Skeid in the Norwegian Cup

1974: Skeid - Viking 3-1

Skeid reached the Cup final after beating Raufoss in the Quarter finales and Brann in the Semis. The final was played in terrible weather conditions, but received good reviews by Per Jorset/Arne Scheie in the book "Cupen" ("The Cup")

Bjørn Skjønsberg gave Skeid the lead after 40 minutes. 5 minutes into the second half, Viking equalized, before Stein Thunberg put the game to rest with two goals after 52 and 79 minutes.

Skeid's team: Per Egil Nygård, Harald Gjedtjernet, Jan Birkelund, Per Chr. Olsen, Georg Hammer, Trygve Bornø, Frank Olafsen, Tor Egil Johansen, Bjørn Skjønsberg, Stein Thunberg, Kai Arild Lund, (substitute: Terje Nikolaysen).

1965: The Cup Final had to be played three times

Jan Gulbrandsen won his sixth Norwegian cup when Skeid at last beat Frigg 2-1 in the second rematch at Ullevål.

The first game ended in a 2-2 draw where Trygve Bornø and Kai Sjøberg scored Skeids goals. The first rematch ended 1-1 with Pål Sæthrang as Skeids goal scorer. Sæthrang also scored in the second rematch alongside Terje Gulbrandsen. This was the first Cup Final between two teams from Oslo. Attendance: 19 000/9 000 and 9 000.

Skeid's team: Kjell Kaspersen, Ragnar Næss, Kjell Wangen, Jan Gulbrandsen, Frank Olafsen, Finn Thorsen, Erik Mejlo, Per Egil Bjørnsen, Terje Gulbrandsen, Trygve Bornø, Kai Sjøberg, Pål Sætrang, Terje Kristoffersen.

1963: Skeid - Fredrikstad 2-1

Three minutes away from full time in the second half of extra time the 18 year old Pål Sæthrang scores the winning goal for Skeid. Kai Sjøberg scored Skeids first goal. 31 444 spectators saw perhaps the most dramatic cup final Skeid has ever played.

The Norwegian paper Aftenposten wrote:
"It is a long time since we have seen a more dramatic, exciting and hectic Cup final. Fredrikstad had a flying start that completely took the young and inexperienced Skeid side by surprise. If Fredrikstad had scored more than once on their many chances in the opening period much of the tension in the game would have been lost." Despite excellent goal keeping by Skeids goalie Kjell Kaspersen, Fredrikstad was in the lead 1-0 at half time.

Five minutes into the second half, the Skeid junior player, Pål Sæthrang makes his way past his marker and makes a perfect cross to Kai Sjøberg who dives the ball into the net. 1-1.

Aftenposten wrote:
«Most people believed that Fredrikstads more experienced players and greater stamina would make the difference in extra time. Instead it was Pål Sæthrang who scored the winning goal three minutes away from full time. By that he also finished one of the most remarkable debut season any Norwegian junior player has made in many many years.»

Read more about Pål Sæthrang (Norwegian only)

Video from the finale

1958: 1-0 against Lillestrøm

This was Hans Nordahls fifth cup championship, but it was the newcomer Per Tidemann who scored the game's only goal after 62 minutes in front of a crowd of 32 579.

The newspaper Morgenbladet wrote:
It was the 40 year old team captain Hans Nordahl who last night won his fifth Cup championship, having played 8 cup finals, that had the honour of receiving the great Royal cup from the hands of King Olav at Ullevaal Stadium last night after Skeids Per Tidemann, playing his first ever Cup finale, scored the game's only goal six minutes into the second half.

Skeid's team: Øyvind Johannesen, Arne Winther, Finn Tøråsen, Jan Gulbrandsen, Leif Belgen, Knut Andersen, Jan Erik Wold, Hans Nordahl, Harald Hennum, Per Tidemann and Sverre Dreier.

Finn Tøråsen, Knut Andersen, Per Tidemann and Sverre Dreier were new players compared to the 1956 cup champions.

1956: 2-1 victory over Larvik Turn

33 444 spectators at Ullevaal Stadium. Skeid won the Royal Cup trophy for keeps with a 2-1 victory over Larvik Turn. Harald Hennum (21. minute) and Finn Gundersen (28. minute) scored Skeids goals. Finn Gundersen was the only new player from the 1955 team.

The newspaper Larvik Morgenavis writes:
Skeids team plays wonderful football when they get it going. The once who impressed us the most last night was above all Finn Gundersen and secondly Harald Henum. Hans Nordahl played in a deeper position than before and Skeid is not as dependent upon him as they were before.

