Lochland Lassie

Regarding our confidence, I do not think anyone thought this would be a walk in the Fir Park (ahem...), and the mood after the first tie was not the best - some people were wondering why I bothered to travel over, as they felt we had lost all hope after just 1-1 at home. But these guys have surprised us before with their never-give-up attitude, especially when winning the cup final last year. At the UEFA draw though, we were quite happy to get Motherwell/Breidablik, as this seemed somewhat easier than some of the more heavy opponents. And after the F.P. game, our coach said that "it was boys [ours] against men [yours]", even though he was proud of the fighting spirit our boys showed. And we are inexperienced at this level; this was our first European tie ever in the club's 96 year history. We debuted in the top league in 2003 and have been fighting to stay in it, or to get back up, ever since. Until now. The boys played Tromsø, presently number 3, three days after MFC, and Aarøy the Giant scored the two goals in one of our best matches this season. We're back at fourth place, so it seems that the Motherwell experience has served as an inspiration for the guys. Regarding pre-match expectations, I'll quote the manager who got AaFK to the top league and created so much enthusiasm around the team: Ivar M. Normark. In our first season amongst the finest, we kept on losing, week after week. People made comments like "you can't make gold out of grey rock". And when preparing to meet numero uno Rosenborg for the first time at their home turf in Trondheim, journalists kept asking him if he really thought we had a chance, until he retorted: "Well, we have to go up there and play the match; we can't very well send the points in the post!" (They won only 1-0.) Wish you all the best in Denmark tomorrow, and if anybody gets tired of the rain there, do come and see us here in Aalesund - we have sunshine and 25 degrees...

Hello, Motherwellians! I am now back home in Aalesund after a great vacation in Scotland, and I would just like to say hello to everyone I met in the Electric Bar and especially Jack Daniels before and after the game! You know who you are! And some of you are missing a scarf, others a shirt! A rugby shirt, that is. (!) We had a brilliant time, except when trying to digest the result of the match. I did miss hearing your songs during the game and in the pub, though! Perhaps you can translate some of ours? Here are some pictures and footage of the AaFK'ers in Motherwell: http://www.aafk.no/default.aspx?menu=617&id=43185 http://www.aafk.no/default.aspx?view=app_d...0&from_page= And I do not agree at all about your dismal description of your town; I found it an open and airy place, and felt quite safe when walking back to the hotel at night. It could perhaps do with a little more definition in its centre - like a square with a statue of a steelworker family, or something. With a fanzone the next time our teams meet...! I also really enjoyed the town history as presented in the Heritage Centre. Be proud of your town and your team! And go far in the Europa league! 'Mon the Well! Cheers, Lassie.

A few of us are staing in Motherwell (I wouldn't dream of going anywhere else...), but many will be going back to Glasgow. I'm off to Edinburgh now. See you all soon!

Cruising around in that lovely tour van, I'm sure you're one of the many memorable sights of Motherwell!!

But it has YOU, Burn_Broomfield!!!!

EDIT: Look forward also to not hearing you singing!

Look forward also to joking and singing? with you guys in Jack Daniels (Didn't hear your songs well at the stadium here, but expect the chants to be somewhat louder over there...) And I for one find it fascinating to come to your town and meet the people and learn about its industrial history, having toured more scenic parts of Scotland on previous occasions!

Hello from Aalesund town, on my ticket it says South Stand Lower. I don't know any official numbers for how many of us are coming, but there's one chartered supporter flight with 76, and then the official team charter with guests, and one busload of others, and then others traveling on their own like me, so I guess maybe 200 orange strips will be roaming around Motherwell soon. Bitter enemies on the pitch, friends before and after - I hope! (Also hope for a good turnout of kilts....!) ((And thanks to the ones who came to Aalesund - especially the one dancing a reel in the fanzone!))

With 12 goals, at least the next game will be great... As for the game today, the UEFA stats are definitely the correct ones. Our team's weak points and yet tenacity was as expected, and our last minute luck as hoped for. And your guys definitely gave us some tough opposition! It will be really interesting to see how next week's game compares to this - just wish our guys didn't have a tough away game on Sunday too. Well, it was great fun having you here, meeting some of you Online people, and we're looking forward to coming over next week!

Hi Julian! If you can't get designated MFC ticket from someone, you can buy a ticket at the stadium box office. There are still almost 1000 left, but be there one hour before the game if you can. I am sure you will get treated well even if you're seated amongst us vikings! Edit: OOPS, just saw SuperCC's post above. Well, if any other London cabbies decide to come at the last minute, you may find this information useful...

For those of you stuck without live pictures from the game, there will be a live written commentary at http://fotball.smp.no/stat/index.jsp?servi...vm=false#287682 It is in Norwegian, but I guess Google translate would work fine here. Here is live radio in Norwegian, in case you want to hear the atmosphere: http://assets.smp.no/services/radio/default.asp I believe these are both on from 5.30 PM your time. Here are webcams from the stadium: http://www.colorlinestadion.no/stadion-info/webkamera.aspx From the town center: http://213.184.198.16/info/kamerabilder/k5...pshot_pos14.jpg Great to see your amber and claret adorn our town yesterday! And the stadium will be almost packed for the game tonight! And the sun is shining while eastern Norway and Sweden have issued flood warnings! That's what I call a perfect day in Ålesund...!

Well, I can now reveal some of Aalesund's plans for tomorrow's match: our lads will be disguised as Scotsmen in order to totally confuse the opposision: http://fotball.smp.no/uefa/article175392.ece Seriously, we welcome our esteemed guests, and expect a good, mixed crowd in the supporter tent tonight and tomorrow from noon, with local acts performing as well as Motherwell chants blasting from the speakers: http://www.smp.no/nyheter/article251924.ece The "party general" pictured here says there will be around 100 Scots who have promised to bring their kilts! Yayyyyyyyy!!!!!

Well, we won the goal statistics as well 1-0.

Well, I am sorry to see that you have already found out what a terrible team Aalesund is. That's why we had 9 corners in Saturday's game, and big-shot Vålerenga nil. And that's why we had to send John Arne Riise abroad. Yet, a fellow countryman of yours, a Sir Ferguson, is right now checking out the quality of our goalie: http://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/norsk/artik...?artid=10035349 "Manchester United wants Lindegaard".

I can't remember in which thread, but someone here asked about the age of the plastic pitch in Aalesund. It was installed 3 years ago. Our previous stadium was situated on top of the town hill. The pitch was a mix of grass and mud. So was one of the stands. This video shows some of the unique football interest in this town: You can see the grass-and-mud stand at 00:55. Its blueberries were complimentary.