HNK Tomislav

Hrvatski nogometni klub Tomislav (Croatian Football Club Tomislav) is a professional football club from Tomislavgrad, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The club competes in the First League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Established in 1920 and named after the Croatian king Tomislav, the club played on improvised terrains. Its first official match was a 2–1 victory against Stožer. Due to the official state policy of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, which suppressed Croatian nationalism, in 1928, the club was renamed to Vran, after the nearby mountain. After World War II, in 1946, the new communist authorities changed the name of the club to Zvijezda (star). The club didn't play any official matches until 1952 when it joined the Football Sub-Federal League Mostar. In 1954, the club's name was again changed to Budućnost (future). During this period, the club gained its official ground in the town centre. In 1958, after the Sub-Federal League was split into North and South groups, Budućnost played in the North group. The next season, the group became the Football Sub-Federal League Livno. In May 1960, the Sub-Federal League decided to suspend the first-ranked Budućnost in order to make Triglav, a football club from Livno, a champion. The suspension was lifted in December 1960, with Budućnost still winning the title. In 1962, Budućnost joined the Third Yugoslav League for the Herzegovina zone. The next year, the club gained the current ground called Ferovac. In 1978, the Third League for Herzegovina was again divided into groups, while in 1979, the Republican Regional League–South of which Budućnost was a member, was formed. In the season of 1981–82, Budućnost was again back in the Herzegovina Zone – South. In 1984, the Herzegovina zones South and North united again.

In 1990, with the democratisation process in Yugoslavia, the club returned to its original name Tomislav, while the grounds were renamed to Gradski stadion Tomislav (Town stadium Tomislav) In the season of 1990–91 Tomislav played in the Herzegovina Zone – South took first place and entered the Republican Regional League – South. In 1991 Tomislav was successful in the Coup of Yugoslavia entering the round of 16 where it was defeated by RAD from Belgrade with a result of 0–4. From 1993 to 2000, during the existence of the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia, Tomislav competed in the First League of Herzeg-Bosnia. In the 1993–94 season, Tomislav was a runner-up, while Široki Brijeg won the championship of the Herzegovina group of the First League. Both clubs had the same number of points and the same goal difference, but Široki Brijeg was better in matches between the respective clubs. In the 1994–95 season, Tomislav took 4th place. In the 1995–96 season, 80% of players were recruited, but nonetheless, Tomislav managed to perform well. In the 1996–97 season, Tomislav was demoted to the Second League of Herzeg-Bosnia. From 1997 to 2001, Tomislav competed in the Second League of Herzego Bosnia – Center 2.

In 2000, a new league system was established in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Tomislav in the Second League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a third-tier league divided into several groups. In the 2000–01 season, HNK Tomislav won the championship in the group Center and was followed by the Drinovci football club from Drinovci. Tomislav played the qualifying game from the North group champion Mladost from Domaljevac and won with an aggregate score of 7–1, thus qualifying for the First League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the 2003–04 season, Tomislav ended up 14th and was again demoted to the Second League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where it competed until the 2020–21 season when it re-entered the First League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Tomislavgrad's football history starts in 1910, when August Batinić, a player of the NK SAŠK, brought a ball in Tomislavgrad, at the time named Županjac. The first football matches were played at Bara, where the present-day basilica is located.

The idea of establishing a football club appeared after World War I. However, the founding assembly was held only on 30 April 1920 in a pub owned by Ilija Zrno Čokrlja. Batinić initiated the idea. The first president of the football club's committee was Stojan Protrka. The committee named the football club HNK Tomislav in honour of the first Croatian king Tomislav, whose crowning according to the legend, took place near Županjac, and preparations were underway to mark a 1000-year jubilee of the event. The first kit, a white shirt, and black trousers, in which footballers played before World War I, were confirmed by the committee as the official kit.

The construction of a playground was among the main goals of the committee, however, it wasn't realised. The club player on various improvised playgrounds. The first match played by the club was in Županjac on 29 September 1920 against students from Županjac who studied at the Široki Brijeg gymnasium. Tomislav won the match. The first official match was played against Stožer, won by Tomislav 2–1.

In 1928, Županjac changed its name to Tomislavgrad, officially in honour of Prince Tomislav, son of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia, but unofficially in honour of King Tomislav of Croatia. Due to the official state policy of Kingdom of Yugoslavia which suppressed Croatian nationalism, in 1927 the club was renamed to Vran (after the Vran mountain), a name that was used until 1946, so it could continue to play against other football clubs.

Communist Yugoslavia
During the World War II, Tomislavgrad was part of the German puppet-state Independent State of Croatia, which was divided into two demarcation zones, one occupied by Germans and the other by Italians. Tomislavgrad was in the Italian zone. During the war, Vran played matches against the Italian regiments.

After World War II, the communists took power. In accordance with the socialist ideology, Vran changed its name to Zvijezda (Star). This was the club's name from 1946 to 1954. The official kit was a red shirt and blue trousers and socks. Zvijezda didn't participate in the official contests, but it did play against neighbouring football clubs. In 1952, Zvijezda played in the Football Sub-Federal League Mostar.

