sportnyheter.vu - Valhallan Union Domestic Newswire

[Polar Islandstates]

Eight matches into the sixty-sixth season, lets have a quick summary of what has happened so far...


MATCHDAY 1
FC Cape St Paul 1–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC Axel Heiburg 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 0–0 North Star Grímsey
Red Star Severny 2–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Scapa Bay Rovers 2–2 SK Franz Josef City
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–1 East Franz Athletic
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–0 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
A proper baptism of fire for newly promoted St Paul then as they play host to reigning champions Aasiaat, and they hold their own comfortably! Inspirational Vivaldi Schmelz put the Dockers in dreamland initially, only for Matteus Henschen to level things up and show the newcomers that things aren't going to be that simple this year. Elmo Polland scores a double at home as Carravale sends the Diamonds packing unceremoniously, and new signing Loick Sorensen gets off to a good start for SK, scoring a late equaliser as the Griffons sought to avoid an embarrasing result in Scapa Bay. Resolute Storm also nick a draw on their return to the top flight at home to Nasjonale, but Eintracht are rather less successful, getting taught a lesson by a rampant Surtsey side led as ever by Stockman up front.


MATCHDAY 2
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–0 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 2–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
East Franz Athletic 1–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Franz Josef City 2–2 Skipsbyggere IFK
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–2 Scapa Bay Rovers
North Star Grímsey 2–3 Red Star Severny
Jan Mayen Islanders 3–3 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
FC Cape St Paul 5–1 FC Axel Heiburg
A Matias Langager hat-trick gets the Aasiaat title-defence up and running after their false-start against St Paul, new signing Cixin Nguyen supplying a pair of assists as Kirkkegaard starts to put the pieces of his puzzle together. Scapa Bay manage another creditable two-all draw against a Big Six side, with SK also repeating that scoreline for a second week in a row - this time against Skipsbyggere. Eintracht are going to need to pick up points against the teams around them if they're going to survive this season, so that two-one win against Resolute will be music to their ears, and an Emmanuele Niemi double sees Nasjonale pick up the points in a come-from-behind win at home to Bjarnarey - Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn having opened his acount for his new club in the first half. The real story of the day though was at the Millerntor, where a rampant St Paul stunned Axel Heiburg with a five-one demolition job; a goal each for Usko Stomberg, Vivaldi Schmelz, Jake Church, Aleksejs Weneke, and Jan-Erik Kochalka let the Dockers fans into dreamland, with Viljo Nilsen's consolation being a paltry reward for a disastrously poor day in Nunivak for the visitors.


MATCHDAY 3
FC Axel Heiburg 2–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 0–1 FC Cape St Paul
Red Star Severny 0–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–4 North Star Grímsey
Skipsbyggere IFK 0–3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–2 SK Franz Josef City
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–0 East Franz Athletic
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–2 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 0–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Not going to lie, when I saw that Axel Heiburg had lost five-one in St Paul, I was thinking that perhaps this was going to be a tougher season for them than I thought, and then they bounced back by beating the champions two-nil at home. Just goes to show you can't predict this league, eh? Elsewhere, Ryn Jaxon got off the mark for Diamonds in their three-nil away win over SKipsbyggere, and there was a big win for North Star in Scapa Bay. Emmanuele Niemi scored again in a two-nil win for Nasjonale at Yannis Stadion, whilst the shock result of the day saw Eintracht Moss-Rygge come from behind to win at The Barge of all places. A third goal in as many games for Vivaldi Schmelz gave St Paul a win in Grise Fiord meanwhile, a result that actually sees them top the table. I know it's obviously early days, but there were an awful lot of screenshots being saved for posterity in Nunivak this evening.


MATCHDAY 4
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 2–2 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
East Franz Athletic 2–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Franz Josef City 5–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
North Star Grímsey 3–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
Jan Mayen Islanders 4–2 Scapa Bay Rovers
FC Cape St Paul 2–3 Red Star Severny
FC Axel Heiburg 1–0 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
An Ignacio Andrada free kick in the dying moments of the second half rescued a point for Rapid Jan Mayen at Koch Stadion this weekend, meaning Rapid are finally off the mark in the league, and there was a player of the match performance from Duncan McCariot as Aasiaat held a very hungry looking Nasjonale side to a goalless draw at Harbour Walk. SK demolished Resolute Storm with a five-star performance at the Landstadt; goals courtesy of Heino Olsen, Jalmari Hagen, Igerne Félix, and Loick Sorensen, with Goliat coming on for Lofthus in the dying seconds - which was just enough time to stab home a loose ball in the box. For minutes-to-touches-to-goals, it's hard to argue with the ratio on a debut like that. The game of the weekend came on Monday night however, with the Rendahl's spires all lit up for the arrival of Bjarnarey Flotilla. Kyong Tripp got their account for the Bargemen off the mark in the first half, before goals from Arsene-Michael Litt and Joni Siebel gave the Spires the lead in the second. Bjarnarey weren't done however, and roaring comeback came good thanks to goals from Nijgaard and - as so often seems to happen - a Povl Kazimir who was all too happy to land the killing blow against the team where he spent last season so unhappily. Hashtag narrative, right?


MATCHDAY 5
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 1–4 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Red Star Severny 2–3 FC Axel Heiburg
Scapa Bay Rovers 4–0 FC Cape St Paul
Skipsbyggere IFK 0–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–2 North Star Grímsey
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–2 SK Franz Josef City
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 3–4 East Franz Athletic
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
This already has the makings of a classing season of Divisjon One, you know? Anyone seems able to beat anyone, with teams that receive a hammering or a shock result seemingly able to pick themselves off the dressing room floor and inflict that pain onto someone else the following week. For example, East Franz got over the disappointment of that seesaw game against Bjarnarey by going out and doing the same thing to Rapid Jan Mayen, who must be dismayed to see themselves score three times against a team like East Franz and yet come away with nothing. Bjarnarey meanwhile suffered a defeat in the same ilk as the one they inflicted on East Franz, when SK came to The Barge and came back in the second half with a Sorensen-Lofthus one-two to render Harju's first half goal useless. Nasjonale made it three out of three for the capital clubs with a win over Eintracht, and there was a bumpy reminder of how tough life in the top flight can be for St Paul when Scapa Bay gave them a footballing lesson in a four-nil win. The champions beat Bohemiens four one in Grise Fiord, whilst a late free kick from Ryn Jaxon was nodded in by Magnus Dahm to spare Northbrook's blushes in Resolute. Jan Mayen Islanders striker Li Zhen scored the second of the Ospreys' two goals in an away win over Skipsbyggere, and that means the Ospreys are tied with SK and Nasjonale at the top of the table as the only three unbeaten teams left.



LATITUDE CUP Round One
AIK Oversetten 2-2 GVFFK Pekarik (2-3 AET)
Ostermeier Old Boys 1-0 Northbrook Zenith FC
FC1. Rangers 1-0 FC Kampengar Magpies
Aleutia Town Dragons 1-0 Fjorhorgen SK
Orkhanger White Star 0-0 1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt (0-0 AET, 1-2 PKs)
Sisimut Black Star 0-1 IHK Geddesberg
Axel Town AFC 2-1 Dinamo Olsa FK
FKS-North 0-2 Devon Bay Lights FC
FK Fairbanks 1-1 Friedrichsund Fencing Club (1-1 AET, 4-2 PKs)
Sisimut Town AFK 0-0 Bennett and Zhokhov (0-1 AET)
Oaks of Fjellisroy 1-2 FC Fetlar
AFK Hans Island Pioneers 1-0 IHK Sirius
Energie Zemlya FK 2-0 St Gallen 47
Almsborg Rushmori 1-0 NKK Urri
US Saint-John 3-2 FK Weisshaus
SK Thor 1898 1-1 Grass-Lisch AFC (1-2 AET)
Sannegarden Fleet FK 0-1 Bulargen Independents
Hauken Orca 2-0 Thorsager Unity SK
Machtspool Whitesleeves FC 1-0 Toyoharo Revolutionaries
SK Stryaer 1-2 SK Nolmkien 1949
Ueland-Alne 2-1 KSC Brighthelmstone
Meteor Kholmsk SK 2-0 Hanshaugen Gate FK
Lindesvogne Violets 1-1 Boden 61 (1-1 AET, 4-1 PKs)
Sporting Club Aasiaat 87 1-1 West End (1-2 AET)
Orebro FK 1-0 FK Aagen Zenith
Green Star Kobelevskov 0-4 Resolute Hills FC
FK Ost-Volonovsk 1-1 Henfergen Town FC (1-1 AET, 2-3 PKs)
Invermuir Highlanders FC 2-1 Torpedo Sibir RKA
San Moranna FC 1-0 Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC
Vale of Moray 1-1 1920 Brokstedt (3-1 AET)
Devon Bay Seals FC 2-1 KA Rikyaare
Crusaders 0-0 Krykkjesund Olympic (0-0 AET, 1-2 PKs)
Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC 0-0 Gjornhammer Pier FC (0-0 AET, 2-3 PKs)
AIK Alejavik 0-1 SK Stromness Electric
Holtrecht Force SK 0-2 SK 1982 Matua
Bielstrich Timbers FC 0-1 Logan United FC
Bathurst Zenith 4-0 Larsen Bay Thunder FC
KFK Polshavn 0-1 Ingvar Peaks FC
We interrupt your regular stream of Divisjon One programming however, to bring you the first round of this year's Latitude Cup, where the lowest level of cross-Federation league duke it out for glory and much appreciated prize money; Ostermeier Old Boys squeaking past Northbrook Zenith and Krykkjesund Olympic beating Crusaders on penalties in probably the two biggest profile matches of the round.


MATCHDAY 6
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
East Franz Athletic 2–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
SK Franz Josef City 4–2 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–0 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
North Star Grímsey 2–3 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Jan Mayen Islanders 0–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
FC Cape St Paul 3–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
FC Axel Heiburg 1–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 0–3 Red Star Severny
What was that I was saying about three unbeaten records remaining? Nasjonale crossed the capital to the Rendahl in the hope of keeping that intact but were blown away in a devastating twn minute period just after the second half started; goals coming from Sho Itō and Gunner Martikainen. Jan Mayen Islanders meanwhile were humbled at home by their Norscelt rivals Surtsey Island Gulls; Dan-Arne Kystebo scoring both goals for his new club. That just leaves SK, whose four-nil romp over Rapid means they are now sole occupiers of the top spot, much to the delight of their fans and the dismay of every pundit who claimed their very much 'wallet-based' approach to squad building wouldn't get them anywhere in the modern world. Particularly as three of their four goals today were shared between two of their new recruits; Loick Sorensen continuing his fine start to life in Franz Josef City with a stabbed opener, and Igerne Félix with a brace. Bjarnarey are so far living up to my prediction that they'd struggle more than they thought without Ohm and Pallasmaa meanwhile, and they lose one-nil in Northbrook leave them eight points off the top already. Red Star jump up to second with a three-nil win in Grise Fiord, and Aasiaat are hot on their heels in third after Helod Karman scored the only goal of the game against Eintracht.


MATCHDAY 7
Red Star Severny 1–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Scapa Bay Rovers 4–3 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Skipsbyggere IFK 0–0 FC Axel Heiburg
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2–0 FC Cape St Paul
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–0 North Star Grímsey
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–1 SK Franz Josef City
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 1–2 East Franz Athletic
Two capital derbies in quick succession is a real challenge for Nasjonale, but they bounced back from last week's defeat to East Franz by coming from behind to beat SK at Kungsdocks. SK did what they always do, get cocky, and Emmanuele Niemi was riled up sufficiently to batter home two second half goals and give Teitur Ronkainen's side a valuable win, ending the last unbeaten record in the league in the process. That should serve as a warning to everyone, really; don't wind up Emmanuele Niemi. Red Star took advantage of that defeat for SK to jump to the top of the table themselves; Elmo Polland scoring the only goal of the game in a tight Carravale encounter against Aasiaat, who drop to eighth. Bjarnarey bounce back with a three-nil win over North Star at The Barge, Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn and Povl Kazimir assisting each other in the first half before Nijgaard added the flourish in the second half, and there are also wins for Northbrook and East Franz that mean the top five are separated by just the one point after seven games. Did someone say, 'classic season?'


MATCHDAY 8
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–1 East Franz Athletic
SK Franz Josef City 3–1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
North Star Grímsey 3–0 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC Cape St Paul 0–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC Axel Heiburg 4–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 0–3 Skipsbyggere IFK
Red Star Severny 5–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
That really has been a punishing run of fixtures for Nasjonale. They come out of back-to-back capital derbies and launch straight into a trip to Northbrook. Three points from that three might sound disappointing but, honestly, it's not as bad as it could have been. Aasiaat show their resilience with a two-one win over East Franz, goals coming from Jere Karschner, Matteus Henschen, and Cixin Nguyen, whilst SK got back to winning ways with a three-one win over Eintracht, goals from Lofthus twice, Keppler, and then Wicklander for the visitors. FC Axel Heiburg have been quietly putting together a string of form, and a four-nil win over Surtsey today is nothing less than they deserve to show for it, and there's another come-from-behind win for Bjarnarey; Kazimir scoring one and then providing the assist for Kyong Tripp's winner. Oskar Olsen scored a crucial goal for Resolute meanwhile, as they win in St Paul to record what could be a win in a relegation six-pointer com ethe end of the season. Red Star, though, well... Elmo Polland goes from strength to strength, with a hat trick today against Scapa Bay underlining his national team credentials in front of the watching Federico Aalto.



So, your table at the quarter-mark then, and it's Red Star Severny who lead the way, propelled by that rich vein of form from Elmo Polland. SK are delighted to see themselves back at the top and actually performing pretty regularly week on week - has Vladimir Lucic finally cracked the formula? - and there have also been strong starts from Northbrook, Axel Heiburg, Aasiaat, East Franz, and Nasjonale. In fact, discount that shock defeat to St Paul and FC Axel Heiburg might even have been even higher. St Paul, for their part, have trailed off a bit after that lightning start, as have Jan Mayen Islanders, but it's a bit of a sorry season so far for Rapid Jan Mayen and Bohemiens Grise Fiord; the two clubs at the bottom are both yet to win, with a gap opening up above them already.

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Red Star Severny             8    6   0   2    19   10   +9    18
 2  SK Franz Josef City          8    5   2   1    21   11  +10    17
 3  Northbrook Diamonds FK       8    5   2   1    13    8   +5    17
 4  FC Axel Heiburg              8    4   3   1    13    9   +4    15
 5  SK Aasiaat Harbour           8    4   2   2    11    6   +5    14
 6  East Franz Athletic          8    4   2   2    13   10   +3    14
 7  SK Nasjonale Hauker          8    4   2   2    11    8   +3    14
 8  North Star Grímsey           8    4   1   3    16    9   +7    13
 9  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla      8    4   0   4    14   10   +4    12
10  Jan Mayen Islanders          8    3   3   2    14   11   +3    12
11  FC Cape St Paul              8    3   1   4    12   13   −1    10
12  Resolute Storm 1913 FC       8    2   4   2     9   13   −4    10
13  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls    8    3   0   5     9   11   −2    9
14  Scapa Bay Rovers             8    2   3   3    16   21   −5    9
15  Eintracht Moss-Rygge         8    2   1   5     8   15   −7    7
16  Skipsbyggere IFK             8    1   3   4     7   14   −7    6
17  Bohemiens Grise Fiord        8    0   2   6     7   19  −12    2
18  Rapid Jan Mayen FK           8    0   1   7     8   23  −15    1

In the second flight, Matahiko Viktory are the slightly surprising team at the top of the table, with pre-season favourites RSK Longyearbyen Town having made a very slow start to life in Divisjon Two indeed. It remains a tough league to predict, I guess. SK Sturm Nuuk look set on rectifying the mistakes of last season, whilst Koppen Rig's recovery compared to last season's performance is a welcome surprise for their fans. At the bottom, it's Hopitaliers, Viking, and North Melville who occupy the three relegation spots thus far, but as ever there's an awfully long way to go.

------Divisjon Two            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Matahiko Viktory SK       8    6   1   1    15    7   +8    19
 2  SK Sturm Nuuk             8    5   2   1    18    8  +10    17
 3  Melville Celtic           8    5   2   1    15    6   +9    17
 4  Koppen Rig Force          8    5   1   2    13   10   +3    16
 5  Novaya Sibir Reds         8    5   1   2    11    9   +2    16
 6  Islay Town Mechanical     8    4   2   2    14    9   +5    14
 7  FC Torshavn               8    4   1   3    13   10   +3    13
 8  SC Kiel                   8    4   1   3    13   12   +1    13
 9  Franz Josef Young Boys    8    4   0   4    12   13   −1    12
10  RSK Longyearbyen Town     8    3   2   3    12   12    0    11
11  Neuerlatz AFK             8    3   2   3    10   10    0    11
12  SK Yuzhny Albion          8    2   2   4    12   16   −4    8
13  Maritime Hove FC          8    1   4   3     6    8   −2    7
14  FK Viipuri 56             8    2   1   5    14   21   −7    7
15  Rapid SK Eysturoy         8    1   3   4    13   18   −5    6
16  Hospitaliers              8    1   2   5    10   16   −6    5
17  Måriussa Viking FK        8    1   2   5     8   16   −8    5
18  FC North Melville         8    1   1   6     7   15   −8    4

Divisjon Three, and there's another shock leader in the form of Sutherland Foundry. Atletisk and Seratakki are providing the nearest competition so far, but if Atletisk work out how to turn some of the draws in their unbeaten performance so far into wins when they will be very tough to beat. Norsviken, not for the first time in Divisjon Three, are so far having a bit of a shocker, and Yuzhny Equinox are performing very poorly for a side that had hoped to chase promotion this year.

------Divisjon Three               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Sutherland Foundry SK          8    5   2   1    19    9  +10    17
 2  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen      8    4   4   0    15   10   +5    16
 3  Seratakki Villagers            8    5   1   2    15   12   +3    16
 4  FC Solovetsky Monastery        8    4   2   2    17   10   +7    14
 5  Lokomotiv Barentsberg          8    4   2   2    13    7   +6    14
 6  McAvery Centurions             8    4   2   2    14   14    0    14
 7  AC Aleutia Volcanoes           8    4   1   3    13    6   +7    13
 8  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox    8    4   1   3    16   15   +1    13
 9  FC1. Sturm Grímsey             8    4   1   3    10   11   −1    13
10  Agheim CF                      8    4   0   4    12   11   +1    12
11  Universitet                    8    2   4   2    14   15   −1    10
12  Steffansson Island FC          8    3   1   4     9   15   −6    10
13  Yuzhny Equinox FC              8    2   3   3    13   15   −2    9
14  FK Grise Fiord                 8    2   2   4    10   16   −6    8
15  Uelmark MK                     8    1   4   3    12   11   +1    7
16  Franz Josef Sharks             8    1   2   5     7   15   −8    5
17  Korsten Lokomotiv              8    1   1   6    10   21  −11    4
18  FK Norsviken Cossacks          8    0   3   5     4   10   −6    3

[Polar Islandstates]

Halfway through the season, lets have a quick summary of what has happened in the last few MDs...


MATCHDAY 9
Scapa Bay Rovers 2–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–1 Red Star Severny
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–3 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–1 FC Axel Heiburg
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–2 FC Cape St Paul
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–3 Jan Mayen Islanders
SK Nasjonale Hauker 4–1 North Star Grímsey
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 0–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
East Franz Athletic 0–0 SK Franz Josef City
Not for the first time this season, Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn and Povl Kazimir combine to win games for Bjarnarey; this hard-fought win at home to St Paul marking the second time this season already that the two attacking midfielders have assisted each other in the same game, with Youssef Nijgaard picking up the third with a deft finish from close-range that was harder than it looked. Valentin Brunel scored a peach of a free kick from thirty-five yards for Surtsey in their three-all draw at home to Bohemiens, but there was an eyebrow-raising result in Scapa Bay where they managed to beat the reigning champions and look good doing it at that. The biggest fixture of the weekend however was the Elfsteijn Derby, with SK making the trip to the Rendahl, only for it to turn into something of a damp squib. Ah well. You can't have everything I suppose.


MATCHDAY 10
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–1 SK Franz Josef City
Northbrook Diamonds FK 0–1 East Franz Athletic
North Star Grímsey 4–1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC Cape St Paul 1–0 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
FC Axel Heiburg 0–0 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 3–3 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Red Star Severny 2–3 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–3 Skipsbyggere IFK
Remember what I say about a potentially classic season? Well... Aasiaat draw at home to SK thanks to a Langager goal that cancelled out Olsen's opener, and East Franz stun the crowd at Palace Approach by winning with almost the last kick of the game; a Jere Karschner free kick. Bjarnarey and Axel Heiburg play out a dull nil-nil draw, but there are more exciting results for Nasjonale, who come from two-nil down to rescue a point in Jan Mayen, and North Star, who ruthlessly take Eintracht apart. Top side Red Star Severny are stunned when Dan-Arne Kystebo nods in a late winner for Surtsey at Carravale, and when you add up all of the above and pop it into the table, you get the news that the entire top half of the table is separated by just three points. I know only ten games have been played so far but, c'mon, that's almost a third of the season! Things don't exactly drop off a cliff at that point either, but poor old Rapid Jan Mayen are still rock bottom with just a single point to their name after losing again today to St Paul.


MATCHDAY 11
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2–2 Scapa Bay Rovers
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–1 Red Star Severny
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–0 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 0–1 FC Axel Heiburg
SK Nasjonale Hauker 0–0 FC Cape St Paul
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 1–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
East Franz Athletic 1–0 North Star Grímsey
SK Franz Josef City 1–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Bad news for Bohemiens and Rapid fans today as Eintracht manage to pick up a valuable three points; this time courtesy of a fine win at home to Jan Mayen, opening that gap to the bottom two even further, especially as both lose today. To be fair to Bohemiens, holding back Bjarnarey at The Barge was always going to be a tall task, especially with Karl Kvist in that kind of form, but Rapid need to be picking up results at home to Axel Heiburg if theywant to stay up. The two play each other next week, and that could be the end for one or both of the managers. Elsewhere, SK and Northbrook played out an entertaining one-all draw thanks to a goal from Ryn Jaxon and an instant response from Loick Sorensen, and Aasiaat's title defence continues to bump and scrape along the ground without ever really taking off thanks to a draw with Skipsbyggere. East Franz's Joni Siebel scored a goal of the season contender in the Spires' one-nil win over North Star, which means they keep pace with Red Star after their win in Resolute.



LATITUDE CUP Round Two
Devon Bay Seals FC 1-2 Devon Bay Lights FC
Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox 2-2 Henfergen Town FC (2-2 AET, 3-1 PKs)
Aleutia Town Dragons 1-1 FC1. Sturm Grímsey (1-1 AET, 3-2 PKs)
Steffansson Island FC 1-1 Agheim CF (1-2 AET)
Sutherland Foundry SK 1-0 Klub Athletisk Spitsbergen
Logan United FC 1-0 GVFFK Pekarik
Hauken Orca 1-1 Bulargen Independents (1-2 AET)
Ostermeier Old Boys 0-1 Krykkjesund Olympic
Axel Town AFC 4-2 Korsten Lokomotiv
SK Nolmkien 1949 0-1 Vale of Moray
Lokomotiv Barentsberg 0-2 FC Solovetsky Monastery
FC1. Rangers 4-1 Ingvar Peaks FC
Gjornhammer Pier FC 3-0 AFK Hans Island Pioneers
Orebro FK 4-1 Resolute Hills FC
US Saint-John 0-1 Uelmark MK
1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt 2-0 Ueland-Alne
SK Stromness Electric 1-2 Bathurst Zenith
FK Norsviken Cossacks 1-1 West End (1-1 AET, 3-1 PKs)
Invermuir Highlanders FC 1-3 AC Aleutia Volcanoes
McAvery Centurions 1-0 San Moranna FC
Meteor Kholmsk SK 1-2 Yuzhny Equinox FC
Franz Josef Sharks 1-2 SK 1982 Matua
Almsborg Rushmori 1-1 Lindesvogne Violets (1-2 AET)
Energie Zemlya FK 0-0 Bennett and Zhokhov (0-0 AET, 3-4 PKs)
Universitet 1-1 FK Fairbanks (2-1 AET)
Grass-Lisch AFC 2-1 FC Fetlar
Machtspool Whitesleeves FC 2-4 Seratakki Villagers
FK Grise Fiord 1-1 IHK Geddesberg (1-1 AET, 0-2 PKs)
The second round of the Latitude Cup always seems to come around earlier than you expect it to, and as the lower league teams chase the chance to have a money-spinning tie against the big teams when they enter the competition in the next round, we are treated to some classics, with a Devon Bay Derby for the first time in what feels like ages. It wasn't a classic match, but the Lights embarrassed their higher league rivals in a result that perhaps speaks to each team's ambitions for the season. Elsewhere, Universitet needed extra time to get past Fairbanks, and there are eye-catching wins for 1982 Matua, Geddesberg, and Gjornhammer Pier, as well as a top of Divisjon Three clash that saw Sutherland just edge out Klub Atletisk with a goal in stoppage time.


MATCHDAY 12
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
North Star Grímsey 2–3 SK Franz Josef City
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 East Franz Athletic
FC Cape St Paul 1–0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
FC Axel Heiburg 1–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 2–1 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Red Star Severny 1–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
This SK side just seem to have a different air about them. I was sceptical but, maybe that club really does need foreign transfers to give them their swagger? Refusing to give in, they twice came from behind against North Star to eventually take the lead through Lofthus in the final few minutes. Three Polarian goalscorers today for the Griffons, but with influential performances from Félix, Sorensen, and Randekovic, this was a victory built on their transfer dealings. A special word for Radenkovic in fact, thrown in for their first start after a late injury to Hagen, but masterfully handleded by the young Mytanar. There was also a big win for Northbrook, whose home grown Martin Kallenberge scored one and assisted the other in a vicotry over Aasiaat, and Red Star show they aren't at the top for no reason by holding Bjarnarey to a draw. In the big clash at the bottom however, it is joy for Bohemiens who come from behind to beat Rapid Jan Mayen, and that is the end of Johannes Skjoldebrand's tenure at Yannis Stadion I'm afraid.


MATCHDAY 13
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 3–5 Skipsbyggere IFK
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 0–2 Red Star Severny
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 1–1 FC Axel Heiburg
East Franz Athletic 1–0 FC Cape St Paul
SK Franz Josef City 1–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–2 North Star Grímsey
Ripping up the plan for this season, Finn Kirkkegaard goes back to what worked so well last year; set pieces and strong defence, and it pays immediate dividends with a dominating two-nil away win in Surtsey for the reigning champions. Skipsbygerre win a barnstormer in Resolute; a five-three away win where the highlights were a brace apiece for strike partners Hjalmar Gummer and Rolands Wiesenthal, and a string of top saves from young Euan Berby. Interim Rapid boss Inari Tuss is unable to inspire his team as they slump to another defeat at home to Red Star, whilst Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn continues his fine start to life in Divisjon One with the winner at home to Scapa Bay. Loick Sorensen is rivalling for the unofficial title of 'signing of the season' so far however, as his developing partnership with Alf Lofthus at SK bags him another winning goal; this time over old rivals Jan Mayen Islanders.

MATCHDAY 14
SK Aasiaat Harbour 5–1 North Star Grímsey
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC Cape St Paul 2–5 SK Franz Josef City
FC Axel Heiburg 1–4 East Franz Athletic
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 2–0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Red Star Severny 3–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–1 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Skipsbyggere IFK 0–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 4–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
News broke this weekend that Red Star assistant manager Jochen Kristiansen was being tempted away to take up the vacant managerial position at Rapid, and he was there in the crowd as he watched his future charges pick up their first win in front of a man they were hoping to impress. A single goal from the til-now stuttering Vegard Lebus was enough to give them a crucial away win against Scapa Bay, which was fortunate, as Bohemiens beat Eintracht two-nil to further contract that gap at the bottom. Aasiaat's return to Plan A continued to impress, blowing North Star out of the water at Harbour Walk this weekend, and there was a big blowout win for a Surtsey side that have blown very hot and cold this year. SK's impressive first half of the season also continues, with a huge five-two win in St Paul, and Red Star underline their international credentials with a comfortable three-nil win over Nasjonale.


MATCHDAY 15
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–3 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
SK Nasjonale Hauker 4–2 Scapa Bay Rovers
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 1–1 Red Star Severny
East Franz Athletic 2–0 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
SK Franz Josef City 3–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Northbrook Diamonds FK 4–2 FC Cape St Paul
North Star Grímsey 2–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
There's the new manager bounce that Rapid were hoping for! Kristiansen masterminds his new team to a second consecutive one-nil win, this time over Skipsbyggere, and suddenly there's a chink of light showing through the clouds over Yannis Stadion. Not for the first time this season, all three capital clubs win on the same day. Nasjonale secured a thrilling four-two win at home to Scapa Bay thanks to goals from Kvist, Niemi, and Jeppersen; Sho Itō and Gunner Martikainen each scored from set pieces in East Franz's win over Bohs; and young Gunnar Keppler scores a double to add to Igerne Félix's opener as the midfield boss things at the Landstadt against Axel Heiburg. Bjarnaey nick a point at home to a resurgent Surtsey (Resurgsey?), but the biggest game of the weekend is the return of the Feud of Victorrinn to the top flight. The reigning champions raced into a two-nil lead, stunning Mossy Park courtesy of goals from Cixin Nguyen and Matias Langager, before Resolute nicked a goal back before half-time through Oskar Olsen. Olsen doubled his tally in the second half after a Duncan McCariot clearance rebounded off the face of Rafael Kowaleski and into his path, sending Resolute fans into a tizz of expectation. However, Kowaleski made up for that chaotic moment of bad luck by laying the ball on a plate for Matteus Henschen to net the winner deep into the final ten minutes. Breathless stuff.


MATCHDAY 16
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–3 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC Cape St Paul 2–1 North Star Grímsey
FC Axel Heiburg 0–3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 1–4 SK Franz Josef City
Red Star Severny 1–3 East Franz Athletic
Scapa Bay Rovers 3–0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–4 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–3 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
A stunning goal from Youssef Nijgaard was the highlight of Bjanarey's win in Resolute this week, whilst Aasiaat's title defence hit another roundbump when the Ospreys came to Harbour Walk and left with all three points; Bryce Larkingham scoring a first goal in Polarian football. St Paul unleashed perhaps their best performance since the five-one win over Axel Heiburg with their two-one win at home to North Star, which will be a welcome return to form given the uptick from the other teams around the bottom. On which topic, Rapid make it three in a row with a strong performance in Surtsey, and Scapa Bay blow Eintracht out of the water with a second half blitz of possession-based attacking football. The capital trio repeat their trick from last weekend, collectively putting them in a strong position at the top of the table, whilst Northbrook keep pace with a win of their own over Axel Heiburg; Wickenheiser and Jaxon with the goals.


MATCHDAY 17
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 4–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 1–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
East Franz Athletic 0–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
SK Franz Josef City 1–2 Red Star Severny
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–2 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
North Star Grímsey 2–2 FC Axel Heiburg
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–3 FC Cape St Paul
Not going to lie, I'm really excited by what the fixture computer has thrown up here - Bjarnarey vs Aasiaat to complete the run of the first half of the season? Meaning last year's first and second place will play each other on the final day? Heavens. Of course, that's only going to be really thrilling if both remain in contention on that day, something which isn't guaranteed, and especially not if Aasiaat repeat performances like this too often. Or is that being harsh? Maybe Bjarnarey were simply really up for taking revenge for Aasiaat's title-influencing win at The Barge last season, and goals from Kazimir, Nijgaard, Harju, and Makkinen were simply too much for the champions to hold on. A consolation from Henschen was scant comfort on that flight home, I bet. Red Star stun SK at the Landstadt with a pair of goals deep into second half stoppage time courtesy of Polland and Morck, whilst a fourth win for Rapid on the trot - this time against Resolute - puts them right back in with a hope of avoiding relegation.



LATITUDE CUP Round Three
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 4-1 FC Torshavn
Devon Bay Lights FC 0-0 Axel Town AFC (0-0 AET, 2-3 PKs)
Koppen Rig Force 1-4 Maritime Hove FC
Bulargen Independents 1-0 Bathurst Zenith
SK Franz Josef City 4-0 Yuzhny Equinox FC
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 1-1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC (2-1 AET)
Gjornhammer Pier FC 1-2 FC Cape St Paul
Grass-Lisch AFC 0-0 1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt (1-0 AET)
Vale of Moray 2-2 Bennett and Zhokhov (3-2 AET)
Universitet 2-0 Skipsbyggere IFK
Islay Town Mechanical 0-2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Yuzhny Albion 2-0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
SK Sturm Nuuk 1-0 Rapid SK Eysturoy
Matahiko Viktory SK 1-1 Neuerlatz AFK (2-1 AET)
McAvery Centurions 3-0 SK 1982 Matua
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1-1 Hospitaliers (2-1 AET)
FK Viipuri 56 1-0 FC North Melville
Franz Josef Young Boys 3-2 Logan United FC
Melville Celtic 0-0 IHK Geddesberg (2-0 AET)
FK Norsviken Cossacks 2-2 Scapa Bay Rovers (2-2 AET, 2-1 PKs)
Agheim CF 3-1 FC Solovetsky Monastery
Jan Mayen Islanders 2-2 Bohemiens Grise Fiord (3-3 AET, 1-3 PKs)
Aleutia Town Dragons 1-2 Red Star Severny
AC Aleutia Volcanoes 0-0 SC Kiel (0-0 AET, 2-3 PKs)
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2-1 Seratakki Villagers
North Star Grímsey 4-0 Uelmark MK
East Franz Athletic 2-0 Krykkjesund Olympic
Måriussa Viking FK 0-3 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Sutherland Foundry SK 3-2 FC1. Rangers
Novaya Sibir Reds 1-1 Rapid Jan Mayen FK (1-1 AET, 6-5 PKs)
Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox 1-0 FC Axel Heiburg
Lindesvogne Violets 1-3 Orebro FK
The third round of the Latitude Cup is always a highlight in the Polarian football calendar, and of course this year is just like any other. There were a distinct lack of shocks for much of the weekend, with only a handful of wins for teams from the bottom of their divisions over stronger teams in the same division raising any eyebrows; looking mainly at Maritime Hove, Yuzhny Albion, Bohemiens, and Eintracht Moss-Rygge when I say that. And then came the Sunday, and a flurry of shock results. Novaya Sibir beat Rapid Jan Mayen in a minot upset, Grass-Lisch beat Lokomotiv Karlstadt, and Universitet humbled Skipsbyggere with a two-nil win in Axel Heiburg. Then there was just about enough time for lowly Orebro and Bulargen to secure passage to the next round thanks to some favourable ties before Severnaya Zemlya stunned FC Axel Heiburg. Finally, Scapa Bay were left stunned by Norsviken Cossacks in the Monday-night tie when a last minute penalty rescued a draw in normal time for the Divisjon Three side, before a shoot-out sent the top flight side back home with their tails between their legs.



