Bregenz

Early years (1919–1945)

FC Bregenz was founded on 28 June 1919 with the club colours being black and white, making it the fourth oldest football club in the Vorarlberg region. In its early history, the club played mainly friendly matches against German and Swiss clubs from around Lake Constance. In 1927, the Bregenz based club made its first appearance in the Vorarlberger A-Klasse, the highest level in Vorarlberg at the time, where they finished second. Already in 1928, FC Bregenz became Vorarlberg champions ahead of FA Turnerbund Lustenau (today SC Austria Lustenau) and FC Lustenau. In 1930, FC Bregenz only reached fourth place and, as a result, were relegated from the A-Klasse. In 1933, the Bregenz team was back in the top flight and managed to stay in the Vorarlberger A-Klasse until its upheaval in 1938. After the Anschluss in 1938, the Vorarlberger A-Klasse was replaced by the Bodensee-Vorarlberg Bezirksklasse. The best clubs in Vorarlberg (including FC Bregenz) now played in the same league with clubs such as VfB Friedrichshafen, VfL Lindau, SV Weingarten, FC Lindenberg, and other clubs from Meckenbeuren, Langenargen, Ravensburg, and other areas in Germany. The 1941–42 season was cancelled due to World War II.

After World War II (1945–1999)

After the end of the war, FC Bregenz returned to its footballing activities. However, the club had to choose a new name as ordered by the French occupying forces. In 1945, the club was therefore renamed Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz. The club logo, which was designed by Bregenz honorary member Hans Kolb, also dates from this year. As early as 1946, Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz played in the highest league in Vorarlberg, which was now called 1. Klasse Vorarlberg. A Vorarlberg league championship was held until 1950. In 1950, the Arlbergliga was founded by the football associations of Vorarlberg and Tyrol. After winning several championships, Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz became the first club from Vorarlberg to be promoted to the top division of Austria, the Staatsliga, in 1954. However, the club only managed one season at the highest level, and they were relegated again the following year. In 1960, the Regionalliga West was founded, in which Bregenz played for many years.

In 1966, Schwarz-Weiß ventured into the top Austrian division for a second time and even finished sixth (1966–67 season). Two years later they were relegated again – only to return in the 1970–71 season season under the sponsor name SC Olymp Bregenz. After one year, they relegated again.

The 1970s were marked by several mergers and name changes. In the 1973–74 campaign, after a merger with FC Rätia Bludenz, which had been promoted to the first division, the club was called FC Vorarlberg for a short time. In the 1974–75 season the official name was SC Vorwerk Vorarlberg (Bregenz) after the new sponsor was introduced. The most momentous merger occurred in 1979: Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz merged with FC Dornbirn 1913 and was named IG Bregenz/Dornbirn until 1987. Under the name Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz, the team was promoted to the second division in 1996. After Casinos Austria became the main sponsor, the Bregenz club started playing as Casino SW Bregenz.

Bundesliga, Europe, and bankruptcy (1999–2005)

Between 1999 and the 2004–05 season, the club played in the Austrian Bundesliga. In 2002 and 2004, Bregenz also played European football in the UEFA Intertoto Cup. Opponents included Torino, against whom the club was eliminated after a 1–0 away defeat at the Stadio Delle Alpi and a 1–1 draw at home.

After a successful run, the club ran into increasingly severe financial problems. A poor 2004–05 season was followed by relegation to the second-tier Erste Liga. However, the club was denied a licence for the following season due to financial problems. After also losing the battle before the permanent neutral arbitration court of the Austrian Bundesliga, Bregenz filed for bankruptcy and was consequently dissolved.

Resurgence (2005–present)

The senior team was admitted to the 5th level of the Austrian football pyramid and adapted the traditional black and white club colours of the former SW Bregenz in the 2009–10 season. On 8 July 2013 the club was renamed Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz again and they also took over the logo of the former club.

The club was relegated from Austrian Regionalliga West in 2016.

In 2022–23, Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz secure promotion to Austrian 2. Liga from 2023–24 and champions of Regionalliga West in 2022–23.