Just 7 weeks after that wonderful final day of the 2023/24 season down at Wembley Stadium, we are off again!
First up this pre-season was a game against Rosenborg in Trondheim, Norway.
When I was booking the trip, I thought I would fly to Oslo and get a scenic train journey up north to Trondheim. I then found out it was a 7-hour train journey (didn’t realise Norway was so big!), so I gave that a swerve and flew from Manchester to Oslo & Oslo to Trondheim – which was just a 1-hour flight.
We arrived late afternoon on the day of the European Championship final.
I was quite surprised how many Norwegians were out wearing England or Spanish football shirts. There was a ‘fan park’ with a big screen near where we were staying, but it was an outdoor venue and it was pouring down!
It wasn’t for me, sitting in the pouring rain watching England, so we found a quieter inside TV.
Monday / Matchday
The weather was much better, so we went into Trondheim city centre where we found the Scandinavian United Supporters Club had planned a United event.
Lots of Norwegian Reds about (from all corners of Norway) and most in United shirts.
I noticed shirts from the 80s, 90s and all the way up to the brand new shirts. There was a great fan park there.
The massive outdoor screen was showing all the goals from last season, then all the goals from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer! I still can’t believe how good some of Ole’s goals were.
Then, the main event of the afternoon was a Q&A with Bryan Robson, Denis Irwin and Andy Mitten. The event was fantastic, ending with Robbo and Irwin staying to sign (or have a selfie) with everyone who queued up.
Legends of the highest order!
Then the bus to the stadium, which was located slightly south of the city centre. There were far more Red shirts that the white / black of our opponents!
Rosenberg used to be the top team in Norway – winning the league year after year, but they aren’t doing as well these days. It’s halfway through their season and they are sitting 11th out of 16.
The game was very poor – the United squad very thin (most still on holidays after the Euros & Copa America). We only had five first team players in their ‘first half’ team before Erik ten Hag changed all the outfield players at half-time.
The second half team were mainly u18s and United lost to the last kick of the game (0-1) – but we still had a good afternoon.
Tuesday
It’s another beautiful day in Norway as we walked along the footpath (past the rocks and beaches) of the Trondheim Fjord. The afternoon was spent in the city centre and the beautiful 1,000 year old Cathedral.
I had an early night as the taxi was booked for 5am to take us back to the airport for our flights home.
Saturday 22nd
Early start by car this morning for the long drive to Edinburgh. The weather was beautiful on the way up, with great scenery through the lakes.
After arriving at Murrayfield I was pleasantly surprised how many United shirts on view.
Not long before kick-off, the heavens opened (and persisted for rest of the day) but at least the game was far better than in Norway, with United running out 2-0 winners (Amad & Hugill both scoring great goals).
Over 56,000 in attendance with about 50% being Reds!
It led to a long drive home in the atrocious weather.
Wednesday 24th – Chester v MUFC XI
A very young United squad (the first team squad flew out to the USA earlier today) – but a decent game – with the Reds running out 3-1 winners (goals from Biancheri x2 & Bailey).
Over 2,000 in attendance.
Thursday 25th
A very early start to the main part of pre-season.
Manchester to Paris CDG. A strange route to travel but…
Now the wait until my long flight from Paris CDG to Los Angeles LAX, where I’m being picked up by some great ‘American Reds’ who are putting me up for a week or so.
The first game is in LA and the second is in San Diego, which is a driveable distance.
To be continued from Los Angeles!
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