The club had had name "Çukurova İdmanyurdu" again under Çukurova Group sponsorship and finished 5th. On 20 July 1965 the club and fans celebrated the 40th anniversary of their foundation. Executive committee comprised Mehmet Karametmet, Halit Gazioğlu, Sezai Sak.
At the beginning of the season Fahrettin Cansever was the coach of the team. In the half season Lefter Küçükantonyadis became the manager of the team (20 January 1966). Lefter signed for four months. One month later, Lefter had been stabbed by a fan (a restaurant owner, Fikri Özkörüklü) and hospitalized.[1] Many citizens, pupils, NGO representatives and sports people visited him in hospital and his room was filled with flowers. Lefter declared that he will not leave the team.[2] Fahrettin Cansever became the trainer of Beykozspor (12 January 1966).[3] On 7 June 1966 before the last match of the season, Lefter left Mersin. He said that he was compliant of the behaviours of executive committee member Sezai Sak.[4]
Pre-season
Preparation game: ÇİY-Türkocağı: 4–1.
Spor-Toto Cup: 15 August 1965 - Adana Demirspor-ÇİY: 0–2. Sunday, 17:00. City Stadium, Adana. Goals: Mehmet.
Preparation game: 29 September 1965. ÇİY-Adana Milli Mensucat. Sunday.
1965–66 Second League participation
Second League1965–66 was played by 22 teams in two groups (red and white), 11 in each. Top four teams played promotion group matches in league format. Bottom teams played relegation play-out. Top two teams promoted to First League1966–67.
Two points for a win. Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. First team is ÇİY in both cases, home and away. (Q): Qualified for Final Group; (R): Relegated to Regional Amateur League after relegation play-outs.
Sources: 1965–66 Turkish Second Football League Cem Pekin Archives; and advanced searched performed in Milliyet online archive for 1965–66 Mersin İdmanyurdu season.
Two points for a win. Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. First team is ÇİY in both cases, home and away. (P): Promoted to 1966–67 Turkish First Football League.
Sources: 1965–66 Turkish Second Football League Cem Pekin Archives; and advanced searched performed in Milliyet online archive for 1965–66 Mersin İdmanyurdu season.
Sources: Cem Pekin Archives, Milliyet Online Archive, and Maçkolik.[19]
1965–66 Turkish Cup participation
1965–66 Turkish Cup was the fourth cup and played by 71 teams: 16 First League teams (1), 20 Second League teams (2), 19 teams from regional leagues (R), and 16 amateur teams (A). Galatasaray has won the cup for the fourth time consecutively and became eligible for playing ECW next year. ÇİY and Yeşildirek were penalized due to last season draw outs. So ÇİY couldn't participated in fourth cup.[20]
Management
Club management
Executive committee:
President: Halit Gazioğlu. Deputy President: Mehmet Mehmetoğlu. General Secretary: Aydın Özlü. Members: Mahir Turan, Erol Tarhan, Sezai Sak, Victor Venüs, Sedat Gülergün.[21]
Stats are counted for 1965–66Second League matches.[22][23] In the team rosters four substitutes were allowed to appear, two of whom were substitutable. Only the players who appeared in game rosters were included and listed in the order of appearance.
^"The restaurant owner who attacked Lefter was arrested". Lefter'i vuran lokantacı tevkif edildi. Milliyet gazete arşivi, 22 February 1966, p. 8. Retrieved on 21 June 2011. (in Turkish)
^"Lefter gets discharged." Lefter yakında taburcu oluyor. Milliyet gazete arşivi, 23 February 1966. Retrieved on 3 August 2010, p. 8. (in Turkish)
^"Fahrettin became the trainer of Beykoz." Fahrettin Beykoz Antrenörü oldu. Milliyet gazete arşivi, 13 January 1966, p. 8. Retrieved on 21 August 2010. (in Turkish)
^"İ.Yurdu's trainer Lefter resigns." İ. Yurdu antrenörü Lefter istifa etti. Milliyet gazete arşivi, 1 June 1966, p. 8. Retrieved on 21 June 2011. (in Turkish)
^Round 22–12 February 1966 - Sarıyer-ÇİY: 0–1. Saturday, 12:30. Mithatpaşa Stadium, İstanbul. Referees: İbrahim Fırla, Salih Akkuş, Hıfzı Demirüstü. ÇİY: Doğan, Battal, Emin, İbrahim, Refik, İhsan, Hüseyin, Tarık, Mehmet, Alp (C), Sami. Goal: Alp 37'(F). Trainer: Lefter. Sarıyer: Nevriz, Recep, Cudi, Nuri, Gencer, Adnan, Turgut, Oktay, Erdil, Rull, Ahmet. "İ. Yurdu beat Sarıyer 1-0 and took place in first four." Sarıyer'i 1–0 mağlup eden İ.Yurdu dörtlere girdi. Milliyet gazete arşivi, 13 February 1966, pp. 7, 8. Retrieved on 22 August 2010. (in Turkish)
^1965–66 Turkish Second Football League Cem Pekin Archives; and advanced searched performed in Milliyet online archive for 1965–66 Mersin İdmanyurdu season; and 1965–66 Mersin İdmanyurdu season page on [1965–66 Mersin İdmanyurdu season mackolik.com]; some missing goals are added from Erbil, Cihat (1975). Story of the 50 Years(in Turkish). Retrieved on 29 August 2013 from 50 Yılın Öyküsü, p. 55.
