After a brace of ear-splitting, blood-curdling shrieks from Robert Plant the first track on Led Zeppelin III in 1970, The Immigrant Song, kicked the album off. It was all about Vikings on the rob and although I think the lyrics are a bit first-year sixth form they went like this:
We come from the land of the ice and snow
From the midnight sun, where the hot springs flow
The hammer of the gods
We’ll drive our ships to new lands
To fight the horde, and sing and cry
Valhalla, I am coming!
Although Monty Python complained about “Bl00dy Vikings” I thought I’d take time out to consider the impact some of these good folks have had on Norwich City.
I’ve extended my theoretical geography a little bit to include Denmark and Finland but in the name of Thor, so what?
I’ll begin with one Aage Hareide. He played for us between 1982-84 and scored two goals in around 40 games. Not too bad for an old-fashioned full back.
He went on to manage his native Norwegian national side of course, and also enjoyed great success in a similar capacity in club football in Denmark. One we can all remember with affection I am sure.
We also had a couple of great [?] Danes as in Henrik Mortensen as a permanent and Jan Molby on loan.
Henrik looked the part but never seemed to be able to find the net – the first requisite of a striker. A nasty injury put an end to his stay in Norfolk but who knows what might have been.
Molby still had it and oh boy could he spread the ball. Trouble is he had all the mobility of a rock with a frog on top of it. Career twilighting at its best but his Danish scouse was a joy to listen to.
He always reminded me physically of a taller Garry Brooke. Make of that what you will.
Then there was the Norwegian Erik Fugelstad. He was signed from Viking – who else – Stavanger by Mike Walker in 1997 and hung around for a couple of seasons. He knew how to cross a ball and was pretty popular with us oiks.
Enter Mathias [Matty] Svensson. What a song that Swedish fella had [think Flintstones]: “He’s super, Matty Svensson. From the, town of Boron, he fired us to the Premier League”. Memory – you can’t Google that.
I’ve still got a great glossy EDP poster of him and Hucks celebrating after a win against Can’t Remember FC. Another one Worthy let go too early.
Moving on at a tangent I’m briefly going to mention Ulf Ottosson who stayed with us for a very brief time under Walker in 1997. Mike W decided not to make the signing permanent and having seen Ulf play a couple of times I think he was spot on. Ulf is one I did a quick Wiki check on. These days he resembles Alan Brazil [sorry to use profane language].
Proceeding at pace, Martin Olsson arrived in 2013 as an upgrade on the slightly unfortunate Javier Garrido.
A big-time Swedish international along with his twin brother Marcus, he never really let us down but was obviously discontented towards the end of his time here. To my mind, he was always above average and I have much respect for him to this day.
He’s probably best remembered for squaring up to “referee” Simon Hooper against Wolves. No blame from me for that.
So why did I include Finland in my loose interpretation of what actually constitutes Scandinavia?
Obviously because of The Goat.
Teemu Pukki has been a revelation with us under the tenure of Daniel Farke.
We’ll all have our own thoughts on him but my favourite memory will surely always be his opener against Newcastle in September.
Sure he’s ostensibly burned out and is doubtless still carrying a foot [toe] injury.
But he’s the best pound-for-pound striker we’ve had since the original incarnation of Flecky.
And he deserves a spot at the green table with the yellow cloth on it in Valhalla.
Are there any more of these naughty beshielded longship rowers I’ve forgotten?
Please let me know.
Morning, Martin.
A nice read as I’m up very early with the kids and a welcome distraction from whatever incarnation of Toy Story they’re currently on…
I do enjoy the nostalgia and it was great thinking back to some of those great – and not so – Scandinavian players. I remember Ulf’s only goal – I believe it was against Sheff Utd when David Rocastle also played…but I may need to check that.
One big one missing from me;
Steen Nedergaard. What a right peg and one I wish we could have kept longer, although Sutch and latterly Edworthy did a fine job.
Best, as always!
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Hi Martin.
I’m always up very early indeed with our kids Geezer and Minnie, aka the dogs. I enjoy it tbh.
This time around I’ve deliberately left out two players that I’m aware of and you’ve got one of them straight away in Steeno.
I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Rushcutters on Yarmouth Road two or three times. He was normally out for a meal with his wife and maybe [? it was a long time ago] young family and he was very happy to chat at the bar while buying drinks, settling his bill or whatever.
I did Google your question of the other day. I would have gone for American Football and I would have been wrong. I just had a vague memory that it was American and couldn’t by definition have been about basketball!
Take care.
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I took my wife to the Rushcutters for a pub lunch this time last year. Glorious sunshine and she loved it. Great setting.