We reach the halfway point then, and the three capital clubs are currently sitting pretty at the top of the league. I had a hunch East Franz would perform well this year, but SK fans must be delighted with how quickly the return to 'chequebook squad building' has paid off for them. If they can repeat this performance in the second half of the season we could yet see a relatively shock win for the Landsatdt side. Not forgetting Nasjonale of course who are only one point behind their more illustrious city-rivals, with Bjarnarey only one further back in fourth, tied on points with an Elmo Polland inspired Red Star. Northbrook are a little way back in fifth, and if you were being cruel, you could say that Aasiaat's title defence is hanging by a thread. There's a lot of football to go yet, of course, but ten points even at the halfway stage feels like an awful lot of ground to make up. North Star to Scapa Bay make up a very congested middle of the table, whilst that bottom five looks like it might already contain the three teams that will go down. Rapid's surge of recovery under Kristiansen actually drops Bohemiens to the bottom spot at the halfway point, but they've both closed the gap on the three clubs above them.

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  SK Franz Josef City         17   10   5   2    40   21  +19    35
 2  East Franz Athletic         17   10   5   2    26   13  +13    35
 3  SK Nasjonale Hauker         17   10   4   3    32   20  +12    34
 4  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     17   10   3   4    32   17  +15    33
 5  Red Star Severny            17   10   3   4    33   20  +13    33
 6  Northbrook Diamonds FK      17    8   6   3    27   18   +9    30
 7  SK Aasiaat Harbour          17    7   4   6    27   22   +5    25
 8  North Star Grímsey          17    7   2   8    31   28   +3    23
 9  FC Cape St Paul             17    7   2   8    25   28   −3    23
10  Jan Mayen Islanders         17    5   6   6    25   24   +1    21
11  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   17    6   3   8    26   28   −2    21
12  FC Axel Heiburg             17    5   6   6    21   26   −5    21
13  Scapa Bay Rovers            17    5   5   7    28   34   −6    20
14  Skipsbyggere IFK            17    3   6   8    21   30   −9    15
15  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      17    3   5   9    20   35  −15    14
16  Eintracht Moss-Rygge        17    3   5   9    13   28  −15    14
17  Rapid Jan Mayen FK          17    4   1  12    16   33  −17    13
18  Bohemiens Grise Fiord       17    2   5  10    20   38  −18    11

In Divisjon Two, Longyearbyen are playing a little more like how we all expected them to, joining Melville Celtic in a tussle for the top, with Novaya Sibir Reds lurking with intent behind them, and a whole host of other teams still in the hunt for promotion that is currently led by SC Kiel. Just. At the bottom, North Melville are having a pretty opposite season to their cross-town rivals, and they currently prop up the rest of the table, making an 'everyone-except-the-Melville-clubs sandwich', I guess. Is that anything? Måriussa Viking would be pretty devasated by going down to the third flight so soon after being in Divisjon One, but this is, as ever, a very cruel league to be in.

------Divisjon Two            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Melville Celtic          17   11   3   3    26   12  +14    36
 2  RSK Longyearbyen Town    17   11   2   4    28   18  +10    35
 3  Novaya Sibir Reds        17   10   2   5    28   17  +11    32
 4  SC Kiel                  17    9   2   6    27   22   +5    29
 5  SK Sturm Nuuk            17    8   4   5    30   18  +12    28
 6  FC Torshavn              17    8   4   5    28   22   +6    28
 7  Neuerlatz AFK            17    7   7   3    22   17   +5    28
 8  Matahiko Viktory SK      17    9   1   7    23   20   +3    28
 9  Islay Town Mechanical    17    7   5   5    26   18   +8    26
10  Koppen Rig Force         17    8   1   8    24   23   +1    25
11  Franz Josef Young Boys   17    7   2   8    22   27   −5    23
12  SK Yuzhny Albion         17    5   4   8    27   31   −4    19
13  Hospitaliers             17    5   4   8    22   29   −7    19
14  Maritime Hove FC         17    5   4   8    17   27  −10    19
15  Rapid SK Eysturoy        17    4   4   9    28   31   −3    16
16  Måriussa Viking FK       17    4   4   9    26   30   −4    16
17  FK Viipuri 56            17    3   3  11    20   44  −24    12
18  FC North Melville        17    3   2  12    17   35  −18    11

In Divisjon Three, Sutherland Foundry are a surprising name to see up there, but they appear to be hanging around. There's a trio of Svalbard clubs hot on their heels who would no doubt love to make it a one-two-three for the state, but they've got a bit of ground to be making up first if they're going to achieve that. McAvery and Sturm are also poised and ready to spoil the party given half a chance. At the bottom, their unlikely Latitude Cup win aside, Norsviken have actuallt had a slight impromvement in recent weeks. Along with Franz Josef Sharks and Uelmark they'll do well to avoid the drop, but there's a chance at least. Grise Fiord meanwhile... wow. Now that would be a shock if they went down.

------Divisjon Three               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Sutherland Foundry SK         17   11   2   4    38   23  +15    35
 2  FC Solovetsky Monastery       17   10   3   4    31   19  +12    33
 3  Lokomotiv Barentsberg         17    9   3   5    27   16  +11    30
 4  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen     17    8   6   3    28   21   +7    30
 5  McAvery Centurions            17    9   3   5    24   21   +3    30
 6  FC1. Sturm Grímsey            17    8   5   4    26   21   +5    29
 7  Agheim CF                     17    9   1   7    28   28    0    28
 8  Yuzhny Equinox FC             17    7   6   4    29   26   +3    27
 9  AC Aleutia Volcanoes          17    7   4   6    28   19   +9    25
10  Universitet                   17    5   7   5    32   32    0    22
11  Seratakki Villagers           17    6   4   7    28   29   −1    22
12  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox   17    6   3   8    27   31   −4    21
13  Korsten Lokomotiv             17    5   2  10    25   36  −11    17
14  Steffansson Island FC         17    4   5   8    21   34  −13    17
15  FK Grise Fiord                17    4   4   9    21   30   −9    16
16  FK Norsviken Cossacks         17    3   5   9    19   28   −9    14
17  Franz Josef Sharks            17    3   5   9    19   30  −11    14
18  Uelmark MK                    17    1   8   8    18   25   −7    11

Skipping over to the East Divisjon of the short and sharp Challenge League, it's Vale of Moray who've jumped to the top of the pile, somewhat surprisingly. Rangers and Hans Island were the bookies' tips at the start of the season, but the Scotian side have upset the predictions so far to sit on top of the table at the halfway point. At the bottom, Sannegarden are having a shocker so far, with Bielstrich faring only slightly better.

------East Divisjon             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Vale of Moray              13    8   2   3    21   16   +5    26
 2  FC1. Rangers               13    8   1   4    22   13   +9    25
 3  KSC Brighthelmstone        13    7   2   4    23   14   +9    23
 4  AFK Hans Island Pioneers   13    6   5   2    17   13   +4    23
 5  Invermuir Highlanders FC   13    6   4   3    20   16   +4    22
 6  Aleutia Town Dragons       13    6   3   4    18   13   +5    21
 7  SK Thor 1898               13    6   1   6    15   14   +1    19
 8  KA Rikyaare                13    5   2   6    15   20   −5    17
 9  IHK Geddesberg             13    4   4   5    19   17   +2    16
10  Sisimut Black Star         13    5   1   7    16   21   −5    16
11  Bathurst Zenith FC         13    3   6   4    14   17   −3    15
12  SK Stryær                  13    3   5   5    15   16   −1    14
13  Bielstrich Timbers FC      13    2   3   8     9   17   −8    9
14  Sannegarden Fleet FK       13    0   5   8    10   27  −17    5

As in the East, the West is topped by a slightly surprising name; FC Fetlar are hardly a small club in terms of regional clout and facilities, but I don't think anyone was expecting a promotion worhty season from them this year. Still, they're currently tied at the top with Ostermeier, and they'll be hoping to keep that up going into the second half of the season. At the foot of the table, it looks like there are going to be five teams battling it out to avoid the four drop spots; Energie Zemlya currently have the very tips of their noses out of the hot water, but it's extremely close down there.

------West Divisjon               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC Fetlar                    13    7   3   3    17   10   +7    24
 2  Ostermeier Old Boys          13    7   3   3    17   10   +7    24
 3  Logan United FC              13    6   4   3    17   10   +7    22
 4  Bennett and Zhokhov          13    6   4   3    21   15   +6    22
 5  Torpedo Sibir RKA            13    6   4   3    20   17   +3    22
 6  Ueland-Alne                  13    6   3   4    18   15   +3    21
 7  Larsen Bay Thunder FC        13    6   2   5    14   15   −1    20
 8  FK Ost-Volonovsk             13    5   4   4    18   15   +3    19
 9  NKK Urri                     13    5   3   5    19   20   −1    18
10  Energie Zemlya FK            13    3   3   7    13   18   −5    12
11  Devon Bay Seals FC           13    3   3   7    13   21   −8    12
12  Bulargen Independents        13    2   5   6    14   21   −7    11
13  Machtspool Whitesleeves FC   13    2   5   6    13   20   −7    11
14  Meteor Kholmsk SK            13    2   4   7    15   22   −7    10

Not forgetting the Regional League, of course, whose divisions look like this at the halfway point. Still 2000 minutes or so to play however, and a lot can happen yet. The teams at the bottom of each division will be cast out into the cold of the Regional Conferences, so a lot rides on this.

------Central Premier         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Devon Bay Lights FC      22   11   7   4    34   26   +8    40
 2  1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt   22   11   5   6    45   26  +19    38
 3  Axel Town AFC            22   11   3   8    40   25  +15    36
 4  FK Fairbanks             22   10   5   7    28   24   +4    35
 5  St Gallen 47             22    9   5   8    32   29   +3    32
 6  Royal NK Sikjonek        22    7   8   7    25   30   −5    29
 7  Green Star Kobelevskov   22    9   1  12    34   41   −7    28
 8  Bindelsfjorden Dynamo    22    8   3  11    36   41   −5    27
 9  Almsborg Rushmori        22    6   8   8    28   34   −6    26
10  West End                 22    6   7   9    27   33   −6    25
11  SK Nolmkien 1949         22    6   7   9    21   31  −10    25
12  AIK Winterthur           22    6   5  11    30   40  −10    23

------North-Eastern Premier     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  San Moranna FC             22   14   4   4    40   21  +19    46
 2  Krykkjesund Olympic        22   13   5   4    38   22  +16    44
 3  Hanshaugen Gate FK         22   12   4   6    34   21  +13    40
 4  Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC    22   10   4   8    32   25   +7    34
 5  Oaks of Fjellisroy         22    9   4   9    26   25   +1    31
 6  AIK Oversetten             22    9   3  10    27   35   −8    30
 7  FKS-North                  22    8   5   9    32   36   −4    29
 8  Sporting Club Aasiaat 87   22    7   6   9    29   30   −1    27
 9  Boden 61                   22    6   5  11    22   31   −9    23
10  FC Kampengar Magpies       22    7   2  13    19   33  −14    23
11  Resolute Hills FC          22    6   4  12    23   33  −10    22
12  FK Aagen Zenith            22    5   6  11    22   32  −10    21

------South-Eastern Premier       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Ingvar Peaks FC              22   13   8   1    44   18  +26    47
 2  AIK Alejavik                 22   11   5   6    30   20  +10    38
 3  US Saint-John                22    9   8   5    34   30   +4    35
 4  Holtrecht Force SK           22    9   4   9    32   29   +3    31
 5  Hauken Orca                  22    7   8   7    25   30   −5    29
 6  Friedrichsund Fencing Club   22    8   5   9    26   34   −8    29
 7  Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais       22    7   6   9    30   26   +4    27
 8  Lindesvogne Violets          22    7   6   9    36   36    0    27
 9  Ilksporta IK                 22    6   8   8    24   28   −4    26
10  KFK Polshavn                 22    7   5  10    21   30   −9    26
11  Sleijnmakt Sport             22    5   8   9    27   39  −12    23
12  Crusaders                    22    5   5  12    20   29   −9    20

------Western Premier          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Northbrook Zenith FC      22   14   4   4    49   26  +23    46
 2  Fjorhorgen SK             22   10   3   9    38   31   +7    33
 3  Orebro FK                 22    8   7   7    35   34   +1    31
 4  Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC   22    8   7   7    29   29    0    31
 5  Gjornhammer Pier FC       22    9   4   9    37   38   −1    31
 6  SV Keldira Zenith         22    9   4   9    30   35   −5    31
 7  GVFFK Pekarik             22    8   5   9    40   41   −1    29
 8  Fynersturen Valhalla      22    8   5   9    38   39   −1    29
 9  SK Stromness Electric     22    8   5   9    30   33   −3    29
10  IHK Sirius                22    6   9   7    30   32   −2    27
11  Dinamo Olsa FK            22    6   9   7    30   34   −4    27
12  SK 1982 Matua             22    5   4  13    24   38  −14    19

[Polar Islandstates]

Third part of the league season, and there is everything to play for still.


MATCHDAY 18
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–1 FC Cape St Paul
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 FC Axel Heiburg
North Star Grímsey 4–0 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Northbrook Diamonds FK 0–2 Red Star Severny
SK Franz Josef City 5–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
East Franz Athletic 1–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 0–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
If that start to the second half of the season is anything to go by, then North Star and SK fans are going to have a great time. North Star came flying out of the blocks at home to Bohemiens, Georges-André Drouin-Lacroix and Cornelius Thornburrow each scoring in the first five minutes, before the strike partnership of Borjeson and Lehning got in on the act before half-time. SK meanwhile saw their own partnership of Lofthus and Sorensen combine for three goals in the first half against Scapa Bay, before late goals from Goliat and Félix put a gloss on things. Northbrook suffered an embarrasing late collapse at home to Red Star, Polland and Morck each scoring from set pieces in the dying moments of the second half, whlist Li Zhen scored for the fourth game in a row for Jan Mayen in their draw against Axel Heiburg. Across the city, Rapid's winning streak was brought to a juddering halt by Bjarnarey and their midfield dominance, but they'l be hoping to pick back up where they left off soon if they're to avoid starting the second half of the season like they did the first.


MATCHDAY 19
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 2–3 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 4–2 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–1 East Franz Athletic
Skipsbyggere IFK 0–2 SK Franz Josef City
Scapa Bay Rovers 2–4 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Red Star Severny 1–0 North Star Grímsey
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 1–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC Axel Heiburg 0–0 FC Cape St Paul
Ah. Well. Nevertheless. Okay so, Rapid lost at home to th reigning champions, but they did at least look up for the fight this time around. Kristiansen looks to have instilled a fighting spirit in the club from Yannis Stadion, and hopes are high that results will come back soon. Aasiaat on the other hand will just be glad that potential banana skin didn't end up derailing their title defence even further; new signing Cixin Nguyen showing their influence with a pair of assists in the second half. Johannes Gauer and his Scapa Bay side continue to keep people guessing as to which tactical plan they're going to roll out day-to-day, but it didn't stop Northbrook snatching the points this time around, and Bjarnarey climb the table with an incredibly valuable win at home to Nasjonale.


MATCHDAY 20
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–1 FC Axel Heiburg
FC Cape St Paul 2–0 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Jan Mayen Islanders 4–1 Red Star Severny
North Star Grímsey 1–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
Northbrook Diamonds FK 5–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
SK Franz Josef City 0–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
East Franz Athletic 1–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 0–4 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Three hat-tricks were scored in fixtures across this weekend as the strikers go slightly nuts in Divisjon One, perhaps the most noteworthy one being Li Zhen's thunderous trio of strikes against high-flying Red Star. Northbrook's Nico Wickenheiser added his own hat-trick for the Diamonds in a five-one hammering of Skipsbyggere, before Youssef Nijgaard scored perhaps the most impressive of the lot with a perfect hat-trick for Bjarnarey in Moss-Rygge. The glanced header from Tripp's whipped delivery was particularly delicious. SK's unpredicted title tilt hit a road-block with a two-nil home defeat against Surtsey - hard work beats talent when talent doesjn't work hard, and all that... - whilst across that capital Hans Aigner kept East Franz in it against a barrage of attacks from Resolute, just long enough for Joni Siebel to stab home a winner in the dying minutes. Heartbreak for Resolute, but a clear indication of the value of a top goalkeeper.



LATITUDE CUP Round Four
Novaya Sibir Reds 2-0 Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox
Grass-Lisch AFC 2-1 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
FC Cape St Paul 1-1 East Franz Athletic (1-2 AET)
Universitet 1-1 SC Kiel (1-2 AET)
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2-0 SK Yuzhny Albion
Axel Town AFC 1-2 Sutherland Foundry SK
FK Viipuri 56 0-0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge (0-1 AET)
SK Franz Josef City 2-1 SK Sturm Nuuk
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2-1 Melville Celtic
McAvery Centurions 0-2 Agheim CF
Vale of Moray 0-1 Franz Josef Young Boys
FK Norsviken Cossacks 2-2 North Star Grímsey (2-2 AET, 3-1 PKs)
Red Star Severny 2-2 SK Nasjonale Hauker (2-2 AET, 1-3 PKs)
Matahiko Viktory SK 0-2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2-0 Bulargen Independents
Maritime Hove FC 2-0 Orebro FK
The fourth round of the Latitude Cup comes around, and from here on out the teams that progress would be forgiven for allowing themselves to dream just a little bit. And not least amongst those dreamers will be Grass-Lisch AFC, who absolutely stunned Bohemiens to win two-nil and seal their place in the next round. The shocks didn't stop there either, with Norsviken Cossacks putting another Divisjon One side out on penalties. Elsewhere, there were safe wins for top flight sides SK Franz Josef City, Northbrook, Bjarnarey, and Aasiaat, but Nasjonale needed penalties to ease past Red Star, and East Franz needed extra time in their own all DivOne clash against St Paul. Finally, in the Monday night television pick, Maritime Hove crushed Orebro's dreams with a ruthless and efficient two-nil win whilst still managing to rest players for their relegation battle.


MATCHDAY 21
SK Nasjonale Hauker 0–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 East Franz Athletic
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–0 SK Franz Josef City
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–1 North Star Grímsey
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Red Star Severny 3–2 FC Cape St Paul
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 1–4 FC Axel Heiburg
Okay, don't look now, but that classic season I was hoping for might just be coming back as a possibility. First, Aasiaat's narrow win at Kungsdocks over Nasjonale - inspired by Nguyen and Holst's developing partnership in the middle of the midfield - kicked things off, the only goal coming through Langager. Then, in the second intra-Big Six clash of the weekend, Bjarnarey caught more more ground on those above them with a two-one win over East Franz. Tripp, Ënàrsòn, and Kazimir are gelling wonderfully in that Bargemen midfield at the moment, so it was a bit of a gift when it was Mertagne striker Gell who came on to score the winner from a Makkinen corner in the second half. Finall, SK lost at Resolute - themselves bouncing back after deserving a result against East Franz last time around - before Northbrook beat Surtsey and Red Star returned to winning ways with a narrow win over St Paul that featured a spirited come back form three-nil down from the away side. Things are definitely hotting up.


MATCHDAY 22
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–1 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
FC Axel Heiburg 1–1 Red Star Severny
FC Cape St Paul 0–2 Scapa Bay Rovers
Jan Mayen Islanders 3–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
North Star Grímsey 1–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Northbrook Diamonds FK 4–2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
SK Franz Josef City 1–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
East Franz Athletic 3–1 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 1–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
An astonishingly good threaded through ball from Thurnburrow was the highlight of this weekend's games, taking four Surtsey players out of the game and allowing Borjeson the simplest of clipped finishes to give North Star the win at home in an all Norscelt-clash, whilst there was a similarly narrow margin of victory for Aasiaat in their win over Bohemiens. Axel Heiburg battled hard to take a point at home to high-flying Red Star, whilst Nasjonale made the short trip home form Moss-Rygge with the same number of points after somehow managing to let the home side back into a match they'd totally controlled. East Franz comfortably beat Rapid, whilst Northbrook did the same to Resolute in a six-goal thriller. SK and Bjarnarey shared the points atht eLandstadt in the highest profile match of the weekend however; Ënàrsòn's driven equaliser cancelling out Sorensen's nodded opener, before Jori Sipp showed his value as a Bjarnarey signing by making a string of top saves in the second half.


MATCHDAY 23
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 0–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–2 East Franz Athletic
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–1 SK Franz Josef City
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–2 North Star Grímsey
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–1 FC Cape St Paul
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–2 FC Axel Heiburg
Red Star Severny 3–1 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
A second Docklands Derby of the season ends with three goals and two red cards in a frantic final twenty minutes, and this time it's Skipsbyggere who are celebrating avenging the defeat at the Millerntor earlier in the season. Neither side are 'safe' yet, so there was an edge to the game that reflected on the pitch and in the stands. Speaking of teams who aren't at all safe, Rapid record perhaps the best result of their battle to climb the table so far, snatching a draw at home to SK thanks once again to a goal from Lebus. At Kungsdocks, Karl Kvist turns in a player of the match performance as Nasjonale twice come from behind to deny East Franz all three points, Niemi and Jeppersen with the goals for the home side, and Bjarnarey take the points in what seems like their fiftieth two-one win of the season. This time, Northbrook Diamonds are the side on the receiving end of that Bjarnarey midfield.


MATCHDAY 24
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–0 Red Star Severny
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 1–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
FC Axel Heiburg 1–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
FC Cape St Paul 1–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
North Star Grímsey 3–4 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Northbrook Diamonds FK 5–3 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
SK Franz Josef City 1–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
East Franz Athletic 4–1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
That's a lot of goals. Can't see the 3-4-3 formation of last season's Team of the Season being changed to include more defenders at this rate... The three-nil win for Aasiaat at home to Red Star might have been a tip off for how the rest of the weekend was going to turn out, but by the time Bohemiens and Scapa Bay had played out a one-all draw, and then Axel Heiburg had done the same with Skipsbyggere, maybe we'd been lulled into a false sense of security. Goran Stockman and Li Zhen each scoring rapid-fire braces in the dying embers of Saturday might have tipped us off, though. Because, bang! North Star and Bjarnarey shared seven goals in a thriller that saw Tripp score the winning goal from a long throw of all things, before Northbrook went one better, knocking a fifth goal past Rapid Jan Mayen in a thrilling encounter at Palace Approach that saw eight different scorers, and after the comparative damp squib of SK beating Nasjonale one-nil - which, let's face itl in a there's almost no such thing as a capital derby whatever the scoreline - we were treating to some gorgeous play from Eats Franz in their win over lowly Eintracht. Phew. More of this, please!



LATITUDE CUP Round Five
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1-1 SC Kiel (1-1 AET, 1-0 PKs)
FK Norsviken Cossacks 0-4 Agheim CF
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1-0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1-0 Grass-Lisch AFC
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 2-0 Novaya Sibir Reds
SK Franz Josef City 3-2 Maritime Hove FC
Sutherland Foundry SK 0-2 East Franz Athletic
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2-0 Franz Josef Young Boys
And so we move back to the Latitude Cup, and a spot in the quarter-finals awaits the winners of these eight ties. Norsviken had no trouble sending Divisjon One teams home, but a team in their own tier is apparently asking too much of them; Agheim taking advantage of some slack defending to knock four past the Cossacks and progress to the next round. Northbrook needed to hang on hard to their early lead against Aasiaat, but that's just what they did, and Jaxon's goal was enough for the Diamonds in the end. East Franz stopped Sutherland's run, as did Surtsey to Grass-Lisch, and there were shredded nails at The Barge where an incredibly poor shout-out saw Bjarnarey past Kiel in a game neither team really deserved to win. Contract could probably have done without the distraction of a cup run to be honest, but they're safely in the quarter-finals too, albeit not one of the five who could still harbour sincere hopes of a league and cup double still. What a season this is so far.


MATCHDAY 25
East Franz Athletic 2–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 0–1 SK Franz Josef City
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–1 North Star Grímsey
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 3–0 FC Cape St Paul
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Skipsbyggere IFK 5–1 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–2 Red Star Severny
It just seems like every weekend there are a couple of games that have huge ramifications in the topsy-turvy world of Divisjon One right now, and this week is no different. Just when you think they're poised to make a leap back into an area where a title retention is on the cards again, Aasiaat go to the Rendahl and get handsomely beaten by an East Franz side flying high with the knowledge that that win sends them top... At least until Nijgaard, Tripp, and Kazimir scored for Bjarnarey against Jan Mayen the day after. Red Star aren't showing signs of slowing down, and they win in Scapa Bay, whilst SK keep pace with a narrow win over Contract, who themselves will feel aggrieved after they had goals rules out for offside on three occasions. Game of the week goes to Nasjonale and their win over Northbrook though, where a Karl Kvist piledriver proved the difference in the second half.


MATCHDAY 26
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
Red Star Severny 3–2 Skipsbyggere IFK
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 1–3 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
FC Axel Heiburg 2–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC Cape St Paul 3–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–1 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
North Star Grímsey 1–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Northbrook Diamonds FK 3–1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
SK Franz Josef City 2–0 East Franz Athletic
The second Elfsteijn Derby of the season was a far more exciting affair that the first, and if Loick Sorensen was under any misapprehensions about what it means to be a Griffin, the reaction of the crowd when he put the home side two up against East Franz will have eliminated any lingering doubts. Alf Lofthus had previously put the Griffins ahead, and that draws the home right back up and closes the gap to the top two. Especially seeing as Bjarnarey also lost - a shock defeat away to St Paul. Bohemiens lose three-one at home to Surtsey - they're never going to survive if they don't stop conceding this many goals - and Skipsbyggere almost take a point home from Red Star only for Michael Morck to net a late winner. On the island of Jan Mayen meanwhile, the Ospreys take great delight in inflicting yet another blow to Rapid's chances of survival, Li Zhen poking home the even goal in three to leave the visitors in deep trouble.



Eight games left then, and we are beginning to see where the battles will play out in the final couple of months. At the top, Bjarnarey and East Franz have maybe got a hair's breadth of space between them and the chasing pack, but there really is almost nothing in it. SK and Red Star are lurking just three points off the top, with Aasiaat only another three beyond that and Northbrook and Nasjonale also within a win or two of the IFCF spots. There is a big jump down to Jan Mayen in eighth after that, so, realistically, three of that top seven are going to miss out on international football next season. Aasiaat's title defence isn't quite dead yet, but six points in eight games means you're waiting for a lot of mistakes from the rest of the... What would you call them? "Big Six plus Red Star"? I don't know.

Jan Mayen to St Paul is pretty congested in the middle, and then there's a largish gap to the bottom six. Or, the top three of the bottom six, anyway. Yes, Skipsbyggere, Scapa Bay and Resolute might be nervous, but there's an even bigger gap down to the actual bottom three. Rapid Jan Mayen, Contract, and Bohemiens might have rallies, but they're going to need to rally a whole lot harder in the final few games if they're going to make up that eight point gap to safety.

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     26   17   4   5    53   28  +25    55
 2  East Franz Athletic         26   16   6   4    41   21  +20    54
 3  SK Franz Josef City         26   15   7   4    53   26  +27    52
 4  Red Star Severny            26   16   4   6    49   33  +16    52
 5  SK Aasiaat Harbour          26   15   4   7    43   29  +14    49
 6  Northbrook Diamonds FK      26   14   6   6    52   33  +19    48
 7  SK Nasjonale Hauker         26   13   7   6    42   29  +13    46
 8  Jan Mayen Islanders         26   10   7   9    39   36   +3    37
 9  FC Axel Heiburg             26    9  10   7    34   34    0    37
10  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   26   11   3  12    38   36   +2    36
11  North Star Grímsey          26    9   6  11    45   40   +5    33
12  FC Cape St Paul             26    9   3  14    35   43   −8    30
13  Skipsbyggere IFK            26    6   7  13    35   48  −13    25
14  Scapa Bay Rovers            26    6   7  13    35   52  −17    25
15  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      26    6   6  14    34   49  −15    24
16  Rapid Jan Mayen FK          26    4   4  18    27   53  −26    16
17  Eintracht Moss-Rygge        26    3   7  16    19   49  −30    16
18  Bohemiens Grise Fiord       26    3   6  17    27   62  −35    15

In the second flight, there is indeed a team running away with things, as predicted. However, as wasn't quite predicted, that team is Melville Celtic, who have an eight point lead over the chasing pack. Novaya Sibir, SC Kiel, RSK, Koppen Rig, and Matahiko are all separated by just one point however, so that battle for promotion is going to be a humdinger. At the foot of the table, FK Viipuri 56 have had a very poor season, and are currently sitting at the bottom in deep trouble. Maritime Hove and North Melville aren't doing much better however, and there's some rallying to be done in the second flight as well accordingly. Viking have at least already done that, and seem to have pulled at least a bit clear. That gap from ninth to eleventh is very curious though, with Neuerlatz in tenth marooned in what would otherwise be a gulf of fourteen points.

------Divisjon Two            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Melville Celtic          26   18   3   5    47   22  +25    57
 2  Novaya Sibir Reds        26   15   4   7    43   27  +16    49
 3  SC Kiel                  26   15   4   7    47   32  +15    49
 4  RSK Longyearbyen Town    26   15   4   7    42   30  +12    49
 5  Koppen Rig Force         26   15   3   8    43   30  +13    48
 6  Matahiko Viktory SK      26   15   3   8    45   33  +12    48
 7  SK Sturm Nuuk            26   13   6   7    43   28  +15    45
 8  FC Torshavn              26   12   8   6    42   29  +13    44
 9  Islay Town Mechanical    26   12   7   7    43   31  +12    43
10  Neuerlatz AFK            26    8  10   8    32   34   −2    34
11  SK Yuzhny Albion         26    8   5  13    45   50   −5    29
12  Måriussa Viking FK       26    8   4  14    40   52  −12    28
13  Franz Josef Young Boys   26    7   5  14    29   45  −16    26
14  Rapid SK Eysturoy        26    7   4  15    41   47   −6    25
15  Hospitaliers             26    7   4  15    28   45  −17    25
16  FC North Melville        26    5   6  15    30   49  −19    21
17  Maritime Hove FC         26    5   5  16    23   47  −24    20
18  FK Viipuri 56            26    4   5  17    28   60  −32    17

In Divisjon Three, Sutherland are no longer top, but they are at least still managing to spoil the Svalbard-party at the top of the table, though just like in the other two Albatross League tiers, it's awfully close up there, and even McAvery in eighth probably haven't given up hope of promotion yet. Athe the bottom, Norsviken's Cup run might have been entertaining, but has it distracted them from their relegation battle? Mind you, the other three teams in the drop zone didn't really have cup runs to speak of, and it doesn't seem to have helped them that much..

------Divisjon Three               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Lokomotiv Barentsberg         26   14   6   6    47   25  +22    48
 2  FC Solovetsky Monastery       26   14   5   7    43   27  +16    47
 3  Sutherland Foundry SK         26   13   5   8    46   35  +11    44
 4  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen     26   12   8   6    39   31   +8    44
 5  Yuzhny Equinox FC             26   12   8   6    41   36   +5    44
 6  Agheim CF                     26   13   3  10    44   39   +5    42
 7  FC1. Sturm Grímsey            26   12   6   8    39   35   +4    42
 8  McAvery Centurions            26   11   7   8    35   36   −1    40
 9  Universitet                   26    7  12   7    43   43    0    33
10  FK Grise Fiord                26    9   6  11    41   42   −1    33
11  Seratakki Villagers           26    9   6  11    38   41   −3    33
12  Franz Josef Sharks            26    9   6  11    31   40   −9    33
13  AC Aleutia Volcanoes          26    8   6  12    37   32   +5    30
14  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox   26    9   3  14    33   45  −12    30
15  Steffansson Island FC         26    6   9  11    31   43  −12    27
16  Korsten Lokomotiv             26    8   2  16    36   58  −22    26
17  FK Norsviken Cossacks         26    6   7  13    32   41   −9    25
18  Uelmark MK                    26    3  13  10    27   34   −7    22

[Polar Islandstates]

Final part of the league season, and we finally get our exiting conclusion!


MATCHDAY 27
SK Franz Josef City 4–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
East Franz Athletic 0–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 0–2 North Star Grímsey
SK Nasjonale Hauker 4–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 2–3 FC Cape St Paul
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 6–2 FC Axel Heiburg
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–2 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–0 Red Star Severny
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
Some absolutely massive games at the tip of the table today, with four of the top six playing each other. SK seized the opportunity to go top of the table, temporarily at least, with their hammering of Aasiaat. Sorensen, Lofthus, and Hagen with the goals in the first half, and even before Fixing Nguyen and Igerne Félix traded late goals in the second, you got the distinct sense that heads were dropping in the Aasiaat ranks. Finn Kirkkegaard's side might still mathematically be in it, but you must think that that's probably that for their title defence. East Franz had the chance to then go top later in the day, only for Tariq Will to score the only goal of the game for Northbrook, who came away with a superb three points. Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn was once again the star for Bjarnarey on Sunday however, and his pair of goals and an assist set the Bargemen on their way back to the top of the table with a fine six-two win at home to Axel Heiburg - Harju, Tripp, Kazimir, and Baer with the other goals for the home side. Bohemiens record a fine and much appreciated win in Resolute, particularly with Rapid and Eintracht losing, and Skipsbyggere and Scapa Baby sharing the points in a result that does neither of them much good.


MATCHDAY 28
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Red Star Severny 2–2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 1–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC Axel Heiburg 1–0 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
FC Cape St Paul 0–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
North Star Grímsey 3–0 East Franz Athletic
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–0 SK Franz Josef City
All this talk of a 'Classic Season' earlier, and all of a sudden Bjarnarey are *checks notes* six points clear?! How did that happen? Well, 'Tariq Will' is the short answer to that question. The longer answer is that after scoring the winner against East Franz last week, Northbrook welcomed SK to Palace Approach this weekend and he repeated the fear. Sure, Wickenheiser added a late second on the break as SK pushed for an equaliser, but Will was also instrumental in keeping the Griffins at bay at the other end. Back-to-back goals and clean sheets against Big Six opposition? Looks like Northbrook have themselves a big game player and a half here, and coming into form at just the right time of the season, too. Especially for Bjarnarey, who take advantage of their rivals dropping points again with yet another two-tone won, this time away at Bohemiens. East Franz lose again in some very poor timing for their title hopes, whilst Resolute think they've seen up a crucial win of their own only for Elmo Polland to drill home a late equaliser.



LATITUDE CUP Quarter Finals
East Franz Athletic 3-0 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3-1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Agheim CF 0-0 SK Franz Josef City (0-0 AET, 1-3 PKs)
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2-1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
The Latitude Cup always brings intrigue with it, and the quarter-finals - played mid-week under the lights as usual - are no exception. A stunning hat trick from Sho Itō sees East Franz put their League woes behind them, and Bjarnarey's search for the elusive league and cup double is over for another season. Northbrook and SK remain in that hunt however, even if the latter did need penalties to get past third tier Agheim. Nasjonale also progress, meaning all four semi-finalists are harbouring hopes of a double still, and with three clubs from the capital amongst those, we're guaranteed at least one very juicy semi-final indeed.


MATCHDAY 29
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
SK Franz Josef City 2–2 North Star Grímsey
East Franz Athletic 2–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 0–1 FC Cape St Paul
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 FC Axel Heiburg
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–2 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–0 Red Star Severny
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
As much as Northbrook have been incredible in the last few weeks, it would seem that three Big Six teams in a row is just to much to ask. Tariq Will might have scored for the third week in a row, sending fantasy football players up and down the country clamouring to put him in their teams before his price rises anymore, but a fine stroke from Henschen means the points are shared between Diamonds and Aasiaat. SK carelessly let a two goal lead at home to North Star slip, which would be a really bad time for them to rediscover their wobbly form from the past few years, and also means East Franz's win over Jan Mayen is more significant as a result. Much of which is music to Bjarnarey's ears, I'm sure, and their three-nil win over Red Star not only takes advantage of those draws for Northbrook and SK, but also puts the boot in on one of the only other teams who could still win the title. Resolute manage a well earned win over Scapa Bay to maybe ease their relegation fears somewhat, particularly as Skipsbyggere lose again as well, but Rapid are probably the biggest losers of the day at the bottom, losing at home to Bohemiens as they do.


