Hammarby IF facts for kids

Hammarby Idrottsförening, often called Hammarby IF or just Hammarby, is a big Swedish sports club. It is located in Stockholm and has many different teams for various sports.

The club started in 1889 as Hammarby Roddförening (Hammarby Rowing Association). By 1897, it had grown to include more sports. This led to its new name, Hammarby IF.

In 1999, the club changed how it was organized. Each sport became its own separate group. These groups all work together under the main "Hammarby IF" name.

By 2020, Hammarby IF had a record 22,746 active members. This shows how popular and large the club has become.

Hammarby IF: A Big Sports Club

Early Days: From Rowing to Many Sports (1889–1914)

Axel Robert Schönthal helped start Hammarby Roddförening.

On April 10, 1889, the Hammarby Roddförening (Hammarby Rowing Association) was formed. It was in Södermalm, a part of Stockholm City Centre. Axel Robert Schönthal is seen as the person who started the club.

At first, the club only competed in rowing. Races were usually held on the Hammarby Sjö waterway. The club got its name from this water. Most members were young men who worked in factories nearby.

By 1897, members wanted to try other sports. So, the club added athletics. It changed its name to Hammarby Idrottsförening (Hammarby Sports Club). This new multi-sport club officially started on March 7, 1897. Carl Julius Sundholm became its first chairman.

In 1905, the club started its first team sport, Hammarby IF Bandy. This made it one of Sweden's first bandy clubs. Bandy is a sport played on ice with sticks and a ball. The club has stayed in the top leagues ever since.

New Sports and Golden Years (1915–1957)

The Hammarby IP sports ground was built in Södermalm in 1915. It opened on September 15, with Crown Prince Gustaf VI Adolf present. Because Stockholm needed more football fields, other clubs wanted to join Hammarby IF.

Klara SK joined, and a football team was created that same year. This team became Hammarby IF Fotboll. In 1918, Hammarby also joined with Johanneshofs IF. The football team finished second in the 1922 Svenska Mästerskapet. This was a cup to decide the Swedish champions.

In 1919, Hammarby IF Boxning (boxing) was founded. A Hammarby boxer, Gunnar Berggren, won a bronze medal in boxing at the 1928 Olympics. He is the only Hammarby athlete to win an Olympic medal in an individual sport.

The club started playing ice hockey in 1921. Hammarby IF Hockey became very strong in the sport. They played in the top league from 1922 to 1957. During this time, they won the Swedish championship eight times.

Famous cyclist Sven Johansson joined Hammarby IF in 1937. He won many Swedish championship titles in cycling.

In 1939, Hammarby IF Handboll (handball) was first created. The handball section stopped for a while but started again in 1970.

Modern Era: More Success (1990–Present)

In 1999, the club changed its structure. Each sport became its own legal group. They all work together under the Hammarby IF name.

The club won its first Swedish championship in football in 2001. This was a huge win for the club. About 20,000 fans celebrated at Medborgarplatsen square. Hammarby also won its first Swedish Cup in 2021. They won the final in a penalty shootout at their home stadium, Tele2 Arena.

Hammarby IF won three Swedish championships in handball in a row. They won in 2006, 2007, and 2008. This was a big achievement for the club.

In 2010, Hammarby IF won their first Swedish championship in bandy. They won again in 2013. That final was played at Friends Arena in front of a record crowd of 38,474 people.

Club Identity: Colours, Badge, and Nickname

Colours

Hammarby's main colours are green and white. You can see these colours on their club badge and their uniforms. When the rowing club started in 1889, their flag was white with three green stripes. They chose green because it means hope.

Kit

In 1915, Hammarby IF decided their uniform would be a white shirt with "HIF" on it, white shorts, and black socks. After joining with Johanneshofs IF in 1918, Hammarby changed its uniform. They started using Johanneshof's black-and-yellow striped shirts, blue shorts, and black socks with yellow stripes.

In the 1960s, the club changed from blue shorts to black. A famous footballer, Lennart Skoglund, gave the club black shorts in 1964. He thought the blue ones looked bad.

In 1978, Hammarby changed its home colours again. They went back to white shirts, green shorts, and white socks.

Nickname

The club's most common nickname is "Bajen." It is said that player Stig Emanuel Andersson came up with the name in 1946. He was on a hockey tour in the United Kingdom. "Bajen" is a short, fun way to say "Hammarby."

Passionate Supporters

Hammarby has always been known for its very loyal fans. Many fans come from the Södermalm area of Stockholm. Today, fans come from all over.

A survey in 2016 showed that Hammarby Football is the most popular football club in Stockholm. Between 2013 and 2016, Hammarby Football had the highest average attendance in Scandinavia. In 2015, they set a Swedish record with an average of 25,507 fans per game. In 2022, they broke their own record with an average of 26,372 fans.

Club Achievements

As of 2020, Hammarby has won many awards. They have won 271 gold medals, 306 silver medals, and 294 bronze medals. These wins are across 16 different sports.

Hammarby Sports Teams

Past Sports Teams

• Hammarby Hockey (1921–2008)

See also

In Spanish: Hammarby IF para niños