FC Fribourg
Encyclopedia
FC Fribourg is a Swiss football club from the town of Fribourg
in Canton of Fribourg
, the French-speaking region
of Switzerland
. The team currently plays in Liga 1.
, the third highest tier in the Swiss football pyramid
.
On 25 September 1904, FC Technicum became a member of Swiss Football Association
. On 12 November 1904 the club changed its name to Stella FC. The club at the time were competing in Nationalliga B, the second highest tier in Swiss football. It was around this time, in 1909, that the club held their first match against foreign opponents by playing two matches against Milan Football and Cricket Club
. In 1909 the club were promoted to Swiss Super League
but lasted just two seasons and in 1911 the club were relegated. In 1910 the club opened a junior team, led by local priest Father Freeley, to serve as a nursery side for the 1st team. This, at the time, was considered to be something new. The junior side was named FC College.
World War I put a stop to the club's progress and between 1914 and 1916 the club did not participate in any official championship. On 22 July 1917 the club changed its name to its present name, FC Fribourg.
In 1929
the club was back in the Swiss Super League but again this was just for two seasons as in 1931
the club dropped down a tier.
During World War II there was some minor interruptions to the football calendar but in the 1939/40 season the club narrowly missed out on promotion back to the Super League by losing a play off match against FC Basel
.
The golden era of the club was in the 1950s. At the end of the 1951/52 season the club were champions of Nationalliga B and so were back in the top flight to play in the 1952/53
season. The club spent four years in the top league finishing 9th in 1952/53
, 12th in 1952/53
, 10th in 1954/55
and 14th place in 1955/56
. In 1954 the club also reached the final of the Swiss Cup losing 2-0 to FC La Chaux-de-Fonds
, the best Swiss club at that time, inside the Wankdorf Stadium
which later became the Stade de Suisse
.
In the 1960/61 season
the club was back in the top flight but were relegated in 1962
after only two seasons, finishing in last place. In 1969
the club were back in the top flight but again the club lasted just two years and were relegated in 1971
. The club bounced back at the first attempt and at the end of the 1971/72 season they gained promotion back to the Super League but lasted just one term, as they suffered relegation at the end of the 1972/73 season
. This was to be for the last time as to this day the club have not played in the top level of Swiss football.
Directly following their relegation to the 2nd tier the club suffered relegated to the third tier, the 1. Liga for the first time in their history at the end of the 1973/74 season. The club stayed at that level for four years before returning to the Nationalliga B. The club remained at this level until 1999 when they suffered relegation to the 1. Liga where they have remained ever since.
Fribourg
Fribourg is the capital of the Swiss canton of Fribourg and the district of Sarine. It is located on both sides of the river Saane/Sarine, on the Swiss plateau, and is an important economic, administrative and educational center on the cultural border between German and French Switzerland...
in Canton of Fribourg
Canton of Fribourg
The Canton of Fribourg is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the west of the country. The capital of the canton is Fribourg. The name Fribourg is French, whereas is the German name for both the canton and the town.-History:...
, the French-speaking region
Linguistic geography of Switzerland
The four national languages of Switzerland are German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Only three of these languages, however, maintain equal status as official languages at the national level within the Federal Administration of the Swiss Confederation: German, French, and Italian.Native speakers...
of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The team currently plays in Liga 1.
Swiss 1. Liga (football)
1. Liga is the third tier of the Swiss Football League. The division is split into three groups of 16 teams, by geographical region.-Regional Format:...
, the third highest tier in the Swiss football pyramid
Swiss Football League
The Swiss Football League is organised in several leagues.-Proposed system from 2012-13 season onwards:-External links:* * * * *...
.
History
The club was founded on 21 October 1900 and began life as FC Technicum. It took its name from the local school where nine young men gathered in the school brewery to establish the foundations for a football club. The majority of the men were not local, most of the men were students from England. The team had to wait over a year for their first match. On 27 October 1901 the club lost 4-1 to Club Romand.On 25 September 1904, FC Technicum became a member of Swiss Football Association
Swiss Football Association
The Swiss Football Association is the governing body of football in Switzerland. It organizes the football league, the Swiss Football League, and the Switzerland national football team. It is based in Bern....
