It’s a few months since I’ve been in Sweden, but a quick visit coincided with the Second Round of the Swedish Cup. The game that I’d selected was in Pitea. It’s around a fifty-minute drive south from Lulea and, perhaps coincidently, the weather was so much better when we arrived than when setting off.
I was accompanied by a couple of fellas from work, and we got there early enough to nab one of the few remaining spots in the official car park adjoining the IF Arena.
Pitea are in the fourth tier and were taking on AIK of the top division. Apparently, the visitors are regarded as the third best team in Sweden. I’d sorted out tickets online for one hundred SEK a pop. The seats had already sold out by that time, and our allocated spot was a standing area in a newish stand along the side, behind three rows of seats. I got chatting to a couple of young lads stood next to me who filled me in on a lot of the match details as well as pointing out their history teacher, who was part of the Pitea coaching staff.
The game was well attended with two and a half thousand spectators filling the stands along the sides of the pitch and one very old-looking one behind the goal. AIK, from Stockholm, had around three hundred fans in a section further along from us and had brought flags, flares and a drum.
We had difficulties with food and drink as none of us had the Swish payment App popular at Swedish grounds. We had about nine quid in Swedish currency between us and that got us three bottles of coke and two chocolate bars from the only cabin that took cash. It seems so odd that you cannot tap a debit or credit card that would be fine just about anywhere else in the world.
At half-time we moved to the opposite corner of the pitch and stood on a slightly raised embankment. I got a couple of bites from whatever flying insects are doing the rounds in Sweden at this time of year, so regretted not having applied some repellent.
Pitea gave a good account of themselves on the pitch, and it wasn’t always apparent which of the teams played in the top tier. Whilst I’m sure all of the stats would show that AIK were dominant, it didn’t always look that way.
The visitors had to wait until almost half time before going ahead and it wasn’t until midway through the second half that they took the game beyond Pitea. A third goal in added time flattered AIK in what was a good night on and off the pitch for the hosts.
Tags: bitey flies, Swedish Cup, Swish
Trail of the Lion King 
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