Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Eskilstuna, or IFK Eskilstuna, is a Swedishfootball club located in Eskilstuna, Södermanland County. In their early seasons, IFK played in Allsvenskan, the top division of the Swedish football league, but now plays in Division 2 Västra Svealand, the fourth tier of Swedish non football.[1]
Background
A chart showing the progress of IFK Eskilstuna through the swedish football league system. The different shades of gray represent league divisions.
IFK Eskilstuna was founded on the 9th of September, 1897, and maintains a long rivalry with Eskilstuna City FK. In 1910, IFK participated in the first Svenska Serien along with IFK Göteborg, Örgryte IS, AIK and IFK Norrköping.[2] Their first championship final match took place in 1921, when IFK defeated IK Sleipner 2–1 at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium before 11,695 spectators. They competed in another championship final match in 1923, which resulted in a 5–1 loss to AIK.
In the early years, the club also played bandy and was playing in the then Swedish top-tier league Division 1 for two years in the 1930s.
IFK competed in the very first Allsvenskan season in 1924/25, and played a further 13 seasons in the Allsvenskan from 1924/25-1928/29, 1930/31-1935/36, 1942/43, 1957/58 and 1964. Their best season was in 1931/32 when they finished in fifth place. The marathon table of Allsvenskan teams shows IFK in 23rd position, their last season at the highest level being in 1964.
IFK reached the Allsvenskan qualifying stage in 1981 after winning Division 2 Norra by pipping Örebro SK to the top position. However, IFK failed to win the play-offs against Kalmar FF to progress to the higher level. The 1987 season proved another near miss when IFK finished in second place, to second place in Division I Norra; Djurgarden. In 1988 history was repeated, this time IFK finished second to Örebro SK.
In 1992, IFK were relegated from Division 1 and subsequently have competed in the middle divisions of the Swedish football league system. The club currently plays in Division 3 Västra Svealand which is the fifth tier of Swedish football.[3] They play their home matches at the Tunavallen in Eskilstuna.[4]
IFK Eskilstuna are affiliated with the Södermanlands Fotbollförbund.[5] The club have an active youth section. In 1970 and 1985, the junior team won the Swedish Junior Championship. Famous footballers who have played for IFK Eskilstuna include Kenneth Andersson and Sebastian Larsson.[6]
A. ^ The title of "Swedish Champions" has been awarded to the winner of four different competitions over the years. Between 1896 and 1925 the title was awarded to the winner of Svenska Mästerskapet, a stand-alone cup tournament. No club were given the title between 1926 and 1930 even though the first-tier league Allsvenskan was played. In 1931 the title was reinstated and awarded to the winner of Allsvenskan. Between 1982 and 1990 a play-off in cup format was held at the end of the league season to decide the champions. After the play-off format in 1991 and 1992 the title was decided by the winner of Mästerskapsserien, an additional league after the end of Allsvenskan. Since the 1993 season the title has once again been awarded to the winner of Allsvenskan.[12]
