The Barnsely game saw an unlikely set of Dale supporters attending their first ever match – our friends ‘The Norwegians’!
We’d been in touch via email about the home match on 4th October, Lars, Oyvind, Kjetil and Jorgen (below) were interesting in a couple of things: shirts, scarves, beer and of course, The Match!
The chaps met Aaron in Manchester, saw his Dale shirt and got chatting, they all got to Spotland from the station and Arron showed them around to the club shop and Dale bar.
We then met up at the Trust desk for a chat and a pint (or three) and met some more Norwegian Dale fans who had flown over on the same flight! We all we had some pictures and it was onto the match.
The club were kind enough to provide the chaps with lounge passes for after the match where they met a number of the players and big Pete signed their shirts.
Waiting for a taxi to the Flying Horse they met Hilly and had a natter then it was off to town.
A couple (maybe more) of pints in the Flying Horse and the Regal and they were off into the night back to Manchester ready for Old Trafford Sunday dinnertime.
The thing that since struck me was how far they’d come to watch the Dale, I’d wolfed a bacon butty down and wandered over from Edenfield Road, I take for granted how easy it is for me to support my club. We all look forward to seeing them again at the Exiles day in March if the chaps can make it, one that note, we’ll have exiles day details announced soon!
Any road, we’ve had an email from Lars so have a gander below –
‘We had a great weekend in Manchester and also Rochdale. It was a perfect day in Rochdale. ( just not the result of the match. )
It was also a pleasure to meet you and feel all the kindness in the Club.
We are looking forward to next time me meet.
Our day at ‘the dale’
When we woke up Saturday the 4 of October to go to the dale to watch Rochdale against Barnsley we never expecting the kindness an loveliness that met us not only at the stadium, but also before and after the game. Already at the train station in Manchester we met a dale supporter (Aaron) who took care of us and guided us to the stadium. The atmosphere at the stadium was better and also more charming than any other premier league match we been to. We are so thankful we could meet some of the players after the game and a most all we are thankful of the service and support The Dale Trust showed us when we planned our trip to Rochdale.
Good luck with the game tonight.
Regards
Lars