Boldklubben Frem (also known asFrem,BK Frem orBK Frem Copenhagen) is a Danishsports club based in theValby-Sydhavnen area ofCopenhagen. It is best known for itssemi-professionalfootballteam and its youth academy. Since its foundation in 1886, Frem has won theDanish Championships six times and theDanish Cup twice. Until the disastrous bankruptcy in 1993, Frem had played in the top division 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 theCopenhagen Series—the fifth tier in the Danish league system. After two back to back promotions, the club now participates in the Danish 2nd Division, the third tier.

Frem

Full name	Boldklubben Frem af 1886
Nickname(s)	Fremmerne
Short name	Frem
Founded	17 July 1886; 138 years ago (1886-07-17) asFremskridtsklubbens Cricketklub
Ground	Valby Idrætspark, Copenhagen
Capacity	12,000 (4,400 seats)
Chairman	Jon Herstad
Head coach	Daniel "Elly" Pedersen
League	2nd Division
2023–24	3rd Division, 1st of 12 (promoted)
Website	bkfrem.dk
Home colours Away colours Third colours

The club also has a youth and amateur football branch, as well as acricket team. It is also involved in the running of the KIES sports boarding school.

BK Frem were founded asFremskridtsklubbens Cricketklub on 17 July 1886 by a group of seditious young men from the thengovernment hostileVenstre Reform Party, as a cloak for political activities.^[1] In 1887 football was introduced and the name was changed toBoldklubben 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 theDanish Football Association introduced a football tournament in 1889, the club was invited to participate, and in 1890 Frem became the first Danish club to beatKB in a football match. In 1902 Frem became unofficial Danish champions when they won the league played under the auspices of theDanish 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 theSocial Democrats and theUnion of Metalworkers holds Frem sponsorships. In 1912, Frem joined the representative teamStævnet which arranged lucrative exhibition matches and played a decisive role in Danish football politics.

In the years 1923–1944, Frem won sixDanish Championships.

Since 1983 Frem had been battling economically, and in 1993 saw themselves demoted to theDanmarksserien following a bankruptcy, which was due to adebt ofDKK 8,500,000 and allegations of fraud.^[2]

Following a short but expensive spell in theSuperliga in2003–2004, Frem were once again on the verge of bankruptcy with a debt of DKK 10,000,000.^[3]

In 2010, after years of uncertain economy, the club once again went bankrupt and was demoted to theCopenhagen Series.^[4]

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.

Frem play their home matches at the modest and somewhat worn-down, municipality-ownedValby Idrætspark.

In the early years, Frem were located onØsterbro in Copenhagen, playing its matches atBlegdamsfælleden, alongside its main rivals in the early years;AB andKB. 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.^[5]

In 1942, Frem moved toValby Idrætspark, where the current main stand was erected in 1965. Throughout the years a lot of matches has been played atIdrætsparken. It is unclear when this tradition was discontinued.

During the 2000s, there were several plans for anew stadium, but they were never realized.^[6]

In2006 theCopenhagen Municipality predicted that the main stand of the current Valby Idrætspark would last another 5–10 years.^[7]
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 April2008.^[8]

Hans Hermansen, thenmanaging director ofBK Frem, has indicated that according to the plan, the construction of a new stadium should commence no later than 2010.^[9] However, the municipality estimated 2012.^[10] Frem suggested that it might be completed by 2016.^[11]

In January 2016 themunicipality 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.^[12][13]

After the clubs bankruptcy in summer 2010, Frem got a helping hand from Danish brewery giantCarlsberg. Being from the same city they signed on as main sponsor, because they saw it as a chance to help the fellowValby-based brand back on its feet.^[14] In July 2013 an extension for three years was announced.^[15] On 11 June 2016 it was prolonged for another three years.^[16]
In June 2015 Frem announced they would switch back fromDiadora to their old shirt partner,Hummel, starting from the 2015/2016 season.^[17]

• 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, 1978
  • Runner-up (3): 1969, 1971, 1981
• 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

As of 17 January 2025^[18]

Chairman: Jon Herstad
Head Coach:Daniel "Elly" Pedersen
Assistant Coach: Søren Weibel
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

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.

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.

The Cricket branch is one of the oldest in Denmark.^[43]
It is still active and at the moment have a team in the 2nd-best tier.

Chairman: Kingsley Peiris

• Copenhagen Champions
  • Winners (2): 1894, 1898

.

• (in Danish)Official website
• (in Danish)Historical archive