WE WANT FOOTBALL TO BE ABOUT COMMUNITY, BEING PROUD OF YOUR CITY, HISTORY AND TRADITIONS…

Today we will take you to Norway. Maybe for many of us it is a beautifull but cold country in the North of Europe, but we want to show you that people are warmhearted and very passionate about their local football.

1. Please tell me about the ultras movement in Norway. When did it start, who were the biggest protagonists of the movement? How did it change through the decades?

The ultras movement in Norway is still young, but in the late 90s you saw the first groups in Norway using the name ultras. Clubs like Rosenborg and Lillestrøm adopted the ultras culture from Europe, and later, clubs like our own Strømsgodset, Brann and Vålerenga moved towards a more ultras influenced style. Norwegian supporter culture has always been inspired by the British supporters because of the popularity of the English football in Norway, but you could see some really great tifos and pyro show in both the late 90s and earyl 2000s. Today it seems like the ultras culture and this way of organizing active support is more popular among the young fans.

2. How do you see it today? Is there a decline or a rise in numbers and quality of tifos, the numbers of travelling support?

Before corona virus there was a nice devolpment in the Norwegian ultras movement. More young fans coming to the stadium and supporting their local team with the ultras, and some great pyro shows and tifo. Also we were and still are at "war" with our football federation, reagarding new rules and laws against pyro. Many groups made great shows and took part in the protest.

3. Where would you put Stromsgodset, if you have to make a ranking of all groups in Norway? You rank the tifos and away games.

I would say the best groups and support in Norway comes from these five teams: Strømsgodset, Brann, Lillestrøm, Vålerenga and Rosenborg. When it comes to ranking, it can depend on the season and other factors. It can change from year to year.

4. What do you think, why did the Italian style catch on in Norway and not the English? Your people are crazy about the English football...

English football is very popular in Norway, and as i mentioned the "English style" was a big influence on our supporter culture. More people started traveling to other countries to watch football and with internet and socail media you can be inspired by supporters from all over the world. I would say for my club we take inspiration from all over the world and make our own style.

5. Please tell me about the groups at Stromsgodset: Their name, what do they represent, when were they founded, their role in the support?

Strømsø Fanatikere is the first and only ultras group in our city. There was and still are some smaller groups of friends that go to games together, but in 2014 we presented our banner in the stadium and started to organize support. Starting chants, making tifo and pyro. There is also a younger ultras group starting up, but because of the corona pandemic they have only had one season in the stands as a group presenting their own banner.

As member of Strømsø Fanatikere I would say that our group stands for friendship, supporting our local club no matter what, and organizing support in the best way possible.

6. What are the avarege numbers at a home game or an away game?

On home games about 5000 in a regular season, derby sells out the stadium 8000+. On away games it depends a lot. For short aways like 1-2 hours travel it can be 200-500, for longer trips 8+ hours around 50-100. It can also depend on our season and the kick off times.

7. What is a derby for Stromsgodset? How does a derby day look like? Are there also riots at derby games in Norway?

Our derby is against our main rivals, Mjøndalen. It is one of the oldest derbies in Norway. Only a 10 minute train trip separate our clubs. On derby day we gather a lot of supporters in different pubs, drinking togheter, marching to the stadium or train station chanting and a lot of pyro. There is always a big police presence on these games, but obly sometimes are the small riots.

8. Could you describe me one of your best derby games?

In 2015 away against our rivals. The score was 2-2 and everyone were expecting another draw, but then we scored a last minute header. The whole away stand exploded and was followed by a pitch invasion and celebration in our enemies stadium.

9. What kind of relationship do you have to the club management and to the players? In my experience good relations in modern professional football are very rare.

I would say we have good relationship with our club. They listen to the supporters and understand the importance of having good support inside the stadium.

10. The last title your team won was 8 years ago. How do you, supporters see it? Is it important for you, always chasing the highest ranks in the league table?

We have won the league two times and the cup five times. But for the last seasons we have struggled against relegation. I think as for now most supporters just want to see us stay in the league and try to make improvements each year. Of course for some supporters results and chasing the highest ranks in the tables matters, but for the main core of supporters and ultras we will be there no matter what.

11. As Ultras Stromsgodset, what are your goals, your visions? Why are you supporting this team? What do you want to achieve?

Give our team and players the best support as possible. Strømsgodset is our local team and the force that unites this city. We want to show younger fans that they can come to the stadium and have fun. Football is more than a tv-show with overpaid players. We want to create better and better atmosphere inside the stadium and celebrate our clubs history and traidtions.

12. What is your opinion on modern day football(TV money, billionaire owners, Super league, UEFA and so on).

I think the way modern football is developing in the world, more and more fans will get tired of it and look to support their local team. As mentioned before, English football and the Premier League is very popular in Norway, but I think with the news of the Super League, people are now more aware of the ugliness of modern football.We want football to be about community, beeing proud of your city, history and traditions.