Very good film indeed – Burt Lancaster is superb. Book isn’t very well written though and I wouldn’t recommend to anyone.
I did like the quote though….
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Back in Steeno’s day John the guv’nor of the Rushcutters used to sit two rows behind me and Dougie C, landlord of the nearby Kings Head [which later became the River Garden] and went on to the Alby Horseshoes and the Iron Duke is the only guy I’ll ever meet who slept through the entire second half of the Bayern home match. It was that Guinness effect!
Great guys both.
The Rushcutters sure has got something going for it – my mate Keith is still a [very] regular at 80. Or was until recently of course.
Keep good.
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Hi Martin. Another god read to start the day (as usual).
I’m going to take you up on a technicality. (My wife says I’m the most pedantic man in Norfolk). There are no such people as Vikings. Viking is a verb, and the Norsemen, Danes, Freiselanders, and Svege (Swedes) used to go “Viking”, which was to raid others for valuables, food, and slaves. You can also only go to Valhalla if you die with a weapon in your hand. Sorry for the pedantry!
I have enjoyed most of our Scowegians (to use a Merchant Navy expression). Jan Molby not only spread the passes around, he spread his waistline too!
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Hi Jim.
I actually know your point that “Viking” is a verb as I’ve read loads of the Bernard Cornwell [Sharpe] historical novels – I think it’s one Uhtred who is skint and has to go Viking in order to pay his retainers to stick with him.
I doubt they ever wore horned helmets [ooh, er, missus] either and you are right about the sword grip to Valhalla. Apparently after a punch-up the living would put swords in the hands of the dead and dying and hope for the best. Strangely some of their metalwork and jewellery from that time is exquisite.
You took me up on a technicality for sound reason.
Thanks – great comment.
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Yes, I’m a Bernard Cornwall fan too, I just wish he’d finish off his American Civil War series. He wrote four books, then decided his leading character (Nate Starbuck) was too much like Richard Sharpe, so he put them on hold and has never got round to picking them up again. I’m currently working my way through the Last Kingdom (Uhtred) series again, interspersed with crime books to give me a bit of variety. I’d recommend his books to anyone. With no bowls and no football I’m reading even more than usual.
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I tried to read Copperhead and failed to get into it one iota. Probably because the US Civil War is something I know little about.
The Arthurian trilogy is particularly dark but it gives Cornwell far more freedom to write what he likes as obviously so little is known about those times.
About five years ago I acquired a boxed set of the Sean Bean Sharpe DVDs, knowing they’d come in handy one day.
Just as I was about to go into the loft to retrieve them it hit me – we haven’t got a bl00dy DVD facility on either of our tellies or pcs any more. Grrrr! 🙂
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Mrs P reminded me after I’d posted and we’d had a chat that many Vikings settled in Normandy just as a few did in England so the battle of Hastings was largely Saxons against evolved Vikings.
From our combined knowledge the Norman cavalry were the only totally French contingent in Bill the Conk’s assault force.
Don’t trust me on anything though – my “knowledge of history” can largely be laid at the door of the UEA:-)
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‘Norman’ – ‘Norse-men’, ‘North-men’.
I think It’s where the name Norman derived from. Men from the north.
I too am a huge Bernard Cornwell fan. Sharpe was a childhood hero.
Although I have recently been reading the works of Conn Iggulden and in my humble opinion is a far better writer than Cornwell. The Conqueror series (Julius Caesar) and The Wars of the Roses books are very worth your whiles checking out, you will not be disappointed!
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Derivation of Norman/Normandy is spot on.
I’ve never read anything by Conn Iggulden. When I’m allowed to go to the excellent Forum library again I’ll try the first WotR one and if I like it proceed from there.
I love any well-written historical novel so I’m sure I’ll enjoy it. in the meantime I’ll Wiki the author. I’ve sure got time just now!
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If you want a really good writer of historical novels, try George Shipway. Most of his are probably out of print, but I know you can get Imperial Governer, also about Julius Cesear and Boadicea.
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Nicely amusing and nostalgic, Martin. Great to strap on the old snow shoes for a trudge through Scandinavia in search of some northern lights. David Nielsen twinkled and shimmered for a bit too.
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Hi Chris.
You’ve done me. I’d forgotten about David Nielsen which is strange as I made a comment about him on this very site only a few weeks back.
I always leave a couple of faces out of this type of article on purpose but I’m ashamed to say DN wasn’t in that category. I just bl00dy well forgot all about him.
Thanks!
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Oooh one of my favourite players…. I overlooked him too in my reply.
Great shout
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I’ve just remembered – David Nielsen was the female fans’ favourite between KK and Keith O’Neill. Lord knows who that would be now although Mrs P would suggest Mario Vrancic.