MATCHDAY 30
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Red Star Severny 2–2 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 0–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC Axel Heiburg 0–0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
FC Cape St Paul 1–0 East Franz Athletic
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–3 SK Franz Josef City
North Star Grímsey 0–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
So the teams chasing Bjarnarey continue to stutter and scrape, and that classic season I was hoping for might be slipping away. Sorry guys, I jinxed it. Or, maybe Ziegenhagen's side are just really good at putting together these imperious runs of form at the end of the year. Either way, it's impressive from one of us. Nijgaard, Makkinen, and Ënàrsòn with the goals today, and the Bargemen move into an eight point lead. Eight. At this point in the season? That's huge. That gap emerging because East Franz, second going into today, lose away at St Paul, meaning the wins for SK, Nasjonale, and Northbrook also see them leapfrog the Spires and push them from second to fifth in one day. Brutal. I don't know, maybe it's still a classic season of you discount the leaders. Red Star can only draw at home to relegation-battling Rapid, Michael Morck with the late equaliser for the home side, and that plus Surtsey's win over Aasiaat means the top five are probably stretching away a bit now. A huge win for Resolute at the bottom over Skipsbyggere also probably pulls them out of danger, but Eintracht will be disappointed to have only got a point against Axel Heiburg in a game they probably circled as a decent chance to get a valuable three points.

So, four games left, twelve points on the table, and with the customary late break for the Latitude Cup semi final next weekend, here's how things are looking...

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     30   21   4   5    66   32  +34    67
 2  SK Franz Josef City         30   17   8   5    62   32  +30    59
 3  SK Nasjonale Hauker         30   17   7   6    54   29  +25    58
 4  Northbrook Diamonds FK      30   17   7   6    57   34  +23    58
 5  East Franz Athletic         30   17   6   7    43   27  +16    57
 6  Red Star Severny            30   16   6   8    53   41  +12    54
 7  SK Aasiaat Harbour          30   16   5   9    48   36  +12    53
 8  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   30   15   3  12    45   37   +8    48
 9  FC Axel Heiburg             30   10  11   9    37   42   −5    41
10  North Star Grímsey          30   11   7  12    52   43   +9    40
11  Jan Mayen Islanders         30   11   7  12    43   46   −3    40
12  FC Cape St Paul             30   12   3  15    40   48   −8    39
13  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      30    8   7  15    41   55  −14    31
14  Skipsbyggere IFK            30    6   8  16    38   57  −19    26
15  Scapa Bay Rovers            30    6   8  16    39   59  −20    26
16  Bohemiens Grise Fiord       30    5   6  19    32   69  −37    21
17  Rapid Jan Mayen FK          30    4   5  21    32   61  −29    17
18  Eintracht Moss-Rygge        30    3   8  19    20   54  −34    17

LATITUDE CUP Semi Finals
East Franz Athletic 2-0 SK Franz Josef City
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2-0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Rarely do we get three Elfsteijn Derbies in a season. Even more rarely do we see that happen two seasons in a row! Last year it happened much earlier, of course, but for the second season in a row, East Franz knock SK out of the Latitude Cup in a colossal tussle at the Rendahl. Arsene-Michael Litt and Gunner Martikainen scored the goals in the second half, sending the Spires fans into raptures, and their side into the final. The other semi-final was won by the same margin, and it was Northbrook who scored the goals through Jaxon and Kallenberger, meaning it was so near and yet so far for Nasjonale, and we are denied an all-capital final. Boo.


MATCHDAY 31
North Star Grímsey 0–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Northbrook Diamonds FK 3–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
SK Franz Josef City 1–0 FC Cape St Paul
East Franz Athletic 2–2 FC Axel Heiburg
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 3–0 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
SK Nasjonale Hauker 4–1 Red Star Severny
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 3–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 0–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Theres a shock, though. Never underestimate the teams battling against relegation in this league, and as is so often the case, one of them almost has a seismic effect on the title race today. Skipsbyggere came for a point against Bjarnarey and got one, holding the leaders to a goalless draw and opening the curtains a crack to the teams in chase. Eintracht win handsomely at home to Bohemiens, the highlight being a blistering strike from Juho Wallander, but is that going to be too little too late from Moss-Rygge? Igerne Félix scored the only goal of the game as SK snuck past St Paul to keep the title race alive for another week, whilst there were also wins for a Northbrook side in hot form and a Nasjonale side taking advantage of East Franz's abject league form to jump into the top four - Karl Kvist's whipped finish the highlight of that game.


MATCHDAY 32
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–4 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–3 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Red Star Severny 7–0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 2–1 East Franz Athletic
FC Axel Heiburg 1–0 SK Franz Josef City
FC Cape St Paul 2–4 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–3 North Star Grímsey
With the gap between Bjarnarey and SK sitting at six points, the Griffins were hoping for a miracle, and that's just what they didn't get. In the Friday night game, Bjarnarey took advantage of their fortuitous television scheduling to power past Surtsey courtesy of Ënàrsòn assisting both Nijgaard and Kazimir for what feels like the millionth time this season. And then, they waited. Northbrook and Nasjonale both kept up their winning streaks, but the Bargemen were beyond their respective reaches by this point, and so all eyes were on Axel Torvig Stadion, were SK needed to win and make a crack into the goal difference in order to have any chance whatsoever... which is exactly when the Argonauts decided they were going to turn into prime Ko-oren and shut the Griffins out entirely. George Nelson assisted Liselotte Strannegård for the only goal of the game, ensuring neither of them will ever have to buy a drink in Bjarnarey ever again, and that was that. SK were defeated, out of the title race and knocked down to fourth on one fell swoop, and Bjarnarey were seven points clear with two games to play. The title is heading back to The Barge. As of there wasn't already enough to talk about today as well, Resolute won a thrilling Feud of Victorrinn just to run salt into Aasiaat's wounds on the day they knew their reign was over, and Red Star knocked seven (SEVEN) past Eintracht, a result that would've relegated them were it not for the fact that Nasjonale beat Scapa Bay, and does Elmo Polland no harm at all in his race for the Golden Boot against Niemi and Sorensen. Even so, it's down to goal difference at this point for Eintracht. Never a good sign. Rapid's win over Skipsbyggere keeps them in with a legitimate shout of staying up meanwhile, and stops the Waves from stretching clear into safety. Just.


MATCHDAY 33
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
North Star Grímsey 1–0 FC Cape St Paul
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–0 FC Axel Heiburg
SK Franz Josef City 4–0 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
East Franz Athletic 1–1 Red Star Severny
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 0–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
The title race might be over, but that doesn't stop Bjarnarey winning, a two-nil win over Resolute does them no harm at all in their mission to finish as high as they can. SK do their IFCF ambitions justice with a four-nil demolition of Bohemiens, a result that all but relegates the Bohs given results elsewhere and their appalling goal difference. Rapid pick up a point that keeps them in the hunt for safety given Skipsbyggere’s defeat at Kungsdocks, but Scapa Bay's win against Eintracht, at Koch Stadion no less, relegates Eintracht and means Scapa Bay are safe. Phew. East Franz and Red Star draw in a result that helps nobody, whilst Northbrook and Nasjonale also win meaning the IFCF spots are pretty much sewn up. Thurnburrow records another assist as North Star beat St Paul to settle some mid-table arguments, but, let's be fair, I'm clutching at straws here. My hope for a Classic Season have fallen at the last. It's almost all sorted going into the last day of the season.


MATCHDAY 34
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 3–3 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 4–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–2 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–0 East Franz Athletic
Red Star Severny 2–2 SK Franz Josef City
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 0–3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC Axel Heiburg 1–4 North Star Grímsey
FC Cape St Paul 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
So with only one thing to settle on the final day, the issue of relegation, I have to take something of a backseat to today's proceedings. Scapa Bay were already safe but managed to draw with East Franz just for the hell of it, apparently, and that underlined a disappointing end to the league season for the Spires. Bohemiens’ loss against Northbrook just certified their relegation, whilst the final relegation spot went to the… wire? Almost wire? I don't know. Anyway. Rapid Jan Mayen managed a draw against Resolute, but that point for Skipsbyggere against already relegated Eintracht meant that that was academic. Three points was the margin going into today, and three points was the margin afterwards. It could've been exciting, but it wasn't. Ah well. Sorry everyone, I've misled you all.

So, your final league table then, and as was already evident for those who have been paying attention , Bjarnarey Flotilla have reclaimed their league title. Northbrook have managed to jumped to second overall, whilst the IFCF spots are closed out by Nasjonale and SK, with East Franz and Aasiaat missing out altogether after a very disappointing title defence for the latter. It was a good season for Red Star, but they were still pipped on the final day to ensure the Big Six kept their labels, although the indications are that that might not be a given for much longer.

At the bottom, Moss-Rygge were done a while back, but Bohs and Rapid almost kept things interesting. Kristiansen must be hoping he gets another go at things next season after almost keeping them up this year, but that all remains to be seen.

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     34   23   5   6    71   34  +37    74 - Champions, IFCF CL, CdC
 2  Northbrook Diamonds FK      34   21   7   6    69   37  +32    70 - IFCF CC, IFCF CWC
 3  SK Nasjonale Hauker         34   20   7   7    65   36  +29    67 - IFCF CC
 4  SK Franz Josef City         34   19   9   6    69   35  +34    66 - IFCF CC
 5  East Franz Athletic         34   17   9   8    47   32  +15    60
 6  SK Aasiaat Harbour          34   18   6  10    55   42  +13    60
 7  Red Star Severny            34   17   8   9    64   48  +16    59
 8  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   34   17   4  13    52   41  +11    55
 9  North Star Grímsey          34   14   8  12    60   46  +14    50
10  FC Axel Heiburg             34   11  12  11    41   50   −9    45
11  Jan Mayen Islanders         34   11   8  15    48   55   −7    41
12  FC Cape St Paul             34   12   4  18    43   55  −12    40
13  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      34    9   8  17    48   65  −17    35
14  Scapa Bay Rovers            34    7   9  18    42   65  −23    30
15  Skipsbyggere IFK            34    6  10  18    42   65  −23    28
16  Rapid Jan Mayen FK          34    6   7  21    42   67  −25    25 - Relegated
17  Bohemiens Grise Fiord       34    6   6  22    34   80  −46    24 - Relegated
18  Eintracht Moss-Rygge        34    4   9  21    25   64  −39    21 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Runners-Up: Northbrook Diamonds FK
Relegated: Rapid Jan Mayen FK, Bohemiens Grise Fiord, Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Player of the Season:
1.  Povl Kazimir (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
2.  Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
3.  Elmo Polland (Red Star Severny)
4.  Kyong Tripp  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
5.  Emmanuele Niemi (SK Nasjonale Hauker)
Young Player (u-23) of the Season:
1.  Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
2.  Jalmari Hagen (SK Franz Josef City)
3.  Martin Kallenberger (Northbrook Diamonds FK)
4.  Mikkel Makkinen (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
5.  Jaan Reusser (SK Aasiaat Harbour)
Top Goalscorers:
23 -  Emmanuele Niemi (SK Nasjonale Hauker)
22 -  Elmo Polland (Red Star Severny)
20 -  Loick Sorensen  (SK Franz Josef City)
19 -  Ryn Jaxon  (Northbrook Diamonds FK),  Youssef Nijgaard (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
17 -  Li Zhen  (Jan Mayen Islanders),  Povl Kazimir (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
Top Assistmakers:
17 -  Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
15 -  Igerne Félix  (SK Franz Josef City)
14 -  Povl Kazimir (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
12 -  Cixin Nguyen  (SK Aasiaat Harbour),  Cornelius Thornburrow  (North Star Grímsey)
11 -  Kyong Tripp  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
Team of the Season:

In the second flight, RSK Longyearbyen Town do indeed live up to their title of runaway pre-season favourites by winning the league, but they did make slightly harder work of it than was expected. Keeping hold of Joel Bieri even when former club Resolute Storm offered him a route to staying in the top flight turned out to be the most important thing they could have done, with his goals propelling them to the top of the table. Novaya Sibir Reds also bounce straight back up again, beating Melville Celtic into third place on goals scored. I had thought Nuuk were good for another promotion, but they ended up finishing in fourth spot for the second year running. How cruel. Although by some distance this time rather than last year's goal difference heartbreak. I'm never quite sure if that makes it better or worse. Compounding North Melville's unhappiness at relegation will be Celtic's promotion, whilst Viipuri make a surprise trip back to the third flight. Maritime Hove made a good go of it in the end, but they were the first team to be sent packing back to the third flight. After last year's dramatic underperformance, Koppen Rig and Torshavn almost propelled each other back to the top flight solely through the power of their hatred for each other alone; just imagine what would happen if they ever looked beyond the city limits for once.

------Divisjon Two            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  RSK Longyearbyen Town    34   23   4   7    66   35  +31    73 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 2  Novaya Sibir Reds        34   22   4   8    64   38  +26    70 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 3  Melville Celtic          34   22   4   8    62   36  +26    70 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 4  SK Sturm Nuuk            34   18   7   9    59   37  +22    61
 5  Koppen Rig Force         34   19   3  12    55   46   +9    60
 6  FC Torshavn              34   16  11   7    52   35  +17    59
 7  Matahiko Viktory SK      34   18   4  12    53   42  +11    58
 8  SC Kiel                  34   17   5  12    59   45  +14    56
 9  Islay Town Mechanical    34   15  10   9    52   39  +13    55
10  Neuerlatz AFK            34   12  12  10    45   42   +3    48
11  Rapid SK Eysturoy        34   12   4  18    51   58   −7    40
12  Franz Josef Young Boys   34   10   6  18    40   60  −20    36
13  Hospitaliers             34    9   6  19    35   54  −19    33
14  SK Yuzhny Albion         34    8   7  19    52   71  −19    31
15  Måriussa Viking FK       34    8   6  20    45   67  −22    30
16  FK Viipuri 56            34    7   7  20    40   69  −29    28 - Relegated
17  FC North Melville        34    6   9  19    36   59  −23    27 - Relegated
18  Maritime Hove FC         34    7   5  22    30   63  −33    26 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: RSK Longyearbyen Town
Runners-Up: Novaya Sibir Reds
Promoted: RSK Longyearbyen Town, Novaya Sibir Reds, Melville Celtic
Relegated: FK Viipuri 56, FC North Melville, Maritime Hove FC
Player of the Season:  Raymond Bury (RSK Longyearbyen Town)
Top Goalscorer: 25 -  Joel Bieri (RSK Longyearbyen Town)

In the third tier, Lokomotiv Barentsberg stole the league title thanks to their superior defence when compared to surprise runners-up Sutherland Foundry. The Foundry title-push was fuelled by the remarkable goalscoring exploits of player of the season Elias Beus, but without a strong defence they were unable to get past Barentsberg when it counted. Solovetsky made it two out of three for Svalbard clubs in the promotion spots in the end, although by leapfrogging Atletisk in the final few weeks they actually didn't affect that total score at all in the end. At the bottom, Severnaya Zemlya are counting their blessings after a narrow escape, whilst it was a less fortunate outcome for Korsten, Norsviken 'yo-yo' Cossacks, Steffansson Island, and Uelmark, who all drop down to the Challenge League.

------Divisjon Three               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Lokomotiv Barentsberg         34   18   6  10    61   37  +24    60 - Promoted
 2  Sutherland Foundry SK         34   18   6  10    62   45  +17    60 - Promoted
 3  FC Solovetsky Monastery       34   17   7  10    53   38  +15    58 - Promoted
 4  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen     34   16   9   9    52   43   +9    57
 5  Yuzhny Equinox FC             34   15  11   8    52   50   +2    56
 6  FC1. Sturm Grímsey            34   15   9  10    48   44   +4    54
 7  Agheim CF                     34   14   8  12    55   51   +4    50
 8  FK Grise Fiord                34   14   7  13    53   50   +3    49
 9  McAvery Centurions            34   12  12  10    42   44   −2    48
10  AC Aleutia Volcanoes          34   13   7  14    52   41  +11    46
11  Seratakki Villagers           34   12   9  13    51   50   +1    45
12  Franz Josef Sharks            34   12   9  13    46   53   −7    45
13  Universitet                   34    9  13  12    54   62   −8    40
14  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox   34   11   5  18    44   58  −14    38
15  Korsten Lokomotiv             34   11   4  19    49   72  −23    37 - Relegated
16  FK Norsviken Cossacks         34    9   7  18    42   55  −13    34 - Relegated
17  Steffansson Island FC         34    7  12  15    37   54  −17    33 - Relegated
18  Uelmark MK                    34    5  15  14    39   45   −6    30 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Lokomotiv Barentsberg
Runners-Up: Sutherland Foundry SK
Promoted: Lokomotiv Barentsberg, Sutherland Foundry SK, FC Solovetsky Monastery
Relegated: Korsten Lokomotiv, FK Norsviken Cossacks, Steffansson Island FC, Uelmark MK
Player of the Season:  Elias Beus (Sutherland Foundry SK)
Top Goalscorer: 28 -  Elias Beus (Sutherland Foundry SK)

In the Challenge League East Divisjon, FC1. Rangers romped home in the end, enjoying an eleven point gap over their nearest rivals come the end of the season. Hans Island Pioneers are surely too big to stay in the fourth tier, and so it proved, although KSC Brighthelmstone almost put together a run at the end of the season there before tailing off badly. Geddesberg managed to stay up in dramatic circumstances on the last day of the season thanks to a late, late equaliser against Vale of Moray, meaning Bathurst's drubbing at the hands of Sisimut Black Star was extra damaging. Bielstrich and Stryær also go down, whilst it was a season to forget for rock-bottom Sannegarden Fleet.

------East Divisjon             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Rangers               26   19   2   5    45   20  +25    59 - Promoted
 2  AFK Hans Island Pioneers   26   14   6   6    37   25  +12    48 - Promoted
 3  KSC Brighthelmstone        26   13   4   9    45   33  +12    43
 4  Aleutia Town Dragons       26   12   6   8    39   27  +12    42
 5  SK Thor 1898               26   12   5   9    32   27   +5    41
 6  Vale of Moray              26   12   4  10    41   40   +1    40
 7  Sisimut Black Star         26   11   6   9    41   38   +3    39
 8  KA Rikyaare                26   11   4  11    34   41   −7    37
 9  Invermuir Highlanders FC   26    9   6  11    38   42   −4    33
10  IHK Geddesberg             26    8   5  13    35   41   −6    29
11  Bathurst Zenith FC         26    6  11   9    30   40  −10    29 - Relegated
12  Bielstrich Timbers FC      26    6   6  14    27   34   −7    24 - Relegated
13  SK Stryær                  26    5   7  14    30   45  −15    22 - Relegated
14  Sannegarden Fleet FK       26    3  10  13    26   47  −21    19 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: FC1. Rangers
Runners-Up: AFK Hans Island Pioneers
Promoted: FC1. Rangers, AFK Hans Island Pioneers
Relegated: Bathurst Zenith FC, Bielstrich Timbers FC, SK Stryær, Sannegarden Fleet FK
Player of the Season:  Taito Weigel (FC1. Rangers)
Top Goalscorer: 19 -  Nathan Illg (KSC Brighthelmstone)

In the West meanwhile, Bennett and Zhokhov fulfilled their promise to take the top spot, with Ostermeier Old Boys involved in a battle with Torpedo and Logan United right to the very end of what was a thrilling season. It was a four-way title battle for much of the second half of the season, with the final spots only looking predictable right at the last. At the bottom, Larsen Bay go down on goal difference, but the margin was rather wider for Bulargen Independents, Machtspool Whitesleeves, and Devon Bay Seals.

------West Divisjon               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Bennett and Zhokhov          26   13   7   6    40   29  +11    46 - Promoted
 2  Ostermeier Old Boys          26   11  10   5    30   19  +11    43 - Promoted
 3  Torpedo Sibir RKA            26   11  10   5    38   32   +6    43
 4  Logan United FC              26   12   6   8    37   28   +9    42
 5  NKK Urri                     26   11   6   9    41   34   +7    39
 6  FC Fetlar                    26   11   6   9    30   28   +2    39
 7  Ueland-Alne                  26   10   8   8    33   28   +5    38
 8  FK Ost-Volonovsk             26    8  10   8    32   32    0    34
 9  Energie Zemlya FK            26    8   8  10    33   32   +1    32
10  Meteor Kholmsk SK            26    8   7  11    33   36   −3    31
11  Larsen Bay Thunder FC        26    9   4  13    25   33   −8    31 - Relegated
12  Bulargen Independents        26    5  11  10    30   40  −10    26 - Relegated
13  Machtspool Whitesleeves FC   26    4  12  10    21   34  −13    24 - Relegated
14  Devon Bay Seals FC           26    6   5  15    26   44  −18    23 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Bennett and Zhokhov
Runners-Up: Ostermeier Old Boys
Promoted: Bennett and Zhokhov, Ostermeier Old Boys
Relegated: Larsen Bay Thunder FC, Bulargen Independents, Machtspool Whitesleeves, Devon Bay Seals FC
Player of the Season:  Marcis Dzhurov (Bennett and Zhokhov)
Top Goalscorer: 17 -  Dennis Suss (Bennett and Zhokhov)

In the ever-competitive Regional League, the Central Premier was won by Deveon Bay Lights, meaning they'll pass the Seals in mid-air over the course of the off-season. Axel Town follow them up, and Almsborg Rushmori get relegated, but the real story of the season was a remarkable display of goalscoring from breakthrough teenager Bo Fichter at Lokomotiv Karlstadt. You have to wonder where he'll end up next season.

------Central Premier         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Devon Bay Lights FC      44   26   8  10    80   51  +29    86 - Promoted
 2  Axel Town AFC            44   25   7  12    76   43  +33    82 - Promoted
 3  1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt   44   23   7  14    82   56  +26    76
 4  FK Fairbanks             44   21  11  12    63   49  +14    74
 5  St Gallen 47             44   20   9  15    62   52  +10    69
 6  Royal NK Sikjonek        44   16  13  15    53   60   −7    61
 7  Bindelsfjorden Dynamo    44   17   8  19    67   69   −2    59
 8  SK Nolmkien 1949         44   14  11  19    45   55  −10    53
 9  West End                 44   14   9  21    58   74  −16    51
10  Green Star Kobelevskov   44   15   1  28    58   81  −23    46
11  AIK Winterthur           44   11  10  23    48   74  −26    43
12  Almsborg Rushmori        44    8  14  22    51   79  −28    38 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Devon Bay Lights FC 
Runners-Up: Axel Town AFC
Promoted: Devon Bay Lights FC , Axel Town AFC
Relegated: Almsborg Rushmori
Player of the Season:  Berg Langerud (Devon Bay Lights FC)
Top Goalscorer: 35 -  Bo Fichter (1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt)

In the North-Eastern, San Moranna powered away from Olympic in the end, with the Krykkjesund club nonetheless enjoying their own comfortable margin over Hanshaugen in the second promotion spot. AIK Oversetten were marooned at the bottom for much of the season and almost made a thrilling comeback, but Boden 61 also managed to create some form out of nowhere, and three wins from four meant they just about kept their heads clear, and even had FKS-North worried for a bit.

------North-Eastern Premier     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  San Moranna FC             44   29   8   7    75   41  +34    95 - Promoted
 2  Krykkjesund Olympic        44   25   8  11    79   51  +28    83 - Promoted
 3  Hanshaugen Gate FK         44   21   8  15    67   56  +11    71
 4  Sporting Club Aasiaat 87   44   18   9  17    67   58   +9    63
 5  Oaks of Fjellisroy         44   18   9  17    57   53   +4    63
 6  Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC    44   16  12  16    64   63   +1    60
 7  Resolute Hills FC          44   15  10  19    52   58   −6    55
 8  FC Kampengar Magpies       44   15   7  22    44   64  −20    52
 9  FK Aagen Zenith            44   13  12  19    57   62   −5    51
10  FKS-North                  44   14   7  23    60   76  −16    49
11  Boden 61                   44   12  12  20    46   59  −13    48
12  AIK Oversetten             44   14   6  24    51   78  −27    48 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: San Moranna FC
Runners-Up: Krykkjesund Olympic
Promoted: San Moranna FC, Krykkjesund Olympic
Relegated: AIK Oversetten
Player of the Season:  Andris Hellstern (San Moranna FC)
Top Goalscorer: 27 -  Jens Asker (Krykkjesund Olympic),  Ernesti Holscher(Sporting Club Aasiaat 87)

In the South-Eastern, Ingvar Peaks continue the theme of huge winning margins, powering to a league win over Hauken Orca with several weeks to spare. Alejavik's collapse in the last two months mean they fail to go up, and KFK Polshavn are relegated on the last day after being beaten heavily by Crusaders whilst Sleijnmakt limited their loss against Cap-Pele to a single goal. It's a cruel, cruel sport.

------South-Eastern Premier       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Ingvar Peaks FC              44   24  13   7    81   45  +36    85 - Promoted
 2  Hauken Orca                  44   23   9  12    65   47  +18    78 - Promoted
 3  AIK Alejavik                 44   22   8  14    60   42  +18    74
 4  US Saint-John                44   17  14  13    65   59   +6    65
 5  Friedrichsund Fencing Club   44   17  12  15    51   56   −5    63
 6  Holtrecht Force SK           44   15  13  16    62   60   +2    58
 7  Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais       44   15  10  19    60   59   +1    55
 8  Ilksporta IK                 44   14  12  18    55   60   −5    54
 9  Lindesvogne Violets          44   13  13  18    63   72   −9    52
10  Crusaders                    44   11  14  19    47   58  −11    47
11  Sleijnmakt Sport             44   10  14  20    57   81  −24    44
12  KFK Polshavn                 44   10  14  20    42   69  −27    44 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Ingvar Peaks FC
Runners-Up: Hauken Orca
Promoted: Ingvar Peaks FC, Hauken Orca
Relegated: KFK Polshavn
Player of the Season:  Benedict Knupp (Ingvar Peaks FC)
Top Goalscorer: 25 -  Joni Bartling (Ingvar Peaks FC)

Finally, the Western Premier sees us complete our roster of Challenge League sides for next season, and it is Northbrook Zenith who prove they are too big for this tier, securing promotion with a month to spare and scoring an awful lot of goals in the process. Pekarik join them in going up, whilst Orebro were nowhere near challenging when push came to shove, despite their substantial winnings in the cup. It's a sad story for Matua however, as the once-exalted 'Pride of Kuril' are relegated into the Conference second tier.

------Western Premier          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Northbrook Zenith FC      44   27   8   9    89   49  +40    89 - Promoted
 2  GVFFK Pekarik             44   22   9  13    76   62  +14    75 - Promoted
 3  Orebro FK                 44   19   9  16    64   56   +8    66
 4  SK Stromness Electric     44   17  10  17    58   58    0    61
 5  SV Keldira Zenith         44   17  10  17    62   73  −11    61
 6  Fjorhorgen SK             44   18   6  20    66   63   +3    60
 7  IHK Sirius                44   14  16  14    55   59   −4    58
 8  Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC   44   16  10  18    51   56   −5    58
 9  Gjornhammer Pier FC       44   16   8  20    65   74   −9    56
10  Dinamo Olsa FK            44   14  13  17    62   67   −5    55
11  Fynersturen Valhalla      44   13   9  22    62   82  −20    48
12  SK 1982 Matua             44   13   8  23    54   65  −11    47 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Northbrook Zenith FC
Runners-Up: GVFFK Pekarik
Promoted: Northbrook Zenith FC, GVFFK Pekarik
Relegated: SK 1982 Matua
Player of the Season:  Hanss Rindels (Northbrook Zenith FC)
Top Goalscorer: 25 -  Hanss Rindels (Northbrook Zenith FC)

And so with four teams relegated, we also need to say welcome to the four new teams promoted from the new second tiers of the Regional Conferences:
Aurora Hammarby, FC Velcosta Cliffs, Forrairn St Johan FC, and Waldenøya Bears




Having seen Rangers win their league by a considerable margin, it should maybe not be a surprise that they won the Challenge Cup three nil, but you never know. Sometimes closer leagues mean a stronger set of opponents, in which case Bennett and Zhokhov would've been better placed to win. An academic discussion now, I suppose, but on this evidence, Rangers are in a good position to compete in Divisjon Three next season. What a performance.

Final
FC1. Rangers 3-0 Bennett and Zhokhov

CHAMPIONS: FC1. Rangers

The Regional Trophy also creates some added interest in the final weeks of the season, and the four conference winners go toe-to-toe as per usual in a battle to claim some bragging rights going into the next Challenge League season. Ingvar Peaks squeaked past Devon Bay Lights in their semi-final despite being comfortably outplayed in the second leg, and Northbrook Zenith swept San Moranna away as soon as they had home advantage. The final was a tense affair that exploded into life in the last fiften minutes, where a double from Northbrook captain Hanss Riedels saw them lift the trophy.

Semi-Finals
Ingvar Peaks FC 2-0 Devon Bay Lights FC (2-0 agg)
Devon Bay Lights FC 1-0 Ingvar Peaks FC (1-2 agg)

San Moranna FC 2-2 Northbrook Zenith FC (2-2 agg)
Northbrook Zenith FC 3-0 San Moranna FC (5-2 agg)

Final
Northbrook Zenith FC 2-1 Ingvar Peaks FC

CHAMPIONS: Northbrook Zenith FC

So, to the Latitude Cup final then; the centerpiece of the closing weeks of the season. This year, after having had considerably different times of it in the league since they each reached the final, we're faced with two contrasting narratives as we enter the final stretch. Having not won since that Elfsteijn Derby in the semi-final, will East Franz rescue their disappointing final quarter of the season and add to their considerable tally of Latitude Cups? Or will Northbrook continue their strong form and take another small step up the list of previous winners - a list in which they are curiously low given their league successes...?

Well, the latter.

Nico Wickenheiser and Marten Kallenberger put the Diamonds into a strong position in the first half, before the Spires came back strongly and hit the post through Joni Siebel just before half-time. East Franz did score after the restart courtesy of a shot-cum-cross from Sho Itō that snuck its way under the crossbar at the back post, but when Ryn Jaxon almost immediately restored the Diamonds' two goal lead, they never looked like giving it up again. Congratulations to Diamonds, and commiserations to an East Franz side that must be glad this season is over at last.

Final
Northbrook Diamonds FK 3-1 East Franz Athletic

CHAMPIONS: Northbrook Diamonds FK

Polar Islandstates (PIS) qualifiers
Champions League: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Challengers Cup: Northbrook Diamonds FK, SK Nasjonale Hauker, SK Franz Josef City
Liga B Champions Trophy: RSK Longyearbyen Town, Novaya Sibir Reds, Melville Celtic
Cup Winners’ Cup: Northbrook Diamonds FK

CdC: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla

[The Valhallan Union]

SEASON 42

So, another season of the Minor Valhallan League rolls around, and what can we expect? Well, for me to not have much time to write it up, soz la. We'll just have to move on quickly, I guess. See you next season.



In Tier I, Scheveningen's stranglehold at the top has finally been broken, with Marylebone Esprit surging to the top of the table in the final few weeks, beating not only Hrafninn KN but also Peregrine Zurich in the final month of the season, as well as holding Scehveningen to a draw just three days before they beat Auchtenmill on the final matchday to ensure they remained clear of Hrafninn on goal difference. It was a really tight season however, and we'll hope for more of the same next season when there's more time to write things up. It wasn't even close at the bottom, however.

------Minor Valhallan League Tier I  Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Marylebone Esprit               30   18   7   5    66   33  +33    61
 2  Hrafninn Knattspyrnufélag       30   18   7   5    53   29  +24    61
 3  Scheveningen Town               30   18   5   7    61   31  +30    59
 4  Peregrine Zurich FC             30   17   8   5    50   28  +22    59
 5  FF Berafjörðinn                 30   14   8   8    52   41  +11    50
 6  Vitesse Karbijnhavn             30   13   7  10    44   37   +7    46
 7  Hreindýrsal Stríðsmaður         30   12   6  12    37   39   −2    42
 8  Marylebone Invicta              30   12   5  13    50   36  +14    41
 9  SV Kieslen Bridge               30   10   8  12    41   42   −1    38
10  SV Auchtenmill                  30   10   8  12    37   41   −4    38
11  Náhvarðvíkur Bæ IF              30   10   6  14    38   50  −12    36
12  Crookley Weir FC                30    9   9  12    36   53  −17    36
13  Emerald Heerenveen              30   10   5  15    36   50  −14    35
14  Neuenhaus Valhalla              30    4  11  15    34   54  −20    23
15  Kuuningen Town SV               30    5   8  17    31   59  −28    23
16  K85 Járn Virkaroy               30    4   4  22    17   60  −43    16


CHAMPIONS: Marylebone Esprit
Runners-Up: Hrafninn Knattspyrnufélag
Relegated: Neuenhaus Valhalla, Kuuningen Town SV, K85 Járn Virkaroy

Tier II saw a similarly competitive year, with Fortuna just about edging clear of the rest over the course of the season, and Meteor Club beating Mackley Moor 3-0 on the final day of the season to emphatically go up at the expense of their visitors. At the bottom, there was also final-day joy for Copley Waders, as they tiptoed past PVTCo 1-0 on the final day, consigning the former giants to the third tier.

------Minor Valhallan League Tier II  Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Fortuna Haaksfalken FK           30   17   8   5    48   33  +15    59
 2  Thule IF                         30   16   7   7    49   32  +17    55
 3  Meteor Club 1940                 30   15   9   6    50   36  +14    54
 4  Mackley Moor AFC                 30   16   3  11    42   33   +9    51
 5  Achtrup Blackhearts FC           30   14   5  11    45   36   +9    47
 6  FC Karbijnplaats                 30   14   5  11    45   44   +1    47
 7  FCK Wick                         30   12   7  11    43   36   +7    43
 8  Zebra DKFK                       30   13   4  13    43   37   +6    43
 9  Eastmark Quarrymen               30   13   4  13    42   43   −1    43
10  Eaglescliffe Miners Welfare      30   10   9  11    38   37   +1    39
11  Port Eigg FC                     30   10   6  14    38   40   −2    36
12  Excelsior Bosch                  30    8   9  13    29   38   −9    33
13  Copley Waders FC                 30    9   5  16    34   48  −14    32
14  Fleet Sint Willem                30    7   9  14    36   52  −16    30
15  PVTCo                            30    8   6  16    31   49  −18    30
16  Víkingur Kló VB                  30    8   4  18    38   57  −19    28


CHAMPIONS: Fortuna Haaksfalken FK
Runners-Up: Thule IF
Promoted: Fortuna Haaksfalken FK, Thule IF, Meteor Club 1940
Relegated: Fleet Sint Willem, PVTCo, Víkingur Kló VB

In Tier III, the tit-for-tat battle between Outham Athletic and Ashburnley Hill ran all the way through to the final couple of weeks of the season, but a couple of defeats for Ashburnley at an unfortunate time meant that Outham won with a week to spare in the end, and so their final day defeat to fellow promotees Den Oentsjeerk went unpunished. At the bottom, Scheveningen West End were somewhat adrift of the rest by the end, alhouth Weldenmoor and Northern Star did at least make a go of it.

