Azovets Mariupol, Avanhard Kramatorsk, Zavod imeni Stalina Kramatorsk, Lokomotyv Yasynuvata, Zenit Donetsk, Burevisnyk Donetsk, Shakhta-30 Rutchenkove, Zavod imeni Lenina Krasnohorivka, Shakhtar Yenakieve, Stakhanovets Bakhmut, Azot N Horlivka, Avanhard Donesk, Lokomotyv Sloviansk, Avanhard Druzhkivka, Avanhard Horlivka, Stal Donetsk, Stakhanovets Krasnoarmiysk, Lokomotyv Donetsk, Shakhtar Horlivka, Metalurh Yenakieve, Shakhtar Torez, Start Dzerzhinsk |
| Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast | Prykarpattia Ivano-Frankivsk |
| Kharkiv Oblast | Dynamo Kharkiv, Stalinets Kharkiv, Metalist Kharkiv, Lokomotyv Kharkiv, Silmash Kharkiv, Spartak Kharkiv, Torpedo Kharkiv, Zdorovya Kharkiv, Lokomotyv Lozova, Zenit Kharkiv, Avtomotor Kharkiv, Avanhard Kharkiv, Molniya Kharkiv, Kanatny Zavod Kharkiv, Silmash-2 Kharkiv, Metalist Kharkiv, VPS Kharkiv |
| Kherson Oblast | Kharchovyk Kherson, Znannia Kherson, Vodnyk Kherson, Spartak Kherson, Lokomotyv Kherson, Enerhiya Nova Kakhovka |
| Khmelnytskyi Oblast | Podillia Khmelnytskyi |
| Kirovohrad Oblast | Zirka Kropyvnytskyi, Dynamo Kropyvnytskyi, Shakhtar Oleksandriya |
| Kyiv City | Arsenal, Bilshovyk, Dynamo, Lokomotyv, Spartak, Vympel, Zenit, Vodnyk, RVUFK, Rot Front, Lokomotyv-2, Dynamo-2, SKA, Temp |
| Kyiv Oblast | |
| Luhansk Oblast | Stakhanovets Kadiivka, Zorya Luhansk, Stakhanovets Lysychansk, Burevisnyk Krasnyi Luch, Shakhtar Krasnyi Luch, Spartak Starobilsk, Stal Alchevsk, Dynamo Luhansk, Trudovi Rezervy Luhansk, Khimik Severodonetsk, Avanhard Rovenky, Shakhtar Sverdlovsk |
| Lviv Oblast | Spartak Lviv, SKA Lviv, SFC Drohobych, Karpaty Lviv, Shakhtar Chervonohrad, Shakhtar Novovolynsk |
| MASSR | Spartak Tiraspol |
| Mykolaiv Oblast | Sudnobudivnyk Mykolaiv, Lokomotyv Voznesensk, Dynamo Mykolaiv |
| Odesa Oblast | Dynamo Odesa, KinAp Odesa, Lokomotyv Odesa, Lokomotyv Kotovsk, Chornomorets Odesa, Metalurh Odesa, SKA Odesa, Dunayets Izmail, Avtomobilist Odesa |
| Poltava Oblast | Dzerzhynets Kremenchuk, Rot Front Poltava, Dynamo Poltava, Spartak Poltava, Lokomtyv Poltava, Tsukrovyky Karlivka, Vorskla Poltava, Kremin Kremenchuk |
| Rivne Oblast | Horyn Rivne |
| Sumy Oblast | Lokomotyv Konotop, Azot Shostka, Tsukrovyky Sumy, Spartak Sumy, Avanhard Sumy, Spartak Sumy, Naftovyk Okhtyrka |
| Ternopil Oblast | Avanhard Ternopil, Nyva Ternopil |
| Vinnytsia Oblast | Dynamo Mohyliv-Podilskyi, Dynamo Vinnytsia, Temp Vinnytsia, Nyva Vinnytsia |
| Volyn Oblast | Volyn Lutsk |
| Zakarpattia Oblast | Spartak Uzhhorod, Karpaty Mukachevo |
| Zaporizhzhia Oblast | Kryla Rad Zaporizhia, Tsvetmet Zaporizhia, Silmash Zaporizhia, Kryla Rad Berdyansk, Lokomotyv Zaporizhia, Bilshovyk Zaporizhia, Metalurh Zaporizhia, Spartak Melitopol, Torpedo Berdyansk, Kolos Yakymivka |
| Zhytomyr Oblast | Portselianovyi Zavod Baranivka, Dynamo Zhytomyr, DKA Korosten, Spartak Korosten, Polissia Zhytomyr, Prohres Berdychiv |
- 1936
- 1937
- 1938
- 1939
- 1940–1943 no tournament
- 1944
- 1945
- 1946
- 1947
- 1948
- 1949
- 1950
- 1951
- 1952
- 1953
- 1954
- 1955
- 1956 no tournament
- 1957
- 1958
- 1959 no tournament
- 1959-1960
- 1961
- 1962
- 1963
- 1964
- 1965
- 1965-1966
- 1966-1967
- 1967-1968
- 1969
- 1970
- 1971
- 1972
- 1973
- 1974
- 1975
- 1976
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980
- 1981
- 1982
- 1983
- 1984
- 1984/85
- 1985/86
- 1986/87
- 1987/88
- 1988/89
- 1989/90
- 1990/91
- 1991/92