Hammarby

The Case For Them

Hammarby work as a second team because they come with their own geography: Sweden, 3Arena, Stockholm, and a set of rivalries you will absorb faster than you expect.

• Worth the journey

  Nearest airport is Dala Airport (BLE), roughly 60km out. This is not a casual away day, which is precisely why the people who do it take it seriously.

• The calendar you inherit

  Sweden Allsvenskan is cold-weather football: mud in February, breath visible under the lights, and a fixture list that rewards anyone who sticks it out. Sweden does not do easy neutrals.

• Old enough to matter

  1897 is the founding date, old enough that the club has survived a war, a rebuild and at least one financial scare, young enough that the good years are still in living memory.

• Something to defend

  The cabinet is not empty: Swedish Champions{{refn|The title of "Swedish Champions" has been awarded to the winner of four different competitions over the years. Between 1896 and 1925, the title was awarded to the winner of Svenska Mästerskapet, a stand-alone cup tournament. No club were given the title between 1926 and 1930 even though the first-tier league Allsvenskan was played. In 1931, the title was reinstated and awarded to the winner of Allsvenskan. Between 1982 and 1990, a play-off in cup format was held at the end of the league season to decide the champions. After the play-off format in 1991 and 1992, the title was decided by the winner of Mästerskapsserien, an additional leag. Small enough to recite from memory, big enough to argue about in a pub.