Sandnes Ulf
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| Full name | Sandnes Ulf | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Ulf Ulvane (The Wolves) Di lyseblå (The Light Blues) |
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| Founded | 1 June 1911, as Ulf | ||
| Ground | Sandnes Idrettspark, Sandnes (Capacity: 3,850 (2260 seats)) |
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| Chairman | Terje Hopen | ||
| Manager | Asle Andersen | ||
| League | Tippeligaen | ||
| 2011 | Adeccoligaen, 2nd (promoted) | ||
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Sandnes Ulf is a Norwegian football club from Sandnes, Rogaland. They currently play in the Tippeligaen, the highest division in the Norwegian football league system. Sandnes Ulf is the biggest football club in Sandnes, but has traditionally been in the shadow of regional greats Viking FK and Bryne FK. They play their home matches at Sandnes Idrettspark. The promotion to the Norwegian First Division in 2007 sparked renewed enthusiasm around the club, and their stadium has recently undergone a major re-construction.
The club was relegated again from the Norwegian First Division at the end of the 2008 season, but re-promoted after the 2009 season. They finished the 2010 season in a relegation spot, but were saved by the relegation of Follo FK, who was demoted from the league due to an administrative error.
On October, 23, 2011 the club reached the promotion to the Norwegian Premier League and will play the 2012 season at the highest level of the Norwegian football league.
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[edit] Formation
The club was founded 1 June 1911 as Ulf. They later became known as Ulf-Sandnes.
After a merger with the now-defunct Sandnes FK in 2004, the club got its current name, Sandnes Ulf. Sandnes FK was founded in 1997 as an umbrella club for 11 teams in the Sandnes district, and took over Ulf-Sandnes' place in the Norwegian league system. Ulf-Sandnes, now a feeder club to Sandnes FK, started the 1998 season in the Norwegian Sixth Division, but quickly started moving up the league system. By 2001, Ulf-Sandnes was back in the Norwegian Third Division. At the same time, Sandnes FK was struggling financially, and had failed to climb any higher than the Norwegian Second Division. A merger between Sandnes FK and the original Ulf-Sandnes was proposed in 2003.[1] Formally, this went about as an incorporation of Sandnes FK on 9 February 2004 and a name change on 10 February. Ulf-Sandnes took over Sandnes FK's spot in the Norwegian Second Division under the new name, Sandnes Ulf. The club adopted the original Ulf-Sandnes colors, Sky blue and White.[2][3] The club started the 2004 season with nine players from Sandnes FK (plus one who had been loaned out to Viking) and five players from Ulf-Sandnes, as well as some new players. Two of the best players left for Bryne FK.[4] Kjetil Thulin scored the first two league goals after the merger.[5]
[edit] History
The club's only spell in the Norwegian top division (named Norgesserien at that time) lasted from 1937 to 1940. The 1939/1940 season was cancelled because of World War II, and Sandnes Ulf did not participate when the league started again in 1947. They had spells on the second highest level during the 1950s, 60s and 70s, but have mostly been playing at level three or four in recent history.
One of the club's biggest matches in recent history was the friendly against Leeds United on 17 July 2006. This match was a great opportunity for the players to show their best to the people of Sandnes, who mainly support the regional top teams Viking FK and Bryne FK. Leeds won the match 2-1. Kjetil Norland scored an early goal for Sandnes Ulf, but Leeds eventually won the match after goals by Eirik Bakke and Robbie Blake.
In 2007, Sandnes Ulf won promotion to Adeccoligaen, the second highest division in the Norwegian football league system. They won their Second Division group three points ahead of Stavanger IF. This sparked renewed interest in the club, with increased press coverage and attendances at Sandnes Idrettspark.
Prior to the 2008 season, the signings of Paul Oyuga and Artur Kotenko brought even more experience from professional football to the club.
One of the teams highest-profile players at that time was Asle Andersen, who signed for the club in March 2006. Andersen, who had experience on the two highest levels, became a central player for the club. He is currently the club's manager.
The club finished the 2010 Norwegian First Division Season at a relegation spot. However, Follo FK, a team which had managed to avoid relegation, was forced to withdraw from the league because of financial difficulties, and Sandnes Ulf kept its place in the division.
On October 23, 2011, one hundred years after its formation and one year after it was supposed to be relegated from the Norwegian First Division, Sandnes Ulf gained promotion to the Norwegian Premier League. Until that date, Sandnes had been the only city amongst the 10 largest towns and cities in Norway which had not had a team in the top flight after World War Two.
[edit] Recent history
("Ulf-Sandnes" until, and including, 2003)
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Season Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Cup Notes 2001 D2/2 12 26 9 4 13 47 56 31 1st round Relegated to 3. Division 2002 D3/13 6 22 10 3 9 42 40 33 2003 D3/13 1 22 18 2 2 61 25 56 1st round Promoted to 2. Division 2004 D2/3 8 26 10 4 12 38 47 34 2nd round 2005 D2/3 4 26 11 9 6 57 43 42 2nd round 2006 D2/3 2 26 15 7 4 50 32 52 1st round 2007 D2/3 1 26 17 4 5 66 30 55 1st round Promoted to Adeccoligaen 2008 AL 15 30 5 10 15 36 55 25 3rd round Relegated to 2. Division 2009 D2/3 1 26 19 4 3 88 28 61 2nd round Promoted to Adeccoligaen 2010 AL 13 28 8 7 13 33 40 31 3rd round Escaped relegation due to the demotion of Follo FK for financial reasons 2011 AL 2 30 18 2 10 58 32 56 3rd round Promoted to Tippeligaen
[edit] Stadium
Sandnes Ulf currently play their home matches at Sandnes Idrettspark. Until recently, the stadium failed to meet requirements for hosting football matches at the two highest levels in Norway. The club was playing there on a special permit from the Football Association of Norway.
In 2008, after gaining promotion to the Norwegian First Division, the club evaluated the possibility of building a new stadium. A number of possible sites were proposed.[7]
Since then, Sandnes Idrettspark has been upgraded with a new spectator stand and improved facilities for players and match officials. It now meets the requirement of the Football Association of Norway.
[edit] Current squad
As of January 11, 2012 Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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For season transfers, see transfers winter 2011–12.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Sandnes Ulf - Historikk
- ^ Lindboe, Frode S. (28 January 2004). "Sju spillere fra Ulf-Sandnes" (in Norwegian). Stavanger Aftenblad: p. 22.
- ^ Lindboe, Frode S. (12 February 2004). "Draktene blir lyseblå" (in Norwegian). Stavanger Aftenblad: p. 22.
- ^ "Sandnes Ulf" (in Norwegian). Stavanger Aftenblad: p. 31. 8 April 2004.
- ^ Hagen, Svein (19 April 2004). "Vraket i Viking, historisk for Ulf" (in Norwegian). Stavanger Aftenblad: p. 21.
- ^ "Norsk & Internasjonal Fotballstatistikk" (in Norwegian). http://www.nifs.no.
- ^ Hvor vil du ha stadion i Sandnes?
[edit] External links
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