FC Gomel (Belarusian: ФК Гомель) is a Belarusian football club, playing in the city of Gomel. Their new home stadium is Central Stadion.

Teams from Gomel (usually city or raion selection or railway-based team Lokomotiv, but not always) played in Belarusian SSR championships since early 20's. In 1946 Belorusian SSR league for one season becomes one of the zones of USSR 3rd level league, and Lokomotiv Gomel became the first city team to play in Soviet league.

The modern Gomel team was founded in 1959 as Lokomotiv Gomel. They played at the 2nd level of Soviet football between 1959 and 1968. The results varied between seasons, as the team managed to finish 1st in their zone in 1962 as well as last in 1959 and 1963. However, due to the fact that Soviet league system structure was changing almost every season in 50's and 60's, Lokomotiv wasn't promoted or relegated until another league reorganization in 1969.

Gomselmash played at the 3rd level of Soviet football between 1969 and 1989, until further league reorganization in 1990, after which the team was relegated to the 4th level.

Gomel ( /ˈɡoʊməl/); also Homiel, Homel (Belarusian, Russian: Го́мель, [ˈɣomʲelʲ] (Bel.), [ˈɡomʲɪlʲ] (Rus.);translit: Homieĺ) is the administrative center of Gomel Voblast and the second-largest city in Belarus. It has a population of 482,652 (2009 census). Gomel is situated in the southeastern part of the country, on the right bank of Sozh river, 302 km (188 mi) to the South-East from Minsk, 534 km (332 mi) to the East from Brest, 171 km (106 mi) to the South from Mogilev, 237 km (147 mi) to the West from Bryansk and 111 km (69 mi) to the North from Chernihiv. The city's area is 121 km².

There are at least six versions of the origin of the city's name. One of the best known is that the name is derived from the name of Gomeyuk stream, which flowed into the Sozh river near the foot of the hill where the first settlement was founded. Other Belarusian cities' names are formed on these lines: for example, Minsk's name is derived from the river Menka, Polotsk's – from the Palata river, Vitebsk's – from the Vitba river. In historical sources from 1142 to the 16th century Gomel is named as Gom', Gomye, Gomey, Gomyi. Linguists think, that those forms of the city's name derive from ancient Slavic word "gom" which means "hill". In the historical note from 1142 Gomel is called "Gomiy". The modern form of the city's name has been used only since 16th–17th centuries.

Stewart Downing (born 22 July 1984) is an English footballer who plays for Liverpool and the England national team, primarily as a winger. Downing has previously played for Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Sunderland, and has won the Football League Cup twice in his career.

Downing was born in Middlesbrough. He was considered one of the most promising graduates of the Middlesbrough Academy.

His debut came on 24 April 2002 in a FA Premier League game away at Ipswich Town. He was limited to just three appearances during that season, plus a further three the following season despite scoring his first senior goal in a 4–1 League Cup victory over Brentford. He was sent out on loan to Sunderland in 2003 in order to gain experience. His first-team chances at Middlesbrough were limited due to the form of Bolo Zenden in the left-midfield slot. Downing's career began to take-off when he was recalled from his loan during an injury crisis and was pushed into the first-team.

The 2004–05 season saw Downing make forty-nine appearances, scoring six goals, as well as providing numerous assists. In a UEFA Cup match against Lazio in November 2004, both Downing and Zenden were in the starting line-up. Though Zenden scored both goals in the 2–0 victory, Downing drew praise for his performance down the left. Such performances that season saw him called up to Sven Göran Eriksson's England squad in February 2005 for a friendly against the Netherlands.

Fabio Borini (born 29 March 1991) is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Roma. He started his career at Bologna, before moving to Chelsea in 2007. In 2011, he joined Football League Championship club Swansea City on loan from Chelsea.

Borini first started playing football at the age of nine, he and his father were avid Bologna supporters. He joined Bologna side in 2001, as a youth player.

Borini joined Chelsea in the summer of 2007 from Bologna. During the 2008–09 season, Borini was made first choice striker for reserves. He was the top scorer for the reserves with 10 goals from 11 appearances. Borini scored against Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup. On 1 September 2009, he was added to Carlo Ancelotti's Champions League squad and he made the bench against Porto. He made the substitutes bench again a few days later on 20 September, replacing Nicolas Anelka as a substitute in the 89th minute to make his first team debut for Chelsea against Tottenham Hotspur. His full debut came against Queens Park Rangers in the League Cup third round. He scored twice in a reserve game for Chelsea against West Ham United. He made his second appearance against Wolverhampton Wanderers, coming on as substitute for Salomon Kalou on the 77th minute. On 8 December 2009, Borini made his Champions League debut in the 2–2 draw against APOEL. He played his first FA Cup game against Cardiff City in the fifth round, coming on in the 88th minute as the Blues won 4–1. Borini underwent a hernia operation which put him out of action for quite some time.