Söndrums IP Konstgräs

Ground: Söndrums IP Konstgräs

Visits: 1

Date: 16th February 2025

Match: Halmstads BK - Gefle IF 4-0 (Svenska Cupen)

Attendance: 450

The football season in Sweden starts with the group stage of the Swedish Cup. With the exception of Malmö FF home games, artificial pitches are being used. Clubs who normally play on grass have to move their home games to other pitches and Halmstads BK is one of those clubs. Söndrums IP is where Astrio, currently in Division 2, are residing but with their artificial pitch being the best in the area Halmstads BK play their low-key home games in the cup at this pitch. The home game against Landskrona has been moved to Bravida Arena but Gefle are considered low-key and I decided to start my football year with a re-visit to Söndrums IP. A few years ago I went to an Astrio home game but that was played on the main pitch/ground which has a grass pitch. From Kristianstad it took me just under two hours to reach Söndrums IP. As I parked outside the ground my car showed -2 ℃ but I had brought plenty of clothes. There were two small stands on the east side but the hill in one corner of the ground also provided a good view of the pitch. It was free entrance and I estimate the attendance was around 450 for this game.

With Halmstads BK playing in Allsvenskan and Gefle IF in Division 1 North it should, at least on paper, be an easy ride for the home team. Halmstad made it 1-0 in the 6th minute and at half-time it was 2-0 on the score-board. In the first half I was standing in the top row of one of the stands but starting to freeze I decided to “move around” in the second half. Halmstad made it 3-0 from a nice free-kick and with 10 minutes to go they made it 4-0 which was to be the final score. Despite the freezing conditions I had a nice afternoon at Söndrums IP and now the season in Sweden has finally started!