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If Israel and Australia can be included in Eurovision then Finland is definitely part of Scandanavia!
Steen Nedergaard immediately came to mind because of an absolute screamer he scored against Coventry on one of my relatively rare trips to Carrow Road in the early noughties.
The other name that I thought of was Mattias Jonsson whom Worthy signed in 2004. Like so many City signings I think he promptly got injured. I didn’t see him much; the only thing I can remember him doing is winding up one of the Blackburn thugs who then got sent off for kicking him right up by the corner flag (does that sound like a euphemism?)
But looking Jonsson up (I couldn’t remember his first name) revealed another name from that period, which I suspect is more likely to be your other missing one. But I’ll leave someone else to pick up on him.
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Hi Keith.
I think I must have left more than a couple out by accident rather than design. Jonsson did nothing for me at all I’m afraid.
Like you I won’t spoil things by naming my deliberate omission – it’s actually not the guy you think, who’s another one from the brief Jonsson era that left me as cold as swimming in a fjiord.
I guess the initials TH would do the job in that case?
Thanks a lot.
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Hi Martin
To add my pennies worth I will go with loanee
Johan Erik Calvin Elmander and every ones present day Norwegian in Alex Tettey.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Keep safe
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Alex Tettey may be a naturalised Norwegian, but he certainly isn’t a Viking!
I’m only being a spoilsport because I never thought of him… Good call.
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As I said to Alex [below] strictly speaking I should have put Tetts in the Scandinavians article but that would have left me with no hero to end the Africans article with!
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Ha!
That’s so funny, to me anyway.
The next [and last] one up in my little mini-series is about our African players and I chose to put Tetts in that section as he is officially Ghanaian-Norwegian. He’s the star of that show in that article as Teemu was in this.
Elmander remains one I’d like to forget and it’s not him I’m afraid.
Logically you should get kudos for Tettey but I just can’t give it:-)
Nice one – keep good.
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Some interesting threads there Martin, I see the Vikings invaded Norfolk around 865 and were dominant until around 917 and clearly their impression was picked up by messrs Plant and Page who went on to write the Immigrant song, with Led Zeppelin 3 featuring that iconic revolving cover. To what extent they went on to influence the arrival of Scandinavian players in England is a matter of conjecture and in contrast to the undoubted influence that some of those players had on Norwich City football club, top of the list being Teemu Pukki in my humble opinion.
With regard to Martin Olsson, my abiding memory of him is after the away match at Swansea in November 2018, as he trooped off after a thumping 4-1 defeat I noticed him in discussion with a couple of Norwich players, my hunch is that he was saying ‘I should have never left’.
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Hi David.
Yeah it’s fair to say that Scandinavian influence has been patchy on Norwich at best until the arrival of The Goat.
Several did a decent job but it’s only really Pukki who’s had a truly major impact.
As for the original Norsemen I think they were pretty good at “negotiating” contracts and bonuses such as the Danegeld agreements so maybe that skill’s been inherited by a few modern-day agents.
Vikings and football agents: conscienceless thieves 1100 years apart:-)
Thanks as always.
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Very enjoyable read Mr Penney.
Could another “absentee” be Jonatan Johannson….although he was only a loanee??
As for Martin Olsson, my abiding memory is his late winner against (I think) Newcastle after a dubious intervention (handball) by Jonny Howson (definitely would not be allowed this season!).
O T B C
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Hi John
Strangely a clip of that Martin Olsson goal was featured on something I was reading only two days ago and there was certainly a good shout in there for handball.
At this point I’ll reveal that the missing chappie [no it wasn’t Noggin the Nog, Thor Nogson or Olaf the Lofty], is… Jens Berthel Askou, a Bryan Gunn signing in the summer of 2009.
The Danish centre back was famed for his ability to head the ball as far as some people could kick it – with him a headed clearance could often directly end up with Holty!
He played a big part in the 2009-10 promotion season under Paul Lambert but injuries meant he didn’t feature much thereafter and left in 2011. He’s currently managing in Denmark.
Thanks and keep good.
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askou could certainly head a ball , and that led me to hedman.
its a name that rings a bell but don’t think I saw him .
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Helveg per chance?
Come off it Bernie I’m not falling for “hedman”. 🙂
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“Fuglestad
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Yes mate – he’s in the original article, no worries.
A good player during a bad period for Norwich City.
Thank you.
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Hi Jim I can’t plant a reply to your comment which I’d missed earlier but for what it’s worth I’ve never heard of George Shipway unless he played right half for the Royal Engineers in the 19th C!
I’ll check him out. Cheers.
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