Myresjö/Vetlanda FK is a Swedish football club located in Myresjö in Vetlanda Municipality, Jönköping County.
Background
Myresjö Idrottsförening were founded in 1943 with the founding members seeking club participation in the sports of orienteering, running, skiing, athletics, football and bandy. However, only football and skiing have had a longer life. Ice hockey and table tennis were introduced in the 1950s but both ended in the late 60s.
Over the last 50 years Myresjö IF has participated mainly in the upper and middle divisions of the Swedish football league system. In their early days Myresjö IF's football team resided in the lower divisions. In 1959 the team were in Division 7 and began to progress up the league. In 1968 they won Division 4 and took the step up to Division 3. 1977 the team won its Division 3 section in superior style, but missed out on promotion by losing in the Division 2 qualification playoffs. However, in 1981 they were successful in progressing to Division 2 Södra, which was at that time the second tier of the Swedish football. The club played at this level for 12 of the next 16 seasons, their best season being in 1987 when they finished 4th in Division 1 Södra.
Since their foundation Myresjö IF has participated mainly in the upper and middle divisions of the Swedish football league system. The club currently plays in Division 3 Nordöstra Götaland which is the fifth tier of Swedish football. They play their home matches at the Myrvalla in Myresjö.
Their home ground was inaugurated in 1962 with a gravel training pitch added in 1967 and a grass training pitch in 1977. In 1978 the name Myrvalla was adopted. The clubhouse was completed in Spring 1982 in time for the club's premiere in Division 2 Södra. The main stand was opened on 28 July 1987 in a match against Örgryte IS.
Many leading Swedish clubs played at Myrvalla over the years in league or cup matches. These include Halmstad BK, Malmö FF, Helsingborgs IF, IF Elfsborg and Kalmar FF to name a few. In the 1980s British teams – Queens Park Rangers F.C., Rangers and Nottingham Forest – played friendlies at Myrvalla.
In early 2013, Myresjö IF merged with Vetlanda FF and Bäckseda IF to create the club Myresjö/Vetlanda FK. Myresjö/Vetlanda FK are affiliated to Smålands Fotbollförbund. The club's best season in the Svenska Cupen was in 1991 when they reached the semi-final.
Season to season SeasonLevelDivisionSectionPositionMovements1964Tier 4 Division 4 Småland Nordöstra8th1965Tier 4 Division 4 Småland Nordvästra6th1966Tier 4 Division 4 Småland Nordöstra2nd1967Tier 4 Division 4 Småland Nordöstra3rd1968Tier 4 Division 4Småland Sydöstra1stPromoted1969Tier 3Division 3Mellersta Götaland2nd1970Tier 3Division 3Sydöstra Götaland3rd1971Tier 3Division 3Mellersta Götaland4th1972Tier 3Division 3Mellersta Götaland7th1973Tier 3Division 3Mellersta Götaland6th1974Tier 3Division 3Mellersta Götaland9th1975Tier 3Division 3Mellersta Götaland3rd1976Tier 3Division 3Mellersta Götaland2nd1977Tier 3Division 3Mellersta Götaland1stPromotion Playoffs1978Tier 3Division 3Nordöstra Götaland7th1979Tier 3Division 3Nordöstra Götaland3rd1980Tier 3Division 3Nordöstra Götaland3rd1981Tier 3Division 3Nordöstra Götaland1stPromoted1982Tier 2Division 2Södra 10th 1983Tier 2Division 2Södra 8th 1984Tier 2Division 2Södra 11th1985Tier 2Division 2Södra 11th1986Tier 2Division 2Södra 10th1987Tier 2Division 1Södra 4th 1988Tier 2Division 1Södra 13th Relegated1989Tier 3Division 2Södra6th1990Tier 3Division 2Södra1stPromoted1991Tier 2Division 1Södra 6th Vårserier (Spring Series)1991Tier 2Division 1Höstettan Västra 3rdHöstserier (Autumn Series)1992Tier 2Division 1Västra 6th Vårserier (Spring Series)1992Tier 2Division 1Höstettan Södra 5thHöstserier (Autumn Series)1993Tier 2Division 1Södra 11thRelegation Playoffs – Relegated1994Tier 3Division 2Östra Götaland1stPromoted1995Tier 2Division 1Södra 12thRelegated1996Tier 3Division 2Östra Götaland1stPromoted1997Tier 2Division 1Södra 12thRelegated1998Tier 3Division 2Östra Götaland2ndPromotion Playoffs1999Tier 3Division 2Östra Götaland7th2000Tier 3Division 2Östra Götaland2nd2001Tier 3Division 2Östra Götaland9th2002Tier 3Division 2Östra Götaland6th2003Tier 3Division 2Östra Götaland4th2004Tier 3Division 2Östra Götaland5th2005Tier 3Division 2Mellersta Götaland5thPlayoffs2006*Tier 3Division 1Södra12thRelegated2007Tier 4 Division 2Mellersta Götaland3rd2008Tier 4 Division 2Östra Götaland2nd2009Tier 4 Division 2Mellersta Götaland10thRelegation Playoffs – Relegated2010Tier 5 Division 3 Nordöstra Götaland4th2011Tier 5 Division 3 Nordöstra Götaland2ndPromotion Playoffs – Promoted2012Tier 4 Division 2Östra Götaland12thRelegated2013Tier 5 Division 3Sydöstra Götaland3rdAs Myresjö/Vetlanda FK2014Tier 5 Division 3Nordöstra Götaland2nd * League restructuring in 2006 resulted in a new division being created at Tier 3 and subsequent divisions dropping a level.
Attendances
In recent seasons Myresjö IF have had the following average attendances:
SeasonAverage attendanceDivision / SectionLevel2001283 Div 2 Östra Götaland Tier 32002266 Div 2 Östra Götaland Tier 32003244 Div 2 Östra Götaland Tier 32004302 Div 2 Östra Götaland Tier 32005304 Div 2 Mellersta Götaland Tier 32006241 Div 1 Södra Tier 32007239 Div 2 Mellersta Götaland Tier 42008190 Div 2 Östra Götaland Tier 42009225 Div 2 Mellersta Götaland Tier 42010151 Div 3 Nordöstra Götaland Tier 52011197 Div 3 Nordöstra Götaland Tier 5 * Attendances are provided in the Publikliga sections of the Svenska Fotbollförbundet website and European Football Statistics website.
The attendance record for Myresjö IF was set in 1988 when 3,099 spectators attended the match against Halmstad BK.
Footnotes
External links Myresjö/Vetlanda FK – Official website Myresjö IF on Facebook