Långholmen FC
Encyclopedia
Långholmen FC is a Swedish
football club based in Långholmen
, Stockholm
.
Since their foundation Långholmen FC has participated in the lower divisions of the Swedish football league system
. The first team has climbed steadily up the Stockholm leagues and currently plays in Division 3 Östra Svealand which is the fifth tier of Swedish football. However as the team finished in eleventh place they will be relegated back to Division 4
for the 2011 season. They play their home matches at the Essinge IP in Stockholm. Their home venue is also used by Essinge IK
.
Although English is generally the main language used by Långholmen players and the majority of members have tended to be from the British Isles, the club has always been proud of its international mix of players. They like to consider themselves an international team, with a proud tradition of becoming a second-home for many a travelling footballer. They have had members from several European countries, the US, Australia and New Zealand, and been livened up by a regular supply of South Americans. There is also a steady increase in young Swedish members. In short, all are welcome.
Långholmen FC are affiliated to the Stockholms Fotbollförbund
. In a decision with some parallels to the landmark Bosman ruling
, the Swedish Football Association
granted Långholmen FC a temporary dispensation for the 2010 season from regulations requiring a quota of Sweden-bred players in match day squads. The club appealed because they had only five players who qualified as homegrown players.
* League restructuring in 2006 resulted in a new division being created at Tier 3 and subsequent divisions dropping a level.
* Attendances are provided in the Publikliga sections of the Svenska Fotbollförbundet website.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
football club based in Långholmen
Långholmen
Långholmen is an island in central Stockholm, between Södermalm and Kungsholmen.Långholmen is a green oasis in the city, and a popular spot for walks, picnics and swimming. The small beaches, located right outside the former prison, are usually crowded in summer. However, up until 1975, Långholmen...
, Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
.
Background
Långholmen Football Club was formed in 2002 by a dozen or so English-speaking exiles looking for exercise and a chance to show their ability on a Saturday afternoon. The club is now an important part of the sporting and social life of the expatriate community in Stockholm with well over a hundred members. Since 2002, their teams have won four championships and nine promotions. The club have seven teams (five men’s and two women’s); regular structured training; casual kickabouts, a lively social network and a growing fan base. They have played in an international tournament in Berlin, which they won, and hosted their own tournament in Stockholm. They are also getting more and more offers to play friendlies with visiting sides, for instance the club recently played the Royal Household Staff team from London, England and only last year played against the Tartan Army (Scottish fan base) in Stockholm.Since their foundation Långholmen FC has participated in the lower divisions of the Swedish football league system
Swedish football league system
The Swedish football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in Sweden which is controlled by the Swedish Football Association and consists of 276 teams in 22 leagues divided into five levels...
. The first team has climbed steadily up the Stockholm leagues and currently plays in Division 3 Östra Svealand which is the fifth tier of Swedish football. However as the team finished in eleventh place they will be relegated back to Division 4
Swedish football Division 4
Division 4 is the sixth level in the league system of Swedish football and comprises 39 sections with 8 to 12 football teams in each.- The competition :There are 39 groups of 8 to 12 teams each representing a local geographical area...
for the 2011 season. They play their home matches at the Essinge IP in Stockholm. Their home venue is also used by Essinge IK
Essinge IK
Essinge IK is a Swedish football club located in Stockholm. -Background:Essinge Idrottsklubb is a sports club from Stockholm that was founded on the 18th June 1919. Over the years the club has mainly been active in team sports such as football, bandy, handball and ice hockey at various levels in...
.
Although English is generally the main language used by Långholmen players and the majority of members have tended to be from the British Isles, the club has always been proud of its international mix of players. They like to consider themselves an international team, with a proud tradition of becoming a second-home for many a travelling footballer. They have had members from several European countries, the US, Australia and New Zealand, and been livened up by a regular supply of South Americans. There is also a steady increase in young Swedish members. In short, all are welcome.
Långholmen FC are affiliated to the Stockholms Fotbollförbund
Stockholms Fotbollförbund
The Stockholms Fotbollförbund is one of the 24 district organisations of the Swedish Football Association. It administers lower tier football in Stockholm County.- Background :...
. In a decision with some parallels to the landmark Bosman ruling
Bosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
, the Swedish Football Association
Swedish Football Association
The Swedish Football Association is the governing body of football in Sweden. It organises the football leagues — Allsvenskan for men and Damallsvenskan for women — and the men's and women's national teams. It is based in Solna and is a founding member of both FIFA and UEFA...
granted Långholmen FC a temporary dispensation for the 2010 season from regulations requiring a quota of Sweden-bred players in match day squads. The club appealed because they had only five players who qualified as homegrown players.
Season to season
| class="wikitable"> | |||||
| Season | Level | Division | Section | Position | Movements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Tier 9 | Division 8 | Stockholm I | 3rd | Promoted |
| 2004 | Tier 8 | Division 7 | Stockholm G | 5th | |
| 2005 | Tier 8 | Division 7 | Stockholm H | 1st | Promoted |
| 2006* | Tier 8 | Division 6 | Stockholm D | 3rd | Promoted |
| 2007 | Tier 7 | Division 5 | Stockholm Södra | 2nd | Promoted |
| 2008 | Tier 6 | Division 4 | Stockholm Norra | 8th | |
| 2009 | Tier 6 | Division 4 | Stockholm Mellersta | 1st | Promoted |
| 2010 | Tier 5 | Division 3 | Östra Svealand | 11th | Relegated |
| 2011 | Tier 6 | Division 4 | Stockholm Mellersta | 5th |
* League restructuring in 2006 resulted in a new division being created at Tier 3 and subsequent divisions dropping a level.
Attendances
In recent seasons Långholmen FC have had the following average attendances:| class="wikitable"> | |||
| Season | Average Attendance | Division / Section | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 106 | Div 4 Stockholm Mellersta | Tier 6 |
| 2010 | 78 | Div 3 Östra Svealand | Tier 5 |
* Attendances are provided in the Publikliga sections of the Svenska Fotbollförbundet website.
External links
- Långholmen FC - Official Website
- Långholmen FC Supporters Club Facebook
- Stripe News - Långholmen FC Blog