DFC was delighted to welcome members of the Norwegian football fan group Stovner Saklighetsraad for Engelsk Fotball to Princes Park, this weekend.
Based in Oslo, the group was formed so like-minded football friends from the capital’s suburbs could get together to watch English matches in the pub.
But not content with the TV games, the idea has developed into an annual trip to watch a match in England. Well, Dartford, to be precise!
President Geir Forsberg explained: “We wanted to find a team that no one in the group supported. We support a lot of teams between us, from Leeds, to Stoke and Derby!
“The idea was to find an authentic club, not too far from the airport, and one of the members found Dartford. It’s now our club!”
Stovner Saklighetsraad for Engelsk Fotball (Stovner Objectivity Council for English Football) was founded in 2018 and has now grown to more than 400 members.
They have two major get-togethers each year, but also meet in smaller groups to watch English games from 1pm to late, with a few drinks and bets, not unheard of.
This was the group’s third visit to DFC in the past three seasons, with five members visiting the first year, 13, last season and 15, this weekend for the match against Folkestone. The group were also the Match Day Sponsors.
Geir continued: “The first year we were treated like rock stars, you treated us so well.
“We couldn’t believe how professional a club was at this level. It’s bigger than some of the clubs in the top division of Norway!
“So, the group that has come here has grown each year and I’m sure will be even bigger next year.”
Norway and England have enjoyed a long history when it comes to football.
Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard are the big names from Norway gracing our screens and stadiums each week in the Premiership today, but in the 90s, the English game enjoyed a huge influx of stars, including Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Henning Berg, Lars Bohinen and Alf-Inge Haaland, to name a few.
However, Dartford FC’s own history is intertwined with Norway’s, too, with parts spanning over 110 years.
Not only did DFC Manager Ady Pennock spend a season on loan at Molde FK in the early part of his career, but the club is believed to have been the first English club to tour abroad, with none other than Norway, the destination, in 1912.
The Dartford party at the time, took the train to Hull, before sailing to Christiania, travelling some 3,500 miles during the tour and beating a Norwegian select X1 6-1. The club also toured the country again, the following season.
Members of Stovner Saklighetsraad for Engelsk Fotball arrived last Friday, especially for the match and travelled home on Monday, with a night out in Dartford on the itinerary.
DFC hopes the group’s members enjoyed the match, keep-up challenge, hospitality and their return to the club, and thanks them for their amazing support.
Skål! (cheers!) – to our Norwegian friends, we hope to see you again next season!