Boldklubben Frem (also known as Frem, BK Frem or BK Frem Copenhagen) is a Danish sports club based in the Valby-Sydhavnen area of Copenhagen. It is best known for its semi-professional football team and its youth academy. Since its foundation in 1886, Frem has won the Danish Championships six times and the Danish Cup twice. Until bankruptcy in 1993, Frem had played in the top division in all but six seasons. After the bankruptcy the club fought its way back to the top of Danish football, but in 2010 it went bankrupt again and was demoted to the Copenhagen Series—the fifth tier in the Danish league system. After two consecutive promotions, the club now participates in the Danish 3rd Division, the fourth tier.
The club also has a youth and amateur football branch, as well as a cricket team. It is also involved in the running of the KIES sports boarding school.
History
Early years
BK Frem were founded as Fremskridtsklubbens Cricketklub on 17 July 1886 by a group of seditious young men from the then government hostile Venstre Reform Party, as a cloak for political activities.Following an assassination attempt on Council President Estrup in the fall of 1885 restrictions on political freedom had been initiated. In 1887 football was introduced and the name was changed to Boldklubben Frem, stiftet af Fremskridtsklubben (lit. Danish: The Ball Club Forward, founded by the Progress Club).
In the first two years of the life of the club, only two sports matches were played, but when the Danish Football Association introduced a football tournament in 1889, the club was invited to participate, and in 1890 Frem became the first Danish club to beat KB in a football match. In 1902 Frem became unofficial Danish champions when they won the league played under the auspices of the Danish FA. This was the first ever senior title won by the club.
In 1905, the club moved to its own field at Enghavevej, Vesterbro, obtaining its distinct working class profile. To this day, both the Social Democrats and the Union of Metalworkers holds Frem sponsorships. In 1912, Frem joined the representative team Stævnet which arranged lucrative exhibition matches and played a decisive role in Danish football politics.
Palmy days In the years 1923–1944, Frem won six Danish Championships.
Division Yo-Yoing Since 1983 Frem had been battling economically, and in 1993 saw themselves demoted to the Danmarksserien following a bankruptcy, which was due to a debt of DKK 8,500,000 and allegations of fraud.Dennis Drejer: Tilbage til FREM-tiden, Berlingske Tidende, 12 November 1995, pp. 24,
Following a short but expensive spell in the Superliga in 2003–2004, Frem were once again on the verge of bankruptcy with a debt of DKK 10,000,000.Andreas Kraul: 'Fodbold: Frem kører videre', Dagbladet Politiken, 15 December 2004, section 2, pp. 10,
In 2010, after years of uncertain economy, the club once again went bankrupt and was demoted to the Copenhagen Series.Hans-Henrik Hare: 'Så er det slut: Frem konkurs!', Ekstra Bladet, 28 June 2010
Supporters Frem's official supportergroup is called "BK Frem Support". It is Denmark's oldest supporters club, formed in 1986. Frem fans are especially known for unconditional love and support. Even when demoted to the fifth tier, attendances almost didn't drop.
Home ground
Frem play their home matches at the modest and somewhat worn-down, municipality-owned Valby Idrætspark.
In the early years, Frem were located on Østerbro in Copenhagen, playing its matches at Blegdamsfælleden, alongside its main rivals in the early years; AB and KB. In 1905 Frem moved to its own field at Enghavevej, Vesterbro. Being a field-owning club gave Frem the advantage of entry fees. Its location however lead to some muttering from football fans who found it to be too far out of town.
In 1942, Frem moved to Valby Idrætspark, where the current main stand was erected in 1965. Throughout the years many matches had been played at Idrætsparken. It is unclear when this tradition was discontinued.
During the 2000s, there were several plans for a new stadium, but they were never realized.
In 2006 the Copenhagen Municipality predicted that the main stand of the current Valby Idrætspark would last another 5–10 years. As of April 2007 major investments in the current stadium are put on hold as a decision on the construction of a new stadium is being awaited. A final decision is expected was April 2008.