^Round 01 - 6 March 1966 - ÇİY-Altınordu: 2–1. Sunday, 14:30. City Stadium, Mersin. Attendance: c. 25.000. ÇİY: Goals: Mehmet 19', İbrahim 23'(P). Altınordu: Goal: Neyir 78'(P). See: "İd. Yurdu: 2 A. Ordu: 1". İd. Yurdu: 2 A. Ordu: 1. Milliyet gazete arşivi, 7 March 1966, p. 8. Retrieved on 13 June 2010 (in Turkish)
^Round 03 - 20 March 1966 - ÇİY-Beyoğluspor: 3–0. Sunday. Mersin. ÇİY: Goals: Mehmet 9', Ayhan 58', Doğan (GK) 88'(P). See: "Ç. İdmanyurdu: 3 Beyoğluspor: 0". Ç. İdmanyurdu: 3 Beyoğluspor: 0. Milliyet gazete arşivi, 21 March 1966, p. 8. Retrieved on 21 June 2011. (in Turkish)
^Round 06 - 10 April 1966 - Eskişehirspor-ÇİY: 1–1. Sunday. Eskişehir. Eskişehirspor: Hakkı, Hasan, Mahmut, Ayhan, İsmail, Mehmet, Metin, Nihat, Fethi, Muzaffer, Kâmuran. Goal: Muzaffer 66'. ÇİY: Fikret, Battal, Emin, Hasan, Refik, Mehmet, Roni, Tarık, Ayhan, Alp, Yalçın. Goal: Ayhan 30'. Trainer: Lefter. See: "Eskişehir seizes against ÇİY: 1–1". Eskişehir Çukurova İ. Yurduna takıldı: 1–1. Milliyet gazete arşivi, 9 May 1966, p. 8. Retrieved on 13 June 2010 (in Turkish)
^Round 07 - 17 April 1966 - ÇİY-Bursaspor: 0–0. Sunday. Mersin. ÇİY: Coach: Lefter Küçükandonyadis. Bursaspor: Coach: Muhtar Tunçaltan. Referee Rıfat Atakanı was knocked by fans after the match. It is claimed that the referee finished the first half 3 minutes earlier and did not counted ÇİY's goal valid 2 minutes before the end of the game. See: "Çukurova accuses the referee". Çukuroavalılar hakemi suçladı. Milliyet gazete arşivi, 19 April 1966, p. 8. Retrieved on 21 June 2011 (in Turkish)
^Round 09 - 8 May 1966 - ÇİY-Sakaryaspor: 2–1. Sunday, 15:30. Mersin. Referee: Hamza Özdağ. ÇİY: Fikret, Erol, Emin, Tarık, Mehmet, İhsan, Ayhan, Alp, Yalçın, Sami, Hüseyin. Goals: Alp 16', Ayhan 58'. Coach: Lefter. Sakaryaspor: Fikret, Mikael, Beşir, Metin, Mehmet, Erdoğan, Fuat, Bultan, İsmet, Musa, Rıfkı. goal: Bultan 75'. See: "Çukurova İ. Yurdu: 2 Sakaryaspor: 1". Çukurova İ. Yurdu: 2 Sakaryaspor: 1. Milliyet gazete arşivi, 9 May 1966, p. 10. Retrieved on 13 June 2010. (in Turkish)
^Round 10 - 15 May 1966 - Beyoğluspor-ÇİY: 0–4. Sunday, 14:00. Mithatpaşa Stadium, İstanbul. Referees: Nadi Irmaklar, Celal Beken, Fahri Alpagut. Beyoğluspor: Yorgo, Panayot, Taki, Hikmet, Burhan, Kazancı, İbrahim, Hüseyin, Erol, K.Panayot, Kemal. ÇİY: Fikret, Emin, Sami, Tarık, Refik, İhsan, Ayhan, Roni, Mehmet, Alp, Hüseyin. Goals: Ayhan 9', Hüseyin 75', Alp 78', Hüseyin 87'. See: "ÇİY defeated Beyoğluspor: 4–0". İ. Yurdu B. Sporu sahadan sildi: 4–0. Milliyet gazete arşivi, 23 May 1966. Retrieved on 21 August 2010 (in Turkish)
^Round 11 - 22 May 1966 - ÇİY-Adana Demirspor: 1–2. Sunday. Mersin. Referees: Vovrer, Nevzat Tansuk, Yılgör Öktem. ÇİY: Fikret, Emin, Sami, Tarık, Refik, Mehmet, Ayhan, İhsan, Erol, Alp, Hüseyin. Goal: Erol 33'. Adana Demirspor: Ahmet, Yüksel, Yaşar, Metin, K.Yaşar, Ayhan, Selahattin, Yahya, Hasan, Selami, Özden. Goals: Hasan 72', Özden 85'. See: "Adana D.spor: 2 İ. Yurdu: 1". Adana D.spor: 2 İ.Yurdu: 1. Milliyet gazete arşivi, 16 May 1966, p. 8. Retrieved on 3 August 2010 (in Turkish)