------Minor Valhallan League Tier III  Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Outham Athletic                   30   19   6   5    60   38  +22    63
 2  Ashburnley Hill FC                30   18   8   4    52   29  +23    62
 3  FC Den Oentsjeerk                 30   17   8   5    56   37  +19    59
 4  Aylesness Saracens                30   14   7   9    66   34  +32    49
 5  RSC Diepenheim                    30   13   9   8    43   42   +1    48
 6  Kaapschierden 37                  30   12  10   8    51   47   +4    46
 7  FC Hawkshead                      30   11   7  12    44   40   +4    40
 8  Gunnmarket                        30   10  10  10    40   38   +2    40
 9  Black Point Priory                30   11   7  12    46   50   −4    40
10  Bache Junction FC                 30   10   7  13    35   43   −8    37
11  Barnwich Fusiliers FC             30    9   9  12    42   47   −5    36
12  ASC Bosch Rushmori                30    9   7  14    41   48   −7    34
13  Haaksfalken Kittiwakes            30   10   3  17    33   58  −25    33
14  Weldenmoor Wasps                  30    7   6  17    33   49  −16    27
15  Marylebone Northern Star          30    6   8  16    32   51  −19    26
16  Scheveningen West End             30    5   6  19    24   47  −23    21


CHAMPIONS: Outham Athletic
Runners-Up: Ashburnley Hill FC
Promoted: Outham Athletic, Ashburnley Hill FC, FC Den Oentsjeerk
Relegated: Weldenmoor Wasps, Marylebone Northern Star, Scheveningen West End

In the penultimate level of the combination league system, Castle NHK absolutely romped home with it, winning by a fifteen-point margin by the time the dust had settled, and they'll no doubt be a force to be reckoned with in Tier III next season. St Denys XVII just about managed to get over the line in their battle with Eindhavn Thorns meanwhile, and they'll be hoping this is the start of their push back to Tier I. There was a very tight battle at the bottom meanwhile, although after a final day in which all six teams at the bottom changed places at least twice, and all were in the drop zone at one point or other... in the end a series of late goals meant the standing ended the day exactly how they started, with the latest of the late winners for Marylebone-Albrecht saving not only themselves, but also Beveren Trinity, by sending Deepdene Hall back down on thirty points.

------Minor Valhallan League Tier IV  Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Castle NHK                       30   22   2   6    69   34  +35    68
 2  Ferrisdale Ironopolis            30   15   8   7    45   34  +11    53
 3  St Denys XVII                    30   16   4  10    45   32  +13    52
 4  SV Eindhavn Thorns               30   14   8   8    47   32  +15    50
 5  FK Hámarvik                      30   14   5  11    42   34   +8    47
 6  Leiknir Reykjanesur              30   12  10   8    51   51    0    46
 7  Marylebone Armada                30   12   5  13    41   40   +1    41
 8  FFC Der Grijp                    30   11   6  13    36   38   −2    39
 9  Rapid Lochem                     30   10   9  11    34   41   −7    39
10  Sint Herwijnen                   30   10   8  12    43   46   −3    38
11  Barracliffe Old Street           30    6  15   9    34   40   −6    33
12  Marylebone-Albrecht FC           30    9   6  15    38   49  −11    33
13  Beveren Trinity                  30    6  12  12    40   53  −13    30
14  Turbine Herzog 1.FFC             30    7   9  14    37   51  −14    30
15  Deepdene Hall                    30    8   6  16    32   49  −17    30
16  Redgate Engineers                30    6  11  13    34   44  −10    29


CHAMPIONS: Castle NHK
Runners-Up: Ferrisdale Ironopolis
Promoted: Castle NHK, Ferrisdale Ironopolis, St Denys XVII
Relegated: Turbine Herzog 1.FFC, Deepdene Hall, Redgate Engineers

In the bottom tier meanwhile, Weidenbroeck Park will be taking themselves up to Tier IV next season, after only losing twice all year and recording an incredibly impressive seventy-two points. Fort Morten and Nordharbour just about edged VB Vatn in the battle for promotion, whilst it is apparently RKA Hvalabátum's turn to pick up the wooden spoon for the season. They're lucky they're a Blockhead side, otherwise the calls for opening up the pyramid would've gotten even louder.

------Minor Valhallan League Tier V  Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Weidenbroek Park           30   22   6   2    63   27  +36    72
 2  Fort Morten FC                  30   15   8   7    51   34  +17    53
 3  FF Nordharbour                  30   15   8   7    49   34  +15    53
 4  VB Vatn Höfninflói              30   16   4  10    53   38  +15    52
 5  Valhallans                      30   15   5  10    45   38   +7    50
 6  Norðurmýrar 87                  30   15   4  11    43   38   +5    49
 7  Nijverdal Kolen SC              30   14   5  11    47   33  +14    47
 8  FC Looi Institute               30   13   8   9    43   40   +3    47
 9  Blue Star Oppenhuizen           30   13   7  10    38   31   +7    46
10  Galveston-on-Sea FC             30   11   9  10    47   44   +3    42
11  Glidi Hreindýrsal               30   10   7  13    41   46   −5    37
12  Bergdam Linnets                 30    7   8  15    31   46  −15    29
13  KAC Panthers                    30    7   7  16    30   46  −16    28
14  Naval                           30    6   7  17    39   61  −22    25
15  Dalmsbeck SC24                  30    4   9  17    26   50  −24    21
16  RKA Hvalabátum                  30    4   4  22    23   63  −40    16


CHAMPIONS: FC1. Weidenbroek Park
Runners-Up: Fort Morten FC
Promoted: FC1. Weidenbroek Park, Fort Morten FC, FF Nordharbour

First Round
Norðurmýrar 87 1-1 SV Eindhavn Thorns (1-1 AET, 1-2 PKs)
Redgate Engineers 0-1 FF Nordharbour
Leiknir Reykjanesur 0-0 FK Hámarvik (0-0 AET, 1-4 PKs)
KAC Panthers 0-0 Fort Morten FC (0-0 AET, 4-3 PKs)
Naval 2-1 Turbine Herzog 1.FFC
Glidi Hreindýrsal 1-0 Valhallans
FC1. Weidenbroek Park 0-0 St Denys XVII (1-0 AET)
FC Looi Institute 0-0 Dalmsbeck SC24 (0-0 AET, 6-5 PKs)
Beveren Trinity 0-1 Castle NHK
Sint Herwijnen 2-1 Ferrisdale Ironopolis
Barracliffe Old Street 1-3 Marylebone Armada
Galveston-on-Sea FC 0-3 Blue Star Oppenhuizen
Deepdene Hall 0-0 FFC Der Grijp (0-2 AET)
VB Vatn Höfninflói 1-1 Rapid Lochem (3-1 AET)
Marylebone-Albrecht FC 1-0 Nijverdal Kolen SC
Bergdam Linnets 1-0 RKA Hvalabátum

Second Round
Zebra DKFK 2-0 Naval
SV Auchtenmill 1-0 Bergdam Linnets
Fleet Sint Willem 3-0 Castle NHK
VB Vatn Höfninflói 0-2 Eaglescliffe Miners Welfare
FC Looi Institute 1-0 Glidi Hreindýrsal
FCK Wick 2-1 Thule IF
Vitesse Karbijnhavn 0-1 Marylebone-Albrecht FC
K85 Járn Virkaroy 1-1 SV Eindhavn Thorns (1-1 AET, 2-3 PKs)
Emerald Heerenveen 0-2 Neuenhaus Valhalla
Aylesness Saracens 1-0 Sint Herwijnen
SV Kieslen Bridge 2-0 Kuuningen Town SV
FK Hámarvik 0-1 FC Den Oentsjeerk
Blue Star Oppenhuizen 1-2 Achtrup Blackhearts FC
FF Nordharbour 0-2 FF Berafjörðinn
Marylebone Invicta 2-1 Gunnmarket
Copley Waders FC 1-1 Barnwich Fusiliers FC (2-1 AET)
Scheveningen West End 2-0 Ashburnley Hill FC
Víkingur Kló VB 4-0 KAC Panthers
Eastmark Quarrymen 2-2 Black Point Priory (2-2 AET, 1-3 PKs)
Náhvarðvíkur Bæ IF 1-1 FC Hawkshead (1-2 AET)
Marylebone Northern Star 0-0 Fortuna Haaksfalken FK (1-0 AET)
Meteor Club 1940 4-0 Outham Athletic
Port Eigg FC 1-0 Haaksfalken Kittiwakes
ASC Bosch Rushmori 1-1 FFC Der Grijp (2-1 AET)
Kaapschierden 37 1-2 FC1. Weidenbroek Park
Excelsior Bosch 3-0 Weldenmoor Wasps
Mackley Moor AFC 2-0 PVTCo
Crookley Weir FC 1-1 Peregrine Zurich FC (1-1 AET, 2-3 PKs)
Marylebone Esprit 4-0 Marylebone Armada
FC Karbijnplaats 1-3 Scheveningen Town
Hreindýrsal Stríðsmaður 0-1 Bache Junction FC
RSC Diepenheim 2-3 Hrafninn Knattspyrnufélag

Round Three
SV Auchtenmill 2-1 FF Berafjörðinn
Marylebone Esprit 2-1 SV Eindhavn Thorns
Hrafninn Knattspyrnufélag 2-4 Excelsior Bosch
Marylebone-Albrecht FC 1-0 Fleet Sint Willem
Marylebone Northern Star 1-1 Neuenhaus Valhalla (2-1 AET)
Black Point Priory 3-0 FC1. Weidenbroek Park
Peregrine Zurich FC 4-1 FC Den Oentsjeerk
FC Looi Institute 0-7 Marylebone Invicta
FCK Wick 2-1 ASC Bosch Rushmori
Achtrup Blackhearts FC 3-0 Bache Junction FC
Víkingur Kló VB 1-1 Zebra DKFK (1-1 AET, 0-3 PKs)
Meteor Club 1940 1-0 Scheveningen West End
Aylesness Saracens 1-0 FC Hawkshead
Eaglescliffe Miners Welfare 0-2 Copley Waders FC
Mackley Moor AFC 0-1 Port Eigg FC
SV Kieslen Bridge 0-1 Scheveningen Town

Round Four
Marylebone Esprit 1-0 Achtrup Blackhearts FC
Marylebone Invicta 2-1 Zebra DKFK
SV Auchtenmill 0-1 Peregrine Zurich FC
Port Eigg FC 0-1 Aylesness Saracens
Excelsior Bosch 1-2 Scheveningen Town
Marylebone Northern Star 0-1 Meteor Club 1940
FCK Wick 3-1 Black Point Priory
Marylebone-Albrecht FC 1-0 Copley Waders FC

Quarter-Finals
Quarter-Finals
Marylebone Invicta 2-0 Marylebone Esprit
Aylesness Saracens 0-3 Peregrine Zurich FC
FCK Wick 0-1 Meteor Club 1940
Scheveningen Town 1-0 Marylebone-Albrecht FC

Semi-Finals
Scheveningen Town 1-0 Marylebone Invicta
Marylebone Invicta 0-3 Scheveningen Town (0-4 agg)

Meteor Club 1940 1-1 Peregrine Zurich FC
Peregrine Zurich FC 2-0 Meteor Club 1940 (3-1 agg)

Final Spotlight...

Scheveningen Town 0-2 Peregrine Zurich FC
MVL Trophy Final, at Folkstadion, Marylebone, Fallenmark

Another season, another cup final! Peregrine Zurich slam home two goals in second half added time and deny Scheveningen the other prospective trophy in their season. It was almost a league and cup double. And yet, and yet...


CHAMPIONS: Peregrine Zurich FC

[Polar Islandstates]

2055
Season 67 Preview

Last season turned into a bit of a cakewalk for Bjarnarey in the end, with the Flotilla winning with several games to spare and allowing themselves to take the foot off the pedal somewhat. Which is a bit of a shame as it denied us what should, or at least could, have been an end of season to remember as the fixture computer threw up Bjarnarey vs Aasiaat on the final day; the two previous winners of the league. As it was, that win against Bjarnarey on the final day had no impact at all on the outcome of the title, but did help Aasiaat to just about scrape a top six finish. Let’s hope for something a bit more exciting this year.

Speaking of which, I’ll just check the fixture’s computer and have look at what it’s given us for this seaso-...WOH. Northbrook Diamonds vs FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla, and East Franz Athletic vs SK Franz Josef City. On the final day of the season. Ambassador, you’re spoiling us. So that’s last year’s second placed team and Latitude Cup holders at home to the reigning champions of the league, and an Elfsteijn Derby thrown in for good measure. Well. Good luck, FJC Police Department, that’s all I’m saying.

Anyway, enough from me, let’s have a look at what the clubs have been up to in the off-season...



FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
The Barge (32,340), Bjarnarey, Norscelt.
Last season: Champions
So it turns out you don’t really need defenders after all. Who knew? Arno Ziegenhagen raised plenty of eyebrows last season when, despite losing a whole host of influential defenders in the transfer window, not least among them being Odbjorn Ohm, he opted to not really replace any of them with the resources at his disposal – which, given the Pallasmaa money, was considerable. Instead, he opted to spend pretty much all of his money on attacking midfielders; a confusing move given the amount of space that position actually takes up on the pitch. Anyway, all of which just went to show how much we pundits know nothing, and how much we should just let managers get on with things, as Bjarnarey absolutely romped home to reclaim the title they vacated the year before. The decision to move to a narrow formation with interchangeable attacking midfielders behind the attacking lynchpin of Youssef Nijgaard proved to be a masterstroke, with Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn and Povl Kazimir each surprised at not having to fight for their place in the squad but dovetailing nicely instead, and Chromatik winger Kyong Tripp being asked to play narrower than usual, but given a free role in the process. Such a shift meant Michael Baer started pretty much every game in a bid to replace the experience Pallasmaa took with him. Ziegenhagen was also boosted by the way Aalstadt and Makkinen absolutely stepped up to the plate, but let’s be real; last season was all about the revolutionary attacking midfield formation. Will they repeat the feat this season? Well, probably, but I’m saying no just to provoke some arguments.
Transfer Window: Having made their best moves last season domestically, despite the successes of Tripp and Ënàrsòn, it should come as no surprise to anyone that the Bargemen have been up to their tricks again, this time wrestling Valentin Brunel from Norscelt rivals Surtsey, to join Baer in the midfield and offer a sturdier base from which the attackers can do their thing. Nijgaard well and truly bested Harju in the race to become Flotilla’s lone striker, which was hardly a surprise given his known ability to drift deep and bring players like Ënàrsòn and Kazimir into play, so it came as little surprise to see Harju move abroad to get more playing time, leaving a striker spot available in the roster for Ziegenhagen to totally ignore, true to form. This time, I’m saying nothing. Instead, as well as intriguing young Deltic prospect Tudor Nelmoe, Ziegenhagen has brought in an experienced centre-back in the form of Brookstation’s Mark Jamieson, and versatile Tikariot full-back Kelvin Rowley, who should work well with Makkinen at the back. At the other end of the pitch, the most eye-catching capture of the window was Quebecois right-winger Khephren Sassou, whose ability to also play as a second striker should work perfectly with Ziegenhagen’s current philosophy.
Prediction: Runners-Up
Manager: Arno Ziegenhagen
Key Players: Youssef Nijaard, Mikkel Makkinen, Povl Kazimir, Khephren Sassou (QUE), Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn (FFD), Kyong Tripp (CMT), Jori Sipp, Michael Baer (PAS), Sigmunder Aalstadt, Kelvin Rowley (TKT), Mark Jamieson (BRO)


Northbrook Diamonds FK
Palace Approach (31,392), Northbrook, Northbrook.
Last season: Runners-Up
After two seasons of putting together some strong runs of results and managing to sit pretty in the top three, it was a widely held opinion last season that the departure of Sebastian Nylund to Mytanija was almost certain to catch Otkupshchikov’s development of this Diamonds side into one capable of a proper title challenge for another year or so at least. But then, look what happened: they were Bjarnarey’s only challengers for most of the year, and they came home at the end of the season with the Latitude Cup for their troubles as well. Critics this season are saying that it is actually the departure of Kallenberger that they’re going to find most painful, but... once bitten and twice shy – I’m going to say they’re winning the league this season. Because, well, why not? Otkupshchikov has got a consistent and well-seasons squad of quality players here, and I don’t see any reason they can’t go on and win the whole thing this year.
Transfer Window: Marten Kallenberger moving to Litala is obviously a huge loss for the Diamonds, that much is clear, but in limiting his losses just to that one sale of any significance, Otkupshchikov has been allowed to build upon the rest of his significant foundations. Mátyás Vass has been signed to try and solve the direct departure of Kallenberger, but the astute reinforcements of Leroux at right back, Martin Edwards in the middle of defensive midfield, and the significant outlay on Joel Wolfgangsson up front have turned this into a fearsome squad.
Prediction: Champions
Manager: Victor Otkupshchikov
Key Players: Magnus Dahm, Mátyás Vass (PAS), Joel Wolfgangsson (GRÆ), Ryn Jaxon (CMT), Tariq Will (CMT), Nico Wickenheiser, Jens Carlquist, Uwe Grendahl, Ruben Herzog, Rafaela Pilzer (CMT)


SK Nasjonale Hauker
Kungsdocks (30,297), Franz Josef City, Franz Josef.
Last season: 3rd
Nasjonale are a funny side, often seeking to do what would be funniest or have the biggest impact on those around them rather than focusing on winning games. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, so I guess we’ll have to put last season down as one of those that worked. One day, the board are going to appoint a sensible manager that focuses on the ‘right’ thing, and then we’ll really see how far Nasjonale fans’ known devotion to attacking and reckless football really is, but for now, Ronkainen is perfect. Third was a massive overperformance, if you ask me, which you probably didn’t but you’re reading this so far, and I don’t think they’ll manage that same mercurial moment next season. We said last year that the strength of their season would come down to two players; Aslak Hrafninnsson, and Emmanuele Niemi. And so it proved, with the latter building on the steadying effect of the former on the Hawks’ defence to score an awful lot of goals. So, quite how Teitur Ronkainen builds a squad without either of them is going to be interesting...
Transfer Window: ...by going on the attack, is how! Yes, Niemi might have finally been tempted away by the bright lights of Farfadillis, and was very emotional and apologetic as he did so, but the Hawks have gone for broke in their pursuit and capture of Red Star’s Elmo Polland to replace him – an almost like-for-like switch that could well be a shrewd move by Ronkainen. Orchideeën’s purchase of Hrafninnsson in a high profile campaign to get their man has dented the ability of Nasjonale to keep them out next season, but with the central and attacking signings of Mirko Ovcina, Leon Bruvoll, and Ainsley Stenhouse – all to add to the presence of Raino Jeppersen – it would appear that Ronkainen might be trying to beat Ziegenhagen at his own game.
Prediction: 6th
Manager: Teitur Ronkainen
Key Players: Elmo Polland, Eddie Mostert (CMT), Karl Kvist (SEM), Raino Jeppersen, Owen Toole (XAN), Yanni Eklund, Ainsley Stenhouse (TKT), Leon Bruvoll (VAL), Kyugagun Zurrald (KOR)


SK Franz Josef City
Landstadt Stadion (54,195), Franz Josef City, Franz Josef.
Last season: 4th
And if you thought Nasjonale were a funny side, then SK must be absolutely hilarious to you all. The free-spending revolution continues at SK, and whilst they have definitely made improvements – apparently even without actually having to spend the money, just the knowledge that they are able to seems to have lifted their performances – you can’t yet say that this is a team that looks sincerely like the SK of old. It’s been an awfully long time since they won the league that they used to consider their own private property – over ten years, in fact – and Northbrook and East Franz have drawn up to within one and two titles respectively of being level at the top of the all-time table. Accordingly, fans are impatient that they start winning things again soon. Will that be this year? Nnnnnnnot sure about that. Despite that however, the fans are pretty happy to just be getting talked about again, which makes them the fanbase with the second weirdest set of priorities in the league, I reckon.
Transfer Window: Having sold nobody of any note, SK were in the position of only having to strengthen areas where they were considered to be weak, and spent the highest individual fee of any Divisjon One club when they landed highly rated youngster Antonio Govorcinovic from Energija-Nuklearna in Mytanija. He might not come good immediately, but this is a weaker league than the one he left, so perhaps the scope is there for an instant impact. Certainly, much is hoped for. Also coming in were Rabia Safarov from North Sabrefell to bolster the defence, whilst a big bid for Elmo Polland that was placed despite SK already being flush with talent up front came to nothing, as expected, prompting reporters to ask Vladimir Lucic what the thinking was behind trying to rival Nasjonale Hauker for his signature. “Funny”, came the reply, accompanied by a smirked shrug.
Prediction: 3rd
Manager: Vladimir Lucic
Key Players: Alf Lofthus, Igerne Félix (CMT), Loick Sorensen (SEM), Rahmonberdi Zhusupov (DEL), Gunnar Keppler, Heino Olsen, Jalmari Hagen, Tord Alexandersson, Noah Leonhardt, Antonio Govorcinovic (MYT), Rabia Safarov (SRS)


East Franz Athletic
Rendahl Stadion (47,911), Franz Josef City, Franz Josef.
Last season: 5th
Chtgheglovski has his work cut out a bit at East Franz, I think, with only a series of high profile wins earlier in the season saving his job, once the dust had settled on their season. A disastrous run in saw them drop all the way out of the international competition spots entirely, as well as losing the Latitude Cup final to Diamonds, and fans will be hoping that the close-season funk that seemed to settle over them last year has been well and truly ditched by now. However, only time will tell. Once upon a time, fifth in this league would have been enough for a fun little UICA campaign the following season, but time and isolation have not been kind to the international standing of Divisjon One, so fans are right on the backs of the board to make sure the Spires don’t slip down that reputational table even further by continuing to miss out on getting their passports stamped.
Transfer Window: Coming in to add some needed muscle at the back are Petar Pejakovski - an experienced and versatile defender from Mytanija, and the Quebecois Joo Pil-Seung, who brings Red League experience with them into the league. Up front, and Joni Siebel’s protestations at preferring to play alone have been countered all off-season with a picture of the last league table, meaning Andrea Fuentes was snapped up for a bit of a bargain from Phoenix, and somewhat more money wa outlaid on Pasargan striker Katinka Fazakas. However, critics will point out that the biggest loss of last season, Povl Kazimir, maybe still hasn’t been properly replaced, and they’re looking at his performances for Bjarnarey with envy...
Prediction: 5th
Manager: Andriy Chtgheglovski
Key Players: Joni Siebel, Hans Aigner, Sho Itō (SQR), Arsene-Michael Litt (QUE), Gunner Martikainen (KSK), Jere Karschner, Arni Lauff, Katinka Fazaka (PAS), Joo Pil-Seund (QUE), Petar Pejakovski (MYT)


SK Aasiaat Harbour
Harbour Walk (28,385), Aasiaat, Victorrinn.
Last season: 6th
So, maybe not the worst title defence we’ve ever seen, but, it probably makes the top ten shortlist. Or, should that be bottom ten? Either way, the performance last season of the Pilots seems at least to have nixed the rumours of Finn Kirkkegaard taking over at the Terns. Well, that, and Aalto’s style picking up some traction at last. Whether that is a blessing or a curse from the fans’ point of view obviously depends on how things go this season. Or this season and next. Depends how much patience the board have, I guess. Still, the only way is up, surely? It looks like they’re preparing to shift back to the focus that won them the league originally, with set pieces and out-muscling the opposition the name of the game, but after a season of trying to move away from that, will it be so easy to go back again?
Transfer Window: Like a number of other top clubs, Aasiaat managed not to have to sell any of their shining lights last season, meaning they were free to strengthen their roster for another tilt at the title. So, it was somewhat disappointing for fans that the only transfer inwards of any note was Oberour ar Moro striker Thomas-Austin l’Establier. As good a purchase at that looks, was that all Kirkkegaard really thought they needed? Or was his chequebook stayed by forces thinking about the lack of international football to come?
Prediction: 4th
Manager: Finn Kirkkegaard
Key Players: Matteus Henchsen, Matias Langager, Rafael Kowaleski, Ragnar Holst, Jaan Reusser, Cixin Nguyen (ZWZ), Duncan McCariot (TKT), Gustav Kommersen


Red Star Severny
Carravale (41,734), Severny, Novaya Zemlya.
Last season: 7th
I know we said they’d do alright, but I’m not sure anyone was expecting Red Star to complete quite as well as they did last season. A lot of that has to come down to Elmo Polland bagging goals like they were going out of fashion, but you have to give credit to Sebastian Enger as well. Rumours are that he tops the shortlist for a number of big clubs in case they need to open their little black books, and with good reason: this is a hard-working squad that look ready to run through brick walls for their manager. There is talent all over the pitch, not least in the colossus that is Aake Meinke, and with Carravale back to its most raucous best, there’s no reason to imagine that Red Star might not repeat that performance against this season. Oh, except one major thing, I suppose...
Transfer Window: ...which of course, the elephant in the room – Red Star were perhaps the biggest victims of La + Querida’s move for Emmanuele Niemi, as it was they who Nasjonale called upon for a replacement in the form of Elmo Polland. Polland leaves big shoes to fill, and in case his understudy Kain Arnoldy isn’t up to the task, Enger has reached out to Islay Town to snap up young striker Sylvester Sandbjorn. Even with the two of them however, is that going to be enough firepower to replace the big man? Managing to keep hold of Ludvig Altermatt may in fact have been their best business of the window.
Prediction: 8th
Manager: Sebastian Enger
Key Players: Kain Arnoldy, Sylvester Sandbjorn, Ludvid Altermatt, Michael Morck (TKT), Silas Nielsen, Aake Meinke, Benedikt Gipp


FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Stadion Solberg (45,924), Surtsey, Norscelt.
Last season: 8th
Well, I was rather critical of Surtsey in last year’s previews, but I have to say, I’m here to eat humble pie now. They played out of their skins, and Lefebvre may have finally managed to balance that mix of young talent and wise old experienced heads. We could all spot the blank spaces in their roster, and to be fair to the Gulls, they’ve absolutely gone out there and filled them, and then a little bit extra too, apparently. Lefebvre’s ability to replace the likes of Stockman and Rex when they finally retire could be the real test of his legacy at the Gulls, but there’s definitely reason for optimism at Stadion Solberg right now, and I’d say they’re probably the closest to challenging the Big Six.
Transfer Window: Well, Surtsey have been very busy. Buoyed by the money from, or kicked into action by the results of, Valentin Brunel’s sale to Bjarnarey, they dipped into the international market several times. Five, in fact, which has caught the attention of several of the bigger teams. Might there be some looking over the shoulders in the Big Six? Ghosi Eckles admittedly comes in on a free from Tunn’s Farm Academy, and is ‘only’ one for the future, but the likes of Kanmer’s Hauril Darder and Sylestone’s Liam Bradley should create a much more instant impact. It is the eye-catching signings of both Kieron Player and Marcus Autta in the middle though that have attracted the most impressed noises from onlookers, as surely they will bring a sturdiness to the midfield that Brunel never could have on his own. Also a key decision will be not allowing Volkhardt Grief to leave on loan this time around – not after helping the Chicks to another DBC final.
Prediction: 7th
Manager: Sim Lefebvre
Key Players: Christoffer Rex, Volkhardt Grief, Niko Wederberg, Dan-Arne Kystebo (TKT), Goran Stockman, Kieron Player (FLA), Marcus Autta (CMT)


North Star Grímsey
Steffansen Lane (32,492), Grímsey, Norscelt.
Last season: 9th
One of the streakier teams in the league, North Star are always capable of upsetting the big boys on their day, possessing an ability to surge up the table at any given moment with a string of performances worthy of any international qualifier. Getting the team to sustain those runs for longer is the job of Kiriyenko, and in strikers Borjeson and Lehning he has at his disposal one of the best natural partnership in the league, but they can't do it all. The loss of Dementieva was a big one, and I was pleased to see that my prediction of a solid mid-table performance was accurate – rather than the Big Six challenging seasons they’d had previously. I think another year of exactly the same thing probably beckons, but they always have the ability to mix things up.
Transfer Window: Although they avoided the big losses of last season, a la Dementieva, North Star did still move on youth striker Ilian Eggen to Xanneria on a free, and young right back Lars Nordenmeyer was tempted away by the bright lights of Tikariot. Best of luck to them both. Only one high profile signing came in however, which is leaving North Star fans feeling a little light going into next year: Semarland defender Gael Larsen was a significant outlay at the back, but if it leads to North Star moving up the table, it’ll all be worth it.
Prediction: 9th
Manager: Alexsandr Kiriyenko
Key Players: Georges-André Drouin-Lacroix (TKT), Cornelius Thornburrow (TKT), Mihal Harodman (KAN), Nuut Borjeson, Philip Lehning, Eirikur Schoenly Gael Larsen (SEM)


FC Axel Heiburg
Axel Torvig Park (39,345), Axel Heiburg, Axel Heiburg.
Last season: 10th
Ah yes, another vintage Axel Heiburg season in the books, let's do it all again, yeah? You know the drill by now; talented youngsters, a veteran manager adept at bringing them through, and an inability to hold onto form long enough to really make a dent in the teams at the top of the table. Olav Glanzer being retained is a major tick for Argonauts fans, with the previously unsettled player looking like making Axel Heiburg his home for a long time now. It’s been an awfully long time since Axel Heiburg were challenging for titles, but they appear particularly skilled at beating the Big Six teams whenever they feel like they fancy it, apparently. That might have to be enough for fans at Axel Torvig Park for another season, as they’re a long way off the top spots right now.
Transfer Window: As is usual with Axel Heiburg, they have attempted to fill any and all holes in their roster through internal means, with a series of promotions from the excellent Haapa-Mechelin Youth Academy into the main squad. Even as they did that however, one was poached away, with Mytanija giants 1923 Esca paying a reasonably substantial fee to prise Bergmundur Engebraaten southwards across Rushmore. That money was reinvested, too, at least in part, with Richard Rasmussen – a defender from Semarland – being brought in to provide a readymade solution at the back to some of their issues in recent years.
Prediction: 11th
Manager: Ricards Egge
Key Players: Olav Glanzer, Vilhjalmur Wedland, Melvin Ferg, Arvid Wedemeyer, George Nelson (EUR), Liselotte Strannegård (TKT), Viljo Nilsen, Richard Rasmussen (SEM), Roald Eike-Rasmussen


Jan Mayen Islanders
Victoria Stadium (51,293), Jan Mayen, Norscelt.
Last season: 11th
Jan Mayen had a very mixed season last year, failing to consolidate on the previous year where they almost cracked the Big Six. The money at Jan Mayen is all being pumped into the youth academy at the moment, as they look to build Norscelt’s equivalent of the Haapa-Mechelin; a noble ambition, but does mean that investment in the squad has slackened off a bit, and I can’t see them improving significantly on last season, if at all. Nonetheless, Klemmensen has his side playing with a distinct style, and that does make them a very pleasing team to watch in their famous violet shirts.
Transfer Window: A very quiet window for Jan Mayen this season, which is of course a double-edged sword. On the one hand, there were no significant losses to add to last year’s exodus. On the other, it meant only Toshikushi Nakagone was able to come in at centre-back from Ridgewell Rovers, and Ospreys fans may well consider that more reinforcements were required than that.
Prediction: 12th
Manager: Karl-Franz Klemmensen
Key Players: Bryce Larkingham (TKT), Carl Urdahl, Heiki Uhlgren, Li Zhen (YZH), Toshikushi Nakagone (KOR), Arnold Brunner


FC Cape St Paul
Millerntor Arena (49,592), St Paul, Nunivak.
Last season: 12th
FC Cape St Paul managed to build on their runaway promotion with a really impressive performance in the top flight, just managing to sneak into the middle third and avoid any serious talk of a relegation fight altogether. So. What next for Schoenfeld? You would put your money on a season of level expectations and hoping to avoid second season syndrome by not taking any significant risks. Which, I’m going to confidently predict will go just fine for the Dockers. This is a sleeping giant of a club and no mistake, so after a couple of seasons of building the coffers, who knows, maybe they’ll be aiming their sights slightly higher next season...
Transfer Window: After staying up so comfortably last season thanks to the raiding of Divisjon Two, that’s mainly what St Paul have done again this season. That, and add Valerie Noir – an experience Chromatik right-winger that should add a little more bite in the attack.
Prediction: 10th
Manager: Nataneal Schoenfeld
Key Players: Gabriel Rieben, Usko Stomberg, Vivaldi Schmelz, Jake Church (CRT), Nick Moe, Aleksejs Weneke, Jan-Erik Kochalka, Joonas Piipi, Valerie Noir (CMT)


Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Mossy Park (42,920), Resolute, Victorrinn.
Last season: 13th
Resolute’s ability to pull a result of the bag just when they need it has been something of a saviour in recent years, although to be fair you have to say that last year they were able to create a very stable platform from which to strike out from. Bjorn Konigstein isn’t exactly setting pulses racing with his tactical style, but it gets results, and that’s the important thing when you’re one of the little guys looking to punch up at the teams with better resources than you. Their continued status as a DivOne team also means the Feud of Victorrinn continues to be a fixtures in our diaries too, and that can only be a good thing in my book. As to what they’ll make of this season? I don’t know, a relegation scrape? They’ll probably be fine, but I think other teams might have improved more than they have.
Transfer Window: In their efforts to maintain their Divisjon One status, Resolute Storm have continued to add frugally to their squad, picking up three free transfers this season. Stellan Osterberg looks like a fine young keeper, whilst strikers Kayrat Entin and Ali Ari also offer similar age, but this time apparently in the form of a strike partnership that Storm fans will be hoping to see develop over many years. It also looks like a policy shift from the Storm management team, from trying to stay up at all costs into something of a ‘buy low, sell high’ approach. Sustainable growth. Good for them.
Prediction: 15th
Manager: Bjorn Konigstein
Key Players: Oskar Olsen (CRT), Dorian Klamer, Aleksandrs Weitz, Ken Bruckner, Huugo Offen, Ali Ari (STR)


Scapa Bay Rovers
Fleet Road (29,424), Scapa Bay, Farosea.
Last season: 14th
Continuing to punch above their weight in this league, Scapa Bay Rovers have even forgiving FC Torshavn legend Johannes Gauer for being from Torshavn, which is saying something. They might not be the only Farosea team in the top flight forever, but their status as a team that just ‘feels’ like a top flight side means they’re going to fight to keep it that way. I think. You’d have to ask the commentators in Mytanija or Farfadillis. Feels like they know more about Divisjon One than I do something, which isn’t hard to be fair...
Transfer Window: Like Storm, Scapa Bay have bolstered mostly with negligible fees for players from the league below, dipping into the international market only for three free transfers in the form of Fourteen Starsian right back Benjamin Thompson, and a pair of Semarland youngsters – Karl Jenstrom and Hakan Berg. Whether it will work for them as successfully this season as a similar strategy did last season is yet to be determined of course, but they’ll like be around the bottom of the table.
Prediction: 16th
Manager: Johannes Gauer
Key Players: Vadim Arkhipov (SRS), Ragnar Spar, Gabriel Ziedler, Phillip Kallela, Arti Beckerle, Benjamin Thompson (TFS)


