Stick up Oslo III

Stick up Oslo II

Stick up London

2012/2013, Leyton O away

This is what a wet but warm welcome looks like

Last time we where over it was sunny and about 25 degrees. This time around it was a bit different. Rain and just about 6 degrees. Last time we won, this time we lost. Last time we were two coming over, this time we were four. The one thing that was exactly the same was the warm welcome from our Preston comrades.

On the move from Oslo

After work friday we all met up at Oslo Central Station and got a taxi to Rygge Airport - the start of all Branch trips to England. Normally we get into friendly arguments with Premiership team`s fans but this time we where pretty much alone. Nico had his priorities straight and made sure we had enough whiskey to last the whole trip. One way at least.

Touchdown London

Getting to London is not much different than going to Preston in our case. Fly time is pretty much the same and what do you know, the taxi time also pretty similar to. Our hotel was ok except some dodgy stains on the carpet, underwear in the staircase and just to many french people. You do understand English, you just don`t want to, twats. Merde!

Always show your true colors

First night out was spent at Burger King several local pubs around Hyde Park. Max being 27 years old was asked for ID at some point. Nothing wrong with looking young though but when you are older than the bartender you don`t tip him much after that do you? After some more or less eventful stays at soulless pubs we ended up at one where we had 4-5 IPAs thanks to Nico. That pub was a bit more alive. Glass broke and stickers was handed out to walls and other places.

One big happy family

But we were not in London to hang out at random bars by our selves. We were in London to hang with our Preston family. And after showing Ben the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street and the Stone Island flagship store we met up at the Water Poet. And what a meet up it was. When people ask me - Why Preston? The short response to that is - Because it feels so f*cking good! The atmosphere in a Preston faithful get-together is just brilliant. We are proud to call us a part of it all.

A packed Water Poet

Once again happy birthday to Tim. 30 years on the 10th season. Get it this time pal?:-)
After the quality time spent at the Water Poet we moved on to Leyton by tube. The sky kept pissing on us as we made our way to Brisbane Road. The place was buzzing and the expectations were high and we all agreed that we could not loose this one. The boys were going to avenge Scott Laird`s broken leg. Weren`t they?

Could we loose this one?

Kicking off our team looked good and the home team brought nothing until they on a rare visit up the field scored a lucky goal just before halftime. With disbelief we went to half time one goal behind. To be honest the effort was good but the skill both on and of the ball is just not good enough.

The thing that pretty much ruins a great day out

The stadium stewards was keeping a close eye on the crowd from Lancashire. I looked like they felt the crowd could go mental at any time and we could feel their hearts pound all the way from the grass to the terraces. The relieved smiles on their faces when they realized we just wanted to put our flag out and not rushing onto the pitch were very cute. At half time they tried to pull of a stunt by blocking one of the entrances. It did not work out the way they planned. Anyways..

Preston faithful at Brisbane Road

The second half was as result less on our behalf as the first. We had the ball and the will they scored the goal. We had some great chances to not just get a deserved draw but also to win it. After the match we had to admit our first defeat. We are truly sorry and hope to get back on the winning track as soon as possible. This was not the result we wanted for our 7th game.

Rich and Nic with a NB stick(er)

Scott Laird is no longer an unsung hero. With Paul and Tom as lead singers a group of thirsty North Enders entertained the Londoners with a great version of Mr. Harrison`s "My sweet lord". We hope you appreciate the gesture Scotty and that you are back as soon as possible. Keep on getting better. After the the last beer was necked around Euston we went to a party in a part of London I don`t recall unfortunally. Newcastle supporter Rich was a great host and your variety of girls was interesting.

Myyyy Scott Laird, my Scott Laird

Thank you so much for a great weekend lads. Looking forward to making the trip over again. Looks like the next game wil be Brentford away, so London - we`ll meet again.

If you want to see more pictures from Leyton away and other stuff follow @norwegianbranch on Instagram. Probably gonna put out more fotos on the blog later as well.

My sole is clean.

Did you hear that, Doug?! We`re coming to London. With a new pair of trainers and the same old Norwegian swag we are taking on Leyton away. Tickets of all kinds are bought or given and we are set for a wwekend to remember. And in case we don`t remember nothing, we´ll take a shitload of pictures for your amusement. See you soon lads.

New logo

Our new twitter avi is a mash up between a well known iconic sportswear brand and a traditional Norwegian hat. Like it or love it. We care some.

History lesson with uncle Bill

The Vikings are alive and well and living in the North West of England, if we are to belive our friend William "Bill" Routledge. We asked him for an interview on one of our common favorite subject; the relationship between our two great nations. Bill was willing to share his thought on the matter.

