Markaryd

Ground: Skärsjövallen

Visits: 1

Date: 21st June 2023

Match: Markaryd - Ljungby 1-0 (Division 4 Småland Sydvästra)

Attendance: 600

Markaryds IF were founded in 1924 and the club´s best years were between 1988 and 1991 when the club played in Division 1 Södra, at the time the second tier in the league pyramid. Nowadays the club is fighting for promotion from division 4. When I discovered Markaryd v Ljungby, local derby and top of the table clash, was scheduled for Wednesday evening I decided to skip the Hässleholm derby and head to Markaryd instead. From Kristianstad it takes about an hour by car to go to Skärsjövallen in Markaryd. The ground is yet another lovely Swedish lower league ground with a big roofed wooden main stand and a smaller open stand on the far side. I realised there would be a bumper crowd tonight and was at the ground some 50 minutes prior to kick-off to get a good parking spot (which I did).

The most famous player ever to play for Markaryd is Kurt-Arne (Nanne) Bergstrand), albeit he is mostly famous for his managerial career which includes several Allsvenskan clubs. Maybe he was in the crowd tonight? The official attendance was announced as 1,200 but I have my doubts about that number. My estimation was 5-600 but predicting attendances is apparently impossible. Most of those present were obviously supporting Markaryd but it was Ljungby who had the best chance in the 1st half. The penalty was missed though and it was 0-0 at half-time. In the 2nd half both teams went for the win and in the end it was Markaryd who scored the only goal, 1-0 in the 67th minute. Games like the one today are really enjoyable to visit and I hope to get chance to visit some more later on in the season.

Entrance

South Stand

East End

North Stand

West End

Kick-off

View of play

South Stand

North Stand

Markaryd fans

Skärsjövallen