Skipsbyggere IFK
The Drydock (10,548), St Paul, Nunivak.
Last season: 15th
Finishing comfortably below their fierce rivals FC Cape, the Shipbuilders will be hoping for a resurgence this year that sees them re-overtake their cross-city foes to establish themselves as the premier side in the south-east of the nation. It won’t be easy with their budget, but Eyvindur Zelic has an established track record at this point of keeping Skipsbyggere’s eyes looking up rather than down, and you have to fancy his chances of managing to do the same again this season. They remain the little team that could out of the current crop of eighteen, and they’re just fine with that thank you very much.
Transfer Window: For the third preview in a row, I am forced to acknowledge a lack of spending from a team hoping first and foremost to stay up. They might have done handily last year, but the Waves are apparently just as scared of going down with bills they can’t pay as the other teams in the bottom third, and so here we are. The players brought in consist of two youngsters = Artemiy Tkachyov and Sven-Olof Cederling, both in central midfield and bought direct from foreign academies, and Chance Benton – an experienced centre-back who joins from the Taxhavn league.
Prediction: 13th
Manager: Eyvindur Zelic
Key Players: Ilgonis Lett, Euan Berby (KOR), Torild Sternberg, Hjalmar Gummer, Rolands Wiesenthal, Douglas Alf-Finisterre (TFI), Chance Benton (GRU)


RSK Longyearbyen Town
Sivertsson Road (28,548), Longyearbyen, Svalbard.
Last season: 1st, Divisjon Two
Joachim Elden might have made a slow start of it, and it wasn’t as convincing as some thought it might be, but RSK are back in the top flight having won Divisjon Two last season, and surely they’re going to stick around this time? It’s coming up to the thirtieth anniversary of their shock title win, and whilst those halcyon days are definitely beyond them for the time being, it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine Svalbard’s best supported team as being capable of something big in the next few years. They’ve got the backing, they’ve got the momentum, and so long as Elden doesn’t overthink things and mess it up, they’ve got a style of play that is more than capable of ‘working’ any talented team off the pitch through effort alone. They’re pragmatic, but they pack a punch.
Transfer Window: There is a school of thought that actually, RSK’s roster should already be strong enough to keep them in the top flight, but that hasn’t stopped them from dipping into the market of course. Auprussian defensive midfielder Floriss Marshavin came in for a small fee, whilst Zandre Cohen and Kiril Sendar both arrived on frees. The former is a defensive midfielder from Vilwandia, and the latter a young Kanmer prospect for the future of the Citizens’ attacking midfield.
Prediction: 14th
Manager: Joachim Elden
Key Players: Joel Bieri, Phillip Shea (CRT), Raymond Bury, Zandre Cohen (VWD), Floriss Marshavin (AUP), Illar Aslin, Stanislaus Gronewold, Stig Barie


Novaya Sibir Reds
Uverdale Velde (29,194), Sibir, Landt Sibir.
Last season: 2nd, Divisjon Two
The Reds are back in the top flight as well, having finished as runners-up to RKS but definitely being the best placed team in terms of talent and attainment, I’d say. Talismanic left-back Jari-Andrej Coia has already signed on the dotted line for Atletik, but is hanging about to try and sample Divisjon One football for what might be the only occasion before a jet-setting career takes off. In the meantime, Boris Swoboda has done his best to pack the side with enough talent to help keep them up, but I think it’s going to be a long, long season for Reds fans. Sorry. Still. It’ll give them another chance to extend their record haul of second flight titles the following year if they do...
Transfer Window: The big news of the Reds’ transfer window is that they were able to convince Atletik Težia to allow Jari-Andrej Coia to stay with them for one more season on an immediate loan-back situation. That’s huge. Make no mistake, this lad is a future star, and he’ll be a big loss when he leaves. Three other significant signings were made in the other direction, although all on frees. Ava Monfierre and Lance D’Ainglaux are both Auprussian teenagers that will be looking to develop over time, but Xannerian striker Zeana Roquan is going to be relied upon to make an instant impact with their goals.
Prediction: 18th
Manager: Boris Swoboda
Key Players: Jari-Andrej Coia, Zeana Roquan (XAN), Jonas Kaster, Sven Herde, Jens Ovchinnov, Mathias Pitter


Melville Celtic
Melville House (19,284), Melville, Hans and Melville.
Last season: 3rd, Divisjon Two
Melville Celtic are flying right now with the investment from the group of local business professionals who decided to back their city’s biggest club rather more enthusiastically than they had been. Thanks to the legislation put in place when Lions SC collapsed all those years ago, dreams of a money-inspired take-over of the league are going to remain just that: dreams. But will that stop the fans? Absolutely not. Jon Wisliceny has been promised that money is on the way if he can keep them up this season, but either way I think it’s next season that we’ll really see the impact of that financial security. It’s a good squad, but it might not be good enough.
Transfer Window: Although this may have been seen as an incredibly overdue promotion in some respects, in others it was also completely unexpected, and so Melville were left scrambling slightly to fill their squad with players who might be able to keep them up. Kolgrímur Hersisson and Leon Eriksen were both brought in on free transfers to bolster their hopes in midfield and up front respectively, but it was the host of squad players they managed to pick up for cheap from teams in the upper half of the table that might actually give them a chance – one each from each of the Norscelt sides, proving that maybe those Celtic ties run deeper than we realised.
Prediction: 17th
Manager: Jon Wisliceny
Key Players: Kolgrímur Hersisson (GRÆ), Koit Rickenbach, Vilmundur Drydahl, Leon Eriksen (SEM), Max Witting




Polarian football doesn't just start and end with Divisjon One though of course, and the teams in what was at one point the 'Strongest Second Tier in the Multiverse'™ are all vying to take or re-take that next step up and join the big teams at the top table. Not least amongst those are the relegated teams from last season, but unlike in previous years, I wouldn't say that this time they're necessarily the favourites to go right back up again. Instead, Islay Town are probably my tip. Despite losing some key players, they've got a really deep squad, and the home advantage they'll enjoy with all those teams making the trip down to Terra Scotia might just overhaul the drag of travelling up to Greater Valhalla for the rest of the season. Also expect decent runs from Neuerlatz, Rapid, and Viking.
Teams:
Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Eintracht Moss-Rygge
FC Solovetsky Monastery
FC Torshavn
Franz Josef Young Boys
Hospitaliers
Islay Town Mechanical - (Favourites)
Koppen Rig Force
Lokomotiv Barentsberg
Måriussa Viking FK
Matahiko Viktory SK
Neuerlatz AFK
Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Rapid SK Eysturoy
SC Kiel
SK Sturm Nuuk
SK Yuzhny Albion
Sutherland Foundry SK



In the third tier, there are still a lot of big names waiting for their resurgence, and Aleutia have surely got to be the favourites here. Look, if Melville can make it to the top flight again, so can the Volcanoes. It's been ages since they were even a second tier side, so surely their time is coming soon. Right? Right? Elsewhere, the likes of Viipuri and Agheim are also probably thinking it's time to get back up and out of the third tier, but the likes of Universitet, Severnaya, Ostermeier and McAvery will all be focused mostly on staying in it.
Teams:
AC Aleutia Volcanoes - (Favourites)
AFK Hans Island Pioneers
Agheim CF
Bennett and Zhokhov
FC North Melville
FC1. Rangers
FC1. Sturm Grímsey
FK Grise Fiord
FK Viipuri 56
Franz Josef Sharks
Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen
Maritime Hove FC
McAvery Centurions
Ostermeier Old Boys
Seratakki Villagers
Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox
Universitet
Yuzhny Equinox FC




Whilst Aleutia Volcanoes are looking upwards, Aleutia Town Dragons are maybe doing the opposite, trying to keep their heads above water in the ultra competitive Challenge East this year. Uelmark are surely favourites after their shock relegation last year, but I would expect Sisimut Black Star and Vale of Moray to push them close.
Teams:
Aleutia Town Dragons
Hauken Orca
IHK Geddesberg
Ingvar Peaks FC
Invermuir Highlanders FC
KA Rikyaare
Korsten Lokomotiv
Krykkjesund Olympic
San Moranna FC
Sisimut Black Star
SK Thor 1898
Steffansson Island FC
Uelmark MK - (Favourites)
Vale of Moray



In the Challenge West, FC Fetlar are surely too big to languish in the fourth tier for much longer, although the likes of Energie Zemlya and maybe even Ost-Volonovsk are looking to join them in a title fight. Who really knows until the leagues starts, but Northbrook Zenith, NKK Urri, and Logan United will also fancy their chances. It's cut-throat, out there.
Teams:
Axel Town AFC
Devon Bay Lights FC
Energie Zemlya FK
FC Fetlar - (Favourites)
FK Norsviken Cossacks
FK Ost-Volonovsk
GVFFK Pekarik
KSC Brighthelmstone
Logan United FC
Meteor Kholmsk SK
NKK Urri
Northbrook Zenith FC
Torpedo Sibir RKA
Ueland-Alne



Lastly, for your interest, the premier divisions of the Regional Conferences...

1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt - (Favourites)
AIK Winterthur
Bindelsfjorden Dynamo
FC Velcosta Cliffs
FKS-North
Green Star Kobelevskov
Larsen Bay Thunder FC
Machtspool Whitesleeves FC
Royal NK Sikjonek
SK Nolmkien 1949
St Gallen 47
West End



Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC
Aurora Hammarby
Boden 61
FC Kampengar Magpies
FK Aagen Zenith
Hanshaugen Gate FK
Oaks of Fjellisroy
Resolute Hills FC
Sannegarden Fleet FK
SK Stryær
Sporting Club Aasiaat 87 - (Favourites)
Waldenøya Bears



AIK Alejavik
Bathurst Zenith FC
Bielstrich Timbers FC
Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais
Crusaders
Forrairn St Johan FC - (Favourites)
Friedrichsund Fencing Club
Holtrecht Force SK
Ilksporta IK
Lindesvogne Violets
Sleijnmakt Sport
US Saint-John



Bulargen Independents
Devon Bay Seals FC - (Favourites)
Dinamo Olsa FK
Fjorhorgen SK
FK Fairbanks
Fynersturen Valhalla
Gjornhammer Pier FC
IHK Sirius
Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC
Orebro FK
SK Stromness Electric
SV Keldira Zenith



So, there you have it. The only thing left to do now is to start the games!

[Polar Islandstates]

Eight matches into the sixty-seventh season, lets have a quick summary of what has happened so far...


MATCHDAY 1
Red Star Severny 1–3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 3–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
East Franz Athletic 0–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Novaya Sibir Reds 1–1 SK Franz Josef City
North Star Grímsey 2–1 FC Cape St Paul
RSK Longyearbyen Town 3–3 Melville Celtic
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 FC Axel Heiburg
All eyes on one match in particular then as the season kicks off, and it’s a successful start to the title defence from Bjarnarey; Roald Eike-Rasmussen had them momentarily worried, but a quickfire double from Povl Kazimir means that Flotilla pick up exactly where they left off last season. Ominously for the rest of the league. Elsewhere, the three promoted teams had exceedingly similar fortunes as their campaigns to stay in the league started with a point each; Melville and Longyearbyen sharing the points in a three-all thriller at Sivertsson Road, but Novaya Sibir’s point at home to SK was a very impressive start to the season from them. There was a lot of attention on Jari-Andrej Coia, of course, but a star performance showed the league exactly what they’ll be missing when he moves to Mytanija next season.


MATCHDAY 2
Northbrook Diamonds FK 4–1 FC Axel Heiburg
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Melville Celtic 2–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
FC Cape St Paul 0–3 RSK Longyearbyen Town
SK Franz Josef City 1–0 North Star Grímsey
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–0 East Franz Athletic
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
Red Star Severny 1–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
That’s a tough start to the season for Axel Heiburg. They didn’t manage to take any points form their trip to The Barge, and they haven’t managed any from their trip to Palace Approach either – two goals each from new signings Mátyás Vass and Joel Wolfgangsson endearing them to their new supporters and ensuring the Diamonds take full advantage of Bjarnarey’s stumble at Kungsdocks; Elmo Polland scoring his first goals for his new club as Nasjonale pick up where they left off in terms of upsetting the applecarts. Aasiaat score from a set piece (natch) in their win over East Franz, whilst a late winner from Antonio Govorcinovic at the Landstadt completed a day of success for new signings as SK picked up the points at home to North Star.


MATCHDAY 3
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–5 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–2 Red Star Severny
East Franz Athletic 1–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
Novaya Sibir Reds 1–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
North Star Grímsey 2–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
RSK Longyearbyen Town 0–3 SK Franz Josef City
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–0 FC Cape St Paul
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–0 Melville Celtic
FC Axel Heiburg 1–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
I don’t know what they’re feeding them up in Northbrook right now, but they’re average four goals a game after three weeks of the season. Resolute Storm are the unfortunate team at the hands of the Diamonds’ treatment this week, with Wickenheiser, Vass and Wolfgangsson all finding themselves on the scoreboard, before a double from Ryn Jaxon put a very nice gloss on things for the early leaders. Katinka Fazaka got off the mark with a winner for The Spires at home to Skipsbyggere, whilst Red Star record their first three points of the post-Polland era, kain arnoldy and Sylvester Sandbjorn with a goal apiece at Scapa Bay’s expense.


MATCHDAY 4
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Melville Celtic 0–2 FC Axel Heiburg
FC Cape St Paul 3–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Franz Josef City 2–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–1 North Star Grímsey
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
Red Star Severny 0–2 East Franz Athletic
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
Two defeats in four for the defending champions is the headline from this weekend; FC Cape st Paul stunning the Flotilla with a late comeback, scoring two goals through Noir and Stomberg to leave the Millerntor Arena absolutely rocking. Northbrook took advantage of the situation once again, coming from behind themselves to overcome a spirited Nasjonale performance, whilst SK Franz Josef City also continued their fine start to the season with a win over Surtsey; Loick Sorensen with the brace for the home side. Elsewhere, Jari-Andrej Coia scored a rare goal of his own that wasn’t enough to stop Skipsbyggere picking up the points at home to some presumed relegation rivals, and Aasiaat lose at home to North Star thanks to a contentious Lehning penalty.


MATCHDAY 5
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
East Franz Athletic 1–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Novaya Sibir Reds 3–1 Red Star Severny
North Star Grímsey 4–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
RSK Longyearbyen Town 4–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–2 SK Franz Josef City
FC Axel Heiburg 1–1 FC Cape St Paul
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–4 Melville Celtic
I know I keep going on about them at the moment but it would be foolish not to mention Northbrook’s form. Five from five paints a very ominous picture for the rest of the league, particularly when they’re able to win without even playing very well; a last minute Ryn Jaxon goal condemning Scapa Bay after what had been a resilient performance. If they’re able to keep that up week on week they should be just fine. Jan Mayen frustrated Surtsey in one of many Norscelt derbies with a late equaliser that was probably undeserved on balance, Li Zhen netting the leveller after Volkhardt Grief had put the Gulls ahead. Longyearbyen stunned Aasiaat with a fine win at Sivertsson Road, but the biggest results were at The Barge, where two late goals from Sorensen and Govorcinovic overcame the reigning champions after Nijgaard’s stunning opener, and at Kungsdocks, where Melville Celtic stunned Nasjonale with a phenomenal four goal second half comeback. Divisjon One is back, baby.



LATITUDE CUP Round One
Korsten Lokomotiv 0-1 NKK Urri
Crusaders 2-2 FK Fairbanks (3-2 AET)
SK Stryær 3-0 SK 1982 Matua
KA Rikyaare 0-2 SK Thor 1898
Sisimut Black Star 0-1 Bielstrich Timbers FC
Krykkjesund Olympic 0-0 US Saint-John (1-0 AET)
FK Weisshaus 2-2 Larsen Bay Thunder FC (2-2 AET, 3-0 PKs)
Steffansson Island FC 1-0 Sisimut Town AFK
St Gallen 47 1-1 Sporting Club Aasiaat 87 (1-1 AET, 1-0 PKs)
SK Stromness Electric 1-0 Boden 61
Sannegarden Fleet FK 2-1 1920 Brokstedt
Gjornhammer Pier FC 0-0 FC Fetlar (0-0 AET, 4-3 PKs)
Uelmark MK 1-2 IHK Geddesberg
FK Ost-Volonovsk 1-0 San Moranna FC
Invermuir Highlanders FC 3-2 Green Star Kobelevskov
Fjorhorgen SK 0-1 Orkhanger White Star
SK Nolmkien 1949 0-1 Toyoharo Revolutionaries
Bathurst Zenith 0-1 Meteor Kholmsk SK
Axel Town AFC 2-1 FK Aagen Zenith
Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC 0-2 Hauken Orca
Aleutia Town Dragons 2-1 Holtrecht Force SK
Hanshaugen Gate FK 1-1 KFK Polshavn (1-1 AET, 3-1 PKs)
AIK Alejavik 0-0 1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt (0-1 AET)
Oaks of Fjellisroy 1-3 West End
Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC 0-1 FK Norsviken Cossacks
Machtspool Whitesleeves FC 1-0 Resolute Hills FC
Ueland-Alne 1-1 Bulargen Independents (1-2 AET)
FKS-North 2-0 AIK Oversetten
Logan United FC 1-0 Ingvar Peaks FC
Energie Zemlya FK 1-1 KSC Brighthelmstone (1-1 AET, 1-0 PKs)
Grass-Lisch AFC 0-1 Devon Bay Lights FC
Northbrook Zenith FC 2-1 Friedrichsund Fencing Club
Henfergen Town FC 2-0 Dinamo Olsa FK
GVFFK Pekarik 1-0 FC Kampengar Magpies
Lindesvogne Violets 1-0 IHK Sirius
Vale of Moray 1-1 Torpedo Sibir RKA (2-2 AET, 3-1 PKs)
Thorsager Unity SK 1-0 Orebro FK
Devon Bay Seals FC 0-1 Almsborg Rushmori
We interrupt your regular Divisjon One programming however, to bring you the first round of this year's Latitude Cup, where the lowest level of VFA leagues duke it out for glory and some much appreciated prize money. There are several notable games this year, with dramatic equalisers deep into stoppage time and extra time stoppage time all being in vain for Topedo Sibir, as Vale of Moray prevailed on penalties anyway, as well as eye-catching wins for Hauken Orca, Bulargen Independent, an extra time winner for Crusaders, and an incredible three-goal comeback from Invermuir Highlanders.


MATCHDAY 6
Northbrook Diamonds FK 0–0 Melville Celtic
FC Cape St Paul 1–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
SK Franz Josef City 6–0 FC Axel Heiburg
Jan Mayen Islanders 0–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–3 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Red Star Severny 0–0 North Star Grímsey
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–1 East Franz Athletic
So, Northbrook finally drop points, but to an unexpected source as newly promoted Melville Celtic showcase their ability to stay in the top flight with a gritty nil-nil draw at Palace Approach. Not to be sniffed at! SK turn full ‘beast-mode’ with a six-nil drubbing of Axel Heiburg thanks to the performance of what looks like a potentially transformational signing in Govorcinovic – two goals and two assists from the man from Mytanija is a fine return for fantasy team owners up and down the country. Elsewhere, the Citizens’ fine run since promotion continues with a strong win in Nunivak, whilst Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn and Kyong Tripp each score their first goals of the season as Bjarnarey got back to winning ways in Jan Mayen.


MATCHDAY 7
East Franz Athletic 0–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Novaya Sibir Reds 5–4 Scapa Bay Rovers
North Star Grímsey 0–2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
RSK Longyearbyen Town 4–1 Red Star Severny
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC Axel Heiburg 3–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
SK Nasjonale Hauker 0–1 SK Franz Josef City
Melville Celtic 2–0 FC Cape St Paul
From free-scoring heroes to two blanks in a row, Northbrook’s sudden inability to find the back of the net would be of concern to fans if they weren’t also able to keep things tight at the back. Magnus Dahm put in the player of the match performance in this away game at East Franz, but any member of the back five could’ve picked up the accolade, really. RSK striker Joel Bieri continued his own fine form with a brace against Red Star, and Volkhardt Grief kept pace at the top of the goalscorers chart with a brace of his own against Skipsbyggere. SK stunned Kungsdocks with a goal in the first minute from Sorensen to give them a lead that they defended all game, but the match of the weekend was undoubtedly in Sibir, where an inspired Zeana Roquan put three goals past Anthony Gates in the Scapa Bay net, before Jens Ovchinnikov and Jonas Kaster put the home team back into lead after Rovers managed to haul themselves level not once but twice. Jari-Andrej Coia chipped in with three assists, underlining once again how easily he could’ve settled into Divisjon One football were he not already signed up to leave for Mytanija.


MATCHDAY 8
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–1 FC Cape St Paul
SK Franz Josef City 2–1 Melville Celtic
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–0 FC Axel Heiburg
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Red Star Severny 2–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–1 North Star Grímsey
East Franz Athletic 4–2 Novaya Sibir Reds
Elmo Polland scored a perfect hat trick to mark his own credentials in the top goalscorers chart, at Jan Mayen’s expense, whilst Axel Heiburg continue to struggle, this time losing one-nil in Aasiaat. Bjarnarey’s title defence hasn’t exactly been fluent so far, but a dogged performance from Skipsbyggere was eventually overcome thanks to a wicked pair of finishes from new signing Khephren Sassou. Axel Heiburg aren’t the only ‘big’ team to struggle at the start of the season however, with Red Star’s win at home to Surtsey meaning both of those teams have the same record as the Argonauts and the Ospreys. SK came from a goal behind at home to Melville to get the points they were expected to, but a late equaliser from Drouin-Lacroix meant Scapa Bay were denied their first win of the season.



So, your table at the quarter-mark then, and it’s SK Franz Josef City who are currently sitting pretty at the top of the table, with an unbeaten record and their tails well and truly up. At one point it looked like Northbrook were going to blow every team before them away, but things have slowed down a bit in that regard recently, and they are now only the third highest scorers. With another unbeaten record however, they’re currently the closest team to SK. From there, there’s a reasonable jump down to Bjarnarey on fifteen points – three defeats being uncharacteristically sloppy from the Bargemen to be honest, although we all know how well they’ve finished the season in the past – whilst the next four teams are all on fourteen points; a group that includes Resolute Storm, somehow, as well as newly promoted Longyearbyen. Nasjonale and Aasiaat will be disappointed to be so firmly mid-table at this point in the season, whilst the aforementioned group of ‘strugglers’ will also be hoping to pull themselves clear of any dangerous moments in the coming weeks. The bottom three clubs, including both St Paul sides, are only able to split twelve points and just two wins between them. Early days yet, though.

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  SK Franz Josef City          8    7   1   0    18    4  +14    22
 2  Northbrook Diamonds FK       8    6   2   0    17    4  +13    20
 3  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla      8    5   0   3    16   11   +5    15
 4  RSK Longyearbyen Town        8    4   2   2    19   13   +6    14
 5  North Star Grímsey           8    4   2   2    10    6   +4    14
 6  East Franz Athletic          8    4   2   2     9    5   +4    14
 7  Resolute Storm 1913 FC       8    4   2   2    11   10   +1    14
 8  SK Nasjonale Hauker          8    3   2   3    13   10   +3    11
 9  Melville Celtic              8    3   2   3    12   13   −1    11
10  SK Aasiaat Harbour           8    3   2   3     8    9   −1    11
11  Novaya Sibir Reds            8    2   3   3    14   15   −1    9
12  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls    8    2   2   4     9   11   −2    8
13  Jan Mayen Islanders          8    2   2   4     8   13   −5    8
14  Red Star Severny             8    2   2   4     8   13   −5    8
15  FC Axel Heiburg              8    2   2   4     9   17   −8    8
16  FC Cape St Paul              8    1   2   5     7   16   −9    5
17  Skipsbyggere IFK             8    1   1   6     7   18  −11    4
18  Scapa Bay Rovers             8    0   3   5     7   14   −7    3

In the second flight, things are already looking pretty ridiculous to be honest with you, as top side Bohemiens have only managed to actually win three games despite their unbeaten record, and have only won two more games than bottom side Rapid SK Eysturoy. A staggering twelve teams are split by only three points at this stage of the season, and I’m not even going to bother trying to get into the stories and surprises in all that. Just sort yourselves out already, will you?

------Divisjon Two             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Bohemiens Grise Fiord      8    3   5   0    16   10   +6    14
 2  SK Sturm Nuuk              8    4   2   2    14    8   +6    14
 3  Matahiko Viktory SK        8    4   2   2    13   10   +3    14
 4  FC Solovetsky Monastery    8    4   2   2    13   10   +3    14
 5  Rapid Jan Mayen FK         8    4   2   2    10    7   +3    14
 6  Koppen Rig Force           8    4   1   3    16   12   +4    13
 7  Måriussa Viking FK         8    2   6   0     9    6   +3    12
 8  FC Torshavn                8    3   3   2    16   14   +2    12
 9  Neuerlatz AFK              8    3   3   2    13   13    0    12
10  SC Kiel                    8    3   2   3    12   12    0    11
11  Islay Town Mechanical      8    3   2   3    11   11    0    11
12  SK Yuzhny Albion           8    3   2   3     7   10   −3    11
13  Lokomotiv Barentsberg      8    2   2   4     9   10   −1    8
14  Eintracht Moss-Rygge       8    2   2   4     8   11   −3    8
15  Sutherland Foundry SK      8    2   2   4     8   12   −4    8
16  Hospitaliers               8    2   1   5     8   12   −4    7
17  Franz Josef Young Boys     8    2   1   5     7   11   −4    7
18  Rapid SK Eysturoy          8    1   2   5     5   16  −11    5

Divisjon Three sees North Melville gunning for an unlikely promotion back into the second tier – perhaps inspired by their cross-town rivals’ successes thus far in the top flight, whilst, although slightly further away from Melville, Hans Island Pioneers are also apparently in the same habit of being inspired by their rivals. Viipuri split them in the top three, and are probably looking best placed for a title-tilt at the moment. Pre-season favourites Aleutia have had a torrid time however, and find themselves scrabbling at the bottom with Klub Atletisk and Agheim joining them in the category of “we’re too good to be here, surely?” teams.

------Divisjon Three               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC North Melville              8    5   2   1    14    6   +8    17
 2  FK Viipuri 56                  8    4   3   1    14    9   +5    15
 3  AFK Hans Island Pioneers       8    4   2   2    13   11   +2    14
 4  Maritime Hove FC               8    4   2   2    12   10   +2    14
 5  Franz Josef Sharks             8    4   1   3    13    9   +4    13
 6  Seratakki Villagers            8    4   1   3     8    6   +2    13
 7  Universitet                    8    3   3   2    18   18    0    12
 8  FK Grise Fiord                 8    3   2   3    10    9   +1    11
 9  Yuzhny Equinox FC              8    3   2   3    11   11    0    11
10  FC1. Rangers                   8    3   2   3     8    9   −1    11
11  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox    8    2   4   2    13   10   +3    10
12  Bennett and Zhokhov            8    3   1   4    11   12   −1    10
13  McAvery Centurions             8    2   3   3    12   13   −1    9
14  FC1. Sturm Grímsey             8    2   3   3     8   11   −3    9
15  AC Aleutia Volcanoes           8    2   2   4     4    9   −5    8
16  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen      8    2   1   5    10   13   −3    7
17  Agheim CF                      8    2   1   5    11   17   −6    7
18  Ostermeier Old Boys            8    1   3   4     8   15   −7    6

[Polar Islandstates]

Halfway through the season, let’s have a quick summary of what has happened in the last few MDs...


MATCHDAY 9
Novaya Sibir Reds 0–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
North Star Grímsey 1–0 East Franz Athletic
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 Red Star Severny
FC Axel Heiburg 2–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Melville Celtic 0–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC Cape St Paul 1–0 SK Franz Josef City
Roald Eike-Rasmussen scored an extremely high-class double for Axel Heiburg today; the first a delicately clipped finish with the outside of his foot, and the second a curling dipping effort from outside the box. Skipsbyggere were the victims of the much-admired teenager’s talent today, but they won’t be the last ones this season by the looks of it. Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn scored the winner for Bjarnarey as they squeaked past Red Star at home, and SK Franz Josef City finally lost – shockingly, to FC Cape St Paul thanks to a drilled finish from Valérie Noir. That left Northbrook as the last unbeaten team in the league, and this they managed to keep up with a gritty win in Sibir – Ruben Herzog with the winner.


MATCHDAY 10
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–1 SK Franz Josef City
Jan Mayen Islanders 0–0 FC Cape St Paul
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–0 Melville Celtic
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Red Star Severny 1–2 FC Axel Heiburg
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
East Franz Athletic 1–2 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Novaya Sibir Reds 0–5 North Star Grímsey
Kyong Tripp scored the pick of the goals today, adding a second for Bjarnarey in their comfortable win over Resolute in Victorrinn, but it was a good day for Chromatik imports all round, with Marcus Autta scoring a late equaliser for Surtsey at Scapa Bay, and Ryn Jaxon scoring both goals as Northbrook inflicted a successive defeat on SK – a result that could have huge ramifications for the title by the looks of it. Aasiaat romped to a three-nil win at home to Melville, whilst Longyearbyen continued their fine form with an away win against East Franz; Floris Marshavin and Joel Bieri with the goals. North Star hammered Novaya Sibir in their own back yard, a result that might set the alarms going a bit for the home side, but I would still expect them to be fine. Probably.


MATCHDAY 11
North Star Grímsey 1–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–1 East Franz Athletic
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
FC Axel Heiburg 1–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–0 Red Star Severny
Melville Celtic 1–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
FC Cape St Paul 1–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
SK Franz Josef City 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
SK really are in a costly little dip in form right now, aren’t they? This time, it’s old rivals Jan Mayen Islanders who cost them points, with only a late equaliser from Loick Sorensen sparing the Griffons from a third consecutive defeat. The days of Jan Mayen and SK battling it out for the title might be gone for now, but apparently that doesn’t stop Ospreys fans from revelling in the misfortune of SK fans. Red Star continue to struggle without Elmo Polland, a fact underlined when he scored the third goal against them today in Nasjonale’s powerful win, and Aasiaat also lost to a former player, when youth product Vivaldi Schmeltz resurfaced to win it for FC Cape St Paul with a header in the seventieth minute. Bjarnarey win again, prompting talk of déjà vu amongst pundits across the Federation, and East Franz’s miserable start to the season continues with a three-one pasting at Surtsey.



LATITUDE CUP Round Two
Henfergen Town FC 2-2 1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt (3-3 AET, 1-3 PKs)
FC1. Sturm Grímsey 1-1 Logan United FC (1-1 AET, 2-3 PKs)
St Gallen 47 0-3 FC North Melville
FK Grise Fiord 2-1 Meteor Kholmsk SK
Toyoharo Revolutionaries 2-2 Franz Josef Sharks (2-2 AET, 3-2 PKs)
Yuzhny Equinox FC 7-2 Thorsager Unity SK
Bennett and Zhokhov 1-0 Gjornhammer Pier FC
Northbrook Zenith FC 0-1 Ostermeier Old Boys
Energie Zemlya FK 0-0 West End (0-0 AET, 2-0 PKs)
IHK Geddesberg 2-0 Maritime Hove FC
Hauken Orca 0-1 Bulargen Independents
SK Stryær 2-1 Lindesvogne Violets
Seratakki Villagers 1-1 Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox (1-1 AET, 2-1 PKs)
Almsborg Rushmori 1-1 AC Aleutia Volcanoes (1-2 AET)
Axel Town AFC 3-2 Universitet
SK Thor 1898 1-1 Klub Athletisk Spitsbergen (1-1 AET, 0-2 PKs)
SK Stromness Electric 1-5 FK Ost-Volonovsk
Aleutia Town Dragons 0-0 FK Norsviken Cossacks (1-0 AET)
Bielstrich Timbers FC 1-0 GVFFK Pekarik
Invermuir Highlanders FC 1-0 Hanshaugen Gate FK
NKK Urri 2-1 Agheim CF
Sannegarden Fleet FK 0-6 Krykkjesund Olympic
Machtspool Whitesleeves FC 1-1 AFK Hans Island Pioneers (1-1 AET, 1-2 PKs)
FK Weisshaus 1-0 Crusaders
Devon Bay Lights FC 0-1 Steffansson Island FC
FKS-North 2-0 FC1. Rangers
FK Viipuri 56 2-0 Orkhanger White Star
Vale of Moray 1-1 McAvery Centurions (1-2 AET)
The second round of the Latitude Cup always seems to come around earlier than you expect it to, and as the lower league teams chase the chance to have a money-spinning tie against the big teams when they enter the competition in the next round, we are treated to some classics, with struggling NKK Urri breaking their losing streak at home to similarly struggling Agheim CF. Ost-Volonovks smash five past Stromness on the road, whilst Krykkjesund go one better with a six-nil annihilation of Sannegarden in their own back yard. Several games go to penalties, including Toyoharo’s thriller at home to Franz Josef Sharks, and Karlstadt’s win in Henfergen after being behind in the game on three separate occasions.


MATCHDAY 12
Northbrook Diamonds FK 4–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–0 SK Franz Josef City
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–2 FC Cape St Paul
Red Star Severny 1–0 Melville Celtic
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 3–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–0 FC Axel Heiburg
East Franz Athletic 2–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Novaya Sibir Reds 1–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
North Star Grímsey 3–0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Thomas-Augustin l’Establier scored a long range piledriver in today’s highest profile match – the only goal of the game proving enough to consign the visiting Griffons to a third defeat in four goals. Vladimir Lucic has already expressed his desire to retire at the end of the season, but it feels like that might have been a mistake, as the players at SK look in a bit of disarray right now. Resolute Storm are proving hard to beat this season, and they took advantage of some slack Nasjonale defending to beat the Hawks three-two at Mossy Park. North Star hammered Longyearbyen meanwhile, and the Norscelt side are quietly putting together a little run of form right now that might challenge the teams at the top at this rate. At Rendahl Stadion meanwhile, East Franz answer questions about their form with an emphatic two-one win over the reigning champions. It wasn’t as close as it looks on paper, and has left Arno Ziegenhagen with plenty of questions to work on finding answers for if he wants the Bargemen to retain their title.


MATCHDAY 13
RSK Longyearbyen Town 0–3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–0 North Star Grímsey
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
FC Axel Heiburg 0–2 East Franz Athletic
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
Melville Celtic 0–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC Cape St Paul 1–0 Red Star Severny
SK Franz Josef City 1–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Any title retention ambitions that Bjarnarey have will have to go through Northbrook however, and they look in unbeatable form right now – quite literally. Today’s result - a three-nil win in Longyearbyen - was nothing less than they deserved, and the goals from Ryn Jaxon, Nico Wickenheiser, and Mickaël Leroux have propelled the Diamonds into a commanding lead at the top of the table right now. Bjarnarey matched them with a three-nil win of their own over Novaya Sibir, goals from Sessou, Ënàrsòn, and Kazimir, but it’s a hell of a gauntlet being thrown right now by the team from the far north. SK finally get back to winning ways over basement club Skipsbyggere, and East Franz’s pick-up continues with a strong performance in Axel Heiburg. The only game to see both teams scoring this weekend was a thriller meanwhile, with Jan Mayen and Aasiaat sharing a late goal each at the end of either half in an end-to-end fixture that deservedly ended all-square.


MATCHDAY 14
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–3 Jan Mayen Islanders
Red Star Severny 3–2 SK Franz Josef City
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 3–1 FC Cape St Paul
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–2 Melville Celtic
East Franz Athletic 1–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Novaya Sibir Reds 2–0 FC Axel Heiburg
North Star Grímsey 0–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–3 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Joel Wolfgangsson scored a brace for leaders Northbrook this weekend, meaning they maintain their gap to the teams below that are chasing hard. Well. Most of them are. Bjarnarey won again with another three-nil win – this time in Grímsey – but SK stuttered again just when they looked back to winning ways; Red Star Severny picking up a welcome three points at the Griffons’ expense. East Franz and Nasjonale played out a tense East End Derby, Katinka Fazakas and Mirko Ovcina getting the goals for their respective teams, whilst Zeana Roquan showed that Novaya Sibir aren’t just a one-man team by scoring both goals in a win over Axel Heiburg. Volkhardt Grief scored a fine brace away to Longyearbyen meanwhile, and Jan Mayen’s Li Zhen scored a fine hat trick at Skipsbyggere’s Drydock ground.


