Bærum SK

Bærum Sportsklubb is a Norwegian association football club founded on 26 March 1910. The men's team is currently playing in the Adeccoligaen, after being promoted from the Norwegian Second Division in 2011.

The club comes from Sandvika, the administrative centre of the municipality Bærum. The club was formed as Grane FK, but quickly changed its name to Grane SK to include different sporting codes. The club changed its name to IL Mode in 1946 after a merger with workers' sports team Sandvika AIL. It took its current name in 1969.

Bærum have won Norwegian Championships in ice hockey, team handball and bandy, but now operates as a football-only club. The club's finest hour took place in 2004 when the team beat Vålerenga 3-2 in the third round of the Norwegian Cup.

The team plays in yellow shirts and black shorts. The away strip for 2010 is light blue shirts and white shorts. The club now plays at Sandvika stadion, the club's traditional home ground, after having played its home games at Nadderud stadion for more than 30 years. The pitch was resurfaced with artificial turf in 2003.^[1]

History

In 2002, Bærum was promoted to Norwegian First Division after winning their Second Division group. The stay in the First Division only lasted for one season, as they were relegated back to the Second Division in 2003.

The 2005 season ended with the club landing a disappointing fourth spot in the Second Division table behind Sparta Sarpsborg, SK Vard Haugesund and Notodden FK. In December 2005 coach Arild Stavrum left the club after only one season in charge to take over 2005 Cup winners Molde FK. Jarle Hellesnes was appointed new head coach after Stavrum's departure. In 2006 Bærum secured second place in the league, two points behind Notodden.

The 2007 season was a disappointing one for the club. After good results in pre-season warm-up games and several good signings, the club was rated among the favourites for promotion. However, the team almost collapsed when real points were at stake. The club finished in sixth place, 19 points behind promoted IL Hødd. The only highlight during 2007 came when the team outplayed and beat Ham-Kam 2-0 in the second round of the Norwegian Cup. Ham-Kam were top of the Norwegian First Division and unbeaten away from home at the time the game took place. Coach Jarle Hellesnes resigned before the season was over, with the resignation taking effect after the last game of 2007. Tomi Markovski, a former youth player for the club, who had led Asker from the Third Division to second place in the Second Division is the club's new head coach. His first season in Bærum was not as good as expected. Bærum finished fifth in the end, after losing most of the games after the summer.

In 2011, Bærum again won promoting to the First Division (now named Adeccoligaen) after winning their Second Division group three points ahead of Kristiansund BK

Recent history

Season		Pos.	Pl.	W	D	L	GS	GA	P	Cup	Notes
2002	D2	1	26	17	6	3	78	37	57	3rd round	Promoted
2003	AL	13	30	7	6	17	34	58	27	2nd round	Relegated
2004	D2	2	26	17	2	7	75	31	53	4rd round
2005	D2	4	26	14	6	6	66	42	48	2nd round
2006	D2	2	26	17	5	4	60	28	56	2nd round
2007	D2	6	26	11	5	10	55	42	38	3rd round
2008	D2	5	26	15	1	10	62	39	46	1st round
2009	D2	7	26	13	3	10	61	46	42	3rd round
2010	D2	7	26	10	5	11	52	44	35	2nd round
2011	D2	1	24	15	6	3	75	30	51	2nd round	Promoted

Notable players

Famous players from the club include Lars Bohinen, Vidar Davidsen, Christer Basma and Thomas Finstad, as well as German journeyman goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel. Most Bærum supporters, however, more fondly remember loyal club legends such as Thomas' father Bjørn Finstad, Kåre Martin Johnsen, Jan Wærø, Tor Vikenes, Steinar Hope and Jostein Johannessen. One of the first Africans in Norwegian football, Peggy Joof from Gambia, played for the club in the 1980s.

Current squad

As of 4 April 2011.^[2]

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

For season transfers, see transfers winter 2011–12.

References

External links

• Official site (Norwegian)