[1] The team was founded in 1953 as Spartac Focșani and, over its history, adopted various names such as Progresul, Rapid, Fructexport, Acord, Diplomatic, and — most popular among Romanian football fans — Unirea.

However, with the expansion of the second division in the following season, four group winners and eight additional teams were promoted to Divizia B, including Spartac.

Unfortunately, Făiniță's impact was minimal; despite his efforts to stabilize the team, they struggled throughout the season, ultimately finishing 14th and narrowly avoiding relegation due to goal difference.

After relegation to the third division, the team was renamed Unirea IDSMSA Focșani, reflecting the sponsorship of the Intreprinderea de Dispozitive, Ștanțe, Matrițe și Scule Așchietoare (lit.

Zoltan David was brought back as head coach, leading the team to a runner-up finish in the fourth Series IV of Divizia C in the 1977–78 season, seven points behind leaders Chimia Brazi.

[3] The team also had a strong run in the Cupa României, reaching the Round of 32 before being eliminated in a narrow 0–1 defeat to FC Argeș.

In the 1978–79 campaign, the group from Milcov made a determined push for promotion, overtaking CSU Galați and their local rivals Dinamo Focșani.

Coached by Vasile Stancu, the squad included players such as Ion Paraschiv, Stan Gheorghiu, Nicolae Zaiț, Aurel Pastia, Sorin Galan, Octavian Anghel, Marian Sima, Cristian Costea, Victor Manolache, Mircea Chioveanu, C. Liciu, Ionel Ouatu, Mihai Oprișan, and Constantin Rusu.

The squad included players such as S. Gheorghiu, I. Paraschiv, Negoi, Gheorghe, O. Anghel, N. Zaiț, Gaitan, M. Chioveanu, Radu, A. Pastia, Gh.

The following season, after a brief departure, he returned as head coach in the 1983–84 campaign, taking over from Stan Gheorghiu after twenty-three rounds and once again guiding the team to an 11th-place finish.

The team also performed well in the Cupa României, reaching the Round of 32 for the second consecutive time, where it lost 1–2 to Chimia Râmnicu Vâlcea.

During its tumultuous history CSM Focșani had a lot of ups and downs and also another two refounding moments, in 2002 and 2006,[6] but the highest level achieved by the team was only Liga II.

The team from Vrancea made a dramatic comeback, defeating SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea 3–2 in the semi-final, with Zaharia scoring the decisive goal in extra time, before winning 2–0 against CS Dinamo București at Milcovul Stadium, securing a return to the second division after 16 years of absence.