History: Hammarby
Hammarby were originally founded in 1889 as the Hammarby Rowing Club (Hammarby Roddförening) but this was changed to their present name on 7 March 1897.
Run by workers
With a number of sports clubs being formed at the end of the 19th century in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, Hammarby – a club founded and run by workers – was immediately in stark contrast to AIK Solna, who catered for a much more 'elevated' membership.
Football move
In 1915, with fellow capital clubs AIK and Djurgĺrdens IF FF already establishing themselves as a leading force in Swedish football, Hammarby belated took up the game after joining forces with two other sides, Kara SK and Johanneshovs IF.
Brief stay
When the Swedish Allsvenskan was started up in 1924, Hammarby found themselves – albeit very briefly – in the top division. However, they spent most of the next 50 years in the lower leagues with only occasional forays into the top flight, most notably between 1959 and 1963. The club nevertheless gained a reputation for playing good football.
Cup finals
Indeed, it was not until 1970 after Hammarby again won promotion that they began to gain some momentum, this time managing in the process to establish themselves in the Allsvenskan. Then, as the 1970s and 1980s wore on, the team began to play extremely attractively, compared to Brazilian 'samba' football for its flair. They reached the Swedish Cup final in both 1977 and 1983 losing both 1-0 to Östers IF and IFK Göteborg espectively.
Struggle for consistency
However, Hammarby did not earn any further reward and it gradually faded away until in 1988 the club were relegated from the Allsvenskan again. The 1990s saw the team win two further promotions and suffer two more relegations as increasing financial difficulties saw them struggle to find any consistency. To make things worse their city rivals AIK were becoming stronger and stronger.
Amazing champions
Finally, in 1998, Hammarby made it back into the top flight and this time the team branded 'eternal losers' amazed everybody firstly, by staying there, and secondly, by winning the Allsvenskan for the first time in 2001.
European adventures
Hammarby had made their first two outings in European competition in 1983 and 1985 and make their UEFA Champions League qualifying debut in 2002/03, losing 5-1 on aggregate to FK Partizan in the second qualifying round.
2001: Swedish champions. Qualified for 2002/03 UEFA Champions League.
2002: Ninth in Swedish league.
Hajrá BAJEN!
