A HUNDRED YEARS OF NOGOMETH IN THE GRAVE: The story of the coexistence of the GRAVE and the balloon is told in nearly 900 pages of a monograph

A major celebration marking the 100th anniversary of football in Žminj took place on September 5, with the presentation of a comprehensive monograph titled "Žminjsko nogometno stoljeće. Sto liet baluona. NK Žminj" authored by Robert Unukić. The event featured a large academic gathering attended by generations of players, coaches, club presidents, sports officials, fans, and friends. The festivities were preceded by an exhibition held in Žminj’s Kaštel on August 28, showcasing historical photographs, documents, newspaper clippings, jerseys, and other preserved items that illustrated the rich football history of the town. The exhibition was hosted at the Multimedia Center Žminj and remained open for viewing until the end of September. Three key events, exhibition, monograph launch, and the academic gathering, were united by the common goal of telling the story of a century of football in Žminj through the people who shaped it. Unukić began collecting data and materials in 2018 with the initial idea of writing a book about the history of a football club. Almost eight years later, the resulting work expanded beyond the scope of a typical sports monograph, encompassing nearly 900 pages of content. In addition to detailing the club's achievements and sporting successes, the book includes old photographs, documents, meeting minutes, newspaper articles, stories about players, coaches, and presidents, as well as insights into the social life that developed around football over decades, from the playing fields to local taverns. The creation of the monograph involved numerous residents of Žminj and supporters of the club. They opened family photo albums and private archives, shared old photographs and documents, and recounted memories and anecdotes that had largely been passed down orally. Unukić expressed his hope that the book would serve as a bridge between past and future generations, allowing readers decades from now to find their ancestors or connections within its pages. “I want this book to become a link between these people and new generations,” he said. “Its greatest value will be realized if someone twenty, thirty, or fifty years from now finds themselves reflected in its pages.” The graphic design of the monograph was handled by David Ivić. The book was presented during the main event on September 5, and visitors could purchase copies on-site. Following the presentation, a grand academic gathering took place, guiding the audience through the club’s history from its earliest beginnings in 1926 to the present day. Through archival photographs, video clips, music, stories, and recollections, different periods of the club’s history were highlighted: the first teams and pitches, the revival of organized football, the generation that won early titles, the rise during the 1990s, and the historic promotion of NK Žminj to the second Croatian Football League. Various generations of individuals who contributed to shaping the club’s history were present, and awards were given to presidents, coaches, sports officials, and others who left a lasting mark on the club’s first hundred years. A special moment was dedicated to Karl Opatić, the oldest living former player of Žminj, who serves as a living link to one of the club’s earliest eras. Opatić was part of one of the first youth teams in the mid-1930s, when players wore red jerseys with a golden embroidered name “Me ne frego.” The gathering also remembered all the deceased players, coaches, and officials who played a role in the club’s history.