Danish weekend - Game 2 and 3

Friday 1 August 2025, HB Koge Women 2 FC Rosengard 0 - Friendly, Capelli Sport Stadion

Pre-season game for the Danish top flight side against a Swedish top Division team who had already played 12 competitive games this season. However it was the Danish team who looked the sharpest and got their two goals in the 73rd and 78th minute. An easy win in the end. The game was stopped after 19 minutes, was not sure why, but their had been a warning of lightning so the Ref took the two teams off for 20 minutes, even if we did not even get any rain that time. I had a similar experience the following day, so it seems Copenhagen suffers from lightning storms and match officials are prepared after looking at forecast to take teams off the pitch, for their own safety.

£13 cost of 'S' Bahn train for return ticket to Koge, a small, pretty town just south of Copenhagen. Bus or 15 minute walk to the ground, you see the ground as you approach Koge on the train.

The men's team are in the 1st Division and are in the process of improving their stadium. One large seated stand on the side, also has hospitality areas plus all changing rooms and club offices, only stand open for this game, Opposite a new stand is being built but guess a few more months till that is open. Behind one goal, new terracing is being built and looked as if almost completed. Behind the other goal  is a sports hall, so the ground will always be 3 sided. 

With Sweden always being one of the top sides in Women's football was surprised how poor the visitors were.

B.93 1 Hillerod 2 - Danish 1st Division, Sundby Idraetspark

Easy Metro and short bus trip to a large sports complex, B.93 using their ground whilst their own ground in the north of the city is under renovation, they should be moving back north this month - have put some more info on that in the Stadium News post in the International Hopping section.

Stadium is ok, decent large seated stand, food and beer on offer - visiting fans ( all 40 of them) were perched on temporary seating behind one goal, you could stand and watch the game from behind the other goal, the other side saw 5 steps of wooden terracing/bench seating. Athletics track round the G3 pitch but as only 3 lanes, did not cause many issues when it comes to watching the game.

Football wise, score line may look close but the visitors had an easy win, two up after 33 minutes and though the home team had plenty of the ball, they did not really threaten the visiting keeper whilst Hillerod always looked dangerous on the break. B. 93 got a goal back on 43 minutes but tahtw as about as good as it got for them. Floodlights failed after 85 minutes but it was still light and so game was in no danger of being called off, they could not get lights fixed but did turn a smaller set of lights on, probably to help with the TV filming the game as lights were not needed by spectators. 

Danish weekend - Game 1

Five game trip to the Danish capital, Copenhagen:

Thursday 31 July 2025, Brondby IF 1 Havnar Boltfelag 0 - European Conference League, Brondny Stadion

Decent crowd and a good atmosphere - easy to get to ground- Metro then bus, a number of club bars outside the stadium. Constant singing and chanting from the South Stand. About 500 fans from the Faroes, supporting Havnar. Modern stadium, plenty of food and drink on offer and good views from any seat.

Game was very disappointing, Brondby had drawn the first leg and dominated play from the start but only managed to score once, on 30 minutes. Second half, Brondby still had most of the ball but still looked very toothless and it almost cost them, as the visitors suddenly realised they still had a chance and took the game to the Danes for the last 5 minutes and had a number of close chances to get back on terms, fortunately for the home team they managed to hold on but can't see them going much further in this competition unless they up their game.

Afterwards it was chaos even with probably a few thousand fans cycling to the game, the roads soon jammed up and as the train station is a good distance to walk, waiting for a bus was a lengthy process, surprised that they never had buses lined up to take fans to the 'S' Bahn station. So if planning a trip to Brondby, walking back to the station may be quicker.

Borrowed home

Tuesday 29 July 2025, Ipswich Town 2 Charlton Athletic 1 - PSF, Community Stadium, Colchester United

​

Ipswich playing their only 'home' pre-season game at Colchester - due to Ipswich working on their pitch after Sheeran concerts, Ipswich have paid for and sorted out the Colchester pitch as this ground will also host Ipswich Town Women after their promotion to WSL2, and possibly Ipswich Under 21 games this season - not a decision that has pleased many Town fans.

Ipswich dominated 80 minutes of the game but somehow only managed to win 2-1, with all goals coming in the second half over a very short period.

Sat in the main stand and was able to wat h the touchline antics of Nathan Jones at close hand, a 'poor mans' Diego Simeone.

On the way home

Saturday 26 July 2025, Darlington 3 Altrincham1 - PSF, Blackwell Meadows

Darlington, may be a division lower but they started and finished the game on top. Took Altrincham 30 minutes to get into the game and by that stage they were already behind as the home team went in front after 10 minutes. 

Altrincham looked far sharper at the start of the second half and got back on level terms after 66 minutes, i thought the visitors would go on and win but Darlington got themselves back in front after 71 minutes and then finished the stronger and added a third from a header after 87 minutes.

Ground is shared with Rugby Union but that gives the club the benefit of a good clubhouse and bar/catering facilities. Modern, out of town, may lack character but ideal for a club hoping to move up to the National League.

Long way north

Friday 25 July 2025, Aberdeen 1 Ipswich Town 3 - PSF, Pittodrie

Good game and good display by Ipswich, competitive game that Ipswich dominated for most of the 90 minutes. Aberdeen had short periods when on top but Ipswich had most of the good chances and were two nil up at half time. A third was added on 59 minutes before Ipswich completely changed their starting X1. Aberdeen got a late consolation on 79 minutes.

Good atmosphere, crowd was segregated but afterwards the Dons and Ipswich fans mixed and many were out drinking together later in the night. 

Ground looking quite dated and after waiting football in England it did feel like we had been transported back 30 years in time.

Left it late

Tuesday 22 July 2025, Needham Market 1 Ipswich Town Under 21s 2 - PSF, Bloomfields

Even first half with neither team showing much up front, one of the Ipswich trialist, son of Ashley Young, was keen to get as much of the ball as possible. Needham going ahead after 31 minutes with one of the few chances from either team on target,

Second half saw Ipswich take control as they pushed forward to get back on terms. They were helped when Needham went down to 10 men after 70 minutes, when their skipper got a second yellow card.

Ipswich made the extra man count and scored in the 82nd and 85th minute and could have added more in the last few minutes.

The old wooden stand has now gone and the frame of the new stand is now in place.

Hidden behind the garages

Saturday 19 July 2025, Brightlingsea Regent 4 Ipswich Town Under 18s 1 - PSF, North Road

Brightlingsea have moved up the pyramid quite  quickly and have improved their ground, but it is crammed in behind houses and one entrance sits behind two garages.

Good size crowd and most will have gone home happy. Regent started like a train and the Ipswich keeper had to make 3 good saves early on. Ipswich then got into the game and had most of the ball but never realy threatened to home team goal. Brightlingsea then went ahead with a header after 30 minutes and then added a second, also from a header after 43 minutes.

Second half saw Brightlingsea dominate the play adding a third from the penalty spot on 52 minutes then scoring the best goal of the game, with slick team move on 55 minutes. Ipswich scored a consolation on 84 minutes with a great individual goal