Stora Valla konstgräsGround: Stora Valla konstgräs Visits: 1 Date: 24th February 2024 Match: Degerfors - GAIS 2-2 (Svenska Cupen) Attendance: 622 Deciding not to go abroad this week I once again looked at fixtures in the group stage of the Swedish Cup. With the weather forecast being positive I decided to make the long journey (5.5 hours by car) to Degerfors where I would attend Degerfors v GAIS. Kick-off was at 13.00 on Saturday afternoon but my journey started on Friday afternoon when I drove to Skövde, where I would stay the night. Once I was at my hotel I contacted Skövde AIK supporter Simon and later on I met up with him and his dad at a nearby pub. Skövde AIK is a poorly supported club but Simon and his dad are very loyal supporters who last year made it to every Skövde game (30/30 in the league, 2/2 in the playoffs and 4/4 in the cup). For a few hours we had plenty of interesting football stories to talk about and I am sure I will meet up with them in the future once again. From Skövde it was then only 90 minutes to Stora Valla in Degerfors and on Saturday morning I picked up Christian and a friend of his (a GAIS fan) from the train station, situated across the street from my hotel. On our way to Degerfors we drove past the coaches with GAIS supporters as they stopped for a short break. Shortly after noon I parked my car outside Stora Valla in Degerfors, a ground I visited in 2007. The cup game against GAIS was at Stora Valla konstgräs though but fans with home tickets had to enter through what is normally the away entrance at Stora Valla. A new 2,800 capacity stand will be built opposite the main stand but so far there has not been much progress and I doubt Degerfors will be able to start their Superettan season at Stora Valla. Anyway, we made our way to the artificial pitch and found a good spot. There are no proper stands at Stora Valla konstgräs and capacity was capped at 800. GAIS had sold out their allocation and in total 622 were present for this cup game. GAIS missed a penalty early on and at half-time it was 0-0. In the 2nd half Degerfors scored twice and it was suddenly 2-0, much to the delight of their vocal fans to my right. GAIS refused to give up and with a few minutes to go they made it 2-2. GAIS needed to win to have any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals but no more goals in Degerfors this afternoon. Degerfors will now play Elfsborg in a deciding match next weekend and that will be something to look forward to. After the game I had 5.5 hours in the car to look forward to but the drive went smoothly and at 20.45 I was back home! ![]() Entrance Building works Players and officials entering Kick-off South End View of Stora Valla konstgräs West side GAIS fans GAIS fans View of Stora Valla konstgräs North End Degerfors fans Penalty, GAIS (saved) 2-0, Degerfors East side East side Pano |