This is my third visit to Norway. I guess I’m one of the few on the flight who has been further north, having taken part in the Midnight Run in Tromso as part of my training for the New York marathon in 2018. But that was in June and whilst cold it was beautiful.
Trip number two was to Trondheim in November of the following year, as a Scotty Sinclair header made us forget the freezing temperatures on the day that we won away. As we land, the word amongst the support is that the other Celtic flight has just left Glasgow. A short day visit to the Arctic Circle has suddenly become a lot shorter for the poor folk stuck on that flight.
I exit the airport and take a deep breath. There’s a full going blizzard which reminds me of the day we landed in Reykjavik during their worst weather for 70 years. The map inside the airport showed a walking route to town but I’m taking a different path. It also showed the stadium not so far away and I fancy a look at that first, with the opportunity to take a few photos. I’ve managed to get my phone charged up to around 30% and off I trudge, trudge being the operative word as the bleak landscape stretches before me. I wait patiently to cross the busy carriageway and a passing car almost skids off the road in an attempt to stop on my left. I’m immediately thinking that I’ve done something wrong before the driver politely waves me across the road. I guess that’s the protocol and fair play to him stopping in those conditions.
The road to the stadium
I’ve only travelled a few hundred yards and already my jeans and shoes are soaked through. I catch sight of the floodlights and sure enough I’ve reached the Aspmyra Stadion. I take a couple of photos then spy an open gate. Up the stairs I go to catch my first glimpse inside. There are voices and within a few minutes a steward is enquiring why I’m there. I mention I’m a reporter for a Celtic blog – which is kinda true – and I’m feeling quite good about that impulsive response until the guy asks for my UEFA accreditation. And I’m not getting in here no matter how wet I am.
