Boldklubben Frem

"Frem" redirects here. For the schooner, see Frem (schooner).

Boldklubben Frem (also known as Frem, BK Frem or BK Frem Copenhagen) is a Danish sports club based in the Valby-Sydhavnen area of Copenhagen. It is best known for its semi-professional football team and its youth academy. Since its foundation in 1886, Frem has won the Danish Championships six times and the Danish Cup twice. Until the disastrous bankruptcy in 1993, Frem had played in the top division all but six seasons. After the bankruptcy the club fought its way back to the top of Danish football, but in 2010 it went bankrupt again and was demoted to the Copenhagen Series—the fifth tier in the Danish league system. After two back to back promotions, the club now participates in the Danish 2nd Division, the third tier.

Frem

Full name	Boldklubben Frem af 1886
Nickname(s)	Fremmerne
Short name	Frem
Founded	17 July 1886; 139 years ago (1886-07-17) as Fremskridtsklubbens Cricketklub
Ground	Valby Idrætspark, Copenhagen
Capacity	12,000 (4,400 seats)
Chairman	Jon Herstad
Head coach	Daniel "Elly" Pedersen
League	2nd Division
2023–24	3rd Division, 1st of 12 (promoted)
Website	bkfrem.dk
Home colours Away colours Third colours

The club also has a youth and amateur football branch, as well as a cricket team. It is also involved in the running of the KIES sports boarding school.

History

See also: Boldklubben Frem seasons

Early years

Frem's squad of the 1901–1902 Copenhagen Championship-winning season. The player at the very centre is Axel Byrval.

BK Frem were founded as Fremskridtsklubbens Cricketklub on 17 July 1886 by a group of seditious young men from the then government hostile Venstre Reform Party, as a cloak for political activities.^[1] In 1887 football was introduced and the name was changed to Boldklubben Frem, stiftet af Fremskridtsklubben (lit. Danish: The Ball Club Forward, founded by the Progress Club).

In the first two years of the life of the club, only two sports matches were played, but when the Danish Football Association introduced a football tournament in 1889, the club was invited to participate, and in 1890 Frem became the first Danish club to beat KB in a football match. In 1902 Frem became unofficial Danish champions when they won the league played under the auspices of the Danish FA. This was the first ever senior title won by the club.

In 1905, the club moved to its own field at Enghavevej, Vesterbro, obtaining its distinct working class profile. To this day, both the Social Democrats and the Union of Metalworkers holds Frem sponsorships. In 1912, Frem joined the representative team Stævnet which arranged lucrative exhibition matches and played a decisive role in Danish football politics.

Match against AB around 1940. Frem players (hooped shirts): Pauli Jørgensen (far left), Johannes Pløger (2nd from right) and Erling Sørensen (far right).

Palmy days

In the years 1923–1944, Frem won six Danish Championships.

Division Yo-Yoing

Since 1983 Frem had been battling economically, and in 1993 saw themselves demoted to the Danmarksserien following a bankruptcy, which was due to a debt of DKK 8,500,000 and allegations of fraud.^[2]

Following a short but expensive spell in the Superliga in 2003–2004, Frem were once again on the verge of bankruptcy with a debt of DKK 10,000,000.^[3]

In 2010, after years of uncertain economy, the club once again went bankrupt and was demoted to the Copenhagen Series.^[4]

Supporters

Frem's official supportergroup is called "BK Frem Support". It is Denmark's oldest supporters club, formed in 1986. Frem fans are especially known for unconditional love and support. Even when demoted to the fifth tier, attendances almost didn't drop.

Home ground

The clubhouse at Enghavevej, Vesterbro used 1905–1942.

Frem play their home matches at the modest and somewhat worn-down, municipality-owned Valby Idrætspark.

In the early years, Frem were located on Østerbro in Copenhagen, playing its matches at Blegdamsfælleden, alongside its main rivals in the early years; AB and KB. In 1905 Frem moved to its own field at Enghavevej, Vesterbro. Being a field-owning club gave Frem the advantage of entry fees. Its location however lead to some muttering from football fans who found it to be too far out of town.^[5]

In 1942, Frem moved to Valby Idrætspark, where the current main stand was erected in 1965. Throughout the years a lot of matches has been played at Idrætsparken. It is unclear when this tradition was discontinued.

