FREDRICKSTAD SHOW HOW THE GAME IS SUPPOSED TO BE PLAYED

On the border of Norway and Sweden lies Fredrickstad, a town named after a king and once rich in timber and ships. By April 1903 the local workers tried to get football going but it took three attempts include a lost ball dispatched inaccurately on to a passing train to Moss, before the club was established. An industrialist from England, HW Kenworthy, lived in Sarpsborg and he produced an opposition for Fredrickstad in 1904 and 600 spectators turned up to see this new venture. It was spring so the weather was decent and the Swedes were not distracted by skiing. In fact Fredrickstad (now to be known as FFC) were unusual in the country since there were no other sports to compete with football. FFC remained casual amateurs rather in the Corinthians style and they were renowned for playing the game " how it was supposed to be played", a quote from manager Jorgen Juve in 1932. In 1960 the club thumped Ajax in the old European Cup and it was not until the 21st century that FFC turned serious professionals. Knut Turbjorn Eggen was responsible for guiding his new team into professionalism and in their centenary year, FFC won a promotion back to the Premier division. In 2007 the club moved ground to a shipyard site on the River Glooma and built a charming MK Dons style stadium which holds 12,500. This should have helped the club but they have yo-yo'd between Division 1 and the top and at present are in Div 1. FFC has won the main league and cup 9 times. They also have a Museum on the ground and two old industrial buildings have been incorporated into the major stands along each touch line. In December 2011 they club was raided and investigated in the Raio Piiroja scandal. It all seems to have quietened down now. Hopefully,  FFC may not court anymore controversy, although long journeys are clearly going to upset the accountant.