| Full name | Syrianska Football Club (SFC) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Suryoye (Arameans)[1] | ||
| Founded | 1 July 1977 as Suryoyo SK | ||
| Ground | Södertälje Fotbollsarena, Södertälje (Capacity: 6,700) |
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| Chairman | Andreas Temiz | ||
| Manager | Valeri Bondarenko | ||
| League | Allsvenskan | ||
| 2011 | Allsvenskan, 14th | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
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Syrianska Football Club, known as Syrianska FC and Suryoye (Arameans) (Aramaic pronunciation: [suːrjoːjɛ]),[2] is a Swedish professional football club from Södertälje, a city south of Stockholm, Sweden. The club was formed in 1977, by Syriac immigrants as Suryoyo Sportklubb ("Syriac Sportclub"). In 1986 the name was changed to "Syrianska SK" and later became Syrianska FC, as the club grew and advanced through the league system. After two years in Superettan, Syrianska FC was promoted to the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan in 2010, for the first time in the club's history,[3] making them the 61st team to play in Allsvenskan.[4][5] Syrianska were awarded the 2010 Telgebragden for sporting performance in Södertälje, Sweden.[6]
The Syriac people do not have an official national team, and Syrianska FC is often viewed as its substitute.[7] The literal translation of "Syrianska" from Swedish to English is "Syriac". The club has a fan base from all over the world.[8][9][10]
Their promotion to Allsvenskan gained extensive coverage in Swedish TV sports programs, documentaries and magazines, as well as in non-Swedish magazines. The club also has its own pop song, Ahna kolan Suryoye ("We are all Syriacs"), sung by Josef Özer.[11][12][13]
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The "Syriac Aramaic Federation" based in Södertälje, Sweden, founded the club as Suryoyo Sportklubb ("Syriac Sportclub") in 1977.[14] The club were given a spot in Division 7 East. Six years later, the club advanced from Division 7 to Division 6. In 1985 Suryoyo won the division and were promoted to Division 5. The following year, the club changed its name to "Syrianska SK". Two years later, they won Division 5 and advanced to Division 4, where they played for three years until 1990, when they advanced to Division 3.
Syrianska won the league as newcomers in 1993 and advanced to Division 2, the third tier of Swedish football at the time. For the first time in the club's history, the team was relegated in 1995, to Division 3. In 1996 the board of Syrianska wanted to do a pre-launch and set a long-term goal of "Division 1 in 2001". In 1999 Syrianska were promoted to Division 2 again, approaching their goal. In 2000 Syrianska were in third place, after a strong season as newcomers and started investing in youth activities. In 2001 Syrianska won Division 2, with 53 points and 65 goals. Syrianska reached their goal to win the series but did not advance to Superettan following their qualifier against Åtvidabergs FF played in two matches, the home match being in front of 6435 spectators.
In 2003 Syrianska set a new target of Superettan by 2006. In 2004 Syrianska ended up in a mid-table position in Division 1. The following year, Syrianska missed promotion once again in a Superettan qualifier. Syrianska lost at home against Qviding FIF 0–2 and won the away match 2–1. In 2006, with Özcan Melkemichel as coach, they had their best start to the season when the newly built football stadium in Södertälje became their new home. After an injury-filled and tentative start to the 2006–2007 season, Syrianska played a derby match against Assyriska, winning 2–1 in front of 7,146 spectators. In the second derby match, Syrianska won against Assyriska again, in front of 6,313 spectators, with a 1–0 victory after a goal by Robert Massi. Syrianska would have won the division, but a points deduction meant they finished in fourth place.
Before the series started in 2008, Syrianska played at home in the Svenska Cupen against Hammarby IF, a club from the Allsvenskan league, and was broadcast by TV4. Hammarby took the lead to 4–0 at half time, before Syrianska made a comeback. Goals from a Rabi Elias penalty, two from Mattias Metes and one by Semir Metes, took the score back to 4–4. Hammarby eventually settled with two quick goals to win the game 6–4.
Syrianska ensured the league victory with two rounds remaining and finished with 59 points. In 2009 Syrianska played their first season in Sweden's second-highest division, Superettan. They finished in fourth place, 1 point behind the third place team. In 2010 Syrianska won the Superettan league, with Swedish TV channel TV4 broadcasting nine of their matches. They ended the season with 56 points and 46 goals, with Peter Ijeh scoring 17 of them. The club thus gained promotion to the Allsvenskan league for the first time in the club's history.[15]
The current badge was created when the club's name was changed to "Syrianska FC". The winged sun on the badge is taken from the Aramean (Syriac) flag, representing the Aramean (Syriac) people. The scripture above the winged sun is written in Aramaic (Syriac) and reads Hudro Suryoyo b-Södertälje ("Syriac sportsclub in Södertälje"). The colours are also taken from the Aramean flag.[16][17]
Syrianska FC's current home is in Södertälje at the Södertälje Fotbollsarena stadium and is also the home of the Assyriska Föreningen football club. The stadium holds 6,700 people but can be expanded for bigger games. In 2009 Syrianska FC played a derby against Assyriska Föreningen and a large crowd was expected leading to the stadium being expanded to hold 9,500 people. 8,453 people attended to the derby. The stadium was built in 2005 for €12 million and was funded by the Södertälje municipality. The pitch dimensions are 105 x 68 metres with a surface of artificial turf.
The stadium is also known as Jallavallen, from the Aramaic word Jalla ("Hurry"),[18] locally coined by Telgerevyn which later became wide-spread.
"Gefe Fans", also known as "Syrianska Fans", is the official fan club of Syrianska FC. The fanclub was started in 2002 by a group of Syrianska supporters in Södertälje.[19][20][21] Gefe means "Wings", in reference to the wings in the Aramean flag.[22] The club's fans are spread worldwide as the team is considered the national team for the Aramean (Syriac) people.[23][24] The fan club is known for its Tifos .[25][10] The supporter's club takes an active responsibility for the supporters around the arena and community-oriented efforts.[8] The "Ultras 77" is a group of about 30 supporters who work with all Tifo events during Syrianska FC games. In the early fan club years the head-responsibility for tifo events where taken by Gefe Fans but, when the supporter club merged with the football club, Ultras 77 was created.[26]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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For season transfers, see transfers winter 2011–2012.
Youth activities at Syrianska FC have grown exponentially, and interest in playing for the club is increasing every year. Syrianska is the current club for over 500 active children, with youths, girls and boys of different ages and about 65 leaders.
Their goal is to have multiple teams in each age group and try to build a good platform for social activities in the younger age groups. It also aims to establish activities for the elderly. All children and young people play, regardless of skill.[27]