Grorud IL - Grorud Matchbane

Grorud  IL

Grorud Matchbane 

Rasmusbakken 15

0962 Oslo

Norway

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Ground Number: 1437

Sunday 8th June 2025
Grorud IL 0-2 Strommen IF
2. Divisjion Adveling 2

GRORUD IL - A BRIEF HISTORY

The sports club was established in 1918 and was the third club in the area following Grorud IF, which existed from 1904 to 1905, and Grorud TIF, which existed from 1908 to 1914. The football field was laid in 1926. They spent much of their early history in the 4. divisjon, the fifth tier of Norwegian football. In 1994, they began a three-year stint in the 3. divisjon but were relegated in 1997. They returned in 1999, this time for a far longer stint. The 2010s proved especially fruitful, being promoted to the 2. divisjon in 2011 and the 1. divisjon in 2019. They struggled for three seasons before being relegated in 2022. They have remained in the 2. divisjon in the third tier. In recent years, they have reached the 3rd round of the Norwegian Cup on three occasions.

 Grorud is a borough of Oslo, located in the northwest of the city. The borough contains the Ammerud, Grorud, Kalbakken, Rødtvet, Nordtvet and Romsås areas. To the north of the borough is the forest of Lillomarka. The borough is the smallest in Oslo, with a population of under 30,000. The area now known as Grorud was mostly farm land until after World War II, the exception being the main centre, where mining was an important livelihood. Granite from Grorud is seen in many buildings in downtown Oslo, with the lion sculptures in front of Stortinget, the Norwegian Parliament, being the most famous example. Textile industries were also a part of the urbanisation of Grorud, with the river Alna and its waterfalls as to supply power. The railway station at Grorud, from 1854, is one of the oldest in Norway and was a hub of the whole Grorud Valley for many years until the arrival of urbanisation and the subway. Some of the old farms are still present in the Grorud landscape, although apartment buildings are now a more dominant part of the scenery.

MY VISIT

Despite a change in fixture for my first game, I was still all set to make game 2 comfortably. From my game at Oppsal, it was a five-minute walk and a five-minute wait for the bus to Grorud. The journey was swift, and I was at the ground 40 minutes before kickoff. I went in and got some pictures of the ground before heading to the tea bar, where I picked up a scarf for £18.33. Fellow hopper Dan had managed to scrounge himself a load of things for free in Sweden this weekend but I was glad to have the chance to buy something. It was a great setup, the best one I'd been to in Norway so far. It had come recommended by Dan and the Futbology picture didn't do it justice. The sun was out now, so I took my seat in the open side stand for the first half.

It was 6th v 2nd in terms of league placings. Grorud had won their last three, including last time out when they won 3-2 at Strindheim TF. Strommen were in disappointing form; in their last game, they'd lost 2-0 to Stjordals-Blink. Grorud started the game brightly but it was Strommen who took the lead on 11 minutes, firing into the top of the net from just inside the area. The game was more equal from then on but Strommen doubled their lead in first-half injury time, a low shot from the edge of the area. The game was not the best. Grorud had a couple of half-chances but never really looked like getting back into the game.

 

THE GROUND

GRORUD MATCHBANE is an excellent venue for the level. There are two large seated stands, one along the side which is uncovered and one behind the goal, which has a roof. Both hold around 500 each. The rest of the ground is undeveloped, spectator-wise. The ground is well linked by public transport, and the tea bar and club shop offer a decent range of items.