Hans Hermansen, then managing director of BK Frem, has indicated that according to the plan, the construction of a new stadium should commence no later than 2010. However, the municipality estimated 2012. Frem suggested that it might be completed by 2016.
In January 2016 the municipality ordered a renovation of the existing stadium, worth 3 mio €, thus cancelling plans for a new stadium in the near future. The renovation is due ultimo 2017.
Sponsorships After Frem's bankruptcy in summer 2010, the club were helped by Danish brewery giant Carlsberg. Being from the same city they signed on as a main sponsor, because they saw it as a chance to help the fellow Valby-based brand recover. In July 2013 an extension for three years was announced. On 11 June 2016 it was extended for another three years.
In June 2015 Frem announced they would switch back from Diadora to their old shirt partner, Hummel, starting from the 2015–2016 season.
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors PeriodKit manufacturerShirt sponsor1976–1977AdidasGaJol1978HummelLee Cooper1979Individual1980–1983Mamiya Camera1984SJL Banken1985–1986Bilka1987NikeNordania1988–1989Adidas1990KTAS1990-1991Zürich Forsikring1992–1994Alka1995–1998BeltonaStøvsuger Banden1998–2002Hummel20023H Udlejning2003–2005Altima2005–2007Ramirent2007–2010GB2010–2013Carlsberg2013–2015Diadora2015–2020Hummel2015– Craft
Honours
Danish Champions Winners (6): 1922–23, 1930–31, 1932–33, 1935–36, 1940–41, 1943–44 Runner-up (9): 1929–30, 1934–35, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1947–48, 1958, 1966, 1967, 1976 3rd placed (6): 1933–34, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1968, 1971, 1991–92 Danish Cup Winners (2): 1955–56, 1977–78 Runner-up (3): 1968–69, 1970–71, 1980–81 Unofficial Danish Champions Winners (1): 1901–02 Runner-up (3): 1898–99, 1900–01, 1902–03 Copenhagen Champions Winners (3): 1903–04, 1923, 1933 Runner-up (8): 1906, 1908, 1910, 1911, 1918, 1922, 1929, 1937 KBUs Pokalturnering Winners (6): 1925, 1927, 1938, 1940, 1943, 1946 Runner-up (9): 1913, 1918, 1919, 1922, 1924, 1930, 1934, 1939, 1944 Baneklubberne Cup Winners (1): 1911 UEFA Intertoto Cup Winners (2): 1969, 1977
Current squad 1. Hold, bkfrem.dk, 23 September 2026
Club officials
Chairman: Jon Herstad Head Coach: Marc Thevis Assistant Coach: Andreas Hermansen Goalkeeping Coach: Kasper Juhl Jensen Fitness Coach: Mark Olsson Equipment Manager : Sven Kurzweg U19 Team Coach: Jamaa Aboualou U17 Team Coach: Anders Broløs U16 Team Coach: Bülent Ergüc U15 Team Coach: Jamal Aztout U14 Team Coach: Dzevdet Sainoski U13 Team Coach: Ali Mahmoud U12 Team Coach: Mickey Spens U11 Team Coach: Martin Gammelgaard
Head coach history NameNationalityFromToHonoursCommentsRefs 26 January 2026current Marc Thevis er ny cheftræner i FREM BK Frem, 26 January 2026 17 January 202517 January 2026 Daniel ‘Elly’ Pedersen er ny cheftræner i Boldklubben FREM BK Frem, 17 January 2025FREM siger farvel til Daniel Elly Pedersen BK Frem, 17 January 2026 17 June 202319 November 2024 Ny cheftræner i Boldklubben FREM BK Frem, 17 June 2023Henrik Gundersen stopper i Boldklubben FREM BK Frem, 19 November 2024 2 December 20226 June 2023Ny cheftræner i Boldklubben FREM BK Frem, 2 December 2022Christoffer Balle rykker op i det sportslige udvalg BK Frem, 6 June 2023 27 January 202021 November 2022Cheftræner Allan Ravn og Boldklubben