Larvik Fotball
{{short description|Norwegian football club}}
{{distinguish|Larvik Turn & IF}}
{{Infobox football club |
clubname = Larvik |
image = logo |
fullname = Larvik Fotball |
nickname = |
founded = 1999 |
ground = Fram stadion |
capacity = |
chairman = |
manager = |
league = |
season = |
position = |
}}
Larvik Fotball was a Norwegian association football club from Larvik. It existed from late 1999 to early 2004, and both succeeded and was succeeded by IF Fram. A cooperation between several Larvik-based clubs, it experienced two straight promotions to the Norwegian Second Division and played there for the rest of its existence. It ultimately capsized due to bad economy. Notably, the club never managed to form a cooperation with city rivals Larvik Turn.
History
It was founded in 1999 to strengthen the city of Larvik in Norwegian football. A direct inspiration was Sandefjord BK and IL Runar from the neighboring city Sandefjord, who merged their men's senior teams to form Sandefjord Fotball in 1998, with success. Larvik Turn & IF was the city's most successful team in the past, but declined to join the merger. Instead, the merger was initiated and spearheaded by IF Fram, who was joined by Halsen IF and Tjølling IF,{{cite news|title=Slår seg sammen for å bli bedre|last=Bugge|first=Mette|date=26 October 1999|work=Aftenposten|pages=37|language=no}} as well as Nanset IF, IL Sporty and SK Stag.{{cite news|title=Larvik slår gjerne ut cupmesteren|last=Lunde|first=Vidar|date=8 May 2001|work=Aftenposten|language=no}}
Their head coach was well-known Dag Vidar Kristoffersen.{{cite news|title=Sport notiser|date=14 November 1999|work=Bergens Tidende|pages=15|language=no}} The new team Larvik Fotball took over Fram's spot in the league pyramid, in the Fourth Division (fifth tier). Curiously, Halsen and Tjølling played in the same league.{{cite news|title=Larvik Fotball vant 4–0|date=15 May 2000|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}} The 2000 season ended with promotion for Larvik Fotball.{{cite news|title=Champagnegalopp mot toppen|date=2 October 2000|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}} In May 2001 the club debuted in the Norwegian football cup (and was eliminated by Odd Grenland), and at the end of 2001 the team had won their league and eliminated Vindbjart FK in the playoff for the Second Division.{{cite news|title=Larvik Fotball klare for 2. divisjon|date=6 October 2001|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}} At the same time, reports went out that the club economy was "halting".{{cite news|title=Larvik Fotball halter økonomisk|date=18 October 2001|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}} Larvik Turn still declined to join the merger.{{cite news|title=Sier fortsatt nei til samarbeid|date=3 October 2001|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}}
Larvik Fotball survived their first Second Division season, but Dag Vidar Kristoffersen resigned.{{cite news|title=Slutter som trener i Larvik|date=15 October 2002|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}} The club hired Ole Einar Martinsen as head coach, Vidar Evensen as assistant coach and also signed Caleb Francis.{{cite news|title=Martinsen henter Francis til Larvik|date=5 December 2002|work=Romerikes Blad|language=no}} The team survived the season again, but removed Martinsen and signed Swede Kalle Björklund.{{cite news|title=Føler seg dolket i ryggen av ledelsen|date=20 October 2003|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}}{{cite news|title=Bjørklund ny LF-trener|date=13 December 2003|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}} The team also lost several players,{{cite news|title=Larvik Fotball i sumpa|date=30 January 2004|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}} but did sign former professional Lars Bakkerud.{{cite news|title=Bakkerud klar for LF|date=13 February 2004|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}}
After the 2004 season the club hired its fourth head coach, Kjell Vidar Larsen.{{cite news|title=Kjell Vidar Larsen tar trenerjobben i LF|date=13 October 2004|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}} They tried to persuade Larvik Turn to merge, but the reply was again negative.{{cite news|title=Larvik Turn sier nei til samarbeid|date=22 October 2004|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}} During pre-season, in December 2004, it became clear that there were no economic grounds for keeping Larvik Fotball alive. The club was facing liquidation. The preferred solution was to be incorporated into IF Fram—this was possible because while Fram had given up its senior team to form Larvik Fotball, Fram still existed as an active club. The new club could be built on a foundation wall of Fram if it accepted to take over Larvik Fotball's spot in the Second Division team.{{cite news|title=Slutt for Larvik Fotball|date=3 December 2004|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}} Fram's board of directors accepted this in January 2005, so did the Football Association of Norway.{{cite news|title=Fram-ja til fusjon med LF|date=4 January 2005|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}}{{cite news|title=NFF sa ja til fusjon|date=18 January 2005|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}}
Aftermath
The 2005 season was played under the name Fram Larvik. However, the team failed miserably. They lost 1–8 to Notodden FK in September,{{cite news|title=Fikk så hatten passet av Notodden|date=10 September 2005|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}} and in the last match of the season Fram lost 0–15 to the promotion winners Sarpsborg.{{cite news|title=Fram totalt overkjørt|date=22 October 2005|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}} Back in the Third Division, Fram actually won the league in 2007, but lost the playoff to Østsiden IL.{{cite news|title=Østsiden er opprykksklare|date=27 October 2007|work=Demokraten|language=no}} In 2008, it won the playoff against Kvik Halden FK and returned to the Second Division.{{cite news|title=Fram tilbake i toppfotballen|date=27 October 2008|work=Østlandsposten|language=no}}