Skeid's team: Øyvind Johannesen, Arne Winther, Knut Gudem, Jan Gulbrandsen, Leif Belgen, Jack Farem, Jan Erik Wold, Hans Nordahl, Harald Hennum, Finn Gundersen and Bernhard Johansen.

1955: 5-0 and a real hat-trick

Jack Farem scored a real hat-trick when Skeid beat Lillestrøm 5-0 in the Cup Finale in 1955, but it was Harald Hennum who started the goal frenzy with to goals after 1 and 14 minutes. Farems goals came in the second half (after, 49, 76 and 84 minutes). Jack Farem and Jan Erik Wold were the only newcomers in the 1955-team.

Aftenposten wrote:
"We have rarely seen a team more superior in a Cup finale than Skeid at Ullevaal last night. It is no exaggeration to say that the two teams were in different leagues. The victory of 5-0 was rather too small than too big after the flow of the game. Skeid had no weak spots and every player filled their tasks to the point. Concerning the two cup finale debutants, wingers Jan Erik Wold and Jack Farrem, they fulfilled the expectations to the full.

Skeid's team: Øyvind Johannesen, Arne Winther, Knut Gudem, Jan Gulbrandsen, Leif Belgen, Finn Gundersen, Jan Erik Wold, Hans Nordahl, Harald Hennum, Bernhard Johansen and Jack Farem.

1954: 3-0 victory against Fredrikstad

34 794 spectators saw Skeid beat Fredrikstad in pouring rain at Ullevaal. The first half was goalless, but after the break Fredrikstad was run over by a Skeid team led on by Hans Nordahl, who also scored Skeids second goal after 71 minutes.

Hans Nordahl (to the left) receives a golden watch from Skeids Chairman Carl Grennes after the Cup final in 1954. He had played more than 400 games for Skeid.

Harald Hennum scored the first goal after 54 minutes, while Bernhard Johansen scored the 3-0 goal after 86 minutes.

Morgenposten writes:
"Skeids game torpedoed Fredrikstad in the second half. Never before has Fredrikstad been so outplayed in the last 20 years. Skeid won 3-0 but it could have been double. Skeid palyed brilliantly with one-two passes, excellent turns, and accurate passes in narrow spaces. In the second half Skeid was closer to 6-0 than Fredrikstad were 3-1.

Skeids team: Øyvind Johannesen, Arne Winther, Knut Gudem, Jan Gulbrandsen, Leif Belgen, Finn Gundersen, Arvid Halvorsen, Hans Nordahl, Harald Hennum, Bernhard Johansen and Sverre Olsen.

1949: A new loss to Sarpsborg

Skeid lost 3-1 to Sarpsborg at Ullevaal in a game that was described as both entertaining and well played.

Skeids play in the first half hour was conducted so methodically that the Sarpsborgs defence was outplayed in every attack. Skeid had their chances in that period, but the team did not manage to score a goal. Even though Skeid had the play, it was Sarpsborg that scored before the break.

The paper Mortgenposten writes:"Skeid can take this loss with ease. There are so much talented young players in the club that the cup trophy soon will be at Torshov again.

Skeids team: Øyvind Johannesen, Arne Winther, Knut Gudem, Jan Gulbrandsen, Leif Belgen, Finn Gundersen, Arvid Halvorsen, Hans Nordahl, Harald Hennum, Bernhard Johansen and Sverre Olsen.

1947: Champions for the first time

After 30 minutes of play Hans Nordahl scores the first goal in front of a crowd of 25 000 at Brann Stadium. And for a long time it looked like it was to be the final score but in the last minute of the game Paul Sætrang scores and the game ends Skeid - Viking 2-0.

Skeids tactic was to outnumber the opponent with certain attacking combinations. The team played what we would call a skewed halfback line-up. If the attack was on the right hand side, the right half back joined the combination play so that they attacked with 6 men against Vikings 5 defensive players. When this happened the half back on the other side would secure the defence and keep back.

The plan was successful. In this game you would therefore se four or five pass combinations from Skeid that left Vikings players running in between and the ball was on Skeids side, according to Aftenposten.

Hans Nordahl and Paul Sætrang scored the goals and secured Skeids first Norwegian Cup victory. This was the last cup finale that was played outside Ullevaal Stadium.

1940: A loss to Fredrikstad

It was a different finale this year. Before the teams entered the pitch, the spectators rose and sang the National Anthem improvised.

