Persik Kediri

In terms of football Kediri has quite a long history. The beginning of the emergence of the sport football in Kediri started with the opening of Dutch factories employing Dutch people, who brought football to remote areas like Kediri. During the colonial era, the economy in Kediri was dominated by the Dutch, and Kediri was renowned for its sugar production. During the Cultuurstelsel era, the Kediri Residency began developing several export crops, including sugarcane. The favorable soil conditions for sugarcane cultivation contributed to the development of sugar factories in Kediri. The numerous sugar factories established by the Dutch in the Kediri area also influenced various aspects, including sports. One of the most developed sports was football. After the construction of the PG.Meritjan sugar factory by the Nederland Indische Landbouw Maatshaapl (NILM) in 1903, Dutch employees also arrived in Kediri. Initially, the Kediri community was merely spectators as the PG.Meritjan employees played football. These employees often held practice matches and when their team was short of members, they often asked the audience to join in. This was the beginning of the Kediri community's introduction to the game of football.

Foundation

Since the arrival of football in Kediri, local people have started to like this sport. Initially the Kediri people only played football when the Dutch held a soccer match, but over time the Kediri people began to play it alone without the presence of the Dutch. Football is a sport that is easily accepted by the people of Kediri because this sport is easy to play and this sport emphasizes teamwork. Football seems to be a culture among the people, football in Kediri began to develop with the emergence of soccer clubs in the Kediri area. Not only small clubs that appeared in several areas of Kediri, but in 1950 the association football club was established in Kediri, namely Persik.

In the archives of the management, the Indonesian football association of Kediri (abbreviated PERSIK) was established on 9 May 1950. The founders were the regent of Kediri, R.M. Muhammad Machin with T.H.D. Rachmat (Liem Giok Djie) and M. Sanusi. At that time Kediri still had the status of regency, there were no regional divisions, regencies, and city. With the help of Liem Giok Djie, he became a senior official of PT. Gudang Garam has something in common with Muhammad Machin in terms of football. When the two met, an agreement emerged to develop football coaching in Kediri. He first designed the team's flag which was composed of two colors. The top is red and the bottom is black with the words Persik in the middle of the two colors.

Mergers and acquisitions

On 18 August 2011, Persik merged with Minangkabau from the Liga Primer Indonesia. According to Samsul, who at that time served as the General Chairman of Persik, this policy was carried out to fulfill the legal requirements in the form of a legal entity recognized by PSSI. However, the management is dominated by Persik with the name maintained until now even though the management and legal entity have changed.

Club performance

Since the Liga Indonesia started in 1994, Persik has won 2003 and 2006 editions respectively. The club promoted to the top-tier level in 2002. In the East Java, Persik Kediri has a great name, the team was famous football club also with Arema, and Persebaya, which used to be the best derbies in East Java. The supporters of this club are called Persikmania of Man & Persik Nona of Woman.

Persik Kediri is entitled to a ticket to play in Asian Champions League 2007 after winning Indonesian League in 2006. The Indonesian League champions were immediately confronted by three strong Asian teams. The three teams are Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Sydney FC (Australia), and Shanghai Shenhua (China). Persik was able to make it difficult for the club labeled as the Asian giant by putting up a fight to beat Sydney FC (2–1) and Shanghai Shenhua (1–0) at home which was then located at Manahan Stadium. In the last home match against Urawa Red Diamonds, Persik Kediri were able to force the Japanese representative to draw, Persik Kediri really gave a fierce resistance by winning 2–1 in the first half through a brace Cristian Gonzales but in the end it was equalized and ended with a score of (3–3). These results had opened Persik Kediri's hopes to qualify for the next round on the condition that they must win at home to Shanghai Shenhua. Unfortunately, in the end, Persik Kediri were eliminated due to a crushing defeat in Shanghai (0–6), Meanwhile, Urawa Red Diamonds managed to win the 2007 Asian Champions League. The failure of Persik Kediri, which at that time was strengthened by Cristian Gonazales, Ronald Fagundez, and Danilo Fernando, to qualify from the group stage because they always lost away. Even so, Persik Kediri recorded an achievement by being unbeaten at home and forced to draw with the prospective Asian championship champions.