SWENGLAND LAND

A typical sight on the Goteborg archipelago

WHAT A GREAT WEEKEND! JD and I left for Goteborg last Wednesday evening, a rather smaller number of us that usual, due to work and Test Match commitments for Andy and Carl who will be coming out with me next October. As usual, the object of the trip is to meet our Swedish manager friends who take part in The Swengland League, a fantasy football competition which is in it's 15th year. We also present any awards won by Swedish managers during the previous season. Rustan is the Swedish Chairman and it is he who organises things.

Presentations usually take place on Saturday afternoon at a bar venue where live Premiership matches are being shown on TV.

Rustan tries Berra's Man U. Quiz.

Of course, the trip has plenty of time available to pursue other interests such as sight seeing and music.For those readers who have never been to Goteborg, it is a port on the west coast of Sweden. I lived there for three years and for the life of me I can't tell you why I ever returned for it is a place of calm and culture.

This time, JD and I visited the island of Branno in the Goteborg archipelago which featured recently in the Observer travel section as a great place to visit for the price of a bus ticket. This is true. For £2.45 you can take a tram to the coast and then catch a ferry out to any of the islands served. Some islands are bigger than others, all steeped in history and more importantly devoid of traffic bar mopeds and bicycles.

The two stooges on Branno

This followed a trip to the 'other side' of the Goteborg harbour, which is undergoing a serious regeneration, project reaching fruition in 2020. Again, unlike this god forsaken land, Sweden has a vision of the future which is designed to benefit the citizens and improve their quality of life.

Live music at Galliano

Much good food was eaten and much good drinks were drunk. As usual thanks to Rustan, Anders and Anna who fed us and entertained us. JD was even treated to a round of golf at the prestigious Hills golf course which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Anders gets a surprise award

Yet again Rustan wins the trophy and 100SKR for

the Chairman's Challenge