Friday 6th June 2025 ko 19:30

Division 2 Norra Svealand

NACKA FC 1 (Nisic 64)

IK FRANKE 0

Att 66 at Myrsjö I.P.

Free Entry

The Swedish Hop’s cost of £350 included bed and breakfast for two nights, all transport in Sweden, together with entry fees for all games, and a goodie bag!

The Swedish Hop minibus parked up in Sickla Kaj, in Stockholm’s ultra-hip Hammarby Sjöstad and the party had a short time to settle at the Best Western Hotel. Robyn and I have got so used to the place, and the area that it all feels as comfortable as old slippers.

We’ve got used to the artwork in the breakfast room- “Tit and an elastoplast” anyone? But more than anything else it offers both comfort and ease of access to the Tvarbanan (trams) to quickly get into central Stockholm. We unpacked, then all met at the local Max for a prematch meal.

To the uninitiated Max is the Swedish version of McDonald’s, although I’d argue the food is way better. The firm, originally from Swedish Lapland was named obliquely after actor Max von Sydow and comes with a Swedish only policy down even to the music played, and an impish way of winding up a certain US Hamburger chain.

They famously tried to trademark a burger they named the “Big Max” eventually having to settle for “Big!” Then there was the time the Borås Arena was due to host a couple of games in the 2009 European Youth Championships. The big American firm thought they could get the Max under the main stand shut for the entire tournament. Max offered to close only during matches, but that wasn’t enough for either UEFA or the Americans. Yes, I do tend to order my Friscomål at Max with a certain cynical glee!!

Sadly the rains came while we were eating, but we did have an extra game to go do. Many will remember us visiting Nacka IP on last year’s event, and slightly perversely Nacka FC play 8km north-east in Saltsjö-Boo, yes we visited nearby Boovallen last year too. We also saw IK Franke before too, the Västerås-based outfit were the visitors at FoC Farsta last year- it is a small world!

Over the years I’ve visited no end of idrottsplats like Myrsjö I.P. They’re not the most preposessing of places, but there’s a lot to be said for a set of bleachers and a treelined backdrop. The issue here was that for the majority of the game it hammered down with rain, some sensibly sheltered. I decided to brave it, knowing I could dry out back at the hotel.

Those who did were well-rewarded, with an excellent game featuring former Icelandic international Birkir Már Sævarsson playing for the hosts. Now 40 and converted to centre half he’s best known for playing full back for Iceland 103 times including their famous 2016 European Championships win against England- he marked Raheem Sterling out of the game. He spent this game comfortably sat in a pocket of unconcious competance, and when Keman Nisic opened the scoring for Nacka there was little doubt that the hosts would go on to win the game.

There were no end of groundhoppers at the game, hardly surprising since it was the only late game locally. It was bizarre to be recognised so far from home, a factor of social media, but it was lovely to talk travel with so many folks although I’m not sure what they find of interest about me!