ÅtvidabergGround: Kopparvallen Visits: 2
Date: 25th August 2007 Match: Åtvidabergs FF - Degerfors 0-0 (Superettan) Attendance: 2 558
Date: 20th October 2013 Match: Åtvidabergs FF - Helsingborg 3-0 (Allsvenskan) Attendance: 3 466
Åtvidabergs FF were founded in 1907 and despite coming from a small town (pop. 7 000) the club has a history many bigger clubs would be proud of. The "golden years" were in the early 1970s when the club won several league- and cup titles in Sweden. Players like Ralf Edström, Roger Magnusson and Conny Torstensson played for Åtvidaberg back then and in the Sweden squad for the 1974 World Cup not less than 8 players came from Åtvidaberg. In the 70s many memorable UEFA-matches were played at Kopparvallen. In 1972 Åtvidaberg knocked Chelsea (title holders) out of the Cupwinners Cup and in 1973 the perhaps most legendary match of them all was played at Kopparvallen. Bayern München, having won the first leg 3-1, showed up with Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller etc but Åtvidaberg won 3-1. The match went to penalties which the Germans won. Bayern München then won the European Cup in May 1974. In the late 70s the club were relegated from Allsvenskan, were promoted back to Allsvenskan before being relegated again. In 1991 Åtvidaberg were relegated to Division 3 (level 5) and the future for the club was in doubt. The club bounced back though and in 2009 the club, after 28 years, were once again an Allsvenskan team. The club was relegated back to Superettan though but in 2011 Åtvidaberg once again were promoted to Allsvenskan.
Report (Åtvidaberg - Helsingborg): I visited Kopparvallen in 2007 (vs Degerfors) when Åtvidaberg celebrated 100 years. In time for the 2012 season the ground had three new stands built and I could notice it was now a proper and very nice looking football ground. Last summer I was invited by the club to re-visit Kopparvallen so I could have pictures of the "new" ground on my website. It wasn´t until October 2013 I would finally take up the offer and visit Åtvidaberg. I was in Kalmar on Saturday afternoon watching a play-off match before heading towards Oskarshamn where I spent the night. Åtvidaberg was a 90-minute drive for me on Sunday morning and at noon I met Tommy, the stadium architect, outside Kopparvallen. He introduced me to the chairman and gave me the passes (buffé, media etc) I needed. He then gave me a tour of the ground. The old main stand is the only stand that remains from my previous visit to Kopparvallen. Individual seats have now been installed though. The South Stand, previously an open (very basic ) terrace, is a wooden stand with around 2 300 seats. I had access to the TV-gantry and from there you have an excellent view of the pitch. The hard core home supporters are in the West Stand. This stand is also a wooden stand and is currently terraced. If new ground rules are fully implemented next year this stand will be converted to seats. Away supporters are in the open East Stand. Unfortunately there wasn´t enough money to build a roof on this stand. All in all Kopparvallen is nowadays one of the best grounds in Sweden for a groundhopper to visit.
After my private stadium tour I was then invited to the VIP-buffé where I met other board members of Åtvidabergs FF. The food was excellent and I couldn´t help thinking what a difference this food was compared to what I normally eat at football grounds. Kick-off for the match against Helsingborg was at 15.00 but unfortunately the weather was not the best. Light rain and about 5 °C, not exactly what I was hoping for. Helsingborg were top of Allsvenskan for most of the first half of the season but have now dropped down the table. Currently five points from leaders Malmö this was a match they had to win to have any chance of winning the league title. In total Helsingborg had around 200 fans at Kopparvallen which still is a decent away following. It was not going to be their day though. Åtvidaberg dominated on the pitch and made it 1-0 in the 45th minute. In the second half it was all Åtvidaberg on the pitch and after a red card (handball on the goal-line) Åtvidaberg made it 2-0 from the penalty spot. It was then 3-0 before the final whistle went. A fully deserved victory for Åtvidaberg and the Helsingborg can now forget any hopes of a league title. After the match I said good-bye to Tommy and thanked him (and Åtvidaberg) for the hospitality they showed me during my visit. This was a very special day out for me!
East entrance to Kopparvallen
West entrance to Kopparvallen
Statue of Elof Ericsson
Club badge
Doors leading to the pitch
Many UEFA-matches have been played at Kopparvallen
VIP-buffé
North Stand
North Stand
North Stand
A closer look at the North Stand
Fire extinguishers
View of Kopparvallen
TV-camera
East End (2007)
East Stand (2013)
South Stand (2007)
South Stand (2013)
South Stand
A closer look at the South Stand
Interior of the South Stand
West Stand
A closer look at the West Stand
Preparing for a live broadcast
Kick-off (vs Degerfors)
North Stand
Delievering the match ball
Kick-off (vs Helsingborg)
Degerfors fans
Helsingborg fans
South Stand
West Stand
Åtvidaberg fans
View of play
Pano
Pano
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