Background
Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Eskilstuna, which is the club's full name, were founded on the 9th September 1897 and have a long rivalry with Eskilstuna City FK. Historically IFK Eskilstuna have the stronger record having spent 14 seasons in the Allsvenskan but currently Eskilstuna City FK play in a higher division. In 1910, IFK participated in the first Svenska Serien along with IFK Göteborg, Örgryte IS, AIK and IFK Norrköping. Their first championship final match took place in 1921 when IFK defeated IK Sleipner 2–1 at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium before 11,695 spectators. They competed in another championship final match in 1923, this time going down 5–1 to AIK.
IFK competed in the very first Allsvenskan season in 1924/25 and played a further 13 seasons in the Allsvenskan from 1924/25-1928/29, 1930/31-1935/36, 1942/43, 1957/58 and 1964. Their best season was in 1931/32 when they finished in fifth place. The marathon table of Allsvenskan teams shows IFK in 23rd position, their last season at the highest level being in 1964.
IFK reached the Allsvenskan qualifying stage in 1981 after winning Division 2 Norra in fine style by pipping Orebro SK to the top position. However, IFK failed to win the play-offs against Kalmar FF to progress to the higher level. The 1987 season proved another near miss when IFK finished in second place to second place in Division I Norra to Djurgarden. In 1988 history was repeated, this time IFK finishing second to Orebro SK.
In 1992 IFK were relegated from Division 1 and subsequently have competed in the middle divisions of the Swedish football league system. The club currently plays in Division 3 Västra Svealand which is the fifth tier of Swedish football. They play their home matches at the Tunavallen in Eskilstuna.
In recent years the club ran into financial problems building up large debts to a number of clubs around the Södermanland area. In November 2007 the IFK reached an agreement, called Eskilstuna Elitfotboll, with local rivals Eskilstuna City FK. The agreement stipulates that the City shall constitute the city's top team with a view to progressing to the Allsvenskan while IFK will play a development role. The agreement covers a three-year period and it must then be re-negotiated and renewed every two years. In terms of the respective clubs' playing history, the contractual implications seem a little surprising given IFK’s stronger record. However, City now play in Division 2 and they are more solid financially than IFK.
IFK Eskilstuna are affiliated to the Södermanlands Fotbollförbund. The club have an active youth section. In 1970 and 1985 the junior team won the Swedish Junior Championship. Famous footballers who have played for IFK Eskilstuna include Kenneth Andersson and Sebastian Larsson.
Read more about this topic: IFK Eskilstuna
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