Players of the Araks football club

In 1906, at one of the Constantinople tournaments, the first Armenian football club, Baltaliman, defeated the Turkish club Galatasaray 5:0. It was the first match in history between Armenian and Turkish football teams. In 1908 Baltaliman was reorganised and split into two clubs, Araks and Tork.

The photograph shows the players of the Araks club in dark jerseys; one of those seated in the front row holds a ball. Two men in suits stand at the sides, and the banner hanging behind them reads “Araks” F. Club, 1908.