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 that employed Dutch people, it was they who brought football far into the interior like Kediri. During the colonial period, economic conditions in Kediri were controlled by the Dutch, for the economic sector Kediri was indeed famous for its sugar production. With the establishment of many sugar factories in the Kediri area by the Dutch, it also had an influence in various aspects, one of which was sports. And one of the most developed sports in Kediri is football. After the construction of the PG. Meritjan sugar factory in 1918, Dutch employees also entered Kediri. At first the people of Kediri were just spectators when the sport of football was played by employees PG. Meritjan. These employees often do sparring and when their team members are lacking they often ask the audience to play along. This was the beginning of the people of Kediri getting to know 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. 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 Kediri in the middle of the two colors.

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.

Club performance

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.

Crest

The Persik Kediri logo is in the shape of a pentagon with red and black background colors. Inside the pentagon there are two yellow gates. This symbolizes the glory of Kediri Kingdom in the past. It was explained that the Kediri kingdom was very broad and rich, at that time in the world the richest countries apart from China sequentially were; Abbasid caliphate which ruled over Arab, Kediri which controlled the eastern part of the archipelago and Srivijaya Empire which controlled the western part of the archipelago.

Between the two gates in the logo there is a flower symbol taken from the PSSI logo, indicating that Persik Kediri is a member of the Indonesian Football Association. Above the image of the gate is the inscription Persik, as the name of the team and the inscription Kediri below the image of the gate, indicating the city of origin of this club. This peach logo is the fruit of a design by a Kediri artist named Harsono. He is also known as a teacher in this town. The peach logo is used until now and has not changed. The nickname of the White tiger that is pinned refers to the symbol of the Kediri city government. The White Tiger is believed to be the incarnation of King Jayabaya, which until now has become a symbol of the fame of the Land of Kediri. Jayabaya was the fourth king of the Kediri Kingdoms well as the most influential king in Javanese civilization.