BRANN BERGEN TIPPELIGAEN

The tall ships arrive in Bergen in a few days and we shall miss them. The city is getting ready for this carnival when massive sailing vessels from many seafaring nations will replace the ferries, cruise ships and commercial vessels presently loitering in this beautiful fjord, spanned by bridges and undercut by tunnels. It took years for the Hindhead Tunnel to relieve the A3 of it's almost notorious bottleneck and who knows how long for the Humber to be spanned, yet here is a sea faring nation, with a minuscule population, digging tunnels over 20 Km's long and crossing seas as though they didn't exist.

Like their road construction, Norway bats above its average, with a really decent FIFA rating and many moments of embarrassing England! remember Mrs Thatcher, Winston Churchill and Graham Taylor?

Bergen has a decent football team playing in the Top league-see title. Founded in 1908, Brann has won the top division three times in its history (the league was founded in 1937-8) and came 8th last season. Other Bergen clubs include Fyllingsdalen (no, not the golf balls on the Yorkshire moors) it's a new club formed when two failing clubs merged and Fana, who play at the second level known as the Addeccoligaen. Brann2 and Asane also play in the Norwegian league.

Ladies teams from Arna-Bjonar, Sandvicken and Asane compete at the higher levels in the Women's leagues as do Fart, Vang but I have not researched them or their origins.

Bergen, rich in oil, fish and timber is benefiting from its recent acquisitions from the North Sea. Norwegians are working 23% fewer hours than before the oil boom! taking more holidays, having more sick leave and retiring earlier. As Bergen is booming, Norway needs to spend its wealth wisely before the supplies run out; you should see the infrastructure in estment. There is much to consider; Brann may suddenly find a rich oil investor or fish magnet to lift them into Champions League status. Do you know who is representing Norway in the CL this season? I found this road sign in the city today which bans football. Yet on the other side of the road in that alley, footy IS allowed by law!,