Apollon Pontus F.C.

The Educational Gymnastics Association “O Apollon” was founded by Pontians in 1926. The original club included mandolin, choir (male and female), soccer, track, and volleyball departments. The social welfare and support of the refugees was the preeminent concern of Apollon’s members. The association had volunteers who supplied the refugee neighbourhoods with food, medicine, and water. The emblem of the group was the head of the god Apollo. The uniform’s red colour symbolises the blood of the countless Greeks who lost their lives in Pontus, while the black colour expresses the eternal mourning for the dead and the lost homeland. In 1927, the club joined the Macedonian football clubs and participated in the Third Division Championship of Thessaloniki. In October 1959, the club debuted in the First National Division against Proodeftiki at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.

The stadium of Apollon is located in the centre of Kalamaria, at the corner of Papagou and Chilis Street. It was built in 1973 and was one of the 2004 Olympic Games Training Centres, at which point it was renovated. It can accommodate 6500 people. It is the home stadium of the soccer team and hosts the offices of Apollon Pontus F.C. and the amateur department. In addition, there are coaching facilities for basketball, volleyball, boxing, and fitness centres. The facilities include two auxiliary football fields and five tennis courts on either side of the main stadium.