Groruddalen BK
Encyclopedia
Groruddalen Ballklubb was a Norwegian
association football club from Groruddalen, Oslo
.
The club came into existence through the merger of a number of local clubs in 2002, but went defunct again in 2008, after some of those clubs withdrew their backing. The clubs short existence was spent in the Norwegian third and second division, missing its aim, to earn promotion to the first division, narrowly in 2007.
was the best team for most of the 1990s, but there was little backing to be found from other clubs in the region. In late 1995 there were talks about a merger, this time between the football branches of Refstad-Veitvet IL
, Linderud IL and possibly Årvoll IL
and Hasle-Løren IL
.
In 2002 the talks became more concrete. By that time Grei and Årvoll both had recently been relegateed from the Second to the Third Division. These clubs first made plans together with Grorud IL
, Vestli IL
and Furuset IF
. When the umbrella team Groruddalen BK was finally founded, Høybråten og Stovner IL
had also joined. The foundation date was 22 September 2002. Rommen SK
and Romsås IL later joined the cooperation.
within five years. In its first active season, 2003, Groruddalen BK won their Third Division group with flying colors. The team had a goal difference of 122–20, and won 20 of 22 matches. They however succumbed to Drøbak/Frogn IL
in the promotion playoff. In 2004 they won the Third Division group again, but this time they beat Jevnaker IF
in the promotion playoff.
In the 2005 Norwegian Second Division
, Groruddalen ended in sixth place, one place behind Drøbak/Frogn. In the 2006 Norwegian Second Division they finished second, eight points behind Skeid
. They scored 73 goals in 26 games, best in their group. In the 2007 Norwegian Second Division they finished third. Christian Torbjørnsen became joint top goalscorer in the entire Second Division (four groups) in 2007 with 26 goals, and in 2006 he became joint runner-up with 23 goals.
into theirs, but Oslo City rejected. Groruddalen had no grounds for existence as a Third Division club, both because of finances, and because the cooperating parts (Grei, Grorud, Vestli, Furuset, Høybråten og Stovner, Rommen and Romsås) were not backing the club enough. For instance, Grorud signalized that in a 2009 Third Division season, Groruddalen would be their direct competitor. Groruddalen eventually pulled their team, and ceased to exist.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
association football club from Groruddalen, Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
.
The club came into existence through the merger of a number of local clubs in 2002, but went defunct again in 2008, after some of those clubs withdrew their backing. The clubs short existence was spent in the Norwegian third and second division, missing its aim, to earn promotion to the first division, narrowly in 2007.
Founding
The valley of Groruddalen had a long history of competition between the many football teams. SF GreiSF Grei
SF Grei is a Norwegian sports club from Rødtvet, Oslo. It currently has sections for association football, floorball, gymnastics and skiing....
was the best team for most of the 1990s, but there was little backing to be found from other clubs in the region. In late 1995 there were talks about a merger, this time between the football branches of Refstad-Veitvet IL
Refstad-Veitvet IL
Refstad-Veitvet Idrettslag was a Norwegian sports club from Oslo.It was founded in 1985 as a merger between Refstad IL and Veitvet IL . It was especially known for its team handball section. Refstad IL had won several handball championships for men between 1974 and 1979. The club later went defunct...
, Linderud IL and possibly Årvoll IL
Årvoll IL
Årvoll Idrettslag is a Norwegian sports club from Årvoll, Bjerke, Oslo. It has sections for association football, team handball, volleyball, orienteering and Nordic skiing....
and Hasle-Løren IL
Hasle-Løren IL
Hasle-Løren Idrettslag is a Norwegian sports club from the neighborhoods Hasle and Løren in Oslo. It was founded in 1911, and has sections for association football, ice hockey, skiing and cycling.-Ice hockey:...
.
In 2002 the talks became more concrete. By that time Grei and Årvoll both had recently been relegateed from the Second to the Third Division. These clubs first made plans together with Grorud IL
Grorud IL
Grorud Idrettslag is a Norwegian sports club from Grorud borough, Oslo. It has sections for association football, skiing, gymnastics and tennis.-General history:...
