 | ||||
| Full name | Kolding Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Ørnene (The Eagles) | |||
| Short name | KFC | |||
| Founded | 2002 | |||
| Dissolved | 2013 | |||
| Ground | Kolding Stadion | |||
| Capacity | 10,000 | |||
| ||||
Kolding FC was a Danish football club based in Kolding, a merger of two older football clubs. On 11 November 2006, the club received permission from the Danish FA to sign contracts. Before that, the club was the highest ranked amateur club in Denmark. In 2011 Kolding FC merged with Vejle Boldklub, but the merger came to an end again in 2013, without Kolding FC being reestablished.
KFC's relatively short history started with a merger between the two oldest football clubs from Kolding, Kolding IF and Kolding Boldklub, which was put into effect on 1 January 2002 after a period of intense negotiations.
In 2002–03, their first complete season as Kolding FC, the club, that had just been relegated from the 1. Division, finished the season in the middle of the table in the 2. Division, placed ninth among sixteen teams. In 2003–04, the team was just one point away from promotion back to the 1. Division, but missed the opportunity after losing to Dalum and Næstved.
Finally, in 2004–05, the club topped the 2. Division, with an impressive 23 wins, 7 losses, no ties, and gained promotion back into 1. Division.
In the winter break in the 2005–06-season, the team was 3rd, and had greatly exceeded their own expectations of reaching the top 11.[1] They needed just 2 points to reach the 2nd place, which granted promotion to the Superliga. However, the team did not make it. Five matches before the season ending, the expectations were adjusted to the top-5, but four losses and a tie destroyed that. The team ended 6th, after a very unstable summer-season.
On 6 March 2007, the club announced that Nike was to give a five-year sponsorship to KFC. The chairman, Jens Haugaard, called the deal "extremely big for a 1st division club".[2] The sponsorship has been said to be worth "more than DKK 3 million"[3] and "DKK 5 million".[4] The deal consists of the following components:
Kolding FC currently play their home matches on Kolding Stadion, built in 1931.[5] A modernization of the stadium has been done, including a VIP section, but further efforts have been halted because of the municipality not allowing it. Therefore, a new stadium is planned, either near the sports centre Kolding Hallen or near the planned site for the new Kolding Superdome.[6]
The crest (in round shape) was introduced at the club's foundation in 2002. The eagle was also pictured – in a larger format – on the shirts of the club at that time. This crest was designed by a local advertising agency, Schultz & Sørensen.
The current crest has a more badge-like shape than the previous one. With the crest change came new jerseys as well – the classic Kolding blue/white-uniform was traded for a more distinctive maroon/black approach.
With the 2007 Nike sponsorship, the shorts' colour was switched to white.
KFC's official fan club is called Kolding FC Support.
In terms of support, the club faces competition from the local handball-club, KIF Kolding, who have been in the top of Danish handball for several years.
| Season | League performance | Cup performance | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | ||
| 10–11: Danish 1st division | #14/16 | 30 | 30 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 38 | 53 | −15 | 10–11: Eliminated in the 2nd round by Viby IF, 0–0 aet, 2–3 (pen.) |
| 09-10: Danish 1st division | #13/16 | 31 | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 41 | 59 | −18 | 09-10: Eliminated in the 2nd round by Hobro, 1–2 |
| 08-09: Danish 1st division | #12/16 | 36 | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 45 | 59 | −14 | 08-09: Eliminated in the 1st round by SønderjyskE, 1–2 |
| 07-08: Danish 1st division | #7/16 | 40 | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 53 | 47 | +6 | 07-08: Eliminated in the 4th round by Næstved BK, 2–5 |
| 06-07: Danish 1st division | #5/16 | 49 | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 58 | 53 | +5 | 06-07: Eliminated in the 4th round by Lyngby BK, 1–5 |
| 05-06: Danish 1st division | #6/16 | 46 | 30 | 14 | 4 | 12 | 50 | 50 | ±0 | 05-06: Eliminated in the 5th round by Odense BK, 1–1 AET (4–5 PSO) |
| 04-05: Danish 2nd division | #1/16 | 69 | 30 | 23 | 0 | 7 | 63 | 30 | +23 | 04-05: Eliminated in the 2nd round by Aarhus Fremad, 2–4 |
| 03-04: Danish 2nd division | #4/16 | 52 | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 54 | 41 | +13 | 03-04: Eliminated in the 2nd round by Skive IK, 1–3 |
| 02-03: Danish 2nd division | #9/16 | 37 | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 40 | 52 | −12 | 02-03: Eliminated in the 4th round by Silkeborg IF, 0–4 |
Green denotes promotion, red denotes relegation.
