Vilans IP

Ground: Vilans Idrottsplats

Vistis: 1

Date: 15th October 2017

Match: Kristianstad FC - Mjällby AIF 0-3 (Division 1 Södra)

Attendance: 2 762

In April next year a new football ground will be opened in Kristianstad. The new ground will host both the men´s (Kristianstad FC) and the women´s (Kristianstad DFF) team. I think the local American football team will play at the new ground as well. The new ground is being built across the street from the old one, Kristianstads IP, and meet the ground criteria for Superettan. Kristianstads IP will be used for athletics only and the old main stand has been demolished to make room the a new smaller one and Kristianstad FC have been playing their league games at the artificial pitch next to Kristianstads IP. The big game of the season is against Mjällby AIF and last year the derby attracted 2 666 spectators. The artificial pitch is too small to host this derby and a decision was made to move the game to Vilans IP, where Kristianstad DFF are currently playing. Having not seen an official game at this ground this was of course great news for me. It was a long time ago I could visit a new ground so close to where I live. The winners of Division 1 Södra are promoted to Superettan and the runner-up will head into the promotion play-off . Kick-off was at 17.00 on Sunday afternoon and with Mjällby being second in the table a very good attendance was expected.

The attendance record at Vilans IP is just over 2,900 and I was hoping for a similar attendance this late afternoon in October. Mjällby is for this level a well supported club and I estimate around 60-70 % of those present supported the visitors. A few pyros were set off before kick-off but early on not so much fire on the pitch. That would change though and in the 30th minute Mjällby scored, 0-1. Eight minutes later it was 0-2 and the mood in the stands was positive. Kristianstad hit the post early on in the second half but couldn´t find the net. Instead Mjällby made it 0-3 in the 84th minute and Mjällby could return home knowing they are, with three games to go, four points clear of third placed Utsikten. The attendance was given as 2 762 which of course is a very good attendance for Kristianstad FC. If Mjällby are promoted these games will be missed.

East side

East Stand

South End

West side

West Stand

North End

Kick-off

Mjällby fans

Pyro

View of Vilans IP

East Stand

South End

West side

West Stand

View of play

Vilans IP under floodlights

0-3

Pano