Hvidovre IF (Denmark)

Hvidovre IF is a semi professional club based in the western suburbs of the Danish capital of Copenhagen. The club was formed in 1925.

HIF became champions of Denmark when they lifted the Division One title in 1966. They repeated the triumph in 1973.

In 1980 HIF lifted the DBU Pokalen (Danish Cup) after defeating Lyngby 5-3 in front of a gate of 23,500 at Idrætsparken in Copenhagen, with Michael Christensen playing a starring role.

The following season a third Danish title was secured, before Peter Schmeichel took over in goal at the start of his career between 1984 and 1987.

The club was re-organised on the 19^th November 1991 as professional football became more widespread in Denmark. Hvidovre Soccer A/S was formed with the purpose of operating the part of Hvidovre Sports Association's activities relating to elite football.

On 28 December 1999 the shares in Hvidovre Soccer A/S were sold to Peter Schmeichel, as sole shareholder to try to lead Hvidovre back to the peak of the Danish football scene.

Unfortunately results did not materialise, with Peter Schmeichel  transferring his shares in 2002 with the Hvidovre Soccer A/S company  to Hvidovre IF. The company was without debt, but also without assets.

In January 2005 Hvidovre Holding A/S was formed by loyal fans and local citizens. The company acquired the share capital of Hvidovre Soccer A/S, and also founded another company Solar Plexus A/S.

Meanwhile on the pitch, Hvidovre struggled and found themselves in the third tier of Danish football. After a couple of mid table finishes the team were crowned as Division Two champions in 2017-18.

Head coach Per Frandsen and captain Frederik Krabbe along with the goals of Nicolaj Agger ensured that Hvidovre stayed up in 2018-19 before they were relegated in 2019-20.

Hvidovre IF will play in Division Two in the 2020-21 season.

My visit

Sunday 8^th November 2015

My first ever visit to Denmark was going well. Although I was only there for one day, I was determined to pack plenty in. The main reason for the visit was the top flight vital local derby between Brøndby IF and F.C. København, but after calling in at the home of BK Frem, I still had time to visit another club.

By now I was starting to ache a little, through lack of regular walking. Fortunately I’d observed a regular bus service running down Gammel Køge Landevej before I went to Valby Idrætspark. This would save on a walk back to Ny Ellebjerg St.

Sure enough the 8A service arrived within ten minutes. It dropped me at its terminus; Friheden St. a few minutes later. The ride was covered by my one day City Pass. A few yards along Hvidovrevej I found the car park behind one end. I could see a decent looking stand and wanted to be inside for some proper photos. Eventually I walked past the tennis courts down the far side, and found an open gate by the clubhouse.

Hvidovre Stadion was dominated by the Main Stand down the far side. It was all seated and covered by a multi-barrel roof. The pitch was surrounded by a running track. The near side had a few rows of standing built on frames. The same arrangement was in place around the near curve. The far end, could well have been the same in places, with a large hedge between it and the car park.

After taking my snaps, with the light fading, I returned to the station to take the train on to Brøndby Strand St. to catch a bus to the match.