The annual Viking invasion will soon be underway
As has been the case for the last home game of the season for the past 14 years, the Norwegian Robins will be in town.
A magnificent seven from Scandinavia – there are actually six Norwegians and a Dane – will be roaring on the Robins against Hartlepool before sampling some British øl in the bar and countless Cheltenham hostelries.
English football is huge in Norway and almost everyone in the country has an affiliation to a Premier League team.
So how do a group of mates from Oslo start supporting the Robins?
The group’s founder, Trygve Aagedal or “Trigger” to his Cheltonian friends, had a grandmother who attended Cheltenham Ladies College, so he decided to follow the Robins.
His mates joined him and now the Norwegian Robins have an ever-growing list of members who have made their annual pilgrimage to watch their team.
Their first game was the 3-0 win against Blackpool in 2003 and in the years since the Norwegian Robins have become firm friends with many Whaddon Road regulars, some of whom made a return visit to Oslo in 2013.
Many return year after year but this year there is a newbie in their ranks who will be sampling the delights of the LCI Rail Stadium for the first time.
So, once again welcome to returning Norwegians Trygve, Ole Andreas M. Olsen, Andre Schackt, Even Oppedal, Øystein Engedal, Claus Jessen – the Dane – and newbie Martin Norberg.
Enjoy the game, the pre and post-match øl and we look forward to seeing you again next year. Skål!
• Tickets have been reduced to £12 for all home areas for this Saturday's crunch match against Hartlepool United at the LCI Rail Stadium.
• Follow the Norwegian Robins on Twitter
• Tickets have been reduced to £12 for all home areas for this Saturday's crunch match against Hartlepool United at the LCI Rail Stadium.
• Follow the Norwegian Robins on Twitter