. On 12 November 1904 the club changed its name to Stella FC. The club at the time were competing in Nationalliga B, the second highest tier in Swiss football. It was around this time, in 1909, that the club held their first match against foreign opponents by playing two matches against Milan Football and Cricket Club
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
. In 1909 the club were promoted to Swiss Super League
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
but lasted just two seasons and in 1911 the club were relegated. In 1910 the club opened a junior team, led by local priest Father Freeley, to serve as a nursery side for the 1st team. This, at the time, was considered to be something new. The junior side was named FC College.
World War I put a stop to the club's progress and between 1914 and 1916 the club did not participate in any official championship. On 22 July 1917 the club changed its name to its present name, FC Fribourg.
In 1929
Swiss Super League 1929-30
Statistics of Swiss Super League in the 1929-–1930 season.-East:-Central:-West:-Final:Servette Genf won the championship.-References:...
the club was back in the Swiss Super League but again this was just for two seasons as in 1931
Swiss Super League 1930-31
-East:-Central:-West:-Final:Grasshopper-Club Zürich won the championship.-References:...
the club dropped down a tier.
During World War II there was some minor interruptions to the football calendar but in the 1939/40 season the club narrowly missed out on promotion back to the Super League by losing a play off match against FC Basel
FC Basel
Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...
.
The golden era of the club was in the 1950s. At the end of the 1951/52 season the club were champions of Nationalliga B and so were back in the top flight to play in the 1952/53
Swiss Super League 1952-53
-League standings:-References:...
season. The club spent four years in the top league finishing 9th in 1952/53
Swiss Super League 1952-53
-League standings:-References:...
, 12th in 1952/53
Swiss Super League 1953-54
-League standings:-References:...
, 10th in 1954/55
Swiss Super League 1954-55
-League standings:-References:...
and 14th place in 1955/56
Swiss Super League 1955-56
-League standings:-References:...
. In 1954 the club also reached the final of the Swiss Cup losing 2-0 to FC La Chaux-de-Fonds
FC La Chaux-de-Fonds
FC La Chaux-de-Fonds is a Swiss football club based in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It was founded in 1894. They play at the Stade Charrière.-History:F.C...
, the best Swiss club at that time, inside the Wankdorf Stadium
Wankdorf Stadium
The Wankdorf Stadium was a football stadium in the Wankdorf quarter of Bern, Switzerland, and the former home of Swiss club BSC Young Boys. It was built in 1925, and as well as serving as a club stadium, it hosted several important matches, including the 1954 FIFA World Cup Final, the 1961...
which later became the Stade de Suisse
Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf
The Stade de Suisse Wankdorf is a football stadium in Bern, Switzerland.It is the home ground of the Swiss football team BSC Young Boys, and is currently the second biggest all-seater football stadium in Switzerland....
.
In the 1960/61 season
Swiss Super League 1960-61
-Overview:It was contested by 14 teams, and Servette FC Genève won the championship.-League standings:-References:...
the club was back in the top flight but were relegated in 1962
Swiss Super League 1961-62
-Overview:It was contested by 14 teams, and Servette FC Genève won the championship.-League standings:-References:...
after only two seasons, finishing in last place. In 1969
Swiss Super League 1969-70
-League standings:-References:...
the club were back in the top flight but again the club lasted just two years and were relegated in 1971
Swiss Super League 1970-71
The Swiss Super League was contested by 14 teams in the 1970–1971 season. FC Basel and Grasshopper-Club Zürich finished the season level on points and so contested a play-off on 8 June 1971 to decide the title winners. Grasshopper won the play-off 4–3 after extra time. -League...
. The club bounced back at the first attempt and at the end of the 1971/72 season they gained promotion back to the Super League but lasted just one term, as they suffered relegation at the end of the 1972/73 season
Swiss Super League 1972-73
-League standings:-References:...
. This was to be for the last time as to this day the club have not played in the top level of Swiss football.
Directly following their relegation to the 2nd tier the club suffered relegated to the third tier, the 1. Liga for the first time in their history at the end of the 1973/74 season. The club stayed at that level for four years before returning to the Nationalliga B. The club remained at this level until 1999 when they suffered relegation to the 1. Liga where they have remained ever since.