MATCHDAY 15
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 5–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
FC Axel Heiburg 3–1 North Star Grímsey
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
Melville Celtic 0–4 East Franz Athletic
FC Cape St Paul 2–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
SK Franz Josef City 4–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 Red Star Severny
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
Elmo Polland’s right boot is proving as good a replacement for Emmanuele Niemi’s as Nasjonale could’ve hoped for at this point in the season, with his sixth goal of the season ensuring the Hawks beat Novaya Sibir Reds by a slender margin. SK’s wrath is taking out on an unfortunate Resolute side; goals from Goliat, Langager, Sorensen, and Félix. East Franz hammer four of their own past Melville Celtic, Sho Itō scoring the pick of the goals with a superb bicycle kick, but as Northbrook drop points away to Surtsey it is Bjarnarey who make the biggest statement of the weekend: Youssef Nijgaard reminding everyone that he can score goals as well as provide assists for the attacking midfielders behind him, scoring twice and assisting twice again as they smash five past Longyearbyen and remind Northbrook ever so subtly that they’re there.


MATCHDAY 16
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–2 Skipsbyggere IFK
Red Star Severny 0–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–0 SK Franz Josef City
East Franz Athletic 2–4 FC Cape St Paul
Novaya Sibir Reds 1–0 Melville Celtic
North Star Grímsey 1–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–0 FC Axel Heiburg
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Nasjonale win again, this time away to North Star, whilst the highest profile match between Surtsey and Bjarnarey for years ends in a bit of a damp squib. Player and Baer might have scored in the second half, but it seems neither side really wanted to live up to the billing of the match, even if Makkinen did miss a golden chance to win it for the Bargemen at the very end. Northbrook fluffed their chance to pull away again ahead of their match against Bjarnarey next week however, with Skipsbyggere of all sides slightly embarrassing the Diamonds at Palace Approach; Chance Benton the unlikely scorer of the last minute equaliser for the visitors. Li Zhen scored again as Jan Mayen rescued a point against Resolute Storm, and St Paul overpowered an unpredictable East Franz side at the Rendahl.


MATCHDAY 17
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 4–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC Axel Heiburg 1–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Melville Celtic 1–1 North Star Grímsey
FC Cape St Paul 1–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
SK Franz Josef City 4–0 East Franz Athletic
Jan Mayen Islanders 4–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–2 Red Star Severny
In a thrilling day of DivOne action, there are dramatic scenes and storylines absolutely everywhere you look. In fact, I think we’re only a Docklands Derby and an all-Commonwealth clash away from a full house of derbies. First of all, in the first Feud of Victorrinn of the season, Kirkkegaard’s side won a thriller by the odd goal in five; goals from Holst, Karman, and l’Establier ensuring a late comeback from Resolute and two goals from Joel Bieri were all in vain. Then, to the Elfsteijn, where goals from Antonio Govorcinovic, Rabia Safarov, and a double from Jalmari Hagen of all people were far too much for East Franz to handle, leaving their fans licking their wounds as they went back south over the Channel and leaving SK feeling triumphant. The biggest news of the day was at The Barge, however, where last season’s champions reduced the gap to the leaders to just a point with a powerful win that answered a lot of questions. Mikkel Makkinen got things off to a great start for the hosts, before Nijgaard added a second. Ryn Jaxon was able to pull things back, but as the Diamonds searched for an equaliser, a quickfire double from Tripp and Ënàrsòn made the points safe for the home side. A timely reminder as well that this set of fixtures will be reversed on the final day of the season, which is an almost unbelievably tantalising prospect if this set of results if going to be repeated...



LATITUDE CUP Round Three
Krykkjesund Olympic 0-1 FK Grise Fiord
North Star Grímsey 1-1 Lokomotiv Barentsberg (2-1 AET)
Steffansson Island FC 1-1 Northbrook Diamonds FK (1-2 AET)
SK Stryær 0-1 Scapa Bay Rovers
Klub Athletisk Spitsbergen 1-1 Axel Town AFC (1-1 AET, 1-2 PKs)
FC Torshavn 1-0 SC Kiel
Rapid SK Eysturoy 2-1 Novaya Sibir Reds
Neuerlatz AFK 3-1 FK Ost-Volonovsk
Logan United FC 0-3 Bulargen Independents
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 1-1 FC North Melville (3-1 AET)
Aleutia Town Dragons 0-3 Jan Mayen Islanders
FKS-North 0-1 Toyoharo Revolutionaries
Invermuir Highlanders FC 2-1 AFK Hans Island Pioneers
IHK Geddesberg 0-0 NKK Urri (1-0 AET)
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1-2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Seratakki Villagers 1-4 FK Viipuri 56
Energie Zemlya FK 2-0 McAvery Centurions
Red Star Severny 0-1 AC Aleutia Volcanoes
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 2-1 Franz Josef Young Boys
Bielstrich Timbers FC 0-0 Koppen Rig Force (0-0 AET, 0-2 PKs)
Hospitaliers 1-1 1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt (1-1 AET, 5-2 PKs)
Måriussa Viking FK 3-1 Bennett and Zhokhov
SK Sturm Nuuk 2-0 FK Weisshaus
SK Yuzhny Albion 0-1 Matahiko Viktory SK
FC Axel Heiburg 2-0 Melville Celtic
Islay Town Mechanical 1-0 FC Solovetsky Monastery
East Franz Athletic 0-2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Sutherland Foundry SK 3-0 Ostermeier Old Boys
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3-1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 2-1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
SK Franz Josef City 3-1 Skipsbyggere IFK
Yuzhny Equinox FC 1-1 FC Cape St Paul (1-1 AET, 2-4 PKs)
The third round of the Latitude Cup is always a highlight in the Polarian football calendar, and of course this year is just like any other. The big teams enter at this point, looking to avoid an embarrassing upset, so of course that’s exactly what we’re going in search of. Now, let’s see... North Star managed to avoid one with an extra time win over Barentsberg, whilst the holders managed the same away to Steffansson; a close shave for Diamonds fans. Struggling Eysturoy knock out Novaya Sibir however, and that’s definitely an upset, as is Aleutia’s win in Severny over Red Star. Bjanarey had to rely on Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn to get them out of a tight spot away to Aasiaat in an all DivOne clash, whilst Axel Heiburg and Resolute win a couple more just like that against Melville Celtic and East Franz respectively. So, I guess the latter is a bit of an upset, especially as it took place at the Rendahl. SK ease past Skipsbyggere and Surtsey battled past Longyearbyen, but FC Cape St Paul needed extra time and penalties to get past Yuzhny Equinox in what was almost the biggest shock of the round. As it is, I think we have to settle For Axel Town knocking out Klub Atletisk, or Energie Zemlya beating McAvery Centurions.



We reach the halfway point then, and that costly little drop-off from SK has seen them slip to third, whist only four points dropped by Bjarnarey in the last nine games has seen them climb to just a point behind leaders Northbrook, thanks mostly to that win in the last matchday. The Diamonds have been here before of course, as have Bjarnarey, and fingers crossed we’re headed for a hell of a finish on the last day of the season. Nasjonale have turned things around to come level with SK, whilst FC Cape St Paul, Aasiaat, and Surtsey must also come under the category of teams who’ve done well to turn things around and climb. At the other end, Axel Heiburg and Jan Mayen are apparently in no rush to drag themselves out of the mess, an attribute they share with a lost looking Red Star Severny. RSK and Melville fans are probably happy, knowing that that early season form was unlikely to have last anyway, but Skipsbyggere and Scapa Bay are looking in all sorts of trouble at the bottom. Scapa Bay are yet to win at all, despite somehow not being bottom of the table, and both are twelve points from the safety of fifteenth already. Both sides could be in for a record breaking season, for the wrong reason entirely.

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Northbrook Diamonds FK      17   11   5   1    35   16  +19    38
 2  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     17   12   1   4    39   17  +22    37
 3  SK Franz Josef City         17   10   3   4    31   12  +19    33
 4  SK Nasjonale Hauker         17   10   3   4    30   17  +13    33
 5  SK Aasiaat Harbour          17    8   3   6    21   17   +4    27
 6  North Star Grímsey          17    7   5   5    23   17   +6    26
 7  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   17    6   7   4    24   20   +4    25
 8  FC Cape St Paul             17    7   4   6    20   24   −4    25
 9  East Franz Athletic         17    7   3   7    22   21   +1    24
10  RSK Longyearbyen Town       17    7   3   7    29   33   −4    24
11  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      17    6   5   6    21   26   −5    23
12  Jan Mayen Islanders         17    4   8   5    22   24   −2    20
13  Melville Celtic             17    5   5   7    16   24   −8    20
14  FC Axel Heiburg             17    5   4   8    18   27   −9    19
15  Novaya Sibir Reds           17    4   6   7    20   28   −8    18
16  Red Star Severny            17    4   4   9    17   27  −10    16
17  Scapa Bay Rovers            17    0   6  11    12   28  −16    6
18  Skipsbyggere IFK            17    1   3  13    14   36  −22    6

In Divisjon Two, I asked them to sort themselves out, and they have done. Kinda. Koppen Rig look transformed from the team that looked to be going nowhere fast last season, whilst Bohemiens, Rapid Jan Mayen, Neuerlatz, and FC Torshavn are in a closely bunched pack behind them. Islay Town and Matahiko are probably in a bit of a false position in that mid-table right now, but Young Boys will be disappointed to find themselves anywhere near that cluster at the bottom. Barentsberg are the foot of the table right now, and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t think they’re going to stay there until the end of the season now.

------Divisjon Two             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Koppen Rig Force          17   11   2   4    33   18  +15    35
 2  Bohemiens Grise Fiord     17    8   7   2    32   24   +8    31
 3  Rapid Jan Mayen FK        17    9   4   4    22   16   +6    31
 4  Neuerlatz AFK             17    8   6   3    34   25   +9    30
 5  FC Torshavn               17    8   6   3    31   23   +8    30
 6  SK Sturm Nuuk             17    8   3   6    30   26   +4    27
 7  Islay Town Mechanical     17    7   5   5    27   23   +4    26
 8  Matahiko Viktory SK       17    8   2   7    25   27   −2    26
 9  SC Kiel                   17    7   4   6    27   23   +4    25
10  Måriussa Viking FK        17    5   8   4    23   16   +7    23
11  FC Solovetsky Monastery   17    6   5   6    27   25   +2    23
12  SK Yuzhny Albion          17    6   4   7    23   28   −5    22
13  Franz Josef Young Boys    17    5   5   7    21   22   −1    20
14  Sutherland Foundry SK     17    4   4   9    15   26  −11    16
15  Eintracht Moss-Rygge      17    4   3  10    18   25   −7    15
16  Hospitaliers              17    4   3  10    17   26   −9    15
17  Rapid SK Eysturoy         17    3   4  10    13   32  −19    13
18  Lokomotiv Barentsberg     17    2   5  10    18   31  −13    11

In Divisjon Three, Hans Island and North Melville are still in the mix, but they have been overtaken at the top by Maritime Hove in a surprise run of form. Aleutia’s fortunes have also transformed thanks to a change in management, with the Volcanoes jumping all the way up to fourth at this halfway point of the season, whilst Viipuri have dropped right off by comparison. Agheim are still lurking dangerously close to the bottom, with Ostermeier and Severnaya Zemlya looking certain for the drop already.

------Divisjon Three               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Maritime Hove FC              17   10   3   4    35   22  +13    33
 2  AFK Hans Island Pioneers      17   10   2   5    29   19  +10    32
 3  FC North Melville             17    9   4   4    28   20   +8    31
 4  AC Aleutia Volcanoes          17    9   3   5    23   19   +4    30
 5  Yuzhny Equinox FC             17    8   4   5    33   23  +10    28
 6  Seratakki Villagers           17    9   1   7    23   16   +7    28
 7  FK Viipuri 56                 17    7   5   5    30   24   +6    26
 8  FK Grise Fiord                17    8   2   7    24   25   −1    26
 9  Franz Josef Sharks            17    7   4   6    21   20   +1    25
10  FC1. Sturm Grímsey            17    6   4   7    27   27    0    22
11  FC1. Rangers                  17    6   4   7    23   27   −4    22
12  Bennett and Zhokhov           17    6   3   8    25   27   −2    21
13  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen     17    6   3   8    23   27   −4    21
14  McAvery Centurions            17    6   3   8    26   34   −8    21
15  Universitet                   17    5   4   8    27   32   −5    19
16  Agheim CF                     17    5   3   9    26   30   −4    18
17  Ostermeier Old Boys           17    3   5   9    17   36  −19    14
18  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox   17    2   5  10    18   30  −12    11

Skipping over to the East Divisjon of the short and sharp Challenge League, and it is Korsten Lokomotiv who are leading things from Vale of Moray at the moment, though Steffansson Island, Invermuir, and Krykkjesund are all lurking dangerously. Uelmark, pre-season favourites for a reason, are surprisingly nowhere to be seen. SK Thor might look in a bit of a sorry state, but consider this: they’ve still got more points than Scapa Bay and Skipsbyggere right now, in four fewer games, too.

------East Divisjon             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Korsten Lokomotiv          13    8   4   1    24   13  +11    28
 2  Vale of Moray              13    8   2   3    17   14   +3    26
 3  Steffansson Island FC      13    6   3   4    21   14   +7    21
 4  Invermuir Highlanders FC   13    5   4   4    19   15   +4    19
 5  Krykkjesund Olympic        13    5   4   4    17   16   +1    19
 6  Uelmark MK                 13    5   3   5    20   16   +4    18
 7  IHK Geddesberg             13    5   3   5    20   23   −3    18
 8  Sisimut Black Star         13    5   2   6    23   22   +1    17
 9  Ingvar Peaks FC            13    4   5   4    18   18    0    17
10  San Moranna FC             13    5   2   6    14   16   −2    17
11  Hauken Orca                13    4   4   5    13   14   −1    16
12  Aleutia Town Dragons       13    3   5   5    16   16    0    14
13  KA Rikyaare                13    2   4   7    17   24   −7    10
14  SK Thor 1898               13    2   3   8    13   31  −18    9

In the West Divisjon, Meteor Kholmsk have done supremely well to turn things around considering at this point last season they were rock bottom. What a difference a year makes. GVFFK Pekarik and Ost-Volonovsk are looking like the best placed challengers, but there’s still an awful lot of football to go yet, and Torpedo Sibir and Norsviken won’t be counting themselves out just yet.

------West Divisjon          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Meteor Kholmsk SK       13   10   0   3    25   12  +13    30
 2  GVFFK Pekarik           13    8   1   4    17   16   +1    25
 3  FK Ost-Volonovsk        13    7   3   3    23   12  +11    24
 4  Torpedo Sibir RKA       13    5   5   3    17   13   +4    20
 5  FK Norsviken Cossacks   13    6   2   5    18   17   +1    20
 6  Energie Zemlya FK       13    5   4   4    17   16   +1    19
 7  Logan United FC         13    5   2   6    15   17   −2    17
 8  Ueland-Alne             13    4   4   5    16   18   −2    16
 9  Axel Town AFC           13    4   4   5    15   18   −3    16
10  KSC Brighthelmstone     13    4   3   6    15   19   −4    15
11  Devon Bay Lights FC     13    3   5   5    16   14   +2    14
12  Northbrook Zenith FC    13    4   2   7    20   25   −5    14
13  FC Fetlar               13    4   2   7    17   25   −8    14
14  NKK Urri                13    2   3   8     9   18   −9    9

Not forgetting the Regional League, of course, whose divisions look like this at the halfway point. Still 2000 minutes or so to play however, and a lot can happen yet. The teams at the bottom of each division will be cast out into the cold of the Regional Conferences, so a lot rides on this.

------Central Premier             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Larsen Bay Thunder FC        22   15   5   2    49   22  +27    50
 2  West End                     22   12   6   4    33   20  +13    42
 3  Machtspool Whitesleeves FC   22   11   6   5    41   31  +10    39
 4  1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt       22   10   7   5    42   31  +11    37
 5  Royal NK Sikjonek            22    8   6   8    38   38    0    30
 6  FKS-North                    22    9   2  11    26   31   −5    29
 7  St Gallen 47                 22    7   6   9    30   39   −9    27
 8  Bindelsfjorden Dynamo        22    7   5  10    38   40   −2    26
 9  Green Star Kobelevskov       22    7   5  10    27   33   −6    26
10  SK Nolmkien 1949             22    6   6  10    27   35   −8    24
11  FC Velcosta Cliffs           22    6   3  13    33   41   −8    21
12  AIK Winterthur               22    3   5  14    20   43  −23    14

------North-Eastern Premier     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Sporting Club Aasiaat 87   22   14   4   4    44   23  +21    46
 2  Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC    22   12   7   3    43   21  +22    43
 3  SK Stryær                  22   12   5   5    42   25  +17    41
 4  FC Kampengar Magpies       22   11   3   8    40   33   +7    36
 5  Sannegarden Fleet FK       22    8   7   7    39   36   +3    31
 6  Hanshaugen Gate FK         22    8   7   7    29   26   +3    31
 7  Resolute Hills FC          22    8   5   9    27   31   −4    29
 8  Aurora Hammarby            22    8   4  10    22   42  −20    28
 9  Oaks of Fjellisroy         22    7   3  12    30   32   −2    24
10  FK Aagen Zenith            22    6   6  10    23   32   −9    24
11  Waldenøya Bears            22    4   6  12    22   36  −14    18
12  Boden 61                   22    2   7  13    25   49  −24    13

------South-Eastern Premier       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  AIK Alejavik                 22   14   4   4    39   23  +16    46
 2  Bathurst Zenith FC           22   12   4   6    42   19  +23    40
 3  Ilksporta IK                 22   12   4   6    31   27   +4    40
 4  Bielstrich Timbers FC        22   10   6   6    43   37   +6    36
 5  Forrairn St Johan FC         22   10   5   7    34   31   +3    35
 6  Friedrichsund Fencing Club   22   10   3   9    36   35   +1    33
 7  Holtrecht Force SK           22    7   8   7    26   29   −3    29
 8  Sleijnmakt Sport             22    8   4  10    31   36   −5    28
 9  US Saint-John                22    7   3  12    34   40   −6    24
10  Lindesvogne Violets          22    6   4  12    29   39  −10    22
11  Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais       22    5   5  12    27   37  −10    20
12  Crusaders                    22    3   6  13    20   39  −19    15

------Western Premier          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Bulargen Independents     22   11   7   4    43   23  +20    40
 2  Fynersturen Valhalla      22   12   3   7    32   27   +5    39
 3  Devon Bay Seals FC        22   10   8   4    30   20  +10    38
 4  FK Fairbanks              22    8   6   8    28   24   +4    30
 5  Orebro FK                 22    8   6   8    28   29   −1    30
 6  SV Keldira Zenith         22    6  10   6    24   28   −4    28
 7  Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC   22    6   9   7    25   28   −3    27
 8  SK Stromness Electric     22    7   5  10    28   34   −6    26
 9  Dinamo Olsa FK            22    5  10   7    26   28   −2    25
10  Gjornhammer Pier FC       22    7   4  11    22   36  −14    25
11  IHK Sirius                22    5   8   9    22   28   −6    23
12  Fjorhorgen SK             22    4  10   8    25   28   −3    22

[Polar Islandstates]

Third part of the league season, and there is everything to play for still.


MATCHDAY 18
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–2 Red Star Severny
Skipsbyggere IFK 0–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–2 East Franz Athletic
SK Franz Josef City 2–2 Novaya Sibir Reds
FC Cape St Paul 1–2 North Star Grímsey
Melville Celtic 3–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
FC Axel Heiburg 4–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
If there is an ideal way to bounce back from a damaging defeat to a title rival, then, well, this probably isn’t it. Northbrook double down on the disappointment with an equally damaging home defeat to Red Star Severny, Wickenheiser’s opener being first cancelled out then surpassed by a brace from Sylvester Sandbjorn. So, disappointment for Northbrook, but they’ll take consolation from the fact that Bjarnarey couldn’t consolidate with a win of their own either; FC Axel Heiburg’s developing strike partnership of Viljo Nilsen and Roald Eike-Rasmussen scoring a goal each just before half time, before Euran George Nelson added a third ahead of a fluke second for Nilsen after Sipp’s punch-out form a corner bounced in off his face. Nijgaard and Tripp added late hope for Flotilla, but the damage was laready done. A late Jari-Andrej Coia goal rescued a point for Novaya Sibir at SK’s expense, whilst Gunner Martikainen scored the winner for East Franz at Victoria Stadium, to add further pressure to Karl-Franz Klemmensen’s position.


MATCHDAY 19
FC Axel Heiburg 3–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–0 Melville Celtic
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–1 FC Cape St Paul
North Star Grímsey 0–1 SK Franz Josef City
Novaya Sibir Reds 2–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
East Franz Athletic 0–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–1 Red Star Severny
Two defeats in a row is unfortunate; three is just careless: Northbrook let a lead slip for the second time in two weeks as they slump to a defeat against Axel Heiburg; Ryn Jaxon’s opener being overhauled by an Eike-Rasmussen brace before half time, and polished off with a Richard Rasmussen goal deep into second half injury time to leave Axel Torvig Park rocking to the sound of the Diamonds’ tormentors. Bjarnarey bounced back with a win at home to Nasjonale, Nijgaard and Polland trading goals in the first half before Khephren Sassou scored the winner with a deft chip.SK Aasiaat Harbour win the battle between the two Big Six sides having a disappointing season so far, Cixin Nguyen scoring the only goal of the game, whilst a perfect hat trick for Volkhardt Grief against Melville Celtic has the Gulls’ management throwing new contract offers at him like confetti. There’s a collectors’ item at Steffansson Lane meanwhile, where a rare Noah Leonhardt goal meant SK took the points home against North Star.


MATCHDAY 20
Northbrook Diamonds FK 3–2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Red Star Severny 2–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–5 East Franz Athletic
SK Aasiaat Harbour 4–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–5 North Star Grímsey
SK Franz Josef City 4–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
FC Cape St Paul 1–3 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Melville Celtic 1–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–3 FC Axel Heiburg
Three wins on the trot for FC Axel Heiburg against top Big Six opposition has been a remarkable run of form from the Argonauts, and they surge up the table as a reward for their efforts. Roald Eike-Rasmussen is the name on everyone’s lips in the process. There are goals galore elsewhere in the league meanwhile, not least for Tariq Will and Ryn Jaxon, as Northbrook’s two Chromatik talents combine to put the Diamonds back on the right track with a comeback win at home to Resolute Storm. Aasiaat and SK each hit four – against Novaya Sibir and RSK respectively, but top scorers on the day are East Franz and North Star. East Franz ran riot away to Skipsbyggere; goals from Sho Itō, Joni Siebel, Jere Karschner and a brace from Katinka Fazakas; whilst North Star’s partnership of Nuut Borjeson and Philip Lehning grabbed a brace each, before Georges-André Drouin-Lacroix added a gloss on events for the visitors as they embarrassed their cross-Commonwealth hosts Jan Mayen. Youssef Nijgaard underlined his status as Bjarnarey talisman with the winning goal away to Melville, whilst sorry old Scapa Bay were the only team not to score this weekend, going down two-nil to an Ali Ari inspired Resolute Storm.



LATITUDE CUP Round Four
Islay Town Mechanical 1-2 FC Axel Heiburg
Matahiko Viktory SK 0-2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FK Grise Fiord 2-6 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Sturm Nuuk 1-2 Energie Zemlya FK
North Star Grímsey 0-0 Northbrook Diamonds FK (0-0 AET, 2-4 PKs)
Måriussa Viking FK 5-1 Hospitaliers
Sutherland Foundry SK 2-0 Rapid SK Eysturoy
Invermuir Highlanders FC 2-0 AC Aleutia Volcanoes
Toyoharo Revolutionaries 2-0 Scapa Bay Rovers
FK Viipuri 56 2-0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 2-1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 2-1 IHK Geddesberg
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 1-2 FC Torshavn
FC Cape St Paul 3-1 Bulargen Independents
Axel Town AFC 0-6 SK Franz Josef City
Koppen Rig Force 1-1 Neuerlatz AFK (1-1 AET, 3-4 PKs)
The fourth round of the Latitude Cup comes around, and from here on out the teams that progress would be forgiven for allowing themselves to dream just a little bit. Axel Heiburg’s fine form of form transferred seamlessly into the cup competition with a two-one win over Islay Town, whilst Surtsey tap into a rich vein of their own form with an annihilation of Grise Fiord. Northbrook needed penalties to squeak past fellow top flight side North Star in what was surprisingly the only all-DivOne clash to be drawn out of the hat for this weekend, whilst the biggest shock of the round was probably Energie Zemlya knocking our Sturm Nuuk. Scapa Bay’s season shows no sign of improving, sadly, and they go out to lower league opposition in the form of Toyoharo Revolutionaries – a fate that also befell Resolute at Viipuri. SK knocked six past Axel Town in the Sunday lunchtime televised match, before Koppen Rig lost at home to Neuerlatz on penalties, showcasing to a wider audience just how close the battle for promotion at the top of Divisjon Two is this season.


MATCHDAY 21
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC Axel Heiburg 3–1 Melville Celtic
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 FC Cape St Paul
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–1 SK Franz Josef City
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
North Star Grímsey 0–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Novaya Sibir Reds 2–0 Skipsbyggere IFK
East Franz Athletic 2–1 Red Star Severny
Scapa Bay Rovers 2–2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Back in Divisjon One, and the patterns that were starting to form before the break for the Latitude Cup have come roaring right back again. Jan Mayen’s slump shows no signs of slowing down at all, with a disappointing defeat away to RSK Longyearbyen Town crowned by a winner from Joel Bieri, and SK’s own little crisis of confidence comes at the hands of one of the form teams in the division – Surtsey Island Gulls. Volkhardt Grief celebrated signing his new contract with a brace against the Griffons, Kieron Player adding a third for the home side before Antonio Govorcinovic scored a late consolation goal for SK. Another form team, Aasiaat Harbour, cruised past North Star with a goal each from their stars Matteus Henschen and Ragnar Holst, whilst Bjarnarey’s resurgence continues thanks to a win over St Paul – Tripp and Sessou with the goals for the defending champions.


MATCHDAY 22
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–1 East Franz Athletic
Red Star Severny 0–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–1 North Star Grímsey
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–3 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Jan Mayen Islanders 0–3 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Franz Josef City 0–0 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC Cape St Paul 2–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Melville Celtic 2–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Poor Scapa Bay might not have picked up a win yet this season, but a point at Palace Approach is a hell of a point to get, wherever you are in the table. In near blizzard conditions, with the orange ball in play despite the undersoil heating being on full whack, a single goal from Starsian right-back Benjamin Thompson, against the run of play, was enough to nick a point for the Rovers and severely dent the Diamonds’ title ambitions in the process. SK arrested Bjarnarey’s momentum in that regard with a tense and closely fought goalless draw at the Landstadt, but East Franz lost further ground at the top thanks to a damaging defeat at Mossy Park. Surtsey’s ascent continues, driven as even by Volkhardt Grief and his sweet run of form – and inflicting another painful Commonwealth defeat on Jan Mayen in the process, but Axel Heiburg’s run is finally brought to an end by a hard-working St Paul side desperate for a win of their own and scoring goal of the day through Valerie Noir in the process. Skipsbyggere pick up a hugely important three points meanwhile, with their win over North Star the next step in what they must be hoping is a surge back up to the other teams and away from Scapa Bay at the bottom.


MATCHDAY 23
Melville Celtic 0–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–1 FC Cape St Paul
FC Axel Heiburg 2–1 SK Franz Josef City
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
RSK Longyearbyen Town 0–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
North Star Grímsey 2–3 Red Star Severny
Novaya Sibir Reds 2–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
East Franz Athletic 2–2 Scapa Bay Rovers
Another week, another impressive draw for Scapa Bay Rovers. If they were as good at winning games as they were at drawing them, they’d be mid-table. Alas. This time it’s East Franz who fall victim to the Rovers’ determination not to go without a fight, and indeed it needed a late equaliser from Nico Wickenheiser to avoid an embarrassing defeat for the Spires as their season continues to flounder. Bjarnarey inflict a third damaging Commonwealth defeat on the plummeting Jan Mayen – goals from Tripp, Ënàrsòn, and Jamieson of Brookstation – but it is at Stadion Solberg where the most impressive result of the day took place; Surtsey smashing three unanswered goals past Aasiaat in a second half domination that settled the argument of who the form team of the division really is. Elmo Polland inspired Najsonale to a win over St Paul with a brace, Ainsley Stenhouse adding the third in stoppage time as young Yanni Eklund went home with a trio of assists to his name, and SK’s stuttering middle of the season continued with a defeat at Axel Heiburg. Skipsbyggere’s survival hopes were boosted with a second win in two weeks meanwhile, the unlucky Stanislaus Gronewold knocking into his own net for RSK.


MATCHDAY 24
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–1 East Franz Athletic
Scapa Bay Rovers 2–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–0 North Star Grímsey
Red Star Severny 1–0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Skipsbyggere IFK 0–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–0 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–0 FC Axel Heiburg
SK Franz Josef City 1–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC Cape St Paul 0–0 Melville Celtic
The highest profile match of the gameweek this weekend saw a struggling East Franz travel up to Northbrook to try and get their season back on track. Which, to be fair, they almost did. In the end though, Katinka Fazakas’ goal was cancelled out by Mátyás Vass’ equaliser in a good day for Pasargan scorers, and that's three draws in a row for Northbrook – not how you wrestle the title away from Bjarnarey, guys. Although, to be fair, Bjarnarey themselves did slip to a one-nil defeat at Harbour Walk - Oberour ar Moro striker Thomas-Austin l’Establier scoring the winner for Aasiaat. Jan Mayen finally get back to winning ways, Li Zhen scoring the only goal of the game for the Ospreys, and the Surtsey train just keeps on rolling with a two-nil away win over Skipsbyggere. The bug news though, no, huge news, is that Scapa Bay are finally off the mark! A two-nil win at home to Novaya Sibir not only stops the Reds from escaping the danger zones at the bottom of the table, but also gives th Rovers hope that not all is yet lost; Ragnar Spar and Benjamin Thompson with the goals. In the capital, meanwhile, SK record a narrow one-nil win over fellow northside side Nasjonale thanks to a solitary headed goal from Rahmonberdi Zhusupov.



LATITUDE CUP Round Five
Invermuir Highlanders FC 2-1 FC Torshavn
Måriussa Viking FK 2-3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 5-1 Sutherland Foundry SK
FK Viipuri 56 0-3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Franz Josef City 3-0 Toyoharo Revolutionaries
FC Cape St Paul 0-0 Neuerlatz AFK (0-0 AET, 0-2 PKs)
Energie Zemlya FK 1-1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge (2-2 AET, 1-2 PKs)
FC Axel Heiburg 1-1 Rapid Jan Mayen FK (1-1 AET, 0-1 PKs)
And so we move back to the Latitude Cup, and a spot in the quarter-finals awaits the winners of these eight ties. Invermuir Highlanders’ unlikely run continues with a fine win over promotion challengers Torshavn in Terra Scotia, ensuring that they are the lowest ranked side left in the competition after Energie Zemlya were finally knocked out on penalties by Eintracht Moss-Rygge in the Friday night game. Bjarnarey squeaked past lower-ranked Viking thanks to Nijgaard’s odd goal in five, but there were red faces in St Paul and Axel Heiburg, as both sides were knocked out by Divisjon two opposition in the form of Neuerlatz and Rapid Jan Mayen respectively. No such drama for Northbrook or SK, who waltzed past Viipuri and Toyoharo, or for Surtsey, who brushed Sutherland Foundry aside without breaking a sweat almost. Not hard when you’re playing in conditions like we do up here, of course, but you get the idea.


MATCHDAY 25
FC Cape St Paul 0–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Melville Celtic 3–0 SK Franz Josef City
SK Nasjonale Hauker 5–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC Axel Heiburg 0–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–2 Skipsbyggere IFK
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–0 Red Star Severny
RSK Longyearbyen Town 3–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
North Star Grímsey 1–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
Novaya Sibir Reds 2–3 East Franz Athletic
Back to the league then, and Northbrook finally arrest their slump with a two-nil win over St Paul, Joel Wolfgangsson and Ryn Jaxon with the goals, both of which were laid on by the increasingly versatile Nico Wickenheiser in a deeper role than he’s maybe used to. Melville Celtic’s homegrown hero Koit Rickenbach added the gloss to a memorable victory for Melville Celtic at home to SK in their first season back in the top flight, and East Franz swept past Novaya Sibir Red with a superb second performance that made a mockery of Jari-Andrej Coia’s first half brace. Surtsey were held to a goalless draw against Red Star, and Aasiaat’s resurgence continued with a narrow win at Axel Torvig Park thanks to a solitary Matias Langager goal. The Jan Mayen hierarchy finally lost patience with a forlorn Karl-Franz Klemmensen however, and that damaging five-nil defeat at the hands of an Elmo Polland inspired Nasjonale proved to be his last game in charge of the Ospreys.


MATCHDAY 26
Northbrook Diamonds FK 0–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
East Franz Athletic 2–0 North Star Grímsey
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–2 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Red Star Severny 1–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–0 FC Axel Heiburg
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Jan Mayen Islanders 3–1 Melville Celtic
SK Franz Josef City 4–2 FC Cape St Paul
The first goal Surtsey concede in five league games turns out to be an important one, as Ali Ari’s first half strike condemned the visitors to a defeat at Mossy Park that ends their run of form abruptly. The new regime is yet to start over at Victoria Stadium, but that didn’t stop Jan Mayen winning their first game since the departure of Klemmensen in the dugout – an untethered attacking making short work of Melville’s defence. Aasiaat’s run of form continued with a dogged win over Nasjonale, with a goal from Matteus Henschen proving the difference between the teams after Nguyen and Eklund had traded free kicks in the first half, and East Franz produced an efficient performance to keep North Star at bay – Hans Aigner producing two outstanding saves from the only two shots allowed on his goal all game. Red Star’s Michael Morck caught the eye with a late equaliser at home to Bjarnarey, whilst Northbrook’s lack of goals recently – by contrast to their start to the season – will be of concern to fans; a goalless draw against Novaya Sibir the latest disappointing result for the Diamonds. Other than Aasiaat, the main benefactors of those two draws are of course SK, whose resounding win over St Paul will give Griffons fans encouragement that they’re not quite out of it yet.



Eight games left then, and we are beginning to see where the battles will play out in the final couple of months. At the top, Bjarnarey haven’t exactly been fluent, but the defending champions have risen to a six point lead at the top of the table thanks to simply being more consistent than those around them. And by being consistent, I mainly mean; ‘still scoring loads of goals’. Because htat’s bee the problem for the other teams, who all have better defensive records than the Flotilla do right now. It’s just a case of transferring that into taking better risks at the other end. For Northbrook, a promising start has dissolved into playing catch-up, whilst SK have dropped as far as fourth thanks to Aasiaat’s climb. Below them, Surtsey, Nasjonale, and East Franz are all a good run of games away from closing on those international competition spots, but you have to say it’s already Bjarnarey’s title to lose.

