FK Eik Tønsberg

The club was founded as Eik Idrettsforening on 14 March 1928, and included the city name Tønsberg in 1989. Before 1988, the district Eik was located in Sem Municipality, but Sem was incorporated into Tønsberg. It was formerly a team of nationwide importance. The team played their first season in the Norwegian top division in the 1957–58 season and finished in sixth place out of eight teams in group B. In the 1959–60 season they finished second in the Main League group B, reaching a bronze play-off match which they won 4–2 against Vålerengen. Since this was the first time a bronze play-off was held, Eik became the first bronze medalists in Norwegian football's top division. In the following 1960–61 season they won the Main League group B, reaching a gold playoff match which they lost to Fredrikstad. Well-known players were Arne Natland, Arne Høivik and Tore Halvorsen, all of whom were capped by Norway. Eik were promoted to the Norwegian top flight in 1982, finished fifth in 1983, and were relegated in 1985. Among the profiles on this team were midfielder Geir "Bolla" Johansen and striker Nick Sandberg, both of whom played briefly on the international stage, as well as future Tottenham goalkeeper Erik Thorstvedt who left the club after the 1983 season. In the 1990s the team was a mainstay in the 1. divisjon, the second tier. After the 1997 season it even contested a playoff to win promotion to the Tippeligaen, but did not win. The team was relegated after the 2000 1. divisjon…