Frigg Oslo FK (Norway)

Frigg Oslo FK is a sports club that was formed in the Norwegian capital on May 17th, 1904, as SK Frigg, named after Frigg of Norse mythology. A merger with SK Varg in 1954 led the club to take its current title.

Norgesmesterskapet i fotball for herrer, translated as the Norwegian Cup, is the competition to deliver the club honours. Lyn (Gjøvik) were defeated 4-2 in the 1914 final at Frogner Stadion with Torkel Trædal netting twice.

The Cup was lifted again in 1916 with a 2-0 win against Ørn at Skøitebanen in Trondhjem, as Ragnvald Smedvik and David Andersen scored the goals. The 1919 final at Fram Sportsplass in Larvik ended in a 1-0 defeat against Odd. Ørn defeated Frigg 1-0 in the 1920 final at Vestre Holmen in Kristiania.

A third Cup victory was achieved in 1921, with a 2-0 win against Odd in Kristiania, with Fritz Semb Thorstvedt and Hans Dahl scoring the goals. It took until 1965 for another Cup final appearance. It took three games after the first two matches ended 2-2 and 1-1 before Skeid won 2-1 at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo.

 

Norwegian football was limited to regional competition until 1937, with Frigg being prominent in the Kristiania region, which covered the Oslo area, playing in Prøveligaen. The team won seven championships before 1925 under Scottish coach Wylie.

Frigg played in Landsdelsserien regional football until 1954, when they celebrated their fiftieth anniversary with a game against Honved, which ended in a 15-3 defeat as Ferenc Puskás starred for the Hungarian champions before Frigg moved up to the Hovedserien national competition in 1955-56, playing in Group B.

The side was relegated from Group A in 1957-58 to the Landsdelsserien, where they were placed in District Østland/Nordre, finishing as runners-up in their first season. The goals of Norwegian international Harald Hennum helped the team win promotion to Hovedserien, the top-tier level, in 1960-61.

It was a halcyon period for the side from Frogner Stadion as they finished fourth on four occasions, as well as the previously mentioned Cup final appearance. In the 1966-67 season, Frigg played in European competition, going out in the first round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup to Dunfermline Athletic.

The top level had been renamed 1. Division and the fixture calendar were realigned when Frigg were relegated in 1968 to 2. Divisjon, being placed in Group B. Moved to Group B in 1970, the team was promoted as champions. Their spell lasted just one season before dropping back down to Group B second tier.

The side containing Per Pettersen and Egil Olsen clinched the title in 1972, going straight back up. Again, the climb proved too steep as Frigg were relegated twelve months later, despite the consolation of a 1-0 friendly win against Arsenal.

In 1980, Frigg went down to 3. Divisjon from which they were promoted in 1988. The second tier had been retitled 1. Divisjon in 1991 when the team was relegated from it. Relegation to the fourth tier 3. Divisjon followed at the end of the 1993 season, after Frigg went down from Group 1.

Promotion was won in 1995 before going back down in 1997. In 2001, Frigg defeated Moss 2 to regain their third-tier status. Another relegation followed in 2005. The team went back up a level in 2009, where they remained until the end of the 2013 season, when they returned to 3. Divisjon.

2015 saw promotion being achieved, but the side’s third-tier status lasted just one season. In 2021, Frigg won the Group 4 title to head back to 2. Divisjon, where they finished bottom of Group 2 despite the goals of Ulrik Ferrer. The team finished as runners-up in Group 1 of 3. Divisjon in 2023, the third in Group 3 in 2024.

Frigg Oslo FK will play in 3. Divisjon Group 1 in the 2025 season.

My visit

Tuesday 29th May 2018

I had enjoyed an excellent long weekend visit to Norway, catching up with family in Haden before I spent the previous evening in Oslo after the Sarpsborg 08 v Stabæk top-flight match. I had a few hours to discover the capital on another very nice day.

I’d booked an apartment on Parkveien in the capital and then visited Bislett and Ullevaal Stadiums. The train back from the current national stadium stopped at Majorstuen, just a short walk from Frogner Stadion, so it made sense to get out and take a look at the historic arena.

The pitch had an artificial surface, while the limited stands were neat and tidy as part of a leisure complex. Once I’d taken my photos, I continued back into the city where I enjoyed some splendid sightseeing around the Royal Palace, and down by the water by the harbour.

There was even time for a couple of expensive pints in the Scotsman, with lovely views on Karl Johans Gate, before it was time to head back to the Central Station to take a train to the airport for my flight back to London in readiness to start my set of night shifts.