Sandnes Fotballklubb was a Norwegian association football club from Sandnes. It existed from late 1997 to early 2004, and was in the end incorporated by Ulf-Sandnes to form Sandnes Ulf. A cooperation between several Sandnes-based clubs, it played some time in the Norwegian Second Division, and had won promotion to the Second Division when it ceased to exist, but struggled with bad economy.
| Full name | Sandnes Fotballklubb |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1997, disestablished 2004 |
| Ground | Sandnes stadion |
History
editSandnes FK was founded in January 1997 as an umbrella club for eleven teams in the Sandnes district. FK Haugesund was an inspiration.[1]
It played in the 2001 Norwegian Second Division, but was relegated to the Third Division after that season. As a result, the other clubs stopped backing Sandnes FK. Sandnes FK tried their luck on their own in the 2002 season.[2]
In early 2003 many started advocating a new merger in the city. In February 2003 people came forward with a wish to merge Sandnes FK and Ulf-Sandnes, with support from Sandved IL, and to hire Benny Lennartsson as head coach.[3] In March an "intensjonsavtale" was signed between the two clubs.[4] The plan received a blow in April, when Benny Lennartsson declared himself unavailable, as his wife had unfortunately not been hired at Stavanger University College.[5] The plan was not scrapped, but it was said that the plan depended on either Sandnes FK or Ulf-Sandnes winning promotion.[6] Sandnes FK won their Third Division group, whereas Ulf-Sandnes was relegated. This increased the keenness of both parts to cooperate. Talks started after the season.[7] In late 2003 the mayor of Sandnes stood forward in advertisements, donning the Sandnes FK jersey, to gather popular and commercial support for a new club.[8]
By early 2004, plans had been made, and approved by the board of directors in both clubs as well as the Football Association of Norway.[9] First, the annual convention in Sandnes FK would take place on 9 February, and agree to discontinue the club and grant Ulf-Sandnes its spot in the league system. On 10 February, Ulf-Sandnes would change its name to "Sandnes Ulf" to carry on a certain legacy from Sandnes FK.[10] This was agreed to, and Sandnes FK ceased to exist.[11]
The economy of Sandnes FK was never in the best of shapes. In July 2003 the club barely escaped bankruptcy.[12] The economy improved after the merger.[13]
Aftermath
editReferences
edit- ^ "Sportsnotiser" (in Norwegian). Norwegian News Agency. 20 November 1996.
- ^ Bø, Sindre (23 December 2003). "Sandnes + Ulf = nesten sant". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). p. 16.
- ^ Larsen, Jan-Erik (13 February 2003). "Sandnes vil satse i én klubb". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). p. 20.
- ^ Lindboe, Frode S. (27 March 2003). "Trolig Sandnes FKs siste sesong". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). p. 22.
- ^ Larsen, Jan-Erik; Stangeland, Glenn (16 April 2003). "Benny-nei til Sandnes-satsing". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). p. 24.
- ^ "Visste du at...". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). 16 April 2003. p. 22.
- ^ Bø, Sindre (23 December 2003). "Sandnes + Ulf = nesten sant". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). p. 16.
- ^ Lindboe, Frode S. (20 November 2003). "På sjarmoffensiv for Sandnes FK". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). p. 23.
- ^ Bjørnersen, Ståle (17 January 2004). "Sandnes Ulf snart en realitet". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). p. 27.
- ^ Lindboe, Frode S. (28 January 2004). "Sju spillere fra Ulf-Sandnes". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). p. 22.
- ^ Lindboe, Frode S. (12 February 2004). "Draktene blir lyseblå". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). p. 22.
- ^ Hæreid, Marit (2 July 2003). "Sandnes FK unngikk konkurs". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). p. 17.
- ^ Lindboe, Frode S. (7 October 2004). "Målet nådd for Sandnes-Ulf". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). p. 28.