Örgryte

Ground: Gamla Ullevi (new)

Visits: 2 (1 for Örgryte match)

Date: 5th April 2009

Match: Örgryte - GAIS 1-5 (Allsvenskan)

Attendance: 17 531

After playing the 2007 and 2008 seasons (in Superettan) at nearby Valhalla Örgryte have returned to Gamla Ullevi. The old ground was demolished in January 2007 but after two years of construction works the new ground was ready in December 2008 and was given the same name as its predecessor, Gamla Ullevi. This can actually be a bit confusing as Gamla is the Swedish word for Old. For domestic matches the capacity will be 18,800 (for international matches 16,900).

Pictures from the old Gamla Ullevi (before the rebuilding started) can be found at Gamla Ullevi

Pictures from Valhalla can be found at Valhalla

With three clubs playing at the same ground it was interesting finding what the first match would be. When the fixtures for the 2009 season was released this was the first fixture I looked at and to my delight I noticed the first ever match at the new Gamla Ullevi was to be the derby between Örgryte and GAIS. Örgryte and GAIS have a friendly rivalry and ticket receipts are shared between the clubs for both the derbies. This "rule" doesn´t apply when either club play derbies against the third club, IFK Göteborg, though.

The first match turned out to be a very weird one. Örgryte produced one of the worst defensive performances I have ever seen at this level. After their goalkeeper nicely gave the ball to a GAIS striker for a simple tap-in Örgryte managed to equalise after a good move. Most of us couldn´t then believe what we saw, three goals for GAIS in as many minutes and an Örgryte defence in total chaos. 4-1 to GAIS at half-time and when I thought I had seen it all regarding blunders a defender in Örgryte passed the ball to a free GAIS striker lurking by the penalty spot and 5-1 to GAIS in the 48th minute. My GAIS supporting neighbours didn´t even celebrate this goal, they just laughed !

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