Ope IF is a Swedish football club located in Ope near Östersund in Jämtland.[1]

Ope IF
Full nameOpe Idrottsförening
Founded1922
GroundTorvallens IP and
Jämtkraft Arena
Östersund
Sweden
ChairmanChrister Engnér
Head CoachLeif Widegren
LeagueDivision 4 Jämtland Härjedalen
2009Division 4 Jämtland/Härjedalen, 2nd (Promoted)

Background

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Ope Idrottsförening is a sports club near Östersund that was founded on 30 January 1922. Football is the main activity today but in the past the club has also specialised in Nordic skiing, bandy and gymnastics. The bandy department was made its own club in 1974, called Östersunds BS.

Since their foundation Ope IF has participated mainly in the upper and middle divisions of the Swedish football league system. The club's heyday was in the 1970s and the first half of the 1980s when they played in Division 2, which at that time was the second tier of Swedish football. In 1993 the club played one season in Division 1, which also represented second-tier football at that time.

In 1996/1997 the Ope IF, IFK Östersund, Ostersund / Torvalla FF clubs decided to work together on a joint venture to establish an elite new football club named Östersunds FK. Ope IF gave their place in the league Div 2 Norrland to Östersunds FK. Ostersund / Torvalla FF withdrew from the league in Division 4 and transferred their place to Ope IF. On occasions Ope IF has since played up to Division 3 in the same section as IFK Östersund.

In 2010 the Ope IF played in Division 3 Mellersta Norrland which is the fifth tier of Swedish football. They finished in a relegation position and therefore in 2011 will participate in Division 4.[2] They play their home matches at the Torvallens IP to the south of Östersund, near the village of Ope. Matches have also been played at the Jämtkraft Arena in Östersund.[3]

Ope IF are affiliated to the Jämtland-Härjedalens FF.[4]

Season to season

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Season Level Division Section Position Movements
1993 Tier 2 Division 1 Norra 12th Relegated
1994 Tier 3 Division 2 Norrland 4th
1995 Tier 3 Division 2 Norrland 3rd
1996 Tier 3 Division 2 Norrland 3rd
1997 Tier 5 Division 4 Jämtland/Härjedalen 6th Ope IF/ÖTFF
1998 Tier 5 Division 4 Jämtland/Härjedalen 1st Promoted
1999 Tier 4 Division 3 Mellersta Norrland 10th Relegated
2000 Tier 5 Division 4 Jämtland/Härjedalen 2nd Promotion Playoffs
2001 Tier 5 Division 4 Jämtland/Härjedalen 2nd Promotion Playoffs
2002 Tier 5 Division 4 Jämtland/Härjedalen 7th
2003 Tier 5 Division 4 Jämtland/Härjedalen 1st Promoted
2004 Tier 4 Division 3 Mellersta Norrland 8th
2005 Tier 4 Division 3 Mellersta Norrland 7th
2006* Tier 5 Division 3 Mellersta Norrland 7th
2007 Tier 5 Division 3 Mellersta Norrland 11th Relegated
2008 Tier 6 Division 4 Jämtland/Härjedalen 4th
2009 Tier 6 Division 4 Jämtland/Härjedalen 2nd Promoted
2010 Tier 5 Division 3 Mellersta Norrland 11th Relegated

* League restructuring in 2006 resulted in a new division being created at Tier 3 and subsequent divisions dropping a level.[5] [6] [7]

Attendances

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In recent seasons Ope IF have had the following average attendances:

Season Average Attendance Division / Section Level
2005 134 Div 3 Mellersta Norrland Tier 4
2006 150 Div 3 Mellersta Norrland Tier 5
2007 130 Div 3 Mellersta Norrland Tier 5
2008 Not available Div 4 Jämtland/Härjedalen Tier 6
2009 Not available Div 4 Jämtland/Härjedalen Tier 6
2010 199 Div 3 Mellersta Norrland Tier 5

* Attendances are provided in the Publikliga sections of the Svenska Fotbollförbundet website.[8]

In 1972 Ope played Manchester City in a friendly at Hofvallen in front of 5,500 spectators.[9] In 2010 there were 679 spectators at the derby match with IFK Östersund.

Footnotes

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  1. ^ "Ope IF – Fotboll Klubb". Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  2. ^ "Tabell och resultat – Div 3 Mellersta Norrland, herrar – Svenskfotboll.se". Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  3. ^ "Fotbollsverige.se – Division 3 Mellersta Norrland". Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  4. ^ "Kontaktuppgifter och tävlingar – Ope IF – Svenskfotboll.se". Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  5. ^ "GAIS – Lagfacta – Ope IF". Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  6. ^ "Mellersta Norrland - Division 3 – Fotbollsserier 2010 – Fotboll – everysport.com". Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  7. ^ "Sweden Final Tables – Clas Glenning". Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  8. ^ "Kontaktuppgifter och tävlingar – Svenska Fotbollförbundet – svenskfotboll.se". Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  9. ^ "Lokalfotbollen.se – Ope IF". Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
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  • Ope IF – Official club website
  • Ope IF – Football club website