Kosta IF v Kalmar City BK, Swedish regional division 3

 

Kosta IF 4-0 Kalmar City BK
Swedish regional division 3, tier 5
Sunday 4 October 2026, 14:00 kick-off
Ekevallen, Kosta
Crowd: about 100

Another new local ground for me and a match between the two clubs at either end of the league. Both have had incredible success in the last few years rising rapidly through the league system even if Kalmar City seem to have hit a wall and are relegated to division 4 next season.

Kosta IF are a village team that has won four promotions in a row to go from the lowest level (division 6) to division 2 next year and on the way broke the Swedish men's record for unbeaten games - an incredible streak of 63 matches. The village of Kosta has a population of just over 800 and its main claim to fame has been the glassworks that produces superb artistic glass creations as well as everyday objects. However the village has been transformed in recent years since billionaire Torsten Jansson bought the glassworks, built an exclusive hotel and shopping centre and is now investing in the football club, aiming to take them into the upper echelons of the league system. The club, which previously lead a quiet life in the lowest divisions has been catapulted into the limelight and show no signs of slowing down. Players with merits from the top divisions have been recruited and they have simply outclassed all opposition for the past 5 years, though this season they actually lost two matches.  There are plenty of examples from around the world of this type of development and the bubble usually bursts after a few years. Let's see how things go for Kosta in the next few years. They play in black and amber striped kits. Curiously I can't find their website despite numerous searches.

Kalmar City are a new team, formed in 2016, and have also climbed quickly up the leagues. However, in contrast to Kosta, they have found division 3 a step too far and are already relegated with only 6 points from 19 games. They play in sky blue and white, possibly inspired by a rather bigger club also called City.

Today's game is the last of the season and there is nothing to play for. Kosta were crowned champions last week and Kalmar City have been doomed to relegation for several weeks now. However, the home team will celebrate their league win today and should win easily.

The ground

This is still really a typical village ground though the pitch is beautifully kept and they have new floodlights. There are plans to develop the ground into one with a capacity of about 2,500, anticipating a further rise up the league system but that is not in place yet. However, they have attracted several top clubs to have training camps there and earlier in the summer hosted a friendly between Swedish champions Mjällby and Halmstad.

Today however the spectator facilities are pretty basic. The north side has a grassy bank and a fine little wooden clubhouse at the top. There's also a wooden kiosk selling the usual hotdogs etc. There are only four benches to sit on and most spectators seem to bring their own chairs, otherwise they stand. The opposite side has the substitute benches and nothing else. Behind it a new training pitch is being prepared, also with floodlights. The dressing rooms are quite far away from the pitch at the west end of the ground.

The match

It was a beautiful autumn afternoon though distinctly chilly when the sun went behind a cloud. As expected Kosta ran out comfortable winners, but it took into the second half before the goals started coming and Kalmar City were no easy opponents despite their lowly league placing. 

Kosta had most of the possession and passed the ball around with great confidence but didn't really create many serious chances in fromt of goal in the first half. Crosses from the left were the most common route forward but the Kalmar defenders dealt easily with the threat. There were several good shots on goal with Jesper Andreasson and Melvin Lockby creating the chances. Just before half time a cross from the right found Vllasalija at the far post but he hit the side-netting. The visitors had a few counter attacks but didn't threaten the home goal. 0-0 at half time.

The hosts continued to dominate after the break and a goal looked inevitable. After 60 minutes a through ball found Butrint Vllasalija and he ran past a defender before slotting the ball past the onrushing keeper to put Kosta into the lead. Five minutes later they doubled the lead when an unmarked Oskar Bolin volleyed in a cross from the left. The visitors kept plugging away and had a few promising counter attacks but they didn't lead to any serious chances and they didn't have a single shot on goal. The points were all wrapped up but Kosta managed to score two more before the end. After 76 minutes a perfect cross from Vllasalija found the head of Nedanovski for 3-0 and a few minutes from the final whistle Darmin Sobo scored the fourth with a speculative shot that found its way past the keeper.

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.

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.

Lindsdals IF v Hanaskogs IS, Swedish divison 3 south east

 

Lindsdals IF 4-1 Hanaskogs IS
Monday 6 April 2026, 15:00 kick-off
Swedish division 3 south east (5th tier)
Fjölebro Idrottsplats
Attendance: 86

The Swedish season 2026 started up this Easter weekend and I made the short trip to Lindsdal, a few kilometres north of Kalmar to see a match in the regional division 3. I've been to this ground several times now but not on this blog. Lindsdal is a village that has grown to become a suburb of Kalmar with a population of about 6,000. The football team was founded in 1926 and its greatest achievement was when the women's team played in the highest division back in the 1990s. They have a substantial youth programme and have produced several players who have gone on to greater things. The men's team have spent most of their time in the lower leagues apart from a few seasons in division 2 back in the 2010s. Last season they only just missed promotion, losing the play-off so this season they will be aiming at going all the way. They play in yellow and black but today turned out in an all black kit.

Today's opponents, Hanaskogs IS, were a completely new acquaintance for me, winning their regional division 4 last season. They also play in yellow and black.

The ground

Not a classic to be honest but modern and functional for this level. Club house, kiosk and dressing rooms at one end, a scaffolding stand with bucket seats on one side and the wooden dugouts on the opposite side. Artificial pitch of course. No frills and no cover. The weather was windy, grey and rain threatened several times without becoming more than a brief drizzle. I was well wrapped up with woolly hat and a blanket.

Clubhouse and kiosk

Food and drink

In Sweden the hot dog is compulsory but it is smaller and less tasty than what you get in Denmark. Otherwise you can get various snacks, coffeee and even toasties. Sadly no tea for me.

The match

Kick-off

Solid 4-1 win for Lindsdal and it could've been more. They took the lead after only 3 minutes with a lovelt shot from Benjamin Bengtsson from the right of the penalty area. That became 2-0 after 17 minutes when the same player stuffed it in from close range after a cross from the right was headed back into the box. Hanaskog were dangerous on the break and pulled one back with a close-range header from Kojo Annor after a corner from the right. Lindsdal got a penalty at the end of the first half but the visitor's keeper meade a fine save so the half ended at only 2-1. 

In the second half the hosts looked much more lively and were soon 4-1 up after a fine shor from the left by Seferovic and then a close range shot from Schylström wrapped up the points. A perfect start of the season for Lindsdal but the visitors can take away a few pluses. They had their chances and fought well. Points will come I'm sure.

Seconds before Hanaskog scored from a corner