Friday 31st May 2013 ko 19.00

Division 5 Norra Uppland

MÅNKARBO 4 (Lund 54 L Svensson 69 W Svensson 77 Jansson 87)

KARLHOLMS GOIF 0

Att 176

Entry, Programme, Badge, Beer, Sandwich,- Included in hop cost

The day started quietly, Kim and I met the coach and the third member of the team, driver Thomas, in Solna. From there we picked up another hopper, John who’d been to the Djurgårdens game the previous evening. We headed north to Arlanda airport to pick up from two flights, Gatwick and Manchester. On the way we received word that the London flight had been delayed due to the pilot having food poisoning. It didn’t matter too much, the drive north to Uppsala was only around an hour, and we still had enough time to allow everyone time to relax in their rooms for 90 minutes before setting out north once again.

It wasn’t far, around a 40 minute drive along the E4, no bad thing for hoppers who’d spent a fair time sat in a departure lounge for 2 hours more than they’d expected. It turned out that Månkarbo was exactly what everyone needed. It’s a village of 600 or so inhabitants, set in the most gorgeous forest. Nearby is the village of Vendel, where in the 19th century an excavation of the local churchyard revealed artefacts from a 7th century Viking ship burial, and a further dig in 1917 produced the grave of a powerful ruler, probably Ohthere. The character of the same name in the epic Beowulf is based around him.

Tallparken is so clearly the village’s hub. The hall behind one goal is large enough for the club to use as a gymnasium, a bar, and a music venue. For this evening Continue reading →