There were 31 410 spectators at Ullevaal, a new cup finals record. Skeid lost the finale 3-0.

In the annals of Skeid you read: It was evident that Fredrikstad was both technically and physically stronger. The first half was well played and Fredrikstad was up 1-0 at half time. In the second half things changed dramatically and Skeids became too weak compared to their strong and well playing opponents. The papers concluded that Skeid did not yet had the necessary experience to win a cup final.

Skeids team: Knut Arnevåg, Halvdan Dyhre, Einar Trondsen, Willy Sundblad, John Bøhleng, Gustav Rehn, Henry Mathiesen, Hans Nordahl, Brede Borgen, Per Laurendz and Paul Sætrang.

1939: Loss to Sarpsborg

Skeid tried to surprise their opponent in their first cup finale. As the ref started the game, Gustav Rehn took over the left half back position and Hans Nordahl played at his normal position as inside attacker to the right. The big surprise was that Brede Borgen went up to play centre forward. According to Skeids annals the experiment was successful and it is the named Brede Borgen who gave Skeid the lead.

Aftenposten writes: "Gustav Rehn passes to Sætrang in the far left side, and Sætrang shoots almost alongside the goal. Brede Borgen however is carefully there to get a leg onto the ball and into the net. 1-0 to Skeid after 24 minutes of play.

Harry Yven scores both goals for Sarpsborg. The final goal came after 89 minutes.

Skeids starting lineup: Remi Øgaard, Halfdan Dyhre, Chlarry Hagelund, Willy Sundblad, John Olsen, Brede Borgen, Henry Mathiesen, Gustav Rehn, Hans Nordahl, Per Laurendz and and Paul Sætrang.

Skeid got their revenge only a few days later when the first floodlight game in Norway was played at Skeids home ground at the time, Bislet. Skeid won the game 4-1.

1917 - 1927: Quarter Finals after 4 years

Already after four years of existence, Skeids predecessor Kristiania Ballklubb made their way to the quarter finals of the Norwegian Cup. At that time Oslo District gave better training conditions to teams from the west side of town, so Kristiania Ballklubb lost 0-8 to Lyn.

As most are aware of Skeid is a union of two clubs, Kristiania Ballklubb and Frem 1914. It was Kristiania Ballklubb that was the strongest football club of the two and represent Skeid cup finale traditions in the 10 first years. While Frem 1914 for the most part played in the C-class in Oslo District Kristiania Ballklubb was a union of two clubs in the B-class (Njord and Oslo Fotballklubb) and made their way to the A-class in Oslo District.

While Kristiania Ballklubb was the team with most successful in terms of results, it was Frem 1914 that played the roughest football. The day after a match against Mysen Athletics (from Østfold) you could read the following in the Indre Smaalende avis (a local newspaper): "Wild brawls on the football pitch. Cursing and swearing were heard everywhere, the game was postponed, and Dr. Gangnes had to patch up several players". Frem 1914 played their home games at Bjølsenparken.

The Skeid legend, Pr. Chr. Anders, known both as player, ref, administrator and sports commentator, was one of the pioneers in Kristiania Ballklubb, and it took only four years before they reached the quarter finals in the cup.

However in 2007, it is 90 years since Skeid made their debut in the Norwegian cup. It happened when Kristiania Ballklubb was facing Urædd, a club for Telemark. They played in the district league. The result of the game is unknown but Urædd won the game. Sarpsborg was Norwegian Champions that year, beating Brann 4-1 in the final.

It was precisely against Brann that Kristiania Ballklubb created a sensation in the second round in 1919. KB won the game 2-1 and advanced to the third round. In the third round they met Eidsvold Turn at Elverum and won the game 2-1.

Kristiania Ballklubb was a team not easily defeated in the Oslo football. Both in 1918 and 1920 they beat Lyn I A-class league games. When the club celebrated their 5 years anniversary they were visited by København Boldklubb, that two years earlier won the Danish cup. The friendly ended 1-1. To be sure KB had three reinforcements in the team. In 1992 København Boldklub went in union with B 1903 to form a common first team in football, FC København.

Later KB was relegated to the B-class and did not take part in the Norwegian Cup. Not until 1929 they are back in the Norwegian Cup, then under the name of Skeid.

Skeids strong cup triumphs in 1919 was noted. 19 years should pass until Skeid once again reached as far.

Translation by Eirik Randsborg.
The original articles in Norwegian can be found here.