The North West has long been known to have special links with the Vikings going back over a thousand years, through archaeological evidence, ancient manuscripts, local surnames and place-names. It’s believed many of the Vikings, of mainly Norwegian origin, ended up in the region after being expelled from Ireland in AD902. Also, recent research of nearly 50 per cent of men that volunteered to have their DNA collected from within and just outside the boundaries of Lancashire, whom had surnames names dating back thousands of years connected and to the county, found out that their ancestry was indeed Viking in origin. I too, myself, have blonde eyebrows and blue eyes!

On the move - Viking style

Anyway, from a very early age I’ve always had an interest and fascination for travelling to far off shores, boats and Vikings: Since being knee-high to a grasshopper I would pester my Dad to regale me with stories of his years in the Royal Navy during WWII and the foreign countries that he visited while serving for Queen and country. I didn’t grasp the severity of what real wars were and there consequences but, at an age of innocence, nevertheless, I grasped that there were places around the globe that were accessible by taking to the ocean waves and setting sail. I also sat glued to the TV every Christmas Day transfixed by ‘Jason and the Argonauts’  and the swashbuckling involved while occurrences occurred in their quest for the ‘Golden Fleece.’ All this to place while being watched over from the clouds above by the ancient Gods. (I’ll let you in to a secret, I really thought Jason and the lads were Vikings back in the day.)
        

Far from the Scandinavian dresser

Moving on a few years: History lessons at school never went to in-depth on what the Vikings had done for us, unlike what the Romans had; this apart from the dark side of their exploits. We were informed that the Norse warriors had raided Britain for their self gain leaving a trail of destruction in their wake, akin to land pirates.

Once old enough, I tapped the local newsagents for a morning paper round, whereupon I was taken on due to an older lad retiring at the end of the week. Mornings would be spent wandering aimlessly while supping a pint of gold top milk that I’d ‘borrowed’ from a doorstep and reading such delights as the ‘Hagar the Horrible’ comic strip in the Sun newspaper chuckling to myself before posting a percentage of the papers and dumping the rest in the bushes. It wasn’t long before a coped the bullet.

Leading to today: Stepping over the threshold from where I live nowadays, Grimsargh, Lancashire, there has been many a historical happening since the village was listed in the Domesday Book. Within a mile or two of my humble abode, and even under the foundations of where I sat typing these notes up, events took place that have connections to the Vikings.

Grimsargh, East of the City of Preston

*Grimsargh is a semi-rural village to the East of the City of Preston, whose name is said to deprive from an Old Norse name Grimr, with ‘argh’ added* (NB: Grim also meaning ugly in modern Norwegian. Grym in Sweden meaning both ugly and cool.)

After the Romans had left Blighty, the Celtic influence prevailed; boatloads of Norwegians and Viking Norsemen, from Scandinavia, sailed across the North Sea in the early part of the tenth century to our fair shores, possibly via Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man on their jollies, before landing on North of England beaches - no doubt with a bit of lumber and pillaging on the way. Some of these Vikings then dodged the Spivs selling snide sunglasses and sticky toffee apples on Blackpool’s Golden Mile and set up camp near to the River Ribble, not too far from a Anglo Saxon gaff, Brockholes. Both of these settlements being a stone’s throw from Princeps Pacis, Prince of Peace or Preston-Preston more commonly known as just, Preston. The two encampments seemingly kept themselves to themselves and co-existed – it’s nice to be nice, isn’t it?

A Viking mansion

The Norsemen knocked up shed-like-huts, ploughed the fallowed land and planted crops. Without going round the houses to explain Old Norse, Danish and Saxon meanings of the aforementioned, the name of Grimsargh for their settlement had been established. Also, the only boozer in the village to this day is called The Plough, in reference to Grimsargh’s past inhabitants.

Proud of our local Scandinavian heritage, Vikings have been hewn in old stone farmers gateposts and new, pristine Viking heads have been commissioned too.

Bill the protector

Apart from being a member of the Scandinavian forum Our Culture, amongst others, I’ve also a passion for Preston North End. And recently, through a mutual friend, Minty, I was introduced to The PNEFC Norwegian Branch of supporters while having a pint in the Old Black Bull in Preston – what a cracking bunch of lads they were too. Hopefully, one day soon, I will cross the North Sea for a flagon or two of ale with our Scandinavian brethren – if my Lotto numbers come-up, that is.

Wearing the colours

We thank you for the history lesson, Bill. Looking forward to seeing you again and talk about our fellow ancestors over a horn of ale or two.

Still representing

 ...until the next guild comes along. Long Live Proud Preston!

Licence to..

New licence plate`s good to go. Now where did I park that Range Rover of mine..?

In the news

When driving to the airport on sunday Katie got a text from Dickie (in yellow between the Sherriff`s legs) saying a Branch man was in today`s Sunday Mirror sport section. We stopped at a local shop by the road and got a couple. A nice memory to take home.

