It’s remarkable to learn that the Faroe Islands have two football clubs who can celebrate their centenary in 2004. The Faroe Islands have even a football club which was founded as early as in 1892. TB of Tvøroyri from the island of Suðuroy was founded in 1892 - the same year as Liverpool FC - and is one of the oldest football clubs in the whole of Scandinavia. The oldest football club in Scandinavia is KB Copenhagen in Denmark, founded in 1876.

The Faroe Islands had a very poor infrastructure in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. The communication with the surrounding world was also very poor. Still football found its way to the islands at a very early stage. Poul Effersøe from the village of Tvøroyri introduced football to his fellow villagers as early as 1889. He had learned to play football in a school in the town of Sorø in Denmark. And hence was the "Tvøroyar Bóltfelag" - The Football Club of Tvøroyri, TB founded on 13 May 1892.

Twelve years later "Klaksvíkar Ítróttarfelag" - The Sports club of Klaksvík, KÍ and "Havnar Bóltfelag" - The Football club of Tórshavn, HB were founded. KÍ of Klaksvík was founded some two months before HB of Tórshavn was founded. KÍ was founded at a meeting in a local general store in Klaksvík on 24 August 1904. The three men who were elected to the first board of KÍ were Harald Haraldsen, Ole Biskopstø and Urbanus Frederik Joensen. Harald Haraldsen was the first chairman of KÍ.

Some two months later in October, HB of Tórshavn was founded. Unfortunately in the aftermath, it has not been possible to track the first notes from the board’s records. Thus it’s not possible to tell the exact date of HB’s foundation. But history minded people who have been members of HB estimate that the foundation of the club was somewhere around mid-October 1904. Still it’s clear that the first board of HB was elected on a members meeting on 14 November 1904. Elected to the board were Mads Andrias Winther, Jóan Pauli Joensen and Jákup Mouritsen. Mads Andrias Winther became the first chairman of HB.

There was no organized league-championship in football in the Faroe Islands before 1942. Prior to 1942, the Faroese clubs played friendly games and some cup games, and some cup-tournaments were held. It was far and long between the matches in the beginning of the twentieth century. The first encounter between TB of Tvøroyri and HB was on 13 May 1909. The result of the very first game played in Tvøroyri was a 2-2 draw. On 18 July 1909, the same teams had their second encounter in Tórshavn. The game ended with a 3-1 victory to HB. The first encounter between HB and KÍ was on 16 July 1911 in Tórshavn. HB beat KÍ 5-0 in that game and 2-0 in their second encounter played the following year, also in Tórshavn. Still in the first match between KÍ and HB in Klaksvík in 1912, the final score was 3-3. KÍ did not win their first match ever until 11 September 1927. After losing 5-3 and 7-0 against HB the very same year KÍ beat HB 7-2 in Klaksvík. This was truly a milestone in the club’s history, and KÍ went on to win a lot more in the years to come.

When the first proper Faroese championship was over in 1942, KÍ were the victors. They became the first ever Faroese champions when they beat TB of Tvøroyri 4-1 in the final played in Tórshavn on the National Day of Ólavsøka, 29 July 1942. KÍ won their second championship in 1945, and in the 1950s and 1960s they won a string of championships. KÍ became champions in 1952, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 1961, 66, 67, 68, 69, 1970, 72, 1991 and in 1999. The total tally is 17 Faroese championships.

HB has also a total tally of 17 Faroese championships. HB won their first championship in 1955.  The other championships were won in 1960, 63, 64, 65, 1971, 73, 74, 75, 78, 1981, 82, 88, 1990, 98, 2002 and in 2003. So as both KÍ and HB celebrate their centenary in 2004, the numbers are even. This historical success of both clubs has made them natural archrivals in Faroese football. KÍ and HB are the only Faroese clubs who always have played in the top division. There have been many epical clashes between the teams. Two of the most memorable matches being the last league game in 1971 when HB became champions in Klaksvík. And the last league game in 1972 when KÍ became champions in Tórshavn. And naturally both clubs are very eager to win their 18th league title as they celebrate their centenary in 2004.

Both clubs had opposition from Latvia when they played their first European matches. KÍ played against Skonto Riga in two European Champions League qualifiers in 1992, and HB played RAF Riga in two European Cup winner Cups qualifiers in 1993. Many of the players who have played in the Faroe Islands national team have been playing in either KÍ or HB! Many of the players who have been playing football at a higher level in England, Scotland, Holland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland have had their background in either KÍ or HB.

Both clubs have had a fine youth academy through the years. Many of the youth teams have won countless championship-titles for KÍ and HB. Since women’s football was introduced in the Faroe Islands in 1984, both KÍ and HB have won many women league championships. Especially KÍ have been dominating the women’s league these last years. KÍ have also competed in the UEFA Women Champions Cup in the preliminary group stages.

The governing body of world wide football, FIFA is also celebrating their centenary in 1904. "Féderation Internationale de Football Association", FIFA was founded in Paris on 21 May 1904. The number of countries who became members of FIFA in 1904 was only 7. Now 100 years later, more than 200 countries are members of FIFA. FIFA introduced the World Cup in 1930. The first World Cup was held in Uruguay. The hosts of Uruguay became the first ever world champions in football. Hence FIFA have held the World Cup every fourth year, except during the Second World War in 1942 and in the wake of the war in 1946.

The Faroe Islands gained membership in FIFA and the European body UEFA in 1988. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Faroe Islands are the only non-sovereign countries who are allowed to be members in UEFA due to historical rights. In these forthcoming World Cup qualifiers, the Faroe Islands are in the same group as World champions of 1998, France. In the last Euro-qualifier the Faroe Islands were in the same group as 3 times World- and European champions, Germany.

The first game ever of the Faroe Islands in a qualifier was a Euro-qualifier against Austria on a neutral ground, in Landskrona in Sweden on 12 September 1990. The Faroe Islands beat Austria 1-0, and the result is rated to be one of the biggest ever major upsets in an international football tournament.