The 2018/19 season has been a success for the growing number of member-run clubs across Europe.
Congratulations to the entire network; for showing clubs can have on-pitch success with a commitment to their supporters and local communities. For showing that passion has power.
AUSTRIA
SV Austria Salzburg, which formed in 2005 after the original SV (Austria) Salzburg was renamed and rebranded by an energy drink company, achieved an immediate return to Regionalliga (3rd).
BELGIUM
YB SK Beveren, Belgium’s 100% fan-owned football club, achieved an exciting promotion to the 7th division. While their fight to get back their original name is on hold, they enjoyed a great day of football with HFC Falke earlier this summer.
Lyra Lierse, formed last summer following the bankruptcy of former Belgian champions K. Lierse SK in May 2018, did not achieve promotion in their first year in the Belgian Third Amateur Division (5th) as a fan-owned club.
However, they did take big steps forward working with the local authorities to build a new training center for the club, involving the whole community. The future is bright for the newly formed club.
#kllLIVE | het Lyra-Lierse legioen staat paraat! ❤⚪⚫💛#zwekll pic.twitter.com/TwmhxzlL22 — Koninklijke Lyra-Lierse (@KLyraLierse) 19 maggio 2019
CYPRUS
A great season for Cyprus side People’s Athletic Club “Omonia 1948” who were promoted, winning the local championship. They have reached the 4th division and won the Cup in their inaugural season after last year fans’ decision to found a new ‘rebel’ club.
CZECH REPUBLIC
The participants of some of our LIAISE project‘s meetings, Bohemians Praha 1905, finished 13th place in the Czech First League (1st) and reached the national cup Semi-finals.
DENMARK
Member-run BK Frem secured safety in the 2. Division (3rd).
In 2010, after years of uncertainty, the club once again went bankrupt and was demoted to the fifth division of danish football. Frem supporters, who are known for unconditional love and support did not stop attending matches.
ENGLAND
AFC Wimbledon: Dons completed the ‘Great Escape’ after having produced a resilient end of the season to stay in English League One (3rd). Meanwhile, work continues on the construction of the new Plough Lane.
Our former Erasmus+ project partners, FC United of Manchester men’s team were relegated back to the Evo-Stik Premier Division (7th) after a tough campaign, but the women’s team continued its growth by conquering the Manchester FA Women’s Cup and the Argyle Cup!
The Red Rebels also hosted the newly established Welsh rebel club, CPD Bangor 1876 FC, for their first match ever for a historic day at the Broadhurst Park.
And just like that 2018/19 is in the books 📚 Re-live another historic #FCUMW campaign with our season review! 🏆🏆 ➡️: https://t.co/tvWkd10Nv7 pic.twitter.com/2elTPIUUd9 — FC United Women (@FCUnitedWomen) 1 giugno 2019
For a complete round-up of all the successes and results in England and Wales, you can read Football Supporters Association’s annual review 2018/19 pg 12-15
GERMANY
SD Europe Erasmus+ project partners Schalke 04 endured a rough campaign, avoiding relegation in the Bundesliga, after 2017/18 qualification to the UEFA Champions League.
HFC Falke finished 3rd in Bezirksliga Nord following promotion at the end of last season. The club celebrated its fifth birthday, with the launch of a new crowdfAnding campaign and with an international fan-owned friendly with YB SK Beveren.
🗓️Save the date 13.07.2019 „Falke international“ ▶️For the celebration of @hfc_falke‘s fifth birthday the German fanowned club will host our friends at @YBskBeveren for a day of football and friendship! More: https://t.co/8zqwXf8Zyp pic.twitter.com/sDVQjrYSSV — SD Europe (@SDEurope07) 26 aprile 2019
ISRAEL
Football
In the second division, Hapoel Katamon finished 4th, while Hapoel Kfar Saba with a supporters trust that holds 10% of the club, won promotion to the Premier league.
In the last third of the season, Hapoel Petach Tikva supporters trust took control over the club, and bought 100% of its shares.
In the third division south, Beitar Nordia and Maccabi Kabilo Jaffa finish mid table, as did Hapoel Rubi Haifa in the third division north. Ironi Ashdod were promoted from the fourth division and will join the third league southern division.
Basketball
Hapoel Tel Aviv lost in the quarter final, after achieving the 8th place in the league. While Hapoel Ramat Gan and Hapoel Haifa finished mid-table in the second division.
🏆Congratulations to our friends at @IroniAshdodFC who have won promotion to the 3rd division in Israel ⚽❤@israfans Here is a little bit more about their fan-owned story! https://t.co/kTBuA1lQfB pic.twitter.com/EDoGe6IeM5 — SD Europe (@SDEurope07) 5 aprile 2019
ITALY
After two consecutive promotions, US Città di Fasano managed to finish 7th in the Serie D championship.
The club continues its growth on and off the pitch and recently took a position against betting by requiring the national amateur league to be excluded from bookmakers’ quotes, in an effort to fight gambling addiction.
After the promotion to Prima Categoria last season, Ideale Bari Calcio secured safety in the 7th division for a second year.
The fan-owned club of Bari is looking to expand activities by launching a crowdfunding campaign to sustain next season’s expenses. Recently, they also started their first youth team.
It was a fantastic campaign for the black and white! Following promotion last season in the Promozione (7th) division, fan-owned HSL Derthona achieved automatic promotion in style to the Eccellenza (6th) division by winning the league and conquering the regional Cup ‘Coppa Italia Promozione’.
After a good season, Cava de’ Tirreni’s club was able to reach the playoff, but lost in the semi final and remain in Seconda Categoria (8th).
As usual, Cava United FC has done a great job in the community with young people and local associations to promote their social values of football.