^Round 12 - 29 May 1966 - Güneşspor-ÇİY: 2–5. Sunday. Ankara. Referees: Ahmet Bagatır, Vahit Ataman, Muhsin Altıncıoğlu. Güneşspor: Ömer (Ertan), Yiğit, Erdal, Barış, Enver, Yaşar, Yunus, Atilla, Tevfik, Cahit, Ayhan. Goals: Cahit 26', 81. ÇİY: Fikret, Emin, Sami, Tarık, Refik, Mehmet, Yalçın, Hasan, Erol, Alp, Hüseyin. Goals: Tarık 51', Alp 59', Mehmet 66', Alp 76', Tarık 87'. It is said that, Manager Lefter Küçükantonyadis had spoken with the players in the locker room in a very aggressive way since ÇİY finished the first half of the game 0–1 back. Lefter said: "Shame on me for training you. You ratten the team. What am I going to do? Should I give my feet to you?." See: "ÇİY beats Güneş hollow: 5–2". İ.Yurdu Güneşe fark yaptı: 5–2 - Milliyet gazete arşivi, 30 May 1966. Retrieved on 2 August 2010 (in Turkish)
^Round 13 - 4 June 1966 - ÇİY-Eskişehirspor: 1–2. Saturday, 16:00. Mersin Stadium. Referees: P. Kamber (SUI), Sedat Özselçuk, Cemil Yıdız. ÇİY: Fikret (Doğan), Emin, Sami, Tarık, Refik, İrfan, Roni, Ayhan, Mehmet, Alp, Hüseyin. Goal: Ayhan 78'. Coach: Lefter (his last match in that season). Eskişehirspor: Hakkı, Hasan, Mahmut, Ayhan, İsmail, Mehmet, Metin, Nihat, Fethi, Muzaffer, Kamuran. Goals: Nihat 16', Fethi 88'. Coach: Abdullah Matay. After this game Eskişehirspor guaranteed to promote to First League (then top division). Match was played in a very friendly atmosphere. See: "Eskişehir beats İ.Yurdu 2–1". Eskişehir İ.Yurdu'na 2–1 galip. Milliyet gazete arşivi, 5 June 1966, p. 8. Retrieved on 21 August 2010 (in Turkish)
^Round 14 - 12 June 1966 - Bursaspor-ÇİY: 4–0. Goals: Ersel, Mesut, Ayhan, B. Mustafa. See: "B.spor defeats i.yurdu 4-0". B.spor i.yurdunu 4–0 mağlup etti. Milliyet gazete arşivi, 13 June 1966, p. 8. Retrieved on 10 July 2011 (in Turkish)
^1965-66 Turkish Second Football League Cem Pekin Archives; and advanced searched performed in Milliyet online archive for 1965–66 Mersin İdmanyurdu season; and 1965-66 Mersin İdmanyurdu season on maçkolik.com on 29 August 2013.
^See 1965–66 Turkish Cup pages at Cem Pekin Archives, retrieved on 23 July 2010, (in English); and maçkolik Cup page, retrieved on 15 August 2015, (in Turkish).
^ abErbil, Cihat (1975). Story of the 50 Years(in Turkish). Retrieved on 29 August 2013 from 50 Yılın Öyküsü, p. 51.
^Stats were not provided by TFF for this season. See TFF Club page. Search for 1965–66 squad and 1965–66 matches are not provided. Retrieved on 7 August 2015.
^ abStats were obtained from the following sources. Erbil, Cihat (1975). Story of the 50 Years. Retrieved on 29 August 2013 from 50 Yılın Öyküsü, p. 51-52. (in Turkish). And an advanced search performed in Milliyet online archive for 1965–66 Mersin İdmanyurdu season. Appearance and goal stats were obtained from maçkolik.com. Appearance and goal stats obtained from maçkolik.com are not complete, because rosters of some games were not available at the date these stats were obtained, 29 August 2013.
^Mehmet Diner Mamik. In the team since Summer 1963. At the end of the season player signed to Adanaspor for the next season. Details from maçkolik.com pageArchived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine.
^Ayhan Öz. In the team since Summer 1965. He grew up in MİY youth team. He continued in the next season. Details from maçkolik.com pageArchived 28 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine.
^Yalçın Uğraş. Player signed in Summer 1965. Player's previous team was Şekerspor. At the end of the season player signed to Galata Gençlik for the next season. Details from maçkolik.com pageArchived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine.
^Fikret Özdil. Player signed in Summer 1965. Player's previous team was PTT. He continued in the next season. Details from maçkolik.com pageArchived 28 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine.