Lessebo GoIF v Värnamo Södra FF, Swedish regional division 4

 

Lessebo GoIF 3-1 Värnamo Södra FF
Swedish regional division 4, tier 6
Sunday 5 September, 13:00 kick-off
Lessebo Idrottsplats, Lessebo
Crowd: Officially 45 but I counted about 70 plus two dogs (one large and one small)

From the tifos, passion and intensity of last weekend's matches I return to a quieter setting deep in the forests of Småland and a first visit to Lessebo GoIF. I know the place and area very well having hiked a lot round here but have not seen a match here, until now! Lessebo is a small town built around a paper mill and for many years was instantly recognisable by the distinct smell coming from the aforementioned industry. No smell these days but the paper mill is still the hub of the town. The population today is just under 3,000.

Lessebo GoIF was founded in 1925 and play in yellow and black. Back in the thirties they played a couple of seasons in the second tier of Swedish football but since then they have played in the lower tiers.

Värnamo Södra were founded in 1949 and have lived in the shadow of the town's main club IFK Värnamo who were relegated last season from the Allsvenskan (see previous post about Landskrona v IFK Värnamo, June 2026). They have played a few derbies in the lower leagues over the years. They play in all-red but today were in their white away kit.

Lessebo are in the relegation play-off place with 15 points from 17 matches and only two points from their last five matches. Värnamo Södra are mid-table with 19 points with a couple of convincing wins behind them but are still a long way behind the promotion places.

The ground

This is a lovely old ground and the focal point is a fine wooden stand that I suspect was built in the 1950s. The entrance gate is also a throwback from grander days with two old iron turnstiles still in place but unused in these days of mobile payments. The good people of Lessebo did not turn up in numbers today which is sad considering that it was a fine early autumn afternoon for football.

At the entrance end (north) there is a kiosk selling the usual selection and a guy was busy grilling sausages and burgers to order just beside the kiosk. There's also the electronic scoreboard and today there was even a gazebo tent for the local social-democratic party to engage in canvasing for the general election next week.The east side is crowned by the vintage stand nicely painted in club colours and housing the changing rooms. The west side has the fine wooden yellow and white team benches and space for people to stand. The south end has a high fence to catch wild shots and behind that is a fairly new artificial pitch used no doubt for training and early season matches when the grass pitch is unplayable. There's an old green metal fence around the field but no floodlights.

The game

Lessebo got three much needed points in a close match that was entertaining all the way. I sat in the stand most of the time but it was almost empty except for about 20 lads who sat at the back and cheered their mates in the team when they did something good. 

Värnamo looked good at the start and a hard shot from Lindberg was well saved by home keeper Christoffer Ahl who had a good game. Then after only 8 minutes the hosts took the lead when a fine shot from the edge of the box by Rasmus Holmström flew into the net. There was action at both ends with the visitors coming close again with a shot from Oliver Issal scraping the bar and just before the break the home defence had two extremely narrow escapes. First Kerim Musa shot from close in and the ball hit the post and rolled along the line before being cleared by a defender. Then a minute later Paukovic missed from close range and so the teams went in at the break with the hosts leading 1-0.

Värnamo Södra pressed for an equaliser directly after the break and got their reward when Jesper Claesson headed home a corner from the right. But the lead didn't last long. Lessebo got a free kick to the left of the box and defender Rasmus Dahlman blasted the ball into the far corner of the goal. A lovely goal and I managed to get a photo of it too. Dahlman played a good game otherwise and looked solid in defence.

2-1 to Lessebo

The game flowed from end to end after that and there was always a threat that the guests would get another equaliser but the deal was sealed four minutes from time when Khuluf broke free on the right and passed into the centre of the box where Mio Vuckovic slotted home Lessebo's third. Värnamo tried to push at the end but with no result and right at the end Kerim Musa got his marching orders, I think for dissent and maybe something else.

Relief for Lessebo and this gives them a bit of breathing space at the bottom. A good afternoon for me and another ground to put on my map.

IK Sirius v Malmö FF, Swedish Allsvenskan

 

IK Sirius 0-1 Malmö FF
Swedish Allsvenskan, tier 1
Monday 31 August, 19:00 kick-off
Studenternas Idrottsplats, Uppsala
Crowd: 9,672

Sirius from the historical university city of Uppsala have suddenly found fame as the runaway leaders in the Swedish top league. Until a few weeks ago they had a lead of 13 points over their nearest challengers and looked like certain champions. Then they sold their star Scottish striker Robbie Ure to Sevilla and have since collapsed to three defeats on the trot and suddenly the lead is down to six. The hardest defeat was away to last year's shock champions Mjällby. Sirius conceded a three goal lead to lose 4-3 and now the flair and style has vanished. Today's game was massive as they tried to regain their confidence and push on to the finish line.

Sirius was founded in 1907 and has spent most of its history in the lower leagues, mostly tier 3 and below. However, the club has blossomed in recent years gaining promotion to Allsvenskan in 2017 and slowly moving towards today's dizzy heights thanks to shrewd scouting, youth work and good management. A major boost for the club was the rebuilt stadium that was completed in 2020. As they have established themselves in the top flight the crowds have grown and the support has become increasingly vociferous. They play in Inter-style black and blue stripes.

Visitors Malmö FF have had a very mixed season and occupy a mid-table position. They have lost a lot of players in the past year or so and a new generation is still finding its feet. Rebuilding takes time even for the richest club in the country.

The ground

This is one of the nicest modern grounds in the country; modern but with character. Most fans approach it through a lovely park beside the river, Fyrisån, The contrast to the area around the Strawberry Arena that I visited yesterday is dramatic - from a concrete jungle to leafy riverside paths.Outside the ground there were plenty of fun things for children and adults and even a dancefloor where couples were jiving, not a common sight at football matches! I doubt that the dancers moved on to the match however. In three of the corners there are restaurants with good views of the ground but also out into the beautiful park beside the river. 

Inside it is a tight stadium with fans close to the action. Today's match was sold out and the atmosphere was excellent with a sizeable away support adding to the volume. The main west stand is impressive with two tiers of seating for theseason ticket holders, guests, corporate hospitality, media and suchlike. The rest of the ground is mainly wooden and has a modern but intimate atmosphere. Everyone is under cover. The east stand is all seating whilst the two ends are mostly terracing with the home support in the north end and the away fans in the south stand. As the home support has grown some of the south stand has been allotted to home supportersand this evening the away fans were given the south-west corner. During the game both sets of fans unfurled banners complaining about how midweek matches are tough on travelling fans. As in most top leagues these days the TV companies want fixtures spread out over the weekend and if you are a dedicated fan a round trip of over 1,000 km is a tough call on a working day.

A stadium well worth visiting though the catering was sadly very predictable (see many of my previous posts from the Swedish top leagues).

The game

Highlights video:

Despite the vociferous support and plenty of effort Sirius just couldn't break their losing streak and the title race could well go all the way to the final day of the season. Luckily nearest challengers Hammarby also lost so the gap at the top is still six points but Sirius will need regain their confidence very soon if they are going to win their first ever league title. It's a fairly common phenomenon in sport where a team or player suddenly gets an attack of self-doubt and starts losing games they would have won a few weeks previously. There's no lack of effort and skill but today they lacked the finishing touch in front of goal.

It was an intense and tough match with play moving rapidly from end to end and both sides well aware that these three points would mean so much. There were few clear chances and both keepers dealt with whatever came at them. Malmö's new defender Stian Gregersen was resolute at the back, blocking a shot from Sirius striker Bjerkebo plus many effective tackles and headers. Just before the break came what proved to be the winning goal when Malmö's Diego Garcia headed home from a fine cross by Lundbergh. That stunned the home crowd as they headed for the half-time break.

The second half saw Sirius putting on the pressure as they battled for an equaliser. Again they came agonisingly close but Swedish international keeper Robin Olsen was in good form and saved several dangerous chances. The hosts made several changes as the match wore on and one of them, Zalán Vancsa, a new signing, looked like a very wise acquisition. He reignited the home offense with smart position play and dribbling runs towards the box. Midfield dynamo Heier also worked hard but sadly the breakthrough never came. When the final whistle came many of the home players slumped to the ground in disappointment and no doubt some frustration.

It would be a major tragedy if this fairytale campaign crashlanded but Sirius will need wise coaching to put this losing streak behind them and get back on track. I'll be rooting for them from afar.

AIK v Hammarby IF, Swedish Allsvenskan

 

AIK 3-2 Hammarby IF
Swedish Allsvenskan, tier 1
Sunday 30 August, 14:00 kick-off
Strawberry Arena, Stockholm
Crowd: 47,437

My first visit to the national arena and a chance to experience one of the hottest derbies in Europe between AIK from the north of the city and rivals Hammarby on the south side. Stockholm derbies have become increasingly intense over the last 20 years or so and there are always at least six of them per season because the city is also home to the third candidate for best in town, Djurgården, who also have a large and fanatical following. When I first moved up to the Stockholm area at the end of the 1980s Swedish football was fairly low-key and I remember Stockholm derbies in front of barely 10,000 fans. Since then new much bigger stadia have been built and the spread of fan culture and intensive media coverage have meant that average crowds have mushroomed. Today the Stockholm derbies are up there with many of the biggest in Europe and the atmosphere and passion is hard to beat.

AIK and Hammarby both have a long and successful history with a host of players who have represented Sweden on the international stage. Rather than write the history here I refer you to the Wikipedia pages for AIK and Hammarby. Both clubs have been successful in other sports, notably ice-hockey, bandy and handball with both men's and women's teams as well as flourishing youth programmes. They also have considerable financial clout but money doesn't always buy success and no club has really dominated Swedish football with regular title wins going to smaller clubs. 

This was a big game for both clubs as they fight to keep contact with runaway leaders Sirius from Uppsala. Hammarby have pulled closer to the top and are only 6 points behind the leaders who have lost form in recent weeks losing their last two matches. I saw Hammarby soundly beating Kalmar FF only a couple of weeks ago and they looked impressive with incisive passing and clinical finishing. AIK are also on a winning streak and if they keep winning they could also move into the title race if the leaders lose more ground. Expectations were therefore high for this one and the ground was virtually sold out apart from the sections around the away fans that were empty for security reasons.

The ground

An extremely impressive arena, especially when full, with a retractable roof and good views for everyone. I sat way up at the top of the third tier and it reminded me of other grounds where I have been perched at bird's eye level, eg Real Madrid and Bilbao. It is situated just beside the biggest shopping mall in Scandinavia and is close to both commuter and metro stations. From the outside it looks more like a shopping mall than a football ground and the entrance hall reminded me of an airport. But once you climb up and enter the stadium the view is spectacular and the fans were in full voice well before the start.

The tifos are world class and the noise level was constant all the way. I admit I wasn't really following the play for the opening minutes, being more caught up with just taking in the atmosphere. A stark contrast to the matches I usually write about here! From a village derby in front of 89 people last Tuesday to this. I do enjoy the big match atmosphere now and again but my heart is with the lower leagues.

The catering in the ground was less impressive as at almost all Swedish grounds. If you don't care for boring hotdogs, popcorn, assorted sweets, coffee and low alcohol beer then there's nothing for you. However the mall next door is full of all sorts of restaurants and fast-food joints so you eat before the game.

The game

Watch highlights here:

This one had everything: intense atmosphere, beautiful goals, positive football, missed penalty, heroes and villains. Hammarby should have wrapped up the points in the second half but although they had plenty of chances they couldn't finish or were foiled by AIK's keeper Nordfeldt who provided the inspiration for a remarkable comeback. Hammarby haven't beaten AIK away since 2017 and that losing streak was extended today.

The first half belonged to the guests in terms of possession and chances but AIK looked dangerous on the break. There was plenty of passion and commitment on show and although there were plenty of tough tackles the game never really got dirty and the referee handled the match in an exemplary manner. Hammarby took the lead after 14 minutes when a shot from Frank Junior Adjei was deflected into the net. The away end erupted but their joy was short-lived when AIK equalised only two minutes later. Kevin Filling beat a defender on the left and sent in a perfect cross to the far post where Linus Carlstrand was on hand to fire home on the volley. I have seen Carlstrand in action for his former club Östers IF several times and it was no surprise when he was snapped up by a bigger club. Since coming to Stockholm a few weeks ago he has now scored five goals and his future looks very bright.

Nordfeldt saves the Hammaby penalty

Shortly afterwards, in the 26th minute, Hammarby were awarded a rather soft penalty. Former AIK striker Paulos Abraham bravely stepped up to take it in front of the jeering AIK ultras and the kick was well saved by Nordfeldt. Victor Lind shot the rebound which hit the keeper's leg and on to the post. It looked like all square at the break but right at the end Hammarby retook the lead when a poor pass from Nordfeldt was intercepted and Abraham happily accepted the gift and slotted home. Revenge for his penalty miss! I get so tired of the modern "tactic" of playing out from the back especially with nippy forwards breathing down your neck. Just boot it up the park!

The intensity continued into the second half and Hammarby had several chances to increase their lead but then after 70 minutes AIK broke away to equalise with good work once again on the left from Kevin Filling and his pass into the middle was fired home by Axel Kouamé. The home fans' joy was ramped up to maximum with about 8 minutes left when a beautiful cross was smashed into the net on the volley by 19 year old substitute Sixten Gustafsson. He is a dedicated AIK fan and used to stand with the ultras and has now become a hero. He celebrated appropriately in front of his gang and was immediately in front of the TV cameras for an on-pitch interview at the end. The visitors had several near misses but some heroic saves by Nordfeldt kept them out.

To sum up, an excellent match that had everything a fan could demand. Hammarby are still a threat at the top but leaders Sirius now have the chance to stretch their lead to 9 points if they win their Monday meeting at home to Malmö FF. By amazing coincidence that is where I will be for my next post. Stay tuned!

Rockneby IK v Läckeby GoIF, Swedish regional division 6

 

Rockneby IK 3-1 Läckeby GoIF
Swedish regional division 6 (tier 8)
Tuesday 25 August, 18:15 kick-off
Dampevallen, Rockneby
Crowd: 89

Rockneby and Läckeby are two villages just north of Kalmar and only 6 km apart so this match is a very local derby. Sadly both teams are at the bottom of the local division 6, as low as you get in this region of the country. Rockneby are rock bottom with just one point from 14 games whilst neighbours Läckeby are on 6 points. Going into this match the form chart makes dismal reading with Rockneby on five straight defeats and Läckeby with one point from the last five. But matches like this are not so much about league position but all about local bragging rights. You always want to beat your neighbours.

Rockneby is a pleasant rural village of about 1,000 inhabitants with a beautiful church that was rebuilt thanks to remarkable local commitment after a disastrous fire in 2001. The club has men's and women's teams and of course teams and activities for children and youths. The same applies to Läckeby and I must admit I find the two places very similar, both with prominent old churches and a strong community feeling.

Rockneby play in an all-green kit whilst Läckeby's colours are yellow and black.

The ground

Dampevallen is a fairly basic ground. Before the entrance are the clubhouse and changing rooms and then the ground itself is surrounded by a high fence with the kiosk as the only building. The spectators sit or stand on the grassy bank beside the kiosk and there are a few benches for those who don't bring a chair or rug to sit on. On a sunny evening like today it felt a bit like a large family picnic sitting on the grass. The far side has the team benches but no space for spectators. There are no floodlights.

Today's crowd of 89 was pretty good for this level and the streets near the ground were certainly well filled with cars.

The game

Rockneby got their first win of the season to the delight of the home fans and it was well deserved. They fought hard all the way and on this display they should manage to gather more points before the season ends. They certainly didn't look like a team at the bottom of the football pyramid.

The hosts took charge from the kick-off and dominated the first ten minutes with the impressive Milo Olsson threatening every time he got the ball. An early shot was well saved by the Läckeby keeper Runesson. The visitors' first chance fell to Emil Blomqvist but the keeper was alert and stopped the shot. But Rockneby kept on pushing with Olsson free on the keeper but his lob went over the bar. However, Olsson finally made the breakthrough after 34 minutes when he beat the outrushing keeper and slotted home from a tight angle on the left. Five minutes later Rockneby went two up when a free kick was headed home by Jacob Stenström. At half time the hosts had a deserved lead whilst Läckeby would need to raise their game to get back.

The visitors looked distinctly livelier after the break and had a couple of good shots saved by home keeper Engdahl who looked solid all the game. After 67 minutes Läckeby pulled a goal back through the nippy Emil Blomqvist and this of course raised the temperature of the game. Rockneby didn't sit back though and pushed for a clincher. Once again Milo Olsson, without doubt my man of the match, broke through and was pulled down by the keeper on the edge of the box. I expected a direct red card but to everyone's amazement it was only a yellow and the free kick was fruitless. But only a minute later they scored a third with Olsson once again free on the keeper, dribbled past him and made it 3-1.

That sealed the deal even if Läckeby pressed towards the end. Tempers were frayed at the end and two Läckeby players got straight red cards in the dying minutes. The final whistle was greeted with jubilation by the home team and fans. I enjoyed this one and I was pleased to see Rockneby getting thier much longed-for first win.

Kristianopels GoIF v Rödeby AIF, Swedish regional division 3

Kristianopels GoIF 0-1 Rödeby AIF
Swedish regional division 3 (tier 5)
Friday 21 August, 18:30 kick-off
Fågelmara Idrottsplats, Fågelmara
Crowd: 175

Another game in division 3 (south-east Götaland) and an attractive ground that I have driven past hundreds of times but never seen a game at. Kristianopels GoIF belong to the category of clubs who play in a different place than their name suggests. The historical village of Kristianopel (see more at the end of this post) is on the coast whilst their football team plays in the village of Fågelmara a few kilometres inland. Today's match is against Rödeby, the same club whose women's team I saw getting thrashed by Madesjö in my last post.

Kristianopels GoIF were founded in 1941 and, like so many Swedish clubs, comprised sections for other sports than football - athletics, gymnastics, table tennis and orienteering. Their present status as division 3 team is the highest level they have played at and today they have two men's teams, a women's team and several teams for boys and girls.The club is very active in the community, arranging festivals and dances every year. They play in yellow and black and have a wasp as their emblem. 

Kristianopel are in 8th position in a league of 11 clubs (one has dropped out of the league) with 13 points from 13 games whilst Rödeby are on 11 points and in the relegation play-off place. Both teams need points to pull themselves out of the relegation battle in the autumn.

The ground

The focal point of the ground is the beautiful yellow clubhouse/pavillion perched on a natural slope on the north side of the ground with terracing of wooden benches below it. This is where all the spectators gather and this evening it was well filled. Many people had brought their own chairs with them and there were plenty of families there enjoying the evening sunshine. The catering kiosk is also attractive and spacious with the counter inside. The opposite side of the ground has two wooden shelters for the substitutes and trainers with the paintwork matching that of the pavilion and kiosk. In between them is the electronic scoreboard. The entrance gateway is also painted in yellow so the whole ground is nicely colour-coordinated.

The game

This was a tense and tight encounter and you could sense that both teams wanted to avoid a defeat that would put them further into the danger zone at the bottom of the table. Sadly for the large home crowd it was Rödeby who stole the points with a goal six minutes before time. It was a hard-fought game with solid defences and chances were few. The hosts had most of the play in the first half and had probably the best chance after 42 minutes when a header from Jörgensen was just off target after a long free kick had been headed onto the bar. 

The second followed the same pattern with the hosts having most of the possession but the Rödeby defence dealt well with the pressure.. The visitors had some dangerous breakaways and in the 54th minute Carl Antonsson broke away on the right and squared to Svensson on the edge of the box but the shot was well saved by home keeper Jesper Jönsson Erlandsson who had an excellent game. Then just as the game looked to be heading for a goalless draw, Rödeby scored. After some messy play in the box the ball broke to an unmarked Philip Digbo who slotted home from a few metres. Kristianopel battled hard to force an equaliser but it was not to be.

Rödeby now leapfrogged over Kristianopel in the table and although the two bottom teams look doomed there will be a batle to avoid that relegation play-off spot.

More than football

If you ever come this way on the E22 road between Karlskrona and Kalmar you should definitely turn off and visit Kristianopel. It was founded at the start of the 17th century by Danish King Kristian IV as a fortified town on what was then the border between Denmark and Sweden. It was then in the centre of the bitter wars between the two nations in the 17th century and in 1658 it became Swedish. The conflicts continued and by the end of the century most of it had been demolished and when Sweden took over all of the south its strategic importance disappeared and it became a sleepy village till tourism brought it back to life in the last 100 years. The town ramparts and walls survive as does the fine church. The streets are full of idyllic old cottages and there is a popular campsite and caravan park as well as a harbour for visiting yachts. 

Tourist information.

Madesjö IF v Rödeby AIF, Swedish regional division 4 (women)

 

Madesjö IF 10-0 Rödeby AIF
Swedish regional division 4 (women)
Monday 17 August, 18:45 kick-off
Madesjövallen, Nybro
Crowd: 49

Most clubs have both men's and women's teams but Madesjö IF are an example of a club with only teams for girls and women. Madesjö is on the west side of the town of Nybro, where I was last Friday to see Pukeberg. Madesjö used to be a village in its own right until becomning part of Nybro in 1965. It is also home to the second longest wooden building in the country, the church stables where horses were kept for churchgoers back in the 19th century.

Madesjö IF were formed in 1957 and originally had a variety of sports to offer the locals, including football, ice-hockey, gymnastics, table tennis and bowling. Today only the football section remains. Women's football started in 1971 and the men's team was disbanded in 2018 when the club decided to focus exclusively on women's and girls' football. Today they have two senior teams, the first team in division 4 and the reserves in division 5, plus teams for girls from 6-7 years and up. Madesjö are at present second in their league with quite a few convincing victories behind them. They play in all-red.

Their opponents today Rödeby AIF, from near Karlskrona in the south-east corner of the country, are tucked in behind them in third place so this game is important for both teams. An interesting fact about Rödeby is that the women's team played in the top division in 1978-79. Rödeby's colours are blue and white.

The ground

Madesjövallen is a well-kept and attractive ground with trees on three sides, like so many grounds here in Sweden. The main side has changing rooms, club house, kiosk and a small wooden stand. On the opposite side there are the dugouts and a few benches for spectators who don't want the sun in their eyes. At both ends there are training pitches and as the game began there were lots of girls and trainers busy training behind both goals. There are no floodlights.

The sun was shining at the start but there were very ominous dark clouds overhead - thankfully the rain didn't come. Most of the crowd were probably family and friends and the atmosphere is pleasnat and relaxed.

The game

It's a while since I saw a team score double figures and Madesjö demolished their opponents with an impressive display. They work well together and were solid in all departments, especially up front. The goal cavalcade started after 11 minutes when Amelia Malmquist shot into the top left corner of the goal and it was mostly one-way traffic for the rest of the game. After 25 minutes, my player of the match Emelie Joelsson scored the first of her six goals when she broke free in the box and fired home for 2-0. Joelsson was fast, strong and always alert up front and fully deserved her double hattrick (I'm sure I've never seen anyone doing that before). She could easily have scored another three. The third goal was an own goal when a shot from Alva Rosén (who was also fast and skilful up front) was deflected by a defender. The fourth and fifth goals followed before the break, both from solo runs. 

After the break Rödinge tried to limit the damage and had a couple of good chances, one of which was an unusual case of an indirect free kick in the box when the Madesjö keeper picked up a pass-back. The free kick was cleared however and before long Madesjö resumed the goalfest. Joelsson jinked past a defender and shot high into the net for number six and ten minutes later she scored again after good work on the left by Rosén. Three more goals rolled in before the referee blew the final whistle much to the relief of the visitors. There were few consolations for Rödinge, a few chances and some nice saves from the hard-pressed keeper but they will want to forget this game and regroup for their next match.

Madesjö look like a team that should be going up at the end of the season, certainly if they play like this every week. I enjoyed my evening though I always feel sorry for teams who get beaten so badly.

Pukebergs BK v Ljungby IF, Swedish regional division 3

 

Pukebergs BK 0-1 Ljungby IF
Swedish regional division 3 (tier 5)
Friday 14 August 2026, 18:45 kick-off
Pukevallen, Nybro
Crowd: 105

This is my third visit to Pukeberg's ground on the outskirts of Nybro. Pukebergs BK from the southern suburb of Pukeberg has become the main football club in the town for now, with neighbours Nybro IF below them in local division 4 (see my report from Nybro's match back in June). 

Pukebergs Bollklubb was founded in 1930 and have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the region. Originally they were formed as a team for workers at the Pukeberg glassworks but grew quickly to represent tyhe whole area .They have now played several seasons in division 3, tier 5 of the Swedish league pyramid, and even reached the final play-off for a place in division 2 in 2019, falling at the final hinder. They have today teams for boys and girls of all ages plus senior teams for both men and women. At present they are in second place in the league with 30 points from 13 games.Pukeberg play in red and white. 

Ljungby IF were founded in 1914 and worked their way up the leagues to division 2 in the 1990s. In 1999 they played off against neighbours Östers IF (Växjö) for a place in the second tier but lost. Since then they have played either in division 2 or, as now, division 3. Their ground was completely rebuilt in 2016 but 6 years later someone set fire to the main stand and the fire destroyed most of the ground. With the help of other clubs in the area and local companies the ground has now been rebuilt. At present they lie in fourth spot on 25 points. Ljungby play in all-blue. 

The ground

Beautiful entrance to the ground

Pukevallen is surrounded by trees on the edge of a beautiful forest area which is used by hikers and cyclists in the summer and skiers in the winter. On a lovely warm evening like today it is an idyllic place to sit and watch some football. 

The main side of the ground features the clubhouse, kiosk and home dressing rooms complete with a patio with picnic tables. There is also a sizeable section of concrete terracing with a converted catering kiosk on top now used by the match speaker. Most spectators gather here. On the opposite side there are the dugouts, electronic scoreboard, the away dressing room and a shed probably for groundkeeping equipment. There is also a small wooden stand with space for maybe 30 spectators. They have no floodlights yet but maybe that is something to consider if they move up to division 2 next year. According to the club website all the building work on the ground has been carried out by volunteer members. The record crowd here was 1,028 against unsurprisingly rivals Nybro IF in 2019.

The game

I seem to have a bit of a jinx on the clubs I visit and this was no exception as Pukeberg lost a hard-fought match 0-1. Ljungby had the edge and probably deserved the points but the hosts could have salvaged a point with better finishing.

The first half was a midfield battle with plenty of strong challenges but very few clear chances for either side.After about 20 minutes Pukeberg's Gunnarsson came in from the left and passed to Nilsson in the box who fought off his marker but shot just past the post. Just before the break Albin Gunnarsson had another shot fly past the post but otherwise it was scoreless at the break.

The second half was livelier with more chances at either end but as the half progressed the visitors looked increasingly dangerous. In the 63rd minute Ljungby scored what proved to be the winner when a quickly taken free kick from just inside the home half found an unmarked Noah Ejneborn who volleyed home from the edge of the box. Pukeberg tried to force an equaliser but although they had a few chances the Ljungby defence was strong and the visitors were also strong on the counter attack. They had a nice balance between strong ball winners and nippy forwards and wingmen. Pukeberg had plenty of impressive players but that final touch in the box was missing this evening. Emilio Ixcot Nilsson, for example, put in a strong performance as a target man.

Not a goal feast this evening but an enjoyable match between two teams who should both be in the promotion hunt later in the autumn.

Kalmar Södra IF v IFK Borgholm, Swedish regional division 4

 

Kalmar Södra IF 1-5 IFK Borgholm
Swedish regional division 4 (south-east Småland), tier 6
Saturday 8 August 2026, 13:00 kick-off
Södra Utmarken, Kalmar
Crowd: 76

I haven't seen Kalmar Södra (Kalmar South) since they moved to a new ground a couple of years ago. I really liked their lovely old ground and you can see that in a post from 2023 when they played the same opponents as today, IFK Borgholm, from the neighbouring island of Öland. So it's a rematch for me but in very different surroundings in a modern functional ground..

Kalmar Södra were founded in 1945 and have played in the local and regional leagues for most of their history. They have a flourishing youth section with boys' and girls' teams of all ages and many of them have taken the step up tothe senior teams. They play in red and blue stripes with blue shorts. At present they are in the middle of the league with 16 points from 13 matches. 

The visitors today, IFK Borgholm, were founded back in 1906 and are the oldest and largest sport club on the island of Öland. They have also played their football in the lower tiers with division 3 being their highest achievement. They play in blue and white but today sported their all-white away kit. Before today's game they were also on 16 points after 13 games.

The ground

A new ground with excellent modern facilities and must feel like a big lift for the staff and players with modern changing rooms and club rooms. However for nostalgic old boys like me the old place, Skyttis, had buckets of old-school charm including a retro 1950s kiosk. Three sides of the ground are off-limits to spectators with a high fence close to the pitch. All the facilities are on one side with the impressive club buildings and kiosk plus an uncovered wooden stand where almost all the fans sit. Not so good if it rains but splendid today in the sunshine.

The dugouts are opposite the clubhouse and access is straight across the pitch. The pitch is grass, unusual in so many newly built grounds that tend to go for artificial all-weather pitches. There's a decent carpark and generous space for bikes.

The kiosk does the standard Swedish fare and as usual I decided to ask for a cup of tea (not on the menu). Once again the staff at smaller clubs show great resilience in the face of strange guys like me who incredibly don't like coffee! They searched the drawers and found a teabag, probably the only one they had. No kettle so they put a cup of water in the micro and I got my wish. Thanks!

The game

For the second time this week I witnessed an embarassing home defeat as Borgholm went away with a convincing 5-1 victory. Kalmar fought hard and had quite a few good chances in the match but the visitors were simply more clinical and had the game pretty well wrapped up by half time.

The first half got off to a dramatic start after 4 minutes when Anton Larsson broke free and slotted the ball past the onrushing home keeper to put the visitors into the lead. Kalmar almost equalised a minute later when Ottosson also broke free of a defender but this time the Borgholm keeper blocked the shot. In the 11th minute the visitors went two up when a pass from burly forward Fortune-West found an unmarked Emanuel Thorsen who fired home from close range. Things got even worse for the hosts a few minutes later when a cross found Fortune-West who slotted in 3-0. 

Kalmar were shaken and it was going to need a remarkable effort to turn this around. They got a ray of hope when a shot from Hammarström was parried by the keeper and John Engström was on hand to net the rebound. But the comeback was not to be and before the break Borgholm scored a fourth when a high ball into the box was headed in by Hultenius.

The second half lacked the intensity of the first and the visitors were content to let Kalmar dominate possession but the hosts failed to create serious chances. The deal was sealed already after 59 minutes with a second goal by Evan Fortune-West, heading home after a shot by Jörgensson was saved. Barring a shot off the bar Kalmar never really threatened and the away team and supporters went home very satisfied.

Blomstermåla IK v Bäckebo GoIF, Swedish regional division 5

 

Blomstermåla IK 1-6 Bäckebo GoIF
Swedish regional division 5 (Småland south-east), tier 7
Thursday 6 August, 19:00 kick-off
Blomstermåla Idrottsplats, Blomstermåla
Crowd: 75

Moving from the atmosphere and intensity of the Danish top league (see previous post on Brøndby) to the tranquility of a village in the south-east of Sweden is the sort of contrast I love.

Blomstermåla is a village north of Kalmar in south-east Sweden with about 2,000 inhabitants. It has been the home of furntiture factories and a sawmill and grew up thanks to the coming of the railway. The railway station is still in operation in contrast to most villages and towns round here. Its football club, Blomstermåla IK, were founded in 1928 and in the seventies had a short stay in the second tier of Swedish football but since then have played in the lower leagues and a couple of seasons ago were at the bottom of the local division 6 (the lowest league in this part of the country). However they have rebuilt and are now sitting comfortably in the middle of the local division 5. This is my second visit to this ground.

Today's visitors are from the village of Bäckebo, out in the forest to the west. They have had a couple of very succesful seasons and are now top of the league and undefeated after 13 matches - an impressive achievement for a village with a population of 230!

The league has only just resumed after the July break and the hosts will be anxious to recover some pride after losing 0-5 at home last Saturday. For Bäckebo this is their first game since the end of June.

The ground

This is a lovely ground that has echoes of more prosperous times. The west side features a clubhouse, kiosk and changing rooms plus a small section of terraced seating. The east side has a long section of wooden terracing with a nice club badge in the middle. In the south-east corner there is a beautiful old entrance gate which is no longer used but also recalls more successful times. There is a wooden fence around the pitch but no floodlights.

Beautiful iron gates

The game

This was not a good evening for the home side as Bäckebo ran away with a tennis score win. It could easily have gone into double figures as the visitors missed plenty of clear chances. But they keep their unbeaten record and look set for promotion.

The visitors pressed from the kick-off and went one up after only 8 minutes with a fine shot from the edge of the box from midfielder Herman Hallberg. Four minutes later the visitors doubled their lead from a penalty kick from Douglas Bjerkland. I must admit I couldn't see what the penalty was for since I was at the other end of the ground. Bäckebo had several more clear chances after that but couldn't hit the target. Slowly Blomstermåla began to find their feet and made a few chances of their own and in the 19th minute they pulled a goal back. Jakol on the left passed into the box and in a goalmouth scramble William Axelsson poked the ball past the keeper and along the goal line, maybe over it. The referee awarded a goal though in higher levels it would have gone to VAR. Just when I thought we might have a contest on our hands Bäckebo stepped up a gear again and extended their lead just before half time with a lovely curving free kick from the left of the box by Herman Hallberg, probably my man of the match.

Blomstermåla's goal as the ball heads over the line, just.

After the break it really was one-way traffic and the visitors galloped away with an emphatic victory. The fourth goal came after 71 minutes when the ball was teed up in the penalty box for Simon Hammenstrand to fire home and he got a second goal two minutes from time after he beat the keeper to a through ball and poked it into the net. Then in added time we even got a sixth goal with a header from Edvin Gottfredsson.

That's two heavy defeats in a week for Blomstermåla and they will need to shore up the defence to keep their mid-table position. Bäckebo looked strong and had several skilful players. They look like a side who will be in the title hunt in the autumn.