FREM ophæver samarbejdet BK Frem, 27 January 2020Træner og sportschef stopper BK Frem, 21 November 2022 20 June 201927 January 2020Her er FREMs nye cheftræner BK Frem, 20 June 2019Cheftræner Allan Ravn og Boldklubben FREM ophæver samarbejdet BK Frem, 27 January 2020 1 July 201813 May 2019Lasse Holmgaard er ny cheftræner i Boldklubben FREM BK Frem, 24 May 2018FREM og Lasse Holmgaard ophæver samarbejdet BK Frem, 13 May 2019 14 August 201730 June 2018CaretakerUdskiftning på trænerposten BK Frem, 14 August 2017 1 January 201714 August 2017Ny cheftræner: Danny Jung BK Frem, 9 November 2016 and 10 October 201631 December 2016CaretakersFrem: Michael Mio kommer med ny energi bold.dk, 10 October 2016 29 April 201410 October 2016Originally had contract until end of 2017Henrik Jensen stopper i Frem nu bold.dk, 29 April 2014 1 July 201229 April 2014Originally had contract until summer 2014 18 June 201223 June 2012Caretaker for one league match 1 January 201218 June 2012Promoted to the third tier 27 July 201030 December 2011Promoted to the fourth tierOriginally had contract until summer 2012 17 July 201027 July 2010Never coached the team in a match 11 July 200919 June 2010Relegated to the third tierClub went bankrupt after the season 7 November 20057 July 2009Originally had contract until summer 2011 11 October 20036 November 2005Relegated to the second tierOriginally had contract until summer 2007 15 October 200110 October 2003Promoted to the first tierOriginally had contract until end of 2004 5 May 199814 October 2001Originally had contract until end of 2001 19964 May 1998Promoted to the second tier
Season-by-season results
Recent years SeasonPosPtsPldWDLGFGAGD15-16: 2nd Division Promotion Group#4/1234167272722+514-15: 2nd Division East#2/16613018755627+2913-14: 2nd Division East#8/163830911104644+212-13: 2nd Division East#7/164830146104540+511–12: Denmark Series Pool 1#1/14512615655429+2510–11: Copenhagen Series#1/14672621419218+7409-10: 1st Division#15/16283077163859−2108-09: 1st Division#11/163630812104153−1207-08: 1st Division#11/163330123154654−806-07: 1st Division#5/16503014884843+505-06: 1st Division#10/164030117124742+504-05: 1st Division#3/16593017856130+3103-04: Superliga#11/12273383224065−2502-03: 1st Division#2/16583018486443+21
League status
Post 1993 bankruptcy and demotion
Green denotes the highest level of football in Denmark; yellow the second-highest; red the third-highest; black the fourth-highest; grey the fifth-highest.
All time
Green denotes the highest level of football in Denmark; yellow the second-highest; red the third-highest; black the fourth-highest; grey the fifth-highest.
European competitions record
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate1967–68Inter-Cities Fairs Cup1RAthletic Bilbao0–12–32–41969–70UEFA Cup Winners' Cup1RFC St. Gallen2–10–12–21972–73UEFA Cup1RFC Sochaux2–13–15–22RFC Twente0–50–40–91977–78UEFA Cup1RGrasshoppers0–21–61–81978–79UEFA Cup Winners' Cup1RAS Nancy-Lorraine2–00–42–41992–93UEFA Cup1RNeuchâtel Xamax4–12–26–32RReal Zaragoza0–11–51–6
Cricket
Club The Cricket branch is one of the oldest in Denmark. It is still active and at the moment have a team in the 2nd-best tier.
Officials Chairman: Kingsley Peiris
Honors Copenhagen Champions Winners (2): 1894, 1898
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Footnotes and references
External links
Historical archive