Dalkurd Fotbollsförening, commonly known as Dalkurd FF or simply Dalkurd (Swedish pronunciation:[²dɑːlkɵrd]) is a Swedish football club based in Uppsala.[1] The club play in the Allsvenskan, which is the top tier of football in the country. On 26 September 2004, the club was originally founded by members of the Kurdish diaspora in Borlänge, Dalarna.
On 24 November 2017, Dalkurd chose to move their senior team operations to Uppsala, some 140 kilometers southeast of Borlänge, where they will play at the new ground Nya Studenternas IP following its opening in 2020.[1] In the 2018 season, however, Dalkurd will play their home games at Gavlevallen in Gävle, some 110 kilometers north of Uppsala (and roughly 110 kilometers east of Borlänge).[2] Where the club will play in 2019 is not decided. Dalkurd FF are affiliated with Upplands Fotbollförbund.[3]
History
The club was formed in Borlänge in 2004 by a group of Kurds. It started as a social project to contribute to the youth of Borlänge by offering activities for them. IK Brage helped financing the project.[4][5] In the first season the squad consisted of an average age of 17 years. Beside contributing to the youngsters, the chairman, Ramazan Kizil, had a high expectation from the football players and an ultimate goal: he wanted to take Dalkurd to the professional levels of the Swedish league.[6] Dalkurd won every division they participated in from their very first season in 2005 to 2009. By this uncommon success they got a lot of media attention, both in Sweden and in other countries.
The club narrowly avoided catastrophe when travelling home from Spain in March 2015. The club had initially intended to fly from Barcelona to Düsseldorf on Germanwings Flight 9525, but changed their booking at the last minute when they decided the layover in Germany would be too long.[7] Flight 4U 9525 crashed into the French Alps on March 24, killing everyone on board.
In 2010, the official supporter club from Västerås for Dalkurd FF with the name "Roj Fans" was founded. They are an independent non-profit making organisation.
Crest and colours
The club plays in home white shirts, shorts and socks. The crest consist of a round circle with the flag of Kurdistan as well as two Dalecarlian horses. "Dal" and "Kurd FF" is spelled out in white letters on the top and bottom of the crest, as well as the year 2004.
Sweden