5000 views so far...

Our blog just reached 5000 views. So who cares and who`s counting? We care about this blog because it`s our way to participate. Besides going to football matches this is how we show our support. Along with the Twitter account this is the way we express ourselves about PNE. If we have an opinion or an idea this is where we post it and put it into the huge mass that is Preston North End supporters.

So far it`s Norwegians in the lead with 1485 visits to this site, Brits with 1120, Americans with 1061 and Germans with 500. That the Norwegian Preston North End fan site have over 1000 visits from 3 different countries is fun to know, it basically means people actually read what we write here. If they agree or not, find it as totally bullocks or a great laugh is hard to tell. We only listen to the nice things people say anyway. We are football supporters not politicians. COYW!!

Away fans on their way

The branch will be over for the away game against Bury. It`s been several months since our last visit to Preston and we can`t wait to down our first glass of Sass. 

Making your mark - Stockholm, Sweden

Simonsen - one of us?

It`s pretty much everything people in and around Lancashire are talking about these last days: Does newly signed goalkeeper Steve Preben Arthur Simonsen hail from either Norway or Denmark? We have tried to find out the truth using all tools available (Google).
Apart from his dark blond hair, his name and characteristic gap between the front teeth, who many people from Vestfold & Telemark are known for we do not have much solid proof of where his family might have come from.

In the picture above you see a classic attack on an enemy by headbutting them underneath their feet. Used mostly in northern parts of Norway when fighting moose or even polarbears. On the other hand is this technique also seen in Danish lovemaking.

 

This old hand gesture brings back so many memories being one of the first things a Norwegian kid sees. When a Norwegian kid is first allowed inside the farmhouse after spending his first 5 weeks alone in the forest (kids eat a lot the first couple of weeks) the father of the house beats his son five times. And for every beating he tells his son how many rounds to go. In this case 3. More if the father is poor with numbers.

It could also be a Danish hand signal for ordering beer. It`s not allowed to order less than 3 beers at a time in Denmark. 

 

This one is not that hard. It can basically mean two things either the good old pick up line "want to provide your kids with a strong chin? Step into the barn and I will help you out." In Denmark this gesture is used to show very drunk fighters where to hit. In the whole of Scandinavia it`s a great shame to fight someone who doesn`t now how.

We will not rest until we know the truth. Are you one of us, Preben?

 

Radio star

The picture above might be of an older model and we might have Twitter as an extra source of information now but the radio is the branchmen`s best way to follow our famous club`s games. Listening to the radio would bring back a lot of memories if we where old enough to have lived during the post TV age period. We`re not old enough to have experienced that so no memories of all matches being broadcasted on the pictureless medium. We are making them memories now. In 2012 we listen to PNE Player via our top modern Mac Book Airs and experiencing what our fathers did some odd 50-60 years ago. Listening to the radio gives you a totally different experience than watching it on the big screen. We are grateful that we are able to get the action live and thank everyone involved in making it happen. After all if we want visual pleasure it`s only a couple of train- buss- and plane rides away.

Blog on!

It`s on again. A new season is at it`s beginning and we can win. We can win it all. The league, the cups, the hearts and the minds. The first match of the season is the cup tie against Huddersfield monday. We will win of course and advance. Every year, Championship or League One (or Two) we belive that this is the year we`ll do it all. We`re going all the way. Needless to say all of us who year after year think this way and truly belive that "this is the year" have been let down more times than a nerd in a night club but this year it`s different. This season is ours. We`re going all the way cha!

Any better?

These are the results of the last visit to the National Football Museum back in 2010. Any better?

And with every great accomplishment there`s an even greater award! The book "1966 And All That" signed by the NFM. Happy days!

Coming to town

A small delegation from The Branch is coming over for the Huddersfield match. Invincible pavilion Lower G here we come! A special visit being the Branch`s youngest members first to Preston. 3 draws one win on the last 4 visits at Deepdale. Lets get another W!

Visiting hours

 Visiting status Topp 3:

Norway      880
USA           337
England     235

Vi also welcome Israel and Italy to the visitors "Hall of fame"! How many people are getting disapointed about what The Norwegian Branch website is all about is not something we care to think about. We are just happy the jolly spirit of Preston North End is being spread around the world.

World Wide (lilly)Whites

Just wanna send out high fives to all our readers world wide. Awesome that you find time to check us out inbetween fashion and healt blogs. Polarbear cred to all ya`ll.

Our top 3 stats so fare this season:

1. Norway 791
2. USA 193
3. Great Britain 184

Shout outs also goes to readers in Germany, Russia, China, Australia, Canada, Spain and Ukraine.