A disappointing season for the RossoBlu of Cosenza, saw them relegated from Italian Promozione (6th) to Prima Categoria (7th).
Despite the relegation, Brutium Cosenza has already started working to regain their league status and have interesting projects planned for next season. At the end of July their new football ground will be inaugurated after having completed the redevelopment!
Centro Storico Lebowski achieved safety in an exciting first ever season in the Promozione (6th), as the Florence club continues to grow on local level opening as a democratic cooperative structure.
IRELAND
2019 has seen Cork City face a new challenge of being outside of the top 2 for the first season in a while. While a change of personnel on and off the pitch can take some time to get going again, the base and future of fan ownership in the club is secure.
Cobh Ramblers are now fan owned, adding to the growing list of Irish clubs that are fully or part fan owned. An enthusiastic drive has kicked off their membership and the future looks bright for the oldest team in Cobh. Cobh Ramblers have announced it is to become a co-operative, meaning it is controlled and operated by its members.
Fan-owned Sligo Rovers raised over €78,000. Club chairman Martin Heraghty said: “A volunteer team devoted their summer nights to selling tickets on behalf of the club. They sacrificed time with family, friends on evenings and weekends going door to door. This is the history, heritage and spirit of Sligo Rovers at its strongest.”
POLAND
It was an exciting season for AKS Zly, as the Polish community club won promotion with both the men’s and women’s teams, to the 7th tier and 3rd tier, respectively. The Warsaw club is also setting up a women’s basketball squad and is continuing its expansion into the local community.
SCOTLAND
Clyde FC are 100% fan owned and won promotion to League One this past season!
Motherwell FC were able to maintain their status in the Scottish Premiership by finishing in 8th place in the first phase of the season and 2nd place in the second phase of the season.
St. Mirren FC avoided relegation after winning the final match, the St. Mirren Independent Supporters Association (SMISA) has a minority share (29% stake) in the Paisley-based club.
Stirling Albion FC, the first Scottish League club to be 100% owned by a fan’s trust, finished mid-table in the Scottish League Two table.
RUSSIA
FC Kuban have successfully negotiated a return to their home stadium, Kuban Stadium. The club was formed last summer following the bankruptcy of FC Kuban Krasnador. Learn more about their story here.
SPAIN
The Fútbol Popular network in Spain continues to flourish and there were a number of notable successes during the season.
Club Deportivo Logroñés, after a great season the club almost achieved promotion from the Tercera Division (4th).
Abierta la inscripción para el VI Encuentro de #FútbolPopular (Logroño, 2-4 de agosto). Si estás a favor de un fútbol democrático y transparente que sea un actor positivo para la comunidad participa en el encuentro. La inscripción es gratuita https://t.co/DL566IVfbB pic.twitter.com/BDfbmxpwb5 — FASFE (@FASFEaficion) 18 giugno 2019
A disappointing season for our former SD Europe Erasmus+ project partners CAP Ciudad de Murcia, both the male and female teams struggled to survive a challenging league, relegating them back to the Preferente Murciana (5th) and second division, respectively.
📣 VOLVERÉIS 📣 Queremos mandar el mayor de nuestros ánimos a la gente del @SDLogrones y del @CiudadDeMurcia por su no ascenso a Segunda B y su descenso a Preferente Murciana, respectivamente. Con vuestro gran trabajo y esfuerzo, ¡volveréis! 💪🏼⚽️ pic.twitter.com/LYhE3WlxGM — Orihuela Deportiva (@CFPOrihuelaDva) 18 giugno 2019
It was an exciting season for CF Popular Orihuela Deportiva who were promoted for the first time in their history to Primera Regional (6th tier) after finishing second place in Segunda Regional (7th).
They closed the season with over 1.000 fans at Municipal San Fernando de Cox stadium. Learn more about the club here.
📹 El 18 de mayo de 2019 nos dejó momentos únicos, como por ejemplo el pasillo que realizó la afición gualdinegra a sus jugadores durante la celebración del ascenso a Primera Regional 💛🖤⬇#ElDeportivaEsDePrimera pic.twitter.com/JzsgYYIdUL — Orihuela Deportiva (@CFPOrihuelaDva) 29 maggio 2019
Xerez Deportivo FC missed out on promotion after finishing fifth in the Spanish Tercera Division (4th) .
Estamos convencidos de que la próxima temporada repetiremos muchas imágenes como estas 🤳📸 Contando las horas para volver a veros ⏳⏱️ pic.twitter.com/oOde08Z4T0 — XEREZ DEPORTIVO FC (@XerezDFC) 19 maggio 2019
After last seasons exciting promotion, Unionistas de Salamanca CF, the club which was founded by fans after the disappearance of UD Salamanca in 2013, finished 9th place in Segunda B, qualifying for the local cup next season.
⏰ | ¡Buen jueves, unionistas! ¿Sabíais que en apenas 5 años de competición hemos pasado de ser el último club de España a acabar entre los 7⃣5⃣ mejores? Días para saborear resultados antes de comenzar una nueva batalla… pic.twitter.com/l6ixJSlgQW — Unionistas de Salamanca CF (@UnionistasCF) 30 maggio 2019
A hard season for Atlético Club de Socios, as they finished last place in the Preferente Division (5th) and were relegated to the 6th tier of Spanish football.
El benjamín del Atlético Club de Socios celebra el título de campeón del grupo 48 de la Primera Benjamín con su fiel y bulliciosa afición en el Ernesto Cotorruelo pic.twitter.com/nkKasxvuAe
— AtléticoClubdeSocios (@AtletideSocios) 9 giugno 2019
Next season will also see two new member-run clubs start their own adventures: C.D. Unión Popular Palencia in the Primera Provincial de Aficionados (6th) and the C.D. Independiente de Vallecas in the Tercera Regional Madrileña (8th).
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