Post by hatter_in_macc on Aug 30, 2015 0:01:40 GMT
Phil B approached me recently about producing a brief piece for September's NonLeagueMagazine on the matches played over here, earlier this year, by Rolvsoy.
The result, now appearing as part of a 'Viking Invasion' section that also features the adventures of a Norwegian groundhopper, is reproduced below.
Hope you enjoy. The Mag, in its entirety (and available in the Club Shop), is well worth a read, incidentally!
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For five days in March, Stockport and the town’s environs played host to a pre-season tour by Rolvsøy IF - a fifth-tier Norwegian side playing in the Østfold Fotballkrets Regional League.
The thirty-strong visiting squad, from an island nestling in South-East Norway between Oslo and the Swedish border, played three well-fought, entertaining matches against local sides during their tour. Its players also had an opportunity to try their hand - or, rather, feet - at the slow-paced version of the game when they took on the North-West Walking Football Champions from Blackpool.
Kicking off the itinerary at Cheadle Town’s ground against Cale Green, from the Stockport District Sunday Football League, Rolvsøy found themselves two goals behind at an early stage, and three at half-time, before rallying to make a much more even contest of it after the break. Entry to the match had been free - but the wonderful solo run by 16 year-old Martin Samuelsen that led to a consolation strike in Cale Green’s 4-1 victory would, by itself, have justified an admission charge!
It was a similar story the following evening, when some actual silverware - in the form of the inaugural Stockport International Challenge Trophy - was at stake. Taking on newly-formed Stockport Town at the Sports Village in Woodley, Rolvsøy fell behind in the opening minutes as they sought to adjust to the fast-paced 3G playing surface. Again, it ended 4-1 in the local team’s favour. Were it not, however, for Rolvsøy’s failure to put away a second-half sitter, and the waving away of claims for what looked a good penalty shout, the scoreline could have been rather tighter.
The final match, played at New Mills in glorious Derbyshire sunshine, against Hazel Grove from the Manchester Saturday Morning Football League, saw Rolvsøy get closer. The tourists repeated that habit of conceding early in the first half, and, for good measure, did likewise immediately after the break. Top of the list of take-home messages for their season-proper clearly needed to be along the lines of keeping things tighter just after the whistle had blown to get proceedings started or back underway!
They halved the deficit courtesy of a penalty, for which, interestingly, their highly-rated young goalkeeper, Vebjørn Sahlin, had stepped up. With a no-nonsense, pinged conversion (think Joe Hart, and you’re getting there!), Sahlin, already with more than twenty spot-kick successes to his name, ensured the maintenance of a 100% success record from twelve yards. He is one to watch with the gloves, too - having been the brightest shining star of Rolvsøy’s tour. Remember where you heard it first.
The closest that they came to victory? Well, not quite. Sandwiched between the Cale Green and Stockport Town matches was a seven-all draw in the Walking Football - only for those wily old Senior Seasiders to nick the honours on penalties!
A successful tour, though? Without a doubt. These congenial modern-day Vikings made many friends in and around Stockport during their short stay. And, with half of the season back home completed at the time of writing, they lie third - with promotion well in their sights.
You see, it’s all in the preparation...
The result, now appearing as part of a 'Viking Invasion' section that also features the adventures of a Norwegian groundhopper, is reproduced below.
Hope you enjoy. The Mag, in its entirety (and available in the Club Shop), is well worth a read, incidentally!
*****************************************************************************************************
For five days in March, Stockport and the town’s environs played host to a pre-season tour by Rolvsøy IF - a fifth-tier Norwegian side playing in the Østfold Fotballkrets Regional League.
The thirty-strong visiting squad, from an island nestling in South-East Norway between Oslo and the Swedish border, played three well-fought, entertaining matches against local sides during their tour. Its players also had an opportunity to try their hand - or, rather, feet - at the slow-paced version of the game when they took on the North-West Walking Football Champions from Blackpool.
Kicking off the itinerary at Cheadle Town’s ground against Cale Green, from the Stockport District Sunday Football League, Rolvsøy found themselves two goals behind at an early stage, and three at half-time, before rallying to make a much more even contest of it after the break. Entry to the match had been free - but the wonderful solo run by 16 year-old Martin Samuelsen that led to a consolation strike in Cale Green’s 4-1 victory would, by itself, have justified an admission charge!
It was a similar story the following evening, when some actual silverware - in the form of the inaugural Stockport International Challenge Trophy - was at stake. Taking on newly-formed Stockport Town at the Sports Village in Woodley, Rolvsøy fell behind in the opening minutes as they sought to adjust to the fast-paced 3G playing surface. Again, it ended 4-1 in the local team’s favour. Were it not, however, for Rolvsøy’s failure to put away a second-half sitter, and the waving away of claims for what looked a good penalty shout, the scoreline could have been rather tighter.
The final match, played at New Mills in glorious Derbyshire sunshine, against Hazel Grove from the Manchester Saturday Morning Football League, saw Rolvsøy get closer. The tourists repeated that habit of conceding early in the first half, and, for good measure, did likewise immediately after the break. Top of the list of take-home messages for their season-proper clearly needed to be along the lines of keeping things tighter just after the whistle had blown to get proceedings started or back underway!
They halved the deficit courtesy of a penalty, for which, interestingly, their highly-rated young goalkeeper, Vebjørn Sahlin, had stepped up. With a no-nonsense, pinged conversion (think Joe Hart, and you’re getting there!), Sahlin, already with more than twenty spot-kick successes to his name, ensured the maintenance of a 100% success record from twelve yards. He is one to watch with the gloves, too - having been the brightest shining star of Rolvsøy’s tour. Remember where you heard it first.
The closest that they came to victory? Well, not quite. Sandwiched between the Cale Green and Stockport Town matches was a seven-all draw in the Walking Football - only for those wily old Senior Seasiders to nick the honours on penalties!
A successful tour, though? Without a doubt. These congenial modern-day Vikings made many friends in and around Stockport during their short stay. And, with half of the season back home completed at the time of writing, they lie third - with promotion well in their sights.
You see, it’s all in the preparation...
