The Club
Kristiansund Ballklubb is one of the youngest clubs in Eliteserien, but also one of the most passionate.
A region rich in football culture
Kristiansund have for almost 100 years been home to a football community that have contributed to a huge interest for the sport in the town and surrounding region. We can mention today's current teams; Clausenengen FK (CFK), Dahle, Kristiansund FK (KFK), Nordlandet and Frei.
In prior periods some of the teams approached national peak, but in recent years Kristiansund have been underrepresented in the national football league. This primarily reflects an increasingly strong national competition, but the main issue were located in the vastness and diversity of teams and competition in the local football arena. Great players moved out and started playing for other teams in Norway and abroad.
Based on this brief history, it should be proven that we in our region can create talents that can help shape a national top team in the long term.
One uniting club
This has certainly also been the background that in the past 20-30 years have been several attempts to pooling resources - primarily on the A team. As a result of the strong club feeling like all clubs have built up over a long time, this has stopped most attempts.
During 2002 and 2003 we felt the need for joint investment was stronger than ever, not least as a result of several years of weak sporting results in the region. Players, coaches and managers have done their best, but it has not been easy when most of the top tier players disappear before they have established themselves on the local teams.
The steady accumulation of new clubs had depleted our local player base, and a new strategy had to be prepared. The breakthrough came when SpareBank 1 Nordmøre (local branch of SpareBank 1) presented its contribution for such a strategy change.
Trough enthusiasm and success KBK have given new life to Nordmøre.
— Hans Mellemsæther, marketing manager Sparebank 1 Nordmøre
Under the assumption that the two largest clubs in Kristiansund, CFK and KFK, collaborated on a joint football club, the bank would invest 2.250.000 NOK in the development of a uniting club for Nordmøre. The result was the establishment of Kristiansund Ballklubb in 2003.
One way to the top
Since the breakthrough and establishing of Kristiansund Ballklubb the football community has seen the rise of Kristiansund and Nordmøre as a football team to be reckoned with.
The club has seen a steady climb on the charts, moving from 4th to 3rd tier after only two seasons, and was promoted to OBOS-ligaen (2nd tier) in 2012.
The team builds on the values that are so important to the region, that we all stand together and work with enthusiasm towards a common goal. This has proven to be a success factor for KBK, something we've seen in the club's growth.
In 2016 Kristiansund Ballklubb took 1st place and gold in OBOS-ligaen, securing a place in Eliteserien in 2017 – the top tier in Norwegian football. Since then Kristiansund Ballklubb have establish themselves as a top Norwegian football club. With 7th place, 5th place, 6th place, 5th place and 6th place in the following years.
Anniversary year
2022 was a tough year for KBK, and despite a strong and persistent fight, we marginally finished in 15th place and were relegated to OBOS-ligaen.
2023 was a season for rebuilding. It ended with a new promotion to Eliteserien when KBK won the playoff final at Intility Arena in December.
This was a perfect end to the club's anniversary year. On 2 September 2023, it was 20 years since KBK was founded, and the anniversary was marked with a sustainability conference, anniversary and birthday matches, a special anniversary kit, name change to Nordmøre stadium, mini-conference and anniversary party.
In 2024 we are back in Eliteserien! This is a huge journey from the small beginnings in 2003, and has proved that Kristiansund and Nordmøre can make the impossible possible when we stand together.
