If the opportunity arises when you are in Tromsø in 2014, you should try to make time to see a soccer game with the local team Tromsø IL. The team plays in the top league in Norway, and when there is a game many people from the Tromsø community show up to support their team. Tromsø IL also has many other teams, with approximately 800 children playing for the club. The club is thereby a very important part of Tromsø culture.

 
Tromsø IL logo

The biggest star on Tromsø IL is Sigurd Rushfeldt, who has played 38 matches for the Norwegian national team. He is a forward and if he continues his success, he could become the player with the most goals scored in the Norwegian top league in history (the record is 166, Rushfeldt has currently scored 153). Rushfeldt has also played abroad for Austria Wien, Racing Santander (Spain) and Benfica (Portugal). As it happens, Rushfeldt is also a keen chess player. Perhaps you have played against him on the Internet Chess Club (ICC)!

Tromsø IL was founded in 1920. Since then there have been many successes, and one of the highlights was gold in the Norwegian cup in 1996 after beating their northern rival Bodø/Glimt 2-1 in the final. This qualified Tromsø for the European Club Cup, where they sensationally beat Chelsea 3-2 in the snow in Tromsø. (Tromsø lost the return game 1-7, but nobody in Tromsø cares about that now.) Tromsø also won the Norwegian cup quite surprisingly in 1986, the first year they played in the top league.

 Sigurd Rushfeldt, Tromsø and Norway

Last season was another great success for Tromsø IL, with bronze medals in the Norwegian league. Tromsø plays their matches on Alfheim stadium, so be sure to visit Alfheim one Sunday for a nice sporting event!

You can read more about Tromsø IL and their upcoming matches on the club's website.

Sources: Wikipedia and www.til.no