During the 2000s, there were several plans for a new stadium, but they were never realized.^[6]

In 2006 the Copenhagen Municipality predicted that the main stand of the current Valby Idrætspark would last another 5–10 years.^[7]
As of April 2007 major investments in the current stadium are put on hold as a decision on the construction of a new stadium is being awaited. A final decision is expected was April 2008.^[8]

Hans Hermansen, then managing director of BK Frem, has indicated that according to the plan, the construction of a new stadium should commence no later than 2010.^[9] However, the municipality estimated 2012.^[10] Frem suggested that it might be completed by 2016.^[11]

In January 2016 the municipality ordered a renovation of the existing stadium, worth 3 mio €, thus cancelling plans for a new stadium in the near future. The renovation is due ultimo 2017.^[12][13]

Sponsorships

After the clubs bankruptcy in summer 2010, Frem got a helping hand from Danish brewery giant Carlsberg. Being from the same city they signed on as main sponsor, because they saw it as a chance to help the fellow Valby-based brand back on its feet.^[14] In July 2013 an extension for three years was announced.^[15] On 11 June 2016 it was prolonged for another three years.^[16]
In June 2015 Frem announced they would switch back from Diadora to their old shirt partner, Hummel, starting from the 2015/2016 season.^[17]

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor
1976–1977	Adidas	GaJol
1978	Hummel	Lee Cooper
1979		Individual
1980–1983		Mamiya Camera
1984		SJL Banken
1985–1986		Bilka
1987	Nike	Nordania
1988–1989	Adidas
1990		KTAS
1990-1991		Zürich Forsikring
1992–1994		Alka
1995–1998	Beltona	Støvsuger Banden
1998–2002	Hummel
2002		3H Udlejning
2003–2005		Altima
2005–2007		Ramirent
2007–2010		GB
2010–2013		Carlsberg
2013–2015	Diadora
2015–	Hummel

Honours

Frem's squad of the 1943–1944 championship-winning season.

See also: Boldklubben Frem seasons

• Danish Champions
  • Winners (6): 1922–23, 1930–31, 1932–33, 1935–36, 1940–41, 1943–44
  • Runner-up (9): 1929–30, 1934–35, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1947–48, 1958, 1966, 1967, 1976
  • 3rd placed (6): 1933–34, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1968, 1971, 1991–92
• Danish Cup
  • Winners (2): 1955–56, 1978
  • Runner-up (3): 1969, 1971, 1981
• Unofficial Danish Champions
  • Winners (1): 1901–02
  • Runner-up (3): 1898–99, 1900–01, 1902–03
• Copenhagen Champions
  • Winners (3): 1903–04, 1923, 1933
  • Runner-up (8): 1906, 1908, 1910, 1911, 1918, 1922, 1929, 1937
• KBUs Pokalturnering
  • Winners (6): 1925, 1927, 1938, 1940, 1943, 1946
  • Runner-up (9): 1913, 1918, 1919, 1922, 1924, 1930, 1934, 1939, 1944
• Baneklubberne Cup
  • Winners (1): 1911
• UEFA Intertoto Cup
  • Winners (2): 1969, 1977

Club officials

As of 17 January 2025^[18]

Chairman: Jon Herstad
Head Coach: Daniel "Elly" Pedersen
Assistant Coach: Søren Weibel
Goalkeeping Coach: Kasper Juhl Jensen
Fitness Coach: Mark Olsson
Equipment Manager : Sven Kurzweg
U19 Team Coach: Jamaa Aboualou
U17 Team Coach: Anders Broløs
U16 Team Coach: Bülent Ergüc
U15 Team Coach: Jamal Aztout
U14 Team Coach: Dzevdet Sainoski
U13 Team Coach: Ali Mahmoud
U12 Team Coach: Mickey Spens
U11 Team Coach: Martin Gammelgaard