At the bottom, I think it’s safe to say that Scapa Bay and Skipsbyggere would probably be within their rights to start planning for a season in the second flight already, with Rovers a whopping seventeen points from safety at the moment. Five points in nine games has seen St Paul plummet from their position of eighth at the halfway stage meanwhile, and they are now right in the mess of clubs looking to avoid that last drop-spot; a horde that also includes Jan Mayen, Novaya Sibir, and Melville Celtic. In fact, though they might look safely ensconced in the mid-table for now, you’d probably be able to argue successfully that RSK, Resolute, North Star, Axel Heiburg, and Red Star are all a couple of wins away from being able to breathe easy still...

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     26   17   3   6    54   28  +26    54
 2  Northbrook Diamonds FK      26   13   9   4    44   26  +18    48
 3  SK Aasiaat Harbour          26   15   3   8    37   25  +12    48
 4  SK Franz Josef City         26   14   5   7    45   25  +20    47
 5  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   26   12   9   5    42   24  +18    45
 6  SK Nasjonale Hauker         26   13   4   9    43   29  +14    43
 7  East Franz Athletic         26   12   5   9    40   32   +8    41
 8  RSK Longyearbyen Town       26   11   4  11    42   47   −5    37
 9  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      26   10   6  10    31   38   −7    36
10  North Star Grímsey          26   10   5  11    34   31   +3    35
11  FC Axel Heiburg             26   10   4  12    34   39   −5    34
12  Red Star Severny            26    9   6  11    28   34   −6    33
13  Melville Celtic             26    8   7  11    27   36   −9    31
14  Novaya Sibir Reds           26    7   9  10    32   42  −10    30
15  FC Cape St Paul             26    8   6  12    29   42  −13    30
16  Jan Mayen Islanders         26    6   9  11    32   47  −15    27
17  Skipsbyggere IFK            26    4   4  18    23   51  −28    16
18  Scapa Bay Rovers            26    1  10  15    21   42  −21    13

In the second flight, there is an unholy battle going on at the top of the table between the two fierce rivals of FC Torshavn and Koppen Rig Force. The chasing pack are insanely closely bunched – with Islay, Neuerlatz, Bohemiens, Viktory, and Nuuk only separated by two points – but whilst two of those clubs (Viktory and Neuerlatz) are bidding to be DivOne clubs for the first time in their history, they’re realistically competing for only one spot between them, thanks to theKoppen-Torshavn clubs’ dominant performance so far. At the bottom, Barentsberg and Sutherland don’t look in great shape, but there’s an equally close relegation battle developing above them for the final drop spot. Ah, Divisjon Two. Never change.

------Divisjon Two             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC Torshavn               26   15   8   3    48   29  +19    53
 2  Koppen Rig Force          26   16   3   7    44   25  +19    51
 3  Islay Town Mechanical     26   12   7   7    44   34  +10    43
 4  Neuerlatz AFK             26   12   7   7    46   39   +7    43
 5  Bohemiens Grise Fiord     26   11  10   5    44   37   +7    43
 6  Matahiko Viktory SK       26   13   3  10    41   39   +2    42
 7  SK Sturm Nuuk             26   12   5   9    46   43   +3    41
 8  Rapid Jan Mayen FK        26   11   6   9    30   30    0    39
 9  FC Solovetsky Monastery   26   10   5  11    38   39   −1    35
10  SC Kiel                   26    9   6  11    36   41   −5    33
11  Franz Josef Young Boys    26    7   9  10    33   29   +4    30
12  Måriussa Viking FK        26    6  11   9    33   36   −3    29
13  Eintracht Moss-Rygge      26    8   5  13    28   32   −4    29
14  Rapid SK Eysturoy         26    7   8  11    26   37  −11    29
15  Hospitaliers              26    7   7  12    25   33   −8    28
16  SK Yuzhny Albion          26    6   9  11    27   36   −9    27
17  Lokomotiv Barentsberg     26    4  10  12    32   42  −10    22
18  Sutherland Foundry SK     26    5   7  14    21   41  −20    22

Although I don’t know why I’m saying that as if Divisjon Two is the only league allowed to have a close run-in, as in Divisjon Three things are looking pretty similar as well. Yuzhny Equinox are sitting pretty at the top right now, but first to seventh are currently separated by the same gap that distances Bjarnarey from Northbrook at the top of Divisjon One, just to give you some context. Aleutia have recovered superbly to be part of that discussion, alongside the other names you’d expect to see up there. At the bottom, Severnaya Zemlya look pretty much done in, but Agheim, Universitet, and Ostermeier will harbour hopes of dragging themselves out of the mess and into the cluster of teams above the drop spots.

------Divisjon Three               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Yuzhny Equinox FC             26   14   6   6    53   35  +18    48
 2  Maritime Hove FC              26   14   6   6    53   37  +16    48
 3  AFK Hans Island Pioneers      26   14   5   7    45   31  +14    47
 4  FK Viipuri 56                 26   13   6   7    43   33  +10    45
 5  FK Grise Fiord                26   13   6   7    41   34   +7    45
 6  AC Aleutia Volcanoes          26   13   4   9    34   30   +4    43
 7  Franz Josef Sharks            26   11   9   6    34   26   +8    42
 8  FC North Melville             26   11   7   8    40   32   +8    40
 9  FC1. Rangers                  26    9   8   9    37   38   −1    35
10  Seratakki Villagers           26   11   2  13    33   34   −1    35
11  McAvery Centurions            26    9   6  11    37   44   −7    33
12  Bennett and Zhokhov           26    9   5  12    38   44   −6    32
13  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen     26    8   6  12    33   44  −11    30
14  FC1. Sturm Grímsey            26    7   8  11    40   42   −2    29
15  Ostermeier Old Boys           26    7   7  12    29   50  −21    28
16  Agheim CF                     26    6   7  13    40   46   −6    25
17  Universitet                   26    6   7  13    36   47  −11    25
18  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox   26    3   7  16    30   49  −19    16

[Polar Islandstates]

Final part of the league season, and at last, we get our exciting conclusion!


MATCHDAY 27
SK Franz Josef City 1–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC Cape St Paul 0–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Melville Celtic 1–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
FC Axel Heiburg 2–1 Red Star Severny
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–2 East Franz Athletic
North Star Grímsey 1–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
Some people are already putting Bjarnarey’s name on the trophy, but today is a good example of just why you shouldn’t be so hasty in Divisjon One. First, a late equaliser from Albrecht Blankenbeckler rescued a point for a, well, resolute looking Resolute Storm side away to Bjarnarey, frustrating the home side and energising the away fans in equal measure. Almost simultaneously, in the dying moments of the game at the Landstadt, Ryn Jaxon was nodding in a winner for the Diamonds, much to the annoyance of the rabid SK fans, but reducing Bjarnarey’s lead from six to four points, just when it looked like becoming eight. Funny ol’ game.


MATCHDAY 28
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–1 North Star Grímsey
Novaya Sibir Reds 1–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
East Franz Athletic 0–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–0 FC Axel Heiburg
Red Star Severny 1–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Skipsbyggere IFK 5–2 Melville Celtic
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–2 FC Cape St Paul
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 SK Franz Josef City
A home tie against SK Franz Josef City is a challenging start for any new manager, but Einar Jepsen’s reign at his former club of Jan Mayen Islanders almost started in the best possible way. In the end, it was only a last minute equaliser from Jalmari Hagen that prevented the Ospreys recording a famous victory over their old rivals. Nonetheless, fans will be encouraged by this start, and will be hopeful the return of Jepsen can steer them well away from danger in the closing few weeks of the season. And they’ll have to look smart about it, too, as around them Skipsbyggere, Novaya Sibir, and FC Cape St Paul all pick up at least a point as well. At the top, East Franz suffer another damaging defeat in their chase for a return to IFCF football, and there were almost red faces in Northbrook after North Star took a deserved lead in the first half and hung onto it for almost eighty minutes. In the end, a Jaxon-Wickenheiser one-two suckerpunch snatched the points for the Diamonds and ensured they kept pace with Bjarnarey, who won easily in Scapa Bay.



LATITUDE CUP Quarter Finals
Invermuir Highlanders FC 0-2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Franz Josef City 0-1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Neuerlatz AFK 1-1 Rapid Jan Mayen FK (1-1 AET, 4-1 PKs)
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2-1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
The Latitude Cup always brings intrigue with it, and the quarter-finals - played mid-week under the lights as is tradition - are no exception. Invermuir’s impressive run to the last eight is brought to a screeching halt by a weakened Northbrook side, who rested several players for the title run-in but still proved too strong for their lower league hosts thanks to a goal apiece from Ruben Herzog and Victor Weiss. Neuerlatz are still pushing for promotion from Divisjon Two, and their impressive season continued with a win over Rapid Jan Mayen on penalties – a tie that was guaranteed to give us a second flight semi-finalist, but Surtsey ended the hopes of the last remaining DivTwo side – Eintracht Moss-Rygge with a comfortable two-one win at home. Don’t let that consolation goal for Eintracht fool you; this was a cake walk for the home side. The highest profile tie of the round however was, naturally, at the Landstadt, where Bjarnarey Flotilla came away the victors thanks to a single goal from Sassou. It was a tense affair however, with the Bargemen having to hold on at times against wave after wave of SK attacks. So, that’s the top two in the title race through to the semi-finals, then, and... oh… you’ll never guess who’ve been kept apart in the draw for the next round...


MATCHDAY 29
Jan Mayen Islanders 0–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Franz Josef City 1–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC Cape St Paul 2–2 Skipsbyggere IFK
Melville Celtic 2–2 Red Star Severny
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC Axel Heiburg 0–2 Scapa Bay Rovers
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–1 East Franz Athletic
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–0 North Star Grímsey
As we approach the crunch that is the final month of the season, then, the teams at the bottom grow ever more dangerous, and today it is FC Axel Heiburg who are punished for not heeding the advice about the cornered beast. Scapa Bay need every point they can get right now, and they came out swinging at Axel Torvig Park, Vadim Arkhipov scoring a stunning brace to keep the Rovers’ heads above the waterline. Just. They remain thirteen points from safety with fifteen left up for grabs. Skipsbyggere are only one point better off, meanwhile, with their fiercely contested and scrappy draw in the Dockers Derby against fellow strugglers FC Cape St Paul not really good enough for either side, but definitely worse for the Waves. At the top of the table, Bjarnarey drop points at home to East Franz! Joni Siebel was the toast of Northbrook as his late header pegged the Bargemen back, meaning the Diamonds’ win in Jan Mayen earlier in the day was all that more crucial: Ryn Jaxon with the goal in that instance as the Flotilla’s lead is reduced to just two points – or, in other words, within striking distance of that Northbrook vs Bjarnarey fixture on the last day of the season. Nasjonale and SK both win to put pressure on Aasiaat in the race for IFCF football, not least because SK’s win was over Aasiaat themselves, and they’ll also be nervous in Victorrinn tonight after seeing Surtsey pick up another strong win over struggling Novaya Sibir. Gulls on a charge?


MATCHDAY 30
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
North Star Grímsey 1–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Novaya Sibir Reds 1–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
East Franz Athletic 3–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 3–3 Melville Celtic
Red Star Severny 2–1 FC Cape St Paul
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–0 SK Franz Josef City
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
So, who had Skipsbyggere winning at home to SK on their acca, then? Not many, according to the shock around the nation, but that’s exactly what happened today. Douglas Alf-Finisterre scored a first goal for his new side as they stunned the Griffons, and left them sweating on their IFCF prospects for next season. FC Cape St Paul, Noyava Sibir, and Melville Celtic all failed to win, meaning Skipsbyggere catches up almost the maximum it could on the teams in front of them (and with twelve points left on the table and an eleven point gap, that was very much needed), but Jepsen’s reign at Jan Mayen continues its fine start with an impressive win at Aasiaat that not only does their own survival hopes the world of good, it also does SK a massive favour after their earlier defeat to Skipsbyggere. The Rovers, however, are down. A one-nil home defeat to a resurgent Nasjonale Hauker side means they are too far behind, and let’s be honest, their fans are probably looking forward to the season being over already. At the top ,Northbook and Bjarnarey both win, kicking that particular can down the road for aonther week, whilst East Franz’s late push for IFCF football continues with a win over an Axel Heiburg side that can’t seem to buy a win at the moment. Surtsey are still well positioned in that respect however, as another win in a Commonwealth derby puts them in the final qualification slot with four games left.

So, four games left, twelve points on the table, and with the customary late break for the Latitude Cup semi final next weekend, here's how things are looking; tense at the top, tense in the IFCF slots, tense in the final relegation slot, maybe not quite so tense at the very bottom. Tense, tense, tense...

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     30   19   5   6    63   33  +30    62
 2  Northbrook Diamonds FK      30   17   9   4    51   29  +22    60
 3  SK Nasjonale Hauker         30   17   4   9    50   31  +19    55
 4  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   30   15   9   6    46   26  +20    54
 5  SK Aasiaat Harbour          30   16   4  10    41   30  +11    52
 6  SK Franz Josef City         30   15   6   9    48   29  +19    51
 7  East Franz Athletic         30   14   6  10    46   36  +10    48
 8  RSK Longyearbyen Town       30   12   5  13    47   52   −5    41
 9  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      30   11   8  11    37   45   −8    41
10  Red Star Severny            30   10   7  13    34   41   −7    37
11  FC Axel Heiburg             30   11   4  15    37   46   −9    37
12  North Star Grímsey          30   10   6  14    37   38   −1    36
13  Jan Mayen Islanders         30    8  10  12    35   49  −14    34
14  Melville Celtic             30    8   9  13    35   48  −13    33
15  Novaya Sibir Reds           30    7  11  12    35   48  −13    32
16  FC Cape St Paul             30    8   8  14    34   49  −15    32
17  Skipsbyggere IFK            30    6   5  19    32   57  −25    23
18  Scapa Bay Rovers            30    3  10  17    25   46  −21    19

LATITUDE CUP Semi Finals
Neuerlatz AFK 0-1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2-1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Well, that’s the final that everybody was hoping for, then! Out of those four team, anyway. And even then, maybe not the fans of Neuerlatz and Surtsey… Bjarnarey ruined Neuerlatz’s run to the semi-finals with a tetchy and nervy one-nil win first of all. Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn scored the goal that broke the hearts of the home fans halfway through the second period, but it was a run to remember for Neuerlatz, and their fans will be hoping to see this form continue into their promotion push. That just left it between Northbrook and Surtsey on the Sunday for the second slot in the final, then, with the knowledge that we were either going to get a continuation of the battle that Bjarnarey and Northbrook will have just concluded in the league, or an all-Commonwealth ding dong. And, with apologies to Gulls fans, we got the former, which is probably the more tantalising prospect. Volkhardt Grief made things interesting in the second half with a fine strike from distance, but the damage had already been done by a Wolfgangsson-Will one-two in first half stoppage time that the Gulls simply never recovered from. A Bjarnarey-Northbrook final it is then, and I for one can’t wait.


MATCHDAY 31
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
SK Franz Josef City 2–1 Red Star Severny
FC Cape St Paul 0–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Melville Celtic 0–1 Scapa Bay Rovers
SK Nasjonale Hauker 5–2 East Franz Athletic
FC Axel Heiburg 7–2 Novaya Sibir Reds
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–0 North Star Grímsey
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2–3 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Okay, so, where do we start? Title battle? Title battle. And it’s advantage well and truly Bjarnarey after Northbrook fell to a limp two-nil defeat in Aasiaat. Matteus Henschen and Matias Langager scored the goals that did Aasiaat’s IFCF battle the world of good, but is it perhaps the first sign that the pressure of chasing is getting to the Diamonds? The title fight might be over quicker than we thought, if it is. Bjarnarey took full advantage of this slip-up with an efficient and solid one-nil home win over North Star - Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn scoring the only goal in a Bjarnarey win for the second weekend in a row. With that gap at the top opened up to five points maybe we won’t get a final-day decider, after all. In the battle for the IFCF spot, Aasiaat’s aforementioned win lifts them into fourth spot, but Nasjonale put what are probably the final nails in the East Franz charge with a five-two win in the Eastside Derby – Siebel and Fazakas did so well to bring the Spires level after going behind to a Polland brace, but the Hawks opened up in the second half and pulled away thanks to goals from Yanni Eklund, Mirko Ovcina, and Ainsley Stenhouse. SK pick up a very welcome win with a late winner from Igerne Félix at home to Red Star meaning they leapfrog Surtsey, who picked the wrong part of the season to start losing at home. FC Axel Heiburg have had a really tough time of it in recent weeks, and they take all of that frustration out on the unfortunate Novaya Sibir, apparently, with a seven-two drubbing at Axel Torvig Park; a four-goal haul for Eike-Rasmussen doing his golden boot bid no harm at all. That defeat means Novaya Sibir are still right in it at the bottom, incidentally, as the only side in the bottom six to win this weekend were the already relegated Scapa Bay, against Melville, who’ll no doubt be wondering how they allowed such an opportunity to pass them by. Jan Mayen and Skipsbyggere share a draw at Victoria Stadium, a point that might be enough for Jan Mayen but probably won’t be for the Waves – who are now nine points from safety with three to play – and St Paul squandered a number of chances to win at home to Resolute. Let’s hope for their sake they don’t regret that come the end of the season.


MATCHDAY 32
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
North Star Grímsey 2–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Novaya Sibir Reds 4–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
East Franz Athletic 2–0 Melville Celtic
Scapa Bay Rovers 1–1 FC Cape St Paul
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–1 SK Franz Josef City
Red Star Severny 2–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Skipsbyggere IFK 2–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Maybe there’s some life in Skipsbyggere after all! A stunning come from behind win over Aasiaat means not only that the visitors lose ground in the IFCF battle, but that Skipsbyggere get exactly the result they needed. Of course, they’d have been relegated anyway had results gone against them, but defeats for Melville and Jan Mayen, as well as that draw for St Paul at already relegated Scapa Bay (who are proving a right nuisance to the other teams at the bottom in these games since being relegated), mean that the real winners at the bottom are Skipsbyggere, and, Novaya Sibir, who were inspired to a glorious win over Nasjonale by the outgoing Jari-Andrej Coia. Those three points could be absolutely crucial come the end of the month, so let’s see what happens. We already know Aasiaat lost ground, and it is an open door that both Surtsey and SK stride through gladly with away wins over Northbrook and Resolute respectively to leapfrog the Pilots into fourth and fifth place. That win for Surtsey means Bjarnarey had the chance to win the league in the late kick-off against Longyearbyen… a chance they well and truly fluffed as Longyearbyen continued their disruptive end t the season in a now comfortable mid-table slot. Nasjonale fans will look back on their defeat to Novaya Sibir even more ruefully now of course, as they know those defeats for the two teams at the top mean they could have gone second with a win, and only four points off the top. Alas. Mathematically, it’s a two-horse race now.,


MATCHDAY 33
Skipsbyggere IFK 1–3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–2 Red Star Severny
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
SK Franz Josef City 1–0 Scapa Bay Rovers
FC Cape St Paul 0–0 East Franz Athletic
Melville Celtic 3–2 Novaya Sibir Reds
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–0 North Star Grímsey
FC Axel Heiburg 3–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 4–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
The early fixture this weekend was a humdinger, as second top played second bottom with huge ramifications at both ends of the table. Skipsbyggere went into the game knowing they needed a win to keep alive their slim hopes of survival, with Northbrook knowing that they needed a win to keep alive their slim hopes of grabbing the title and take full advantage of kicking off before Bjarnarey to put the pressure on the defending champions. And, well, Sjpisbyggere will be preparing for life in Divisjon Two next season as their luck finally, painfully, ran out. It was a comfortable win for Northbrook in the end, and it means there are still two teams in it...

But then, there was one! Surtsey have had a huge impact on the destination of the title this year, with that win over Northbrook last weekend severely damaging the Diamonds’ prospects – even if Bjarnarey lost too, we were running out of games for things to change – and this week, after Northbrook’s win, they faced up to the prospect of preventing their Norscelt rivals from winning the league and forcing them to take it to the final day. In the end, it wasn’t even close. Nothing motivates Ziegenhagen’s side like the chance to get one over the Gulls, it would seem, and goals from Sassou, Baer, Tripp, and Ënàrsòn, means the title will be staying at The Barge for another season, and next week’s highly anticipated ‘title showdown’ will be nothing more than a dress rehearsal for the Latitude Cup final. Ho hum.

Elsewhere at the bottom, Novaya Sibir were the only team in relegation plight not to pick up any points this weekend, their defeat to a delighted Melville Celtic side leaving them in the dropzone by merit of their inferior goal difference against FC Cape St Paul, whose goalless draw against East Franz means survival is still in their own hands… but mostly because they play Novaya Sibir on the final day. So, we lose a final day title battle, we gain a final day relegation battle. Easy come, easy go. A draw between the two sides may also yet be enough, with both Jan Mayen and Melville only a point above them, and with a goal difference that means a heavy defeat on the final day could still be enough to send them down. What a season.

Aasiaat Harbour’s home defeat to a Red Star side with nothing play for means that they’re now out of contention for the IFCF spots ,and wins for SK and Nasjonale put them in the driving seat following Surtseys loss to Bjarnarey. It’s all kicking off.


MATCHDAY 34
Northbrook Diamonds FK 3–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–0 FC Axel Heiburg
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
North Star Grímsey 3–3 Melville Celtic
Novaya Sibir Reds 3–0 FC Cape St Paul
East Franz Athletic 1–1 SK Franz Josef City
Scapa Bay Rovers 0–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–3 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Red Star Severny 1–1 Skipsbyggere IFK
The final day swings around then, and we finally know how things transpired for another year. At the top, we already knew Bjarnarey had things sewn up, and Northbrook very sportingly awarded them a guard of honour at Palace Approach on the final day, despite the disappointment of this game already not being worth anything. The two sides cooked up a classic ahead of the Latitude Cup final however, with a three-all draw whetting all of our appetites for the showdown next weekend. Let’s have it.

The Gulls gave themselves the best possible chance to overhaul SK in the race for the final IFCF spot with a Grief-inspired win over Axel Heiburg, particularly with an Elfsteijn Derby taking place in the capital, but a one-all draw in that particular fixture meant Surtsey miss out. SK took the lead early in that fixture, in fact, with only a late equaliser from Siebel dragging the Spires level, so Gulls fans never really had a chance to get excited. That late goal from Siebel did mean Nasjonale sealed third place with a draw of their own at Longyearbyen however, and that’s a great return on investment for Hawks fans; Elmo Polland’s goals ably replacing the void left behind by Emmanuele Niemi’s departure and propelling them to another top three finish. Surtsey will be disappointed to miss out on IFCF football after coming so close, but the truth of the matter is they’ve become the first team to crack the dominance of the Big Six in I don’t even know how many seasons, and things are looking bright at Stadion Solberg. East Franz and Aasiaat have underwhelmed this year, and will be happy for the chance to regroup and come again next year.

In the middle of the table, Longyearbyen will be delighted with eighth placed on their return to the top flight, whilst Red Star and Axel Heiburg can also be happy with their performances, even if the latter gave us one of the streakiest up-and-down seasons I’ve ever seen. Resolute can be happy with tenth place, but North Star will be disappointed in an outcome that makes it look like they were a lot closer to the drop than they probably actually were. And, speaking of the drop…

We know Scapa Bay and Skipsbyggere were already down, but who was going to take that final spot? Well, first of all, a draw for Melville at North Star and a goalless draw for Jan Mayen at Scapa Bay (who finally stopped being disruptive, sort of) meant they were both safe, needing only a point to make sure. Whilst this is probably mission accomplished for Melville, Jan Mayen fans will be hoping that their club’s ambitions for next season are far higher. And with Jepsen in charge, they might get that wish.

Anyway, that left just the final showdown between Novaya Sibir and St Paul, with St Paul holding the goal difference in case of a draw and ensuring that Novaya Sibir needed nothing less than a win – and win they did! Handsomely! Jari-Andrej Coia proved once again just how much they’re going to miss him at Uverdale Veldt next season, as he set up two goals on their way to a three-nil win, but this was truly a team performance that dragged the Reds out of danger at the last possible moment, and so, we say goodbye to the Dockers Derby in Divisjon One for another season, as both St Paul sides descend to the second tier.

So, your final league table then:

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     34   21   6   7    72   38  +34    69 - Champions, IFCF CL, CdC
 2  Northbrook Diamonds FK      34   18  10   6    58   37  +21    64 - IFCF CC, IFCF CWC
 3  SK Nasjonale Hauker         34   19   5  10    58   38  +20    62 - IFCF CC
 4  SK Franz Josef City         34   18   7   9    53   31  +22    61 - IFCF CC
 5  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   34   17   9   8    51   34  +17    60
 6  SK Aasiaat Harbour          34   18   4  12    47   36  +11    58
 7  East Franz Athletic         34   15   8  11    51   42   +9    53
 8  RSK Longyearbyen Town       34   14   6  14    54   59   −5    48
 9  Red Star Severny            34   12   8  14    40   45   −5    44
10  FC Axel Heiburg             34   13   4  17    48   52   −4    43
11  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      34   11  10  13    40   50  −10    43
12  North Star Grímsey          34   11   7  16    42   44   −2    40
13  Novaya Sibir Reds           34    9  11  14    46   59  −13    38
14  Melville Celtic             34    9  10  15    41   56  −15    37
15  Jan Mayen Islanders         34    8  13  13    38   53  −15    37
16  FC Cape St Paul             34    8  11  15    35   53  −18    35 - Relegated
17  Skipsbyggere IFK            34    7   7  20    37   63  −26    28 - Relegated
18  Scapa Bay Rovers            34    4  12  18    27   48  −21    24 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Runners-Up: Northbrook Diamonds FK
Relegated: FC Cape St Paul, Skipsbyggere IFK, Scapa Bay Rovers
Player of the Season:
1.  Youssef Nijgaard (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
2.  Ryn Jaxon  (Northbrook Diamonds FK)
3.  Elmo Polland (SK Nasjonale Hauker)
4.  Mikkel Makkinen (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
5.  Jari-Andrej Coia (Novaya Sibir Reds)
Young Player (u-23) of the Season:
1.  Youssef Nijgaard (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
2.  Jari-Andrej Coia (Novaya Sibir Reds)
3.  Volkhardt Grief (FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls)
4.  Katinka Fazarkas  (East Franz Athletic)
5.  Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
Top Goalscorers:
20 -  Elmo Polland (SK Nasjonale Hauker)
18 -  Ryn Jaxon  (Northbrook Diamonds FK)
16 -  Katinka Fazarkas  (East Franz Athletic),  Volkhardt Grief (FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls)
15 -  Khephren Sassou  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla),  Loick Sorensen  (SK Franz Josef City)
14 -  Youssef Nijgaard (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla),  Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
Top Assistmakers:
15 -  Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
14 -  Antonio Govorcinovic  (SK Franz Josef City)
13 -  Kyong Tripp  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
12 -  Youssef Nijgaard (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
11 -  Igerne Félix  (SK Franz Josef City),  Jari-Andrej Coia (Novaya Sibir Reds)
Team of the Season:

In the second flight, an almighty tussle between the Twin-City clubs of Torshavn and Koppen Rig has ended in Torshavn grabbing the title on the last day of the season, making sure we get a Twin-City Derby in Divisjon One next year that has in-built beef all ready and set up to go. Exciting times. And it’s a good season for the western sides in general, as Matahiko Viktory become the first side from Kuril Arkhipelago to ever reach the top flight of the federal leagues – a huge achievement, so get praktising your Kurik dialekt now, folks. They beat competition from Neuerlatz, Rapid, and Islay Town in the process, but all three will be amongst the favourites to go up next season.

At the bottom, Lokomotiv Barentsberg were done a little earlier in the season, but Yuzhny Albion and Sutherland Foundry are the unlucky teams to drop to the third tier on that titanic battle over the course of the final day - Måriussa Viking, Moss-Rygge, and Young Boys only avoided relegation on goal difference, which, for two of them, would have been embarrassing given how recently they were in the top tier. Still, they live to fight another seaosn.

------Divisjon Two             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC Torshavn               34   18  10   6    56   40  +16    64 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 2  Koppen Rig Force          34   19   6   9    58   36  +22    63 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 3  Matahiko Viktory SK       34   19   3  12    55   50   +5    60 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 4  Neuerlatz AFK             34   15  10   9    60   49  +11    55
 5  Rapid Jan Mayen FK        34   16   7  11    48   42   +6    55
 6  Islay Town Mechanical     34   15   9  10    54   44  +10    54
 7  SK Sturm Nuuk             34   15   7  12    61   55   +6    52
 8  Bohemiens Grise Fiord     34   13  11  10    56   55   +1    50
 9  FC Solovetsky Monastery   34   13   6  15    46   48   −2    45
10  SC Kiel                   34   12   8  14    45   49   −4    44
11  Rapid SK Eysturoy         34   11   9  14    39   44   −5    42
12  Hospitaliers              34   11   8  15    38   45   −7    41
13  Franz Josef Young Boys    34    9  10  15    42   42    0    37
14  Eintracht Moss-Rygge      34   10   7  17    37   44   −7    37
15  Måriussa Viking FK        34    8  13  13    46   54   −8    37
16  Sutherland Foundry SK     34    9  10  15    37   54  −17    37 - Relegated
17  SK Yuzhny Albion          34    8  10  16    36   53  −17    34 - Relegated
18  Lokomotiv Barentsberg     34    6  14  14    41   51  −10    32 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: FC Torshavn
Runners-Up: Koppen Rig Force
Promoted: FC Torshavn, Koppen Rig Force, Matahiko Viktory
Relegated: Sutherland Foundry SK, SK Yuzhny Albion, Lokomotiv Barentsberg
Player of the Season:  PHilipp Zeglin (FC Torshavn)
Top Goalscorer: 20 -  Andre Gentes (Neuerlatz AFK)

In the third tier, Viipuri take the silverware, just about holding off the challenge of Hove and Equinox over the course of the season, but all three will be delighted to be stepping up back into the second tier again. Hans Island and pre-season favourites Aleutia Volcanoes miss out, but will be aiming to go again next year. At the other end of the table, there’s a big ol’ dropzone into that fourth tier of the Challenge League, and Agheim – who not so long ago were unlucky not to go up into Divisjon One, don’t forget – are lucky this time not to be facing that trip. Instead, the teams facing up to Challenge League football next season are Klub Atletisk, Ostermeier, Universitet, and Severnaya Zemlya.

------Divisjon Three               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FK Viipuri 56                 34   18   9   7    59   42  +17    63 - Promoted
 2  Maritime Hove FC              34   18   7   9    70   50  +20    61 - Promoted
 3  Yuzhny Equinox FC             34   18   6  10    66   51  +15    60 - Promoted
 4  AFK Hans Island Pioneers      34   16   9   9    53   39  +14    57
 5  AC Aleutia Volcanoes          34   16   7  11    44   38   +6    55
 6  FK Grise Fiord                34   15   8  11    50   47   +3    53
 7  Franz Josef Sharks            34   13  12   9    43   35   +8    51
 8  FC North Melville             34   13  10  11    54   49   +5    49
 9  McAvery Centurions            34   13   8  13    51   54   −3    47
10  FC1. Sturm Grímsey            34   12  10  12    55   47   +8    46
11  FC1. Rangers                  34   10  12  12    46   51   −5    42
12  Bennett and Zhokhov           34   11   9  14    55   63   −8    42
13  Seratakki Villagers           34   13   3  18    39   51  −12    42
14  Agheim CF                     34   10   9  15    57   57    0    39
15  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen     34   10   6  18    43   60  −17    36 - Relegated
16  Ostermeier Old Boys           34    9   9  16    42   65  −23    36 - Relegated
17  Universitet                   34    9   8  17    46   55   −9    35 - Relegated
18  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox   34    6  10  18    41   60  −19    28 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: FK Viipuri 56
Runners-Up: Maritime Hove FC
Promoted: FK Viipuri 56, Maritime Hove FC, Yuzhny Equinox FC
Relegated: Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen, Ostermeier Old Boys, Universitet, Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox
Player of the Season:  Emanuel Hayn (FK Viipuri 56)
Top Goalscorer: 23 -  Randolf Haine (Maritime Hove FC)

In the Challenge League East Divisjon, there was disappointment for Aleutia Town Dragons, Hauken Orca, KA Rikyaare, and SK Thor, as they all drop through that huge trapdoor into the Regional League – that shorter season in the Challenge League continues to trip teams up just when they’re finding form, apparently. At the top, there are happier results for both Korsten Lokomotiv and Uelmark MK.

------East Divisjon             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Korsten Lokomotiv          26   14   7   5    50   30  +20    49 - Promoted
 2  Uelmark MK                 26   13   5   8    52   33  +19    44 - Promoted
 3  Vale of Moray              26   13   5   8    32   30   +2    44
 4  Sisimut Black Star         26   13   3  10    44   38   +6    42
 5  Steffansson Island FC      26   11   8   7    41   29  +12    41
 6  Krykkjesund Olympic        26   10   8   8    34   29   +5    38
 7  IHK Geddesberg             26   11   4  11    40   46   −6    37
 8  Invermuir Highlanders FC   26    9   7  10    37   35   +2    34
 9  Ingvar Peaks FC            26    9   6  11    31   36   −5    33
10  San Moranna FC             26    8   8  10    24   29   −5    32
11  Aleutia Town Dragons       26    7   8  11    28   37   −9    29 - Relegated
12  Hauken Orca                26    6  10  10    23   28   −5    28 - Relegated
13  KA Rikyaare                26    6   7  13    34   44  −10    25 - Relegated
14  SK Thor 1898               26    6   6  14    25   51  −26    24 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Korsten Lokomotiv
Runners-Up: Uelmark MK
Promoted: Korsten Lokomotiv, Uelmark MK
Relegated: Aleutia Town Dragons, Hauken Orca, KA Rikyaare, SK Thor 1898
Player of the Season:  Noel Arnot (Korsten Lokomotiv)
Top Goalscorer: 18 -  Noel Arnot (Korsten Lokomotiv)

In the West meanwhile, Meteor Kholmsk ‘endure’ another season of ‘meteoric rise’ jokes as they make the step up into Divisjon Three, where they’ll be joined by GVFFK Pekarik, who are also probably punching above their weight. Let’s see if they can maintain that level with a successful season next year. At the bottom, Fetlar, Brighthelmstone, Northbrook Zenith, and Urri all face the drop into the Regional League.

------West Divisjon          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Meteor Kholmsk SK       26   15   4   7    37   24  +13    49 - Promoted
 2  GVFFK Pekarik           26   14   3   9    41   39   +2    45 - Promoted
 3  Torpedo Sibir RKA       26   11  11   4    40   29  +11    44
 4  FK Ost-Volonovsk        26   13   3  10    46   32  +14    42
 5  FK Norsviken Cossacks   26   12   6   8    39   33   +6    42
 6  Ueland-Alne             26   11   5  10    42   41   +1    38
 7  Devon Bay Lights FC     26   10   7   9    36   27   +9    37
 8  Energie Zemlya FK       26   10   6  10    36   35   +1    36
 9  Logan United FC         26   11   3  12    35   36   −1    36
10  Axel Town AFC           26    9   8   9    38   43   −5    35
11  FC Fetlar               26    9   5  12    38   42   −4    32 - Relegated
12  KSC Brighthelmstone     26    7   7  12    30   43  −13    28 - Relegated
13  Northbrook Zenith FC    26    7   4  15    34   48  −14    25 - Relegated
14  NKK Urri                26    4   6  16    22   42  −20    18 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Meteor Kholmsk SK
Runners-Up: GVFFK Pekarik
Promoted: Meteor Kholmsk SK, GVFFK Pekarik
Relegated: FC Fetlar, KSC Brighthelmstone, Northbrook Zenith FC, NKK Urri
Player of the Season:  Madars Kuhnle (Meteor Kholmsk SK)
Top Goalscorer: 19 -  Uudo Henriksen (FK Ost-Volonovsk)

In the always competitive Regional League, teams are as determined as ever to avoid slipping into the oblivion that lies beneath them, or strike out for the promised lands above them, depending on their outlook. Furthermore, with four opportunities to play each other every season, there are plenty of narratives that develop over the course of the year. For example, in the Central Premier this season, Larsen Bay Thunder finished top as runaway winners, but West End only pipped Lokomotiv Karlstadt to the second promotion place by a single point – a fact that becomes noteworthy when you consider these two teams drew in their first three ties of the season, before West End beat Karlstadt on the penultimate day of the season. At the bottom, there is disappointment for AIK Winterthur after a disastrous final few months of the season saw their form completely disappear.