, Vestli IL
Vestli IL
Vestli Idrettslag is a Norwegian sports club from Stovner borough, Oslo. It has sections for association football, team handball and tennis.It was founded on 19 October 1972. The club colors are green and white....
and Furuset IF
Furuset IF
Furuset Idrettsforening is a Norwegian multi-sports club from Furuset in Oslo. It has sections for football, handball, ice hockey and tennis....
. When the umbrella team Groruddalen BK was finally founded, Høybråten og Stovner IL
Høybråten og Stovner IL
Høybråten og Stovner Idrettslag is a Norwegian sports club from Stovner borough, Oslo. It has sections for association football, team handball, track and field, orienteering, skiing, gymnastics and floorball....
had also joined. The foundation date was 22 September 2002. Rommen SK
Rommen SK
Rommen Sportsklubb is a Norwegian sports club from Stovner borough, Oslo. It has sections for association football and team handball.It was founded on 24 November 1997 as a merger between Smedstua IL and Stovnerkameratene BK. It counts the founding date of Smedstua, 20 August 1970, as its founding...
and Romsås IL later joined the cooperation.
Sporting success
The club's goal was to be in the First DivisionAdeccoligaen
The Norwegian First Division is the second highest division of the Norwegian football league system. Since 2005, the official name of the league has been Adeccoligaen....
within five years. In its first active season, 2003, Groruddalen BK won their Third Division group with flying colors. The team had a goal difference of 122–20, and won 20 of 22 matches. They however succumbed to Drøbak/Frogn IL
Drøbak/Frogn IL
Drøbak/Frogn Idrettslag, DFI, is a Norwegian sports club from Drøbak. It has sections for association football, badminton, basketball, table tennis, floorball, team handball, orienteering, gymnastics, cycling, alpine skiing and Nordic skiing....
in the promotion playoff. In 2004 they won the Third Division group again, but this time they beat Jevnaker IF
Jevnaker IF
Jevnaker Idrettsforening is a Norwegian sports club from Jevnaker. It has sections for association football, speed skating, gymnastics and skiing....
in the promotion playoff.
In the 2005 Norwegian Second Division
2005 Norwegian Second Division
The 2005 season of the 2. divisjon, the third highest football league for men in Norway.26 games were played in 4 groups, with 3 points given for wins and 1 for draws. Sarpsborg Sparta, Manglerud Star, Haugesund and Tromsdalen were promoted to the First Division. Number twelve, thirteen and...
, Groruddalen ended in sixth place, one place behind Drøbak/Frogn. In the 2006 Norwegian Second Division they finished second, eight points behind Skeid
Skeid Fotball
Skeid Fotball is a Norwegian football club and is located in the capital Oslo. Its current home field is Bislett. In past decades it has gained a reputation as a talent factory for the larger clubs in Norwegian football, and it has produced several players for the national team such as Daniel...
. They scored 73 goals in 26 games, best in their group. In the 2007 Norwegian Second Division they finished third. Christian Torbjørnsen became joint top goalscorer in the entire Second Division (four groups) in 2007 with 26 goals, and in 2006 he became joint runner-up with 23 goals.
Downfall
They then lost their coach Rolf Teigen and assistant coach Mathias Haugaasen to Bryne FK after the 2007 season, and nearly their entire roster. By November 2007, only two players from the 2007 season were left. They had a hopeless 2008 Norwegian Second Division season, and ended in last place with only eight points. After the 2008 season it was over. Groruddalen BK tried to incorporate the squad of the club Oslo City FCOslo City FC
Oslo City FC is a sports club in Oslo, which was founded in 1987. The club has a football team in the Norwegian Third Division. The club was relegated from the Second Division in 2010, finished 14th and last in its group, and will be playing in the Third Division in 2011...
into theirs, but Oslo City rejected. Groruddalen had no grounds for existence as a Third Division club, both because of finances, and because the cooperating parts (Grei, Grorud, Vestli, Furuset, Høybråten og Stovner, Rommen and Romsås) were not backing the club enough. For instance, Grorud signalized that in a 2009 Third Division season, Groruddalen would be their direct competitor. Groruddalen eventually pulled their team, and ceased to exist.