Head Coach history

Name	Nationality	From	To	Honours	Comments	Refs
Daniel "Elly" Pedersen	Denmark	17 January 2025	current			[19]
Henrik Gundersen	Denmark	17 June 2023	19 November 2024			[20][21]
Christoffer Sick Balle	Denmark	2 December 2022	6 June 2023			[22][23]
René Henriksen	Denmark	27 January 2020	21 November 2022			[24][25]
Allan Ravn	Denmark	20 June 2019	27 January 2020			[26][27]
Lasse Holmgaard	Denmark	1 July 2018	13 May 2019			[28][29]
Martin E. Jensen	Denmark	14 August 2017	30 June 2018		Caretaker	[30]
Danny Jung	Denmark	1 January 2017	14 August 2017			[31]
René Henriksen and Michael Mio Nielsen	Denmark	10 October 2016	31 December 2016		Caretakers	[32]
Henrik Gundersen	Denmark	29 April 2014	10 October 2016		Originally had contract until end of 2017	[33][34]
Henrik Jensen	Denmark	1 July 2012	29 April 2014		Originally had contract until summer 2014	[35]
John 'Tune' Kristiansen	Denmark	18 June 2012	23 June 2012		Caretaker for one league match
Peer F. Hansen	Denmark	1 January 2012	18 June 2012	Promoted to the third tier		[36]
John 'Tune' Kristiansen	Denmark	27 July 2010	30 December 2011	Promoted to the fourth tier	Originally had contract until summer 2012	[37]
René Heitmann	Denmark	17 July 2010	27 July 2010		Never coached the team in a match
Christian Andersen	Denmark	11 July 2009	19 June 2010	Relegated to the third tier	Club went bankrupt after the season	[38]
Anders Theil	Denmark	7 November 2005	7 July 2009		Originally had contract until summer 2011	[39]
Ebbe Skovdahl	Denmark	11 October 2003	6 November 2005	Relegated to the second tier	Originally had contract until summer 2007	[40]
Ole Mørk	Denmark	15 October 2001	10 October 2003	Promoted to the first tier	Originally had contract until end of 2004	[41][42]
Johnny Petersen	Denmark	5 May 1998	14 October 2001		Originally had contract until end of 2001
John 'Tune' Kristiansen	Denmark	1996	4 May 1998	Promoted to the second tier

Season-by-season results

Main article: Boldklubben Frem seasons

Recent years

Season	Pos	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
15-16: 2nd Division Promotion Group	#4/12	34	16	7	2	7	27	22	+5
14-15: 2nd Division East	#2/16	61	30	18	7	5	56	27	+29
13-14: 2nd Division East	#8/16	38	30	9	11	10	46	44	+2
12-13: 2nd Division East	#7/16	48	30	14	6	10	45	40	+5
11–12: Denmark Series Pool 1	#1/14	51	26	15	6	5	54	29	+25
10–11: Copenhagen Series	#1/14	67	26	21	4	1	92	18	+74
09-10: 1st Division	#15/16	28	30	7	7	16	38	59	−21
08-09: 1st Division	#11/16	36	30	8	12	10	41	53	−12
07-08: 1st Division	#11/16	33	30	12	3	15	46	54	−8
06-07: 1st Division	#5/16	50	30	14	8	8	48	43	+5
05-06: 1st Division	#10/16	40	30	11	7	12	47	42	+5
04-05: 1st Division	#3/16	59	30	17	8	5	61	30	+31
03-04: Superliga	#11/12	27	33	8	3	22	40	65	−25
02-03: 1st Division	#2/16	58	30	18	4	8	64	43	+21

League status

Post 1993 bankruptcy and demotion

Green denotes the highest level of football in Denmark; yellow the second-highest; red the third-highest; black the fourth-highest; grey the fifth-highest.

All time

Green denotes the highest level of football in Denmark; yellow the second-highest; red the third-highest; black the fourth-highest; grey the fifth-highest.

European competitions record

Main article: Boldklubben Frem seasons § International_results

Season	Competition	Round		Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1967–68	Inter-Cities Fairs Cup	1R		Athletic Bilbao	0–1	2–3	2–4
1969–70	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1R		FC St. Gallen	2–1	0–1	2–2
1972–73	UEFA Cup	1R		FC Sochaux	2–1	3–1	5–2
		2R		FC Twente	0–5	0–4	0–9
1977–78	UEFA Cup	1R		Grasshoppers	0–2	1–6	1–8
1978–79	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1R		AS Nancy-Lorraine	2–0	0–4	2–4
1992–93	UEFA Cup	1R		Neuchâtel Xamax	4–1	2–2	6–3
		2R		Real Zaragoza	0–1	1–5	1–6

Cricket

Cricket squad, 1898.

Club

The Cricket branch is one of the oldest in Denmark.^[43]
It is still active and at the moment have a team in the 2nd-best tier.

Officials

Chairman: Kingsley Peiris

Honors

• Copenhagen Champions
  • Winners (2): 1894, 1898

.