------Central Premier             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Larsen Bay Thunder FC        44   27  12   5    91   47  +44    93 - Promoted
 2  West End                     44   22  11  11    69   52  +17    77 - Promoted
 3  1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt       44   22  10  12    73   58  +15    76
 4  Machtspool Whitesleeves FC   44   20  14  10    79   57  +22    74
 5  Royal NK Sikjonek            44   15  15  14    69   70   −1    60
 6  Green Star Kobelevskov       44   17   7  20    58   61   −3    58
 7  FC Velcosta Cliffs           44   16   8  20    62   63   −1    56
 8  Bindelsfjorden Dynamo        44   15   9  20    70   79   −9    54
 9  SK Nolmkien 1949             44   13  14  17    63   73  −10    53
10  St Gallen 47                 44   11  12  21    55   79  −24    45
11  FKS-North                    44   11  11  22    44   62  −18    44
12  AIK Winterthur               44    8  11  25    41   73  −32    35 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Larsen Bay Thunder FC
Runners-Up: West End
Promoted: Larsen Bay Thunder FC, West End
Relegated: AIK Winterthur
Player of the Season:  Patrik Landstrom (Larsen Bay Thunder FC)
Top Goalscorer: 33 -  Patrik Landstrom (Larsen Bay Thunder FC)

In the North-Eastern, SK Stryær pushed Sporting Club all the way to the end of the season, but its the Institution who take the title in the end, and they make the step back up to the Challenge League. Aurich-Hassen and Kampengar weren’t really close at all in the end, but they’ll hope to go again next season. At the bottom, Boden show just how difficult the step up to Regional Premier football is by coming in way, way distant to Aurora Hammarby.

------North-Eastern Premier     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Sporting Club Aasiaat 87   44   26  11   7    79   46  +33    89 - Promoted
 2  SK Stryær                  44   24  12   8    85   52  +33    84 - Promoted
 3  Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC    44   21  14   9    79   51  +28    77
 4  FC Kampengar Magpies       44   21   9  14    76   62  +14    72
 5  Sannegarden Fleet FK       44   20  11  13    74   61  +13    71
 6  Hanshaugen Gate FK         44   16  15  13    65   55  +10    63
 7  Resolute Hills FC          44   14  10  20    53   66  −13    52
 8  FK Aagen Zenith            44   13  12  19    53   62   −9    51
 9  Waldenøya Bears            44   11  16  17    49   63  −14    49
10  Oaks of Fjellisroy         44   13   8  23    61   69   −8    47
11  Aurora Hammarby            44   12   9  23    48   87  −39    45
12  Boden 61                   44    4  11  29    41   89  −48    23 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Sporting Club Aasiaat 87
Runners-Up: Runar Karas
Promoted: Sporting Club Aasiaat 87, Runar Karas
Relegated: Boden 61
Player of the Season:  Sami Sitlar (Sporting Club Aasiaat 87)
Top Goalscorer: 28 -  Runar Karas (SK Stryær)

In the South-Eastern, Alejavik ran away with it towards the end, and Bielstrich had to focus more on fending off the advances of Bathurst and Holtrecht, rather than hauling back the runaway leaders. At the bottom, Crusaders are the unlucky side to go down, suffering at the hands of the cruel mistress that is goal difference. Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais just about managed to avoid getting drubbed on a couple more occasions than Crusaders, and that’s the difference in the end.

------South-Eastern Premier       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  AIK Alejavik                 44   27   6  11    77   42  +35    87 - Promoted
 2  Bielstrich Timbers FC        44   20  15   9    75   61  +14    75 - Promoted
 3  Bathurst Zenith FC           44   21   8  15    79   52  +27    71
 4  Holtrecht Force SK           44   18  13  13    66   56  +10    67
 5  US Saint-John                44   20   5  19    68   66   +2    65
 6  Ilksporta IK                 44   18  10  16    62   60   +2    64
 7  Forrairn St Johan FC         44   17  10  17    59   62   −3    61
 8  Friedrichsund Fencing Club   44   16   8  20    62   74  −12    56
 9  Sleijnmakt Sport             44   15   8  21    54   69  −15    53
10  Lindesvogne Violets          44   13  11  20    57   73  −16    50
11  Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais       44   11  10  23    48   69  −21    43
12  Crusaders                    44   11  10  23    48   71  −23    43 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: AIK Alejavik
Runners-Up: Bathurst Zenith FC
Promoted: AIK Alejavik, Bathurst Zenith FC
Relegated: Crusaders
Player of the Season:  Till Sterzinger (AIK Alejavik)
Top Goalscorer: 27 -  Acke Aaltonen (Bathurst Zenith FC)

Finally, the Western Premier, and it’s another occasion where two teams were well clear of the rest. Orebro and Fairbanks can have little complaints in the end, with Devon Bay Seals and the eventual winners Bulargen well clear of the rest. Going down into the Regional Feeder is the ‘prize’ for the team finishing bottom, of course, and things were a little bit closer here: Keldira Zenith are the team facing that reality this year, with Stromness Electric securing just the one extra point that proved to be the difference in the end. Unlucky, folks.

------Western Premier          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Bulargen Independents     44   22  14   8    72   45  +27    80 - Promoted
 2  Devon Bay Seals FC        44   20  13  11    71   46  +25    73 - Promoted
 3  Orebro FK                 44   18  11  15    67   59   +8    65
 4  FK Fairbanks              44   18  11  15    60   53   +7    65
 5  Fynersturen Valhalla      44   18  11  15    55   57   −2    65
 6  Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC   44   16  14  14    61   53   +8    62
 7  IHK Sirius                44   15  13  16    62   63   −1    58
 8  Gjornhammer Pier FC       44   14  11  19    51   65  −14    53
 9  Fjorhorgen SK             44   11  18  15    53   58   −5    51
10  Dinamo Olsa FK            44   10  20  14    60   66   −6    50
11  SK Stromness Electric     44   12   9  23    52   72  −20    45
12  SV Keldira Zenith         44    9  17  18    42   69  −27    44 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Bulargen Independents
Runners-Up: Devon Bay Seals FC
Promoted: Bulargen Independents, Devon Bay Seals FC
Relegated: SV Keldira Zenith
Player of the Season:  Tuudor Bracker (Bulargen Independents)
Top Goalscorer: 26 -  Tuudor Bracker (Bulargen Independents)

And so with four teams relegated, we also need to say welcome to the four new teams promoted from the new second tiers of the Regional Conferences:
Arbor CSK, Marine FC, Morrenmark IFK, and SK Carson Islanders




Having fought off the rest of the teams in their respective Challenge League Divisjons, the winners get to face off against each other for the glory of being crowned the best team in the fourth tier for this season. This year, it is Meteor Kholmsk who continued their fine form into the final showdown, beating Korsten Lokomotiv by two goals to one – although the unlucky Lokomotiv did manage to hit the post three times in the final five minutes.

Final
Meteor Kholmsk SK 2-1 Korsten Lokomotiv

CHAMPIONS: Meteor Kholmsk SK

The Regional Trophy also comes around before you know, offering the teams at the top of the fifth tier the chance to determine which amongst them were the pick of the bunch this year – and taking a great big target onto their backs for next season as a result. After the two-legged semi-finals had concluded, we got to see Bulargen face off against Sporting Club in the final, and it was the Aasiaat side who lifted the trophy.

Semi-Finals
Larsen Bay Thunder FC 1-0 Bulargen Independents
Bulargen Independents 2-0 Larsen Bay Thunder FC (Agg 2-1)

Sporting Club Aasiaat 87 4-1 AIK Alejavik
AIK Alejavik 1-0 Sporting Club Aasiaat 87 (Agg 2-4)

Final
Sporting Club Aasiaat 87 3-0 Bulargen Independents

CHAMPIONS: Sporting Club Aasiaat 87

So, to the Latitude Cup final then; the centerpiece of the closing weeks of the season. And, this year it is an absolute cracker. Will Northbrook take revenge for the season of chasing Bjarnarey’s heels and retain the trophy they won last year? Or will Bjarnarey conitnue to frustrate their rivals from the far north by proving to have too much once again?

Well, the latter. Arno Ziegenhagen might have inherited a superb squad, but he has to take credit for turning the Bargemen into the absolute winning machine that they are right now. Goals from Youssef Nijgaard and Kyong Tripp put them into a commanding position at half time, and, although Nico Wickenheiser got a goal back for the Diamonds after some fine work from Ryn Jaxon down the flank, it was his Terns teammate Nijgaard who settled things in the dying quarter of an hour, ensuring that he’d lift the trophy for the Flotilla and complete an historic league and cup double.

So near and yet so far for Diamonds fans this year, then, and they must be wondering what else they can do to overhaul this Bjarnarey squad.

Final
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1-3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla

CHAMPIONS: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla

Polar Islandstates (PIS) qualifiers
Champions League: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Challengers Cup: Northbrook Diamonds FK, SK Nasjonale Hauker, SK Franz Josef City
Liga B Champions Trophy: RSK Longyearbyen Town, Novaya Sibir Reds, Melville Celtic
Cup Winners’ Cup: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla

CdC: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla

[The Valhallan Union]

Placeholder

[Polar Islandstates]

2056
Season 68 Preview

Last season could have been an all-time classic. Could have. Arguably, it should have. But alas, there isn’t some great magic wand to wave, or a hand rolling magic dice to dictate all of this for us. Ahem. But it did have all of the components. A defending champion attempting to keep things unpredictable enough on the pitch to foil their opponents, a runner-up just itching for revenge, a resurgent giant taking aim at the control and dominance of the Big Six, tales of punching above weight all over the league... all topped off with the two best teams in the league facing each other on the final day of the season and in the Latitude Cup final...

Alas.

As we all know, Bjarnarey ended up sneaking away with it before the final day, meaning Northbrook had nothing more than a practice run at the Latitude Cup final on that last weekend of the league. Although, to be fair, we did have a cup final to remember. Either Northbrook were going to be the first team to retain the Cup in a long, long, time... Or Bjarnarey were going to a seal a rare and covered league and cup double.

Of course, it was the latter, and Northbrook fans must be sick of the sight of those black and green jerseys by now.

But what’s going to happen this year? With everyone itching for the off, some surprising promotees, another chance for Surtsey to mix things up, and a great big, massive target on Bjarnarey’s back as they go for the three-peat, let’s have a look at what the clubs have been up to in the off-season...



FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
The Barge (32,340), Bjarnarey, Norscelt.
Manager: Arno Ziegenhagen
Last season: Champions
Arno Ziegenhagen might be the best incremental-gains-based manager that Divisjon One has ever seen. Taking a successful team and having the patience and confidence to make only slight tweaks each season in order to stay at the top is not an easy thing to do. You have to have faith in your players, faith in yourself, and faith in your plans, but that’s exactly what happened last year, as Ziegenhagen held his nerve to guide the Bargemen not just to retaining their league title, but also to winning the Latitude Cup, completing a rare and highly coveted league and cup double. They’ve got talented players all over the park, now, all rallying behind instrumental forward Youssef Nijgaard and some of the best midfielders in the league. Some of the players who’ve been at Bjarnarey for a while are now more decorated than a number of legends that you could name of to have come through Divisjon One, but they need to keep it going if they want to cement their legacy. So, with a chance a three-peat on the line, and a legitimate shot at producing the first double-double the Federation has ever seen: what’s the tactic this year, Arno?
Transfer Window: Well, strengthening the middle of the park appeared to be the main idea for Ziegenhagen this year, with the marquee addition of Zenic defender Kian Hodge intended to shore things up at the back, and both Lucas Dupont of Crpostan and Eamon Breault of Kelssek coming in to add rigidity to the midfield. That midfield of Bjarnarey’s is absolutely stacked now, so don’t be surprised to see a number of outgoings next season from players unhappy with playing time.
Prediction: Champions
Players of Note: Youssef Nijaard, Mikkel Makkinen, Povl Kazimir, Khephren Sassou (QUE), Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn (FFD), Kyong Tripp (CMT), Jori Sipp, Michael Baer (PAS), Sigmunder Aalstadt, Kelvin Rowley (TKT), Mark Jamieson (BRO), Lucas Dupont (CRN), Kian Hodge (ZEN), Eamon Breault (KSK)


Northbrook Diamonds FK
Palace Approach (31,392), Northbrook, Northbrook.
Manager: Victor Otkupshchikov
Last season: Runners-Up
So close, and yet so far. Once again, Northbrook were the nearly-side of Polarian football, although last year they didn’t even have the cup to console themselves with. Instead, they managed to get all the final, and then when faced with the chance to both deny Bjarnarey a double and retain their trophy all in one go... failed to do either, and let the Bargemen complete an agonising year for the Diamonds. Diamonds fans must be sick of the sight of those green and black jerseys, and who can blame them. But, there’s one thing that the Diamonds have done that the Flotilla never have, and that’s win a three-peat. Aiming to prevent Bjarnarey from joining Northbrook and SK in that little exclusive club will be Otkupshchikov’s main aim this season. Northbrook are hungry, and their fans are desperate for a league title as reward for how good this current squad is. Will they get it? Ehhhhhh... maybe?
Transfer Window: The temptation to go hard on replacing the entire squad in order to get at Bjarnarey must have been strong for Otkupshchikov, but he managed to resist it, and the team is probably better balanced as a result – though this does rely on Wickenhesier keeping up his impressive form from last season. Valanora midfielder Andreas Melhus was the biggest outlay, the Zenic defender Floryan Dubravko being signed to go against their former teammate Hodge – now at Bjarnarey of course. Youngsters Spyro Kairidis of Vdara and Harada Mikio of Chromatik could also be shrewd additions in time. Veteran defender Jens Carlquist moved on of course, and his loss of experience at the back will be notable.
Prediction: Runners-Up
Players of Note: Magnus Dahm, Mátyás Vass (PAS), Joel Wolfgangsson (GRÆ), Ryn Jaxon (CMT), Tariq Will (CMT), Nico Wickenheiser, Uwe Grendahl, Ruben Herzog, Rafaela Pilzer (CMT), Andreas Melhus (VAL), Floryan Dubravko (ZEN)


SK Nasjonale Hauker
Kungsdocks (30,297), Franz Josef City, Franz Josef.
Manager: Teitur Ronkainen
Last season: 3rd
If finishing third once felt like an over-reach from Nasjonale, doing it two seasons in a row was remarkable. There’s no reason to think that they won’t do it again, other than the fact that teams like Nasjonale don’t tend to repeat performances form one season to the next. Honestly speaking, this is the fifth best squad in the league, maybe. But they don’t do statistics at Kungsdocks, with only board intervention reportedly stopping Ronkainen from sacking the entire staff of analysts. No tactics, only vibes, apparently, and yet somehow that seems to work just fine for the fans. They love mixing things up at Nasjonale, and those irritatingly persistent yellow and black hornets will likely be buzzing around the top of the table once again. Quite how high they’ll reach is seemingly in the lap of the gods, but fans would absolutely take another season of IFCF football if you offered it to them. Just so long as Hauker are fun to watch, anyway. As they say at Kungsdocks, the real friends were the absolute chaos we sowed along the way. Or something like that.
Transfer Window: Just the two senior additions to the squad this off-season, with Ronkainen choosing to add quality rather than quantity, but in left-back Henri Laurent of Crpostan they might have got an absolute bargain. Striker Alvaro Biaggi was the main purchase of the window however, and if they forge a strong partnership with Polland up top, the Tero al Disco forward might be the best signing all year across the whole league.
Prediction: 6th
Players of Note: Elmo Polland, Eddie Mostert (CMT), Karl Kvist (SEM), Raino Jeppersen, Owen Toole (XAN), Yanni Eklund, Ainsley Stenhouse (TKT), Leon Bruvoll (VAL), Kyugagun Zurrald (KOR), Alvaro Biaggi (TER), Henri Laurent (CRN)


SK Franz Josef City
Landstadt Stadion (54,195), Franz Josef City, Franz Josef.
Manager: Vladimir Lucic
Last season: 4th
Oh, SK. The club that every loves to see fail. Every year, the fans talk the big’un - “this is going to be the year we bounce back”, “this is the best signing of the season”, “we’ve got the best squad in the country”, “this is Polarian football heritage”... and sometimes, they’re actually right about some of those claims. Usually however, in recent years, they’ve been spectacularly wrong about winning the league. I don’t know what they need, but after the initial thrill and excitement of signing foreign stars again seemed to genuinely lif thteir performances, things have fallen a bit flat again. Lucic surely hasn’t got long left in his career, so whether he can propel this side into one that is attractive for future managers is probably going to be the making of his legacy or not. As for the title? I hardly think so. Bjarnarey and Northbrook are simply too far ahead.
Transfer Window: No strangers to splashing the cash, SK did exactly that this transfer window, with experienced Mytanija defender Bosko Pestotnik providing the single biggest fee paid by any of the Divisjon One clubs this year. The Griffons have added further experience in Farf forward Gavilan Quelabura and Kelssek midfielder Alejandra Younes, but in young Crpostan midfielder William Turner they managed to secure a very sought after player. Will Lucic get them all to gel before he leaves at the end of the season? A year of transition for SK lies ahead, I think, particular as midfield stalwart Noah Leonhardt finally moved on..
Prediction: 3rd
Players of Note: Alf Lofthus, Igerne Félix (CMT), Loick Sorensen (SEM), Rahmonberdi Zhusupov (DEL), Gunnar Keppler, Heino Olsen, Jalmari Hagen, Tord Alexandersson, Antonio Govorcinovic (MYT), Matias Langager, Rabia Safarov (SRS), William Turner (CRN), Gavilan Quelabura (FFD), Bosko Pestotnik (MYT)


FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Stadion Solberg (45,924), Surtsey, Norscelt.
Manager: Sim Lefebvre
Last season: 5th
Okay, so that’s too seasons in a row I’ve underrated the Gulls going into the season, and two seasons in a row they’ve shown me up for the amateur I am. Last season was noteworthy not simply because they played good football and impressed many a neutral along the way with their slick passing style, but also because they became the first club to break the stranglehold the Big Six have had on the top of the table for absolutely ages. There’s no reason to suggest that they can’t repeat that feat this season, other than I think the other teams simply have more experience at the top of the table, and will know what to do and where to focus their efforts to make sure the Gulls stop crashing their party. It’s going to be a close one, though, and if anyone can break the dominance of the Big Six once and for all, it’s probably Sim Lefebvre’s side.
Transfer Window: So close and yet so far to international football last season, the Gulls have largely held their cards close to their chest this year as they attempt to do better this year. Nicollo Rios, a young defender from Saterun comes in as the only signing of note, with two Valanoran youngsters also coming in to provide depth in future seasons. Lefebvre clearly thinks that only tweaks are needed, but fans fear it won’t be enough.
Prediction: 7th
Players of Note: Christoffer Rex, Volkhardt Grief, Niko Wederberg, Dan-Arne Kystebo (TKT), Goran Stockman, Kieron Player (FLA), Marcus Autta (CMT), Nicollo Rios (SAT)


SK Aasiaat Harbour
Harbour Walk (28,385), Aasiaat, Victorrinn.
Manager: Finn Kirkkegaard
Last season: 6th
Finn Kirkkegaard might be the most laid-back man in Polarian football. Yes, he was delighted to lead the Pilots to the title, but he didn’t get carried away. Yes, he was delighted to be linked with the Terns’ position, but he didn’t get carried away. Yes, he was disappointed to have to rebuild a winning team, but he didn’t get too downbeat. They struggled again last season, with sixth perhaps not the return fans were hoping for, but they need to remain patient. This is a squad that has had heavy turnover in recent years, and is almost unrecognisable from the side that won the league. Kirkkegaard also has some reputation-rebuilding to do, but you can rest assured he won’t panic at the prospect. Aasiaat are a very well-run club, don’t be surprised to see them occupying the 4-7 spots in the season for years to come. Unless Kirkkegaard loses his touch for the set piece, anyway.
Transfer Window: Firepower remains the main problem for Aasiaat, with their reliance on set pieces only getting them so far last year. Yes, Henschen remains a beast up front, but he hasn’t re-found that rich seam of form that propelled the Pilots to the title, and so Andrew Farmer – a Kelssekian striker from Brookstation’s AFC Richmond has been brought in to be a foil for the veteran Polarian. It also remains to be seen how they’ll cope with the loss of Ragnar Holst in the midfield.
Prediction: 5th
Players of Note: Matteus Henchsen, Rafael Kowaleski, Jaan Reusser, Cixin Nguyen (ZWZ), Duncan McCariot (TKT), Gustav Kommersen, Andrew Farmer (KSK)


East Franz Athletic
Rendahl Stadion (47,911), Franz Josef City, Franz Josef.
Manager: Andriy Chtgheglovski
Last season: 7th
Chtgheglovski has a target on his back at East Franz. After another season of disappointments, fans are hoping for an instant bounce back this year. They’re anger at what they perceive to be the loss of talismanic keeper Hans Aigner at the expense of the manager, with many claiming they’d have rather seen it the other way round, with Aigner staying thanks to promises made by a new manager. Still, if Chtgheglovski manages to bring IFCF football back to the Rendahl, all will probably be forgotten. Maybe. Possibly. It’s not statistically impossible, anyway. Nonetheless, he remains the manager with probably the lowest ‘approval rating’ going into the season, and he’ll have his work cut out to bounce this team back in any serious way. It remains a talented-enough squad however, so who knows, he might just do it. Certainly, overhauling Nasjonale and Surtsey should be on the cards at the very least.
Transfer Window: Only finishing seventh is a distinct disappointment for East Franz, and so whilst fans weren’t surprised to see Aigner finally up sticks and hotfoot it out of there, only replacing him with Josifovo keeper Trajko Popovski and signing one new defender in the form of Zeni defender Burley Trac is something of a concern. The sense is that this is a squad rather in need of more surgery than it’s getting right now, and patience with Chtgheglovski’s approach is wearing thin.
Prediction: 4th
Players of Note: Joni Siebel, Sho Itō (SQR), Arsene-Michael Litt (QUE), Gunner Martikainen (KSK), Jere Karschner, Arni Lauff, Katinka Fazaka (PAS), Joo Pil-Seund (QUE), Petar Pejakovski (MYT), Trajko Popovski (JSF), Burley Trac (ZEN)


RSK Longyearbyen Town
Sivertsson Road (28,548), Longyearbyen, Svalbard.
Manager: Joachim Elden
Last season: 8th
Once again, certainly where Elden and RSK are concerned, hard work beat talent where talent didn’t work hard, and freshly promoted Longyearbyen stunned the opposition on many occasions last year to finish in the top half of the table. And comfortably, at that. Fans were delighted, as you can imagine, and to be honest all signs point to a repeat of last year’s performance this time around. Without a rich owner to please or a reputation to flatter, Elden has been allowed to just get on with things, and without a care in the world seemingly. It’s not football that would keep Nasjonal efans happy, but they’re practically Farfadillan up there, and RSK fans are more than happy for a repeat, thank you very much. One day, they might get back up towards the top, but there is no interest in any risktaking at Sivertsson Road, and they’ll do it at their own pace, thank you very much.
Transfer Window: Slow, steady progress is the name of the game for Elden, and his additions to the squad in the off-season have been minimal, but efficient. Xannerian defensive midfielder Baily Oppenheimer probably represents the most interesting purchase, although signing goalkeeper Euan Berby from relegated Scapa Bay must mean Elden saw Scapa Bay’s demise as nothing to do with the performances of the Ko-oren keeper. Denisa Sadikaj and Eric Jocelín from Juevencus and Tero al Disco respectively will aim to support Joel Bieri up front meanwhile.
Prediction: 9th
Players of Note: Joel Bieri, Phillip Shea (CRT), Raymond Bury, Zandre Cohen (VWD), Floriss Marshavin (AUP), Illar Aslin, Stanislaus Gronewold, Stig Barie, Eric Jocelín (TER), Euan Berby (KOR), Denisa Sadikaj (JUE), Baily Oppenheimer (XAN)


Red Star Severny
Carravale (41,734), Severny, Novaya Zemlya.
Manager: Sebastian Enger
Last season: 9th
After losing a player like Elmo Polland, I suppose nobody really knew what would happy to Red Star last season, but I have to say, they coped admirably. The didn’t quite replace all of the goals that Polland brought them, but they consolidated well in his absence and fought battles all over the pitch that mostly kept them safe and set for a comfortable mid-table performance. They only squeaked into the top half rather than challenging for international football, sure, and they’re likely to do the same and nothing more this season. But, to be honest, that’s just fine. You don’t lose a club talisman and bounce back in twelve months, ask anyone. Nonetheless, Enger has an outside shot at keeping things interesting into the last few weeks of the season if he plays his modest cards in the right place and at the right time.
Transfer Window: It became clear last season that whilst promoting from within is all well and good, sometimes you need to spend money to make money. In this case, Red Star raised plenty of eyebrows with the significant purchase of Mytanija strike Alija Sutalo. Also coming in were Kelssek midfielder Josh Scraff, Qusmo keeper Forzu-Lucex Yem, and Tikariot defender Fraser Chitwick, but all eyes will be on Sutalo. If they can replace the goals they lost when Polland moved with Scraff serving Sutalo... watch out for Severny.
Prediction: 8th
Players of Note: Kain Arnoldy, Sylvester Sandbjorn, Ludvid Altermatt, Michael Morck (TKT), Silas Nielsen, Aake Meinke, Benedikt Gipp, Forzu-Lucex Yem (QUS), Fraser Chitwick (TKT), Alija Sutalo (MYT), Josh Scraff (KSK)


FC Axel Heiburg
Axel Torvig Park (39,345), Axel Heiburg, Axel Heiburg.
Manager: Ricards Egge
Last season: 10th
You all know the story with Axel Heiburg by now, surely? Youth team this, Haapa-Mechelin that, struggle to attract big names the other. Ricards Egge is skilled at choosing which players to promote and which to cash in on however, which means the money is there to spend should they ever need to, although with much of the money instantly being reinvested in the academy, it’s hard to see him getting a chance to do so; not unless there was a dramatic need. And, there isn’t, to be honest. It’s a business model and a recipe for successful survival in the top flight, and that’s apparently enough for Axel Heiburg at the moment. They’d like to be challenging for international football again, but it’s a long time since that came to Axel Torvig Park, and mentalities like that don’t just spring out of nowhere. One day might be the time for Egge to step aside and let a more ambitious mananger take this club to where it could be. But this it not that day. Not yet, anyway.
Transfer Window: Nobody really expects many incomings from player-factory Axel Heiburg in the transfer window, and the same was true this year. In came a pair of Qusmo national teamers Tanar-Ilinx Wek, and Lapij-Lenpi Zev – both intriguingly on free transfers, meaning that with all their little outgoing transfers to domestic rivals in recent years, the Argonaut’s cuppeth overfloweth. The noise is they might be ready to cash in on Eike-Rasmussen in the coming seasons, too, so quite what they’re saving up for is anyone’s guess.
Prediction: 10th
Players of Note: Olav Glanzer, Vilhjalmur Wedland, Melvin Ferg, Arvid Wedemeyer, George Nelson (EUR), Liselotte Strannegård (TKT), Viljo Nilsen, Richard Rasmussen (SEM), Roald Eike-Rasmussen, Tanar-Ilinx Wek (QU), Lapij-Lenpi Zev (QUS)


Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Mossy Park (42,920), Resolute, Victorrinn.
Last season: 11th
Resolute are, well, resolute. But, whether you believe in the concept of nominative determinism or not, you have to agree htat there is a curiously hard-nosed and gritted-teeth kinda vibe to this squad. Last season they out-tackled, out-pressed, out-intercepted, and out-aerial-duelled almost every team in the league – finishing in the top three for every single metric – but were still unable to convert that into a top half finish, thanks mostly to trying not to get beaten rather than overstretching themselves up top. That’s not about to change anytime soon, with fans clearly valuing their continued stay in the top flight and another year of playing league matches against Aasiaat in the Feud of Victorrinn over any long-shot at international football. And yet, there are signs that Konigstein might finally be stretching his wings slightly in the tactical sense...
Transfer Window: Most notably this off-season, Kyriakos Moreitas of Vdara comes in to play as a mezzala, which is notable not for the fee – Resolute paid nothing at all for the young midfielder – but because I wasn’t aware anyone in Resolute even knew what a mezzala was. Noah Leonhardt from SK should prove a successful purchase, it’s hard to believe he wasn’t already playing for the Storm given his playing style, as could young Ko-oren midfielder Ulmer Suhbugun, but... seriously, a mezzala?!
Prediction: 15th
Manager: Bjorn Konigstein
Players of Note: Oskar Olsen (CRT), Dorian Klamer, Aleksandrs Weitz, Ken Bruckner, Huugo Offen, Ali Ari (STR), Kyriakos Moreitas (VDR), Ulmer Suhbugun (KOR), Noah Leonhardt


North Star Grímsey
Steffansen Lane (32,492), Grímsey, Norscelt.
Manager: Alexsandr Kiriyenko
Last season: 12th
Twelfth represented something of a disaster for North star last year, but, when you look closer, it’s hard to see how fans thought they deserved to finish any higher. Lehning and Borjeson aren’t the players the used to be, and long gone are the years when the Norscelt side were undisputedly the closest thing we had to a challenger against the might of the Big Six. That mantle has been well and truly taken up by their most historic cross-state rivals Surtsey, much to the annoyance of the North Star fans, but, ask them where in the squad they think they’ve got a genuinely world-class player and they flounder. Kiriyenko is a decent manager, but there’s a growing sense that he might have run out of ideas. Time for a refresh?
Transfer Window: Snapping up Undeio Dettmann from FZF might be the most impressive business the Steffansen Laners pull off this year, although bringing in Valérie Noir from relegated FC Cape St Paul is last a bit of a steal. Germán Hasse of Tero al Disco completed the business for North Star, and their presence for the club down the right flank will be crucial.
Prediction: 11th
Players of Note: Georges-André Drouin-Lacroix (TKT), Cornelius Thornburrow (TKT), Mihal Harodman (KAN), Nuut Borjeson, Philip Lehning, Eirikur Schoenly Gael Larsen (SEM), Germán Hasse (TER), Valérie Noir (CMT), Undeio Dettman (ZEN)


Novaya Sibir Reds
Uverdale Velde (29,194), Sibir, Landt Sibir.
Last season: 13th
Well, you have to say I absolutely nailed that one, at least. I said Novaya Sibir would stay up, thanks largely to the efforts of Mytanija-bound Jari-Andrej Coia, and boom. *drops mic*, etc. I do think they’l struggle this year, even if they’ve spent the money wisely. But, see Severny and their experience with replacing a talisman, and then apply it to a team that was already in a relegation battle. Yeh. Swoboda is no fool, he’ll have prepared for this eventuality, but don’t be surprised to see fans talking about their title-push next season. They mean Divisjon Two, rather than Divisjon One. Don’t be surprised either to see plenty of Atletik shirts in the crowd at Uverdale Velde this season. They really loved Coia, here.
Transfer Window: Look, they knew it was going to happen, but it still hurts. After pretty much keeping them up single-handedly, the departure of Jari-Andrej Coia back to his parent club in Atletik Tezia is going to hurt the Reds this year. They haven’t gone mad to try and make up the shortfall, but have tried to replace him with not one but two left-sided players; Pertz-Frolt Abe of Qusmo, and Georgia Stetson of Darmen.
Prediction: 17th
Manager: Boris Swoboda
Players of Note: Zeana Roquan (XAN), Jonas Kaster, Sven Herde, Jens Ovchinnov, Mathias Pitter, Georgia Stetson (DAR), Pertz-Frolt Abe (QUS)


Melville Celtic
Melville House (19,284), Melville, Hans and Melville.
Manager: Jon Wisliceny
Last season: 14th
Okay, so I didn’t think they’d stay up, but they absolutely did. And good for them. Melville Celtic always claimed that money was on the way if Wisliceny kept them up, and he’s managed to do just that. Things might be trickier this time around, sure, but he’s got the best tools in his arsenal that Melville could convince to move to well, Melville. Sorry, Melvillians but you have to see my point. It’s not the prettiest city in the country, is it. Nor is it a hotbed for footballing glamour. But, you know, neither was Bjarnarey once upon a time, and have you seen Northbrook on a grey day?! Bleugh. Anyway, Celtic might have enough to stay up again this season I reckon, and if they can manage to establish themselves as a regular top flight side, good luck to them.
Transfer Window: We told you investment was coming at Melville, and here it comes. As well as the four youngsters snapped up on frees, no fewer than five players were purchased to join the first team at Celtic this year. *Deep breath* Emma Zimpel, a goalkeeper from Sylestone was the joint-biggest outlay, alongside Roxane Beaumanoir of Chromatik to shore up the midfield. Bnjamin Thompson came in from relegated Scapa Bay, and Maximon Nance joined the FZF exodus to the Polarian top flight to increase strength at the back. As does Kelssekian defender Pierre-Luc Provencher, a bargain from Port Rhovanyon of Tikariot. Wislieceny needs to make them all gel now, but, that’s a good problem to have, surely.
Prediction: 14th
Players of Note: Kolgrímur Hersisson (GRÆ), Koit Rickenbach, Vilmundur Drydahl, Leon Eriksen (SEM), Max Witting, Benjamin Thompson (TFS), Roxane Beaumanoir (CMT), Emma Zimpel (SYL), Maximon Nance (ZEN), Pierre-Luc Provencher (KSK)


Jan Mayen Islanders
Victoria Stadium (51,293), Jan Mayen, Norscelt.
Manager: Einar Jepsen
Last season: 15th
From almost cracking the Big Six to almost being relegated in three years, Jan Mayen’s fall has been dramatic and distressing to fans. It’s true, they’ve fallen into the second flight before, but unless in the case of St Paul, whose title win was something of a flash in the pan, Jan Mayen are a side that were well used to top half finishes, title fights, and international football. Maybe not recently, no, but old habits die hard, and the Ospreys have higher aspirations than relegation. So, unsurprisingly, Klemmensen lost his job, and in came former player Einar Jepsen, fresh from assistant posts at both the Chicks and the Terns. Once safety looked likely he began to instill his philosophy at the club – perhaps a bit too quickly given how they finished the season – but if he manages to learn from that mistake and get the ship facing the right direction before he attempts open heart surgery... he’s a talented manager, and they should be just fine.
Transfer Window: And if you thought Melville filled their boots in the off-season... Jan Mayen more than matched them as Einar Jepsen begins his overhaul at the club. Young Vdaran Andronikos Barberopoulos comes in on a free, as does Chromatik midfielder Louise Blatter. Mytanija teenager Nikifor Yaponski and young Christian Luo of Saterun