{{short description|Norwegian football club}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Sandnes FK | image = <!--logo--> | fullname = Sandnes Fotballklubb | nickname = | founded = 1997, disestablished 2004 | ground = Sandnes stadion | capacity = | chairman = | manager = | league = | season = | position = | }}
'''Sandnes Fotballklubb''' was a Norwegian association football club from Sandnes. It existed from late 1997 to early 2004, and was in the end incorporated by Ulf-Sandnes to form Sandnes Ulf. A cooperation between several Sandnes-based clubs, it played some time in the Norwegian Second Division, and had won promotion to the Second Division when it ceased to exist, but struggled with bad economy.
==History== Sandnes FK was founded in January 1997 as an umbrella club for eleven teams in the Sandnes district. FK Haugesund was an inspiration.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sportsnotiser|agency=Norwegian News Agency|date=20 November 1996|language=no}}</ref>
It played in the 2001 Norwegian Second Division, but was relegated to the Third Division after that season. As a result, the other clubs stopped backing Sandnes FK. Sandnes FK tried their luck on their own in the 2002 season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sandnes + Ulf = nesten sant|last=Bø|first=Sindre|date=23 December 2003|work=Stavanger Aftenblad|page=16|language=no}}</ref>
In early 2003 many started advocating a new merger in the city. In February 2003 people came forward with a wish to merge Sandnes FK and Ulf-Sandnes, with support from Sandved IL, and to hire Benny Lennartsson as head coach.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sandnes vil satse i én klubb|last=Larsen|first=Jan-Erik|date=13 February 2003|work=Stavanger Aftenblad|page=20|language=no}}</ref> In March an "intensjonsavtale" was signed between the two clubs.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trolig Sandnes FKs siste sesong|last=Lindboe|first=Frode S.|date=27 March 2003|work=Stavanger Aftenblad|page=22|language=no}}</ref> The plan received a blow in April, when Benny Lennartsson declared himself unavailable, as his wife had unfortunately not been hired at Stavanger University College.<ref>{{cite news|title=Benny-nei til Sandnes-satsing|last=Larsen|first=Jan-Erik|author2=Stangeland, Glenn |date=16 April 2003|work=Stavanger Aftenblad|page=24|language=no}}</ref> The plan was not scrapped, but it was said that the plan depended on either Sandnes FK or Ulf-Sandnes winning promotion.<ref>{{cite news|title=Visste du at...|date=16 April 2003|work=Stavanger Aftenblad|page=22|language=no}}</ref> Sandnes FK won their Third Division group, whereas Ulf-Sandnes was relegated. This increased the keenness of both parts to cooperate. Talks started after the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sandnes + Ulf = nesten sant|last=Bø|first=Sindre|date=23 December 2003|work=Stavanger Aftenblad|page=16|language=no}}</ref> In late 2003 the mayor of Sandnes stood forward in advertisements, donning the Sandnes FK jersey, to gather popular and commercial support for a new club.<ref>{{cite news|title=På sjarmoffensiv for Sandnes FK|last=Lindboe|first=Frode S.|date=20 November 2003|work=Stavanger Aftenblad|page=23|language=no}}</ref>
By early 2004, plans had been made, and approved by the board of directors in both clubs as well as the Football Association of Norway.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sandnes Ulf snart en realitet|last=Bjørnersen|first=Ståle|date=17 January 2004|work=Stavanger Aftenblad|page=27|language=no}}</ref> First, the annual convention in Sandnes FK would take place on 9 February, and agree to discontinue the club and grant Ulf-Sandnes its spot in the league system. On 10 February, Ulf-Sandnes would change its name to "Sandnes Ulf" to carry on a certain legacy from Sandnes FK.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sju spillere fra Ulf-Sandnes|last=Lindboe|first=Frode S.|date=28 January 2004|work=Stavanger Aftenblad|page=22|language=no}}</ref> This was agreed to, and Sandnes FK ceased to exist.<ref>{{cite news|title=Draktene blir lyseblå|last=Lindboe|first=Frode S.|date=12 February 2004|work=Stavanger Aftenblad|page=22|language=no}}</ref>
The economy of Sandnes FK was never in the best of shapes. In July 2003 the club barely escaped bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sandnes FK unngikk konkurs|last=Hæreid|first=Marit|date=2 July 2003|work=Stavanger Aftenblad|page=17|language=no}}</ref> The economy improved after the merger.<ref>{{cite news|title=Målet nådd for Sandnes-Ulf|last=Lindboe|first=Frode S.|date=7 October 2004|work=Stavanger Aftenblad|page=28|language=no}}</ref>
==Aftermath== {{further|Sandnes Ulf}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Defunct football clubs in Norway Category:Sport in Sandnes Category:1997 establishments in Norway Category:2004 disestablishments in Norway Category:Association football clubs established in 1997 Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2004