Esbjerg fB Training Pitch, Series 3 Pool 45, 10/4/23
Me 272
Esbjerg forenede Boldklubber
Founded – 1924
Nickname – EFB
Honours – Danish Top Tier –1960/61, 1961/62, 1962/63, 1964/65, 1978/79, Danish Cup – 1963/64, 1975/76, 2012/13. Danish 1st Division – 2011–12
Random Fact – I dont think I had ever seen a Filipino international prior to this match. I now have in Jerry Lucena who had a decent career in Denmark with Esbjerg fB and AGF but was also capped 38 times by the Philippines.
After getting back from Middelfart I had to nip in past the hotel then get a taxi up to the EfB clubhouse quick sharp. This leading me to get to this bang on kick off. Unlike the match on Funen this was not much of a spectacle to be honest. The superior team won under the lights. To start Skaerbaek looked not too bad. But what looked young team collapsed to the experienced team which included ex internationals and pro-players including ex St Johnstone man Tommy Lovenkrands. Esbjerg took the lead through Anders Rønne only to concede and equaliser to Ahmad Zanon. But Esbjerg were too strong in the end and put another 3 past the visitors with relative ease. These coming from Anders Høliløkkem, Mads Jensen and Thomas Kragh. They maybe could have got a couple more too. But instead sent me running to retrieve the ball on a couple of occasions. Not the best game I will ever see. Nor the worst. No doubt i will be back up to watch again at some point. A good time filler.
A night that turned quite cold watching random football is still more appealing that sitting in the hotel stewing waiting to go offshore or sitting in a pub where I can’t drink a lot due to work pending. I will always choose the fitba over that. I am sure the game would have seemed better if I had not witnessed what I did earlier in the day.
However it has to be said I am always impressed with the EfB sports village (I think its called the “Sports and Events Park”)when I am up there. It really is a quality set up. Numerous football pitches, turf and plastic. Cricket ground. Curling Hall, Ice Hockey arena, another multi-purpose arena and athletics stadium. Then obviously the Blue Water Arena being the centrepiece, but there is much more too. Its a quality set up. With places like this no wonder Denmark are qualifying for World Cups and Euros frequently when similar sized Scotland are not. They clearly put the money into grassroots and beyond. It was also noted when flying offshore today the number of football pitches and sports centres across the city.(A bonnie clear day to see down) Esbjerg is not a huge place by any stretch, but it is very well kitted out for sports. That can never be doubted
Now for 3 weeks graft……….
Entrance – Free
Attendance – 33
Pie – N/A
Pint – Took a couple of bottles with me
FITBAWBAG 