The club's name was "Avanhard" (FC Avanhard Chernihiv) during its first year of existence as part of a republican Avanhard sports society. Between 1961 and 1970 the club was known as Desna Chernihiv.

Beginnings of Football FC Desna Chernihiv (1960) 1960–1968 The team of masters was established in Chernihiv in 1960 under the name "Avanhard" as part of the republican Avanhard sports society and entering competitions of the class "B" competitions (concurrently Football Championship of the Ukrainian SSR). That year the Chernihiv team "Avanhard" would take part in the state football championship (challenge) among the Class B teams. The team was created on already existing Chernihiv city team that also was known as Avanhard and played earlier in republican level competitions. In 1960 "Avanhard Chernihiv", signed Viktor Bannikov for one year, considered one of the best goalkeepers in the Soviet Union earning the title of the best twice in 1964 and 1970 and distinguished Master of Sport of USSR (1991). In 1961, the stadium in the city of Chernihiv was named the Russian Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and on 25 May 1964, he attended the stadium in person. From 1966 to 1979 the goalkeeper was Yuriy Hruznov from Chernihiv. In the "Avanhard Chernihiv"'s squad were included better footballers of the region (Chernihiv Oblast). Among them are goalkeeper V.Lomako, field players V.Kravchynskyi, Yu.Shkolnikov, O.Finkelberh, and others, in such way the chairman of regional council of sports societies and organizations V.Tatur informed readers of "Desnyanska Pravda" on 10 February 1960.1960–1962. Desna Chernihiv website. 19 August 2016 "The team's coach is appointed a former Dynamo Kyiv player Aleksandr Shchanov. These days "Avanhard" will proceed with its training and in already the nearest future in Chernihiv will start reconstruction and upgrade of the city's stadium. In its construction will take part quite a few city residents, public, youth, and Komsomol activists". Over 26 seasons in the USSR championships, Desna played 1,099 matches, of which 380 won, 301 – tied and 418 – lost. They scored 1145 goals, conceded – 1251. In February, "Avanhard Chernihiv" took part in the winter championship of the Chernihiv Oblast (see Chernihiv Oblast Football Federation), and the team played their first official match on April 17, 1960, in Kirovohrad against the "Zirka" (0:3). The next match, "Avanhard" held a draw with Kyivan "Arsenal" (0:0), and then lost at its home field to "Lokomotyv" out of Vinnytsia (today FC Nyva Vinnytsia) with a score of 0:6. In May 1960, Aleksandr Shchanov was dismissed. The duties of a head coach were performed by his assistant Anatoliy Zhigan, who was approved in this position in July 1960. In its first season in the USSR championship, the team took 16th place out of 17 teams in the 1st zone of the Ukrainian Class B class (second tier) and won relegation playoff against Avanhard Pryluky to stay in the league. In 1961 the team received the name "Desna". According to the results of the 1961 season, Desna took the 5th place in its group and the 10th place in the final of the Ukrainian SSR (class "B"). Among all the Ukrainian teams of the championship of the USSR Chernihiv team was the 13th. In 1962, the team was coached by Yevgeny Goryansky and in 1965 Desna achieved its highest achievement in the Soviet Union era. Defeating six opponents, including class "A" teams – "Shinnik" and "Neftçi", the team reached the 1/8 finals of the USSR Cup, where they lost to "Kairat" in Almaty with a score 3:4. The following season, the team fought for leadership in the first zone of the Ukrainian class "B" – the winners were given the right to fight for securing the second group of the "A" class (later reorganized into the First League). "Desna" skipped forward only Khmelnitsky "Dynamo", and in the overall standings took the 4th place in the championship of the Ukrainian SSR.

1968–1980: SK Chernihiv & Khimik Chernihiv

In 1968, Desna, taking fourth place in the final tournament of the best Ukrainian teams of the "B" class, won a ticket to the second group of the "A" class. At the end of the 1970 season, the team took 11th place among 22 teams, but at the end of the year the decision of the new head of the Chernihiv region was to disband the club. In 1972 the city of Chernihiv was represented by a football team called the "team of Chernihiv city" and later renamed as SC Chernihiv after SKA Kyiv (Sports Club of Army – Kyiv) team moved to Chernihiv and changed its name to SK Chernihiv. The team represented the Armed Forces of Kiev Military District and better known as SKA Kyiv. He represented Desna in the 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 and had moved back to Kyiv in 1976 as SKA. The 1976 season was its last season at professional level. At the same period of time in 1976 "Khimik" Chernihiv, led by the former player of the Desna, Yukhym Shkolnykov, won the Ukrainian SSR championship among the physical culture teams, thus gaining an opportunity to participate at professional level, the Soviet Second League. In 1977 Desna was revived in place of the amateur club "Khimik Chernihiv" and the composition of which was formed from the former players and the team entered the Soviet Second League. In the mid-1980s, the Stadion Yuri Gagarin capacity was increased to 14,000.

