Varbergs GIF

Ground: Påskbergsvallen

Visits: 2 (1 for a Varbergs GIF match)

Date: 21st June 2017

Match: Varbergs GIF - Eskilsminne 2-0 (Division 2 Västra Götaland)

Attendance: 186

In 2011 I visited Påskbergsvallen in Varberg for the Division 1 encounter between Varbergs BoIS and Rosengård. Since then Varbergs BoIS have been promoted to Superettan and the ground has been partly rebuilt. The other “big” team from Varberg is Varbergs GIF and when HIF Akademi withdrew from Division 2 Västra Götaland Varbergs GIF, who lost the promotion play-off final, were offered a spot in Division 2. Wanting to complete Division 2 Västra Götaland properly this year I decided to re-visit Påskbergsvallen for the Wednesday evening game between Varbergs GIF and Eskilsminne. From Kristianstad it takes around 2h 15 min to drive to Varberg and around 17.30 I arrived at Påskbergsvallen. I found somewhere to eat before entering the ground. Since my last visit the East Stand has been rebuilt to fulfill the requirements (like segregation zones etc) for Superettan football. Even though Eskilsminne, from Helsingborg, are only a point behind the leaders I didn´t expect a bumper crowd for this fixture. In total around 200 was inside Påskbergsvallen and for a Division 2 game that is an ok attendance.

Eskilsminne are managed by former Premiership player Martin Pringle and it was his team who were dominating the first half. No goals at half-time though. In the second half Varbergs GIF played much better and within ten minutes from the re-start they were 2-0 up. Eskilsminne tried their best but Varbergs GIF hold on and could actually have scored more goals. The home team started the season poorly but are now moving away from the relegation zone. Eskilsminne still have the chance to get promotion to Division 1 but with five teams separated by only a point they can´t afford more slip-ups. My only remaining ground in this league is Rosenlunds IP in Jönköping and hopefully I can go there in august when Assyriska host Tenhult in the derby.