Zvijezda again changed its name on 23 August 1954 to Fudbalski klub Budućnost (Football Club Future). The club used this name until 1990. The Budućnost's colours were red and white. Budućnost continued to play in the Football Sub-Federal League Mostar. The League had 10 clubs. The official playground of Budućnost was now near the town's centre.

In 1958 the Football Sub-Federal League Mostar was divided into two groups – North and South, each had 6 clubs. Budućnost was in the group North. The group North had six clubs. Budućnost ended up fourth.

On the initiative of the sportsmen from Livno, the Football Sub-Federation Livno was formed. The Football Sub-Federation Livno existed from 1959 to 1963. It had 6 clubs. In order to maintain the Sub-Federation Livno, new clubs were formed. Budućnost competed in the Sub-Federation Livno until 1962.

As a factory was being constructed at the Budućnost's playground, Budućnost played on an improvised playground at Glibine in Ćavarov Stan. In May 1960 the Sub-Federation Livno suspended Budućnost and the suspension was lifted in December 1960. Budućnost was suspended because the Sub-Federation Livno intended to make Troglav a champion, and first place was held by Budućnost. Nonetheless, Budućnost ended up first and entered the Herzegovina Zone, part of the Third Yugoslav League. Budućnost ended up 11th out of 12 clubs and continued to compete in the Herzegovina Zone.

In 1963 Budućnost gained a new stadium named Ferovac, which serves as the official stadium for HNK Tomislav today. The stadium had stands and locker rooms. On average, Budućnost was at the centre of the rankings or was competing to remain in the Third League. As of season 1971–72 to 1974–75, Budućnost was among the top clubs of the Third League.

In 1978 the Herzegovina Zone was divided into two groups. The division was made because many new clubs were founded in Herzegovina. Budućnost was in the group amongst ten other clubs. Budućnost won third place.

In 1979, the new Republican Regional League–South was formed and Budućnost managed to enter the newly formed league and played in it through the 1979–80 season.

In the season of 1981–82, Budućnost was again back in the Herzegovina Zone – South. In 1984 it was decided to unite the North and South groups into one league with 18 clubs, among which was Budućnost which ended up 13th.

Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia
In 1989 Fudbalski klub Budućnost changed its name to Nogometni klub Budućnost, using the Croatian term for football instead of the official Serbo-Croatian. On 30 May 1990, Budućnost took its original name HNK Tomislav. The official stadium was named Gradski stadion "Tomislav" (City Stadium "Tomislav").

In the season of 1990–91, Tomislav played in the Herzegovina Zone – South took first place and entered the Republican Regional League – South. In 1991 Tomislav was successful in the Coup of Yugoslavia entering the round of 16 where it was defeated by RAD from Belgrade with a result of 0–4.

Tomislav played three matches in the Republican Regional League – South in total and refused to continue to compete after that due to political reasons, namely protesting against the war in Croatia. After Tomislav left the League, other Croatian clubs did so as well.

During the Bosnian War, all players of the Tomislav participated either as soldiers or in working units. Tomislav continued to exist despite the war. In August 1992 it played a tournament against the units of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO). Tomislav also played against a team of UNPROFOR and won 11–0. Other friendly games against other football clubs were played as well.

From 1993 to 2000, Tomislav competed in the First League of Herzeg-Bosnia. The First League of Herzeg-Bosnia was the first league formed during the war and the only league in existence after the war. Football Federation of Herzeg-Bosnia as well as the Herzeg-Bosnia national football team also existed. The Serb and Bosniak football clubs play in their own respective leagues. Each national league had its own football federation and national team.

In the 1993–94 season, Tomislav was a runner-up, while Široki Brijeg won the championship of the Herzegovina group of the First League. Both clubs had the same number of points and the same goal difference, but Široki Brijeg was better in matches between the respective clubs. Thus, Široki Brijeg gained the right to play off with the champions from the Posavina and Central Bosnia groups, eventually defeating them and becoming the champion of Herzeg-Bosnia.

In the 1994–95 season, Tomislav took 4th place. In the 1995–96 season, 80% of players were recruited, but nonetheless, Tomislav managed to perform well. In the 1996–97 season, Tomislav was demoted to the Second League of Herzeg-Bosnia. From 1997 to 2001, Tomislav competed in the Second League of Herzego Bosnia – Center 2.

Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The First League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the second football leagues in Bosnia and Herzegovina, gathering the football clubs from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the two political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The other second league is the First League of the Republika Srpska, the football league gathering the football clubs from Republika Srpska, the other political entity. Both leagues were formed in 2000. On the same principle, the third leagues were also formed, namely the Second League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Second League of the Republika Srpska. These leagues are further divided into several groups. The Second League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was divided into the groups North, Center, South, and West, with HNK Tomislav competing in the group Center.

In the 2000–01 season, HNK Tomislav won the championship in the group Center and was followed by the Drinovci football club from Drinovci. Tomislav played the qualifying game from the North group champion Mladost from Domaljevac and won with an aggregate score of 7–1, thus qualifying for the First League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In the 2001–02 season of the First League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tomislav ended up 8th. The next season, Tomislav ended up 14th, and was again demoted to the Second League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Center, where it competes today.