1981–1991 In the season 1981–1982 Oleh Kuznetsov, played for Desna Chernihiv, later he played for Dynamo Kyiv, Rangers, Maccabi Haifa and CSKA-Borysfen Kyiv. He won with UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, Soviet Top League, Soviet Cup. Scottish Premier Division, Scottish League Cup, Scottish Cup with Rangers. He got the final with Soviet Union in UEFA Euro 1988 in the West Germany with 11th and 17th places for Ballon d'Or in 1988 and 1989. In summer 1982, the club signed Oleksandr Ryabokon, the defender and then later he will be appointed as Head Coach in 2008–2009, the team in the 1982 season, tookd the 2nd place in the Ukrainian zone of the Second League, won silver medals of the football championship of the Ukrainian SSR. In 1983–1984 the team was coached by the experience of Yevgeny Goryansky having coached Soviet Union and clubs like FC Dinamo Minsk, FC Dynamo Moscow, FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Zenit Leningrad. From 1985 to 1986 another coach was Mykhaylo Fomenko was appointed as coach and in 1990 the club got into the semifinal of Cup of the Ukrainian SSR against Naftovyk Okhtyrka. In 1991 he got into the quarterfinal of Cup of the Ukrainian SSR against Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih.

Transition from Soviet competitions to Ukrainian

Ultras Desna After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the proclamation of Ukraine's independence, they organized a fan club called "Ultras Desna" date on 1 August 1990, when Chernihiv's fans supported their home club in Kyiv. The first organized departure of fans for the away match of Desna fans was dated back on 1 August 1990, when Chernihiv's fans supported their home club in Kyiv. Four Chernihiv enthusiasts came to the match against SKA Kyiv and, most interestingly, one of them still supports Desna.

1990-1997 The club started playing in the Ukrainian First League and from 1990 until 1993, Yuriy Hruznov, but in the season 1993/94 it was relegated to the third tier. The team won the Ukrainian Second League group tournament in the season 1996–97, the team returned to the Ukrainian First League for two seasons.

1997–1999 From 1997 until 1997, the club played for 2 years in Ukrainian First League, where in the season 1997–98 riched the Round of 16 of the Ukrainian Cup. In the season 1998–99 the club got into the round 32 of the Ukrainian Cup and in Ukrainian First League in the season 1998–99, the club relegated in Ukrainian Second League.

Ivan Chaus Era (1999-2006)

1999–2006: Oleksandr Kozhemyachenko In 1999 the club was to the president, Ivan Chaus, a businessman from Chernihiv, that stayed president, for seven seasons, Desna Chernihiv footballers performed in the Ukrainian Second League. In 2002 was appointed as coach Vadym Lazorenko and in 2003 they hired the Serbia and Montenegro defender Milan Zagorac. Desna got second in the Ukrainian Second League with Oleksandr Kozhemyachenko top scores with 21 goals and the season 2005–06 finally won the and Ukrainian Second League and the club return the team to the Ukrainian First League in the season 2006–07. First League in the championship of 2005/06 mentors Olexandr Tomakh and Yukhym Shkolnykov were managed.

2006–2007: Andriy Yarmolenko In summer time 2006, Desna discovered the professional Forward Andriy Yarmolenko from Yunist Chernihiv school in Chernihiv, who later played for who played for FC Dynamo Kyiv, Borussia Dortmund and now plays for West Ham United F.C. He also played for under-21 squad for also participated in the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification. He later participated in qualification and finals of the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. With the Ukraine National Team, in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification game against Andorra, Yarmolenko made his first senior appearance for Ukraine and scored in a 5–0 win. On 2 September 2011, in an international friendly against Uruguay in Kharkiv, Yarmolenko set a national team record by scoring 14 seconds into the match, the fastest time in which a Ukraine national team player has scored a goal. UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying, play-off victory over Slovenia to qualify the nation for Euro 2016. In the 2007/08 season Desna took the 4th place in the Ukrainian First League, which at that time was the best result of the team in the Ukrainian championship.

Oleksiy Savchenko & Pavlo Klymets In August 2007, Oleksiy Savchenko become the president of the club until 2008. Then in November 2008 the he announced that he sold 50% of the club's stock for 10 million hryvnias and the club's co-owner became Ukrainian parliamentarian of Party of Regions Pavlo Klymets who was the owner of "Olimp" company specializing in production of vodka.Alina Sirenko. "Desna" is in hands of former boxer («Десна» в руках у бывшего боксёра). Vestj. 27 January 2012In Moscow was again arrested Ukrainian millionaire Klymets (В Москве повторно арестовали украинского миллионера Климца). Liga.Bisness. 30 April 2019 After the completion of the 2009–10 Ukrainian First League the club failed attestation and deprived of professional status due to the fact that it did not pass the certification, the PFL withdrew their license and the club. but the new authority managed to revive the team and declare it in the Second League.Club failed attestation for the 2010–11 season and license was withdrawn. However, the club was reformed with new management as "Sporting Football Club" Desna Chernihiv and was readmitted in the Ukrainian Second League.

Oleksandr Povorozniuk & Yuriy Tymoshok In spring 2009, Oleksandr Povorozniuk, become President of Desna Chernihiv football club of the city of Chernihiv, until 2010. He became the property of businessman Valeriy Korotkov, involving his business partner Oleksandr Povorozniuk, who first became vice president and president of the club since the summer of 2009. Oleksandr Povorozniuk was ready to invest his own funds in the football club: However, the local authorities, despite promises to support the club and complete the stadium, did nothing. In the summer of 2010, Oleksandr Povorozniuk abandoned Desna Chernihiv due to the club's debts. In 2010, Yuriy Tymoshok become the new president of the club until 2012 and the new Club formed for the 2010–11 season. As coach was appointed Oleksandr Deriberin and he managed to bring the club at the second place in Ukrainian Second League and gained the playoff in the season 2011–12.

Oleksandr Ryabokon Era (2012–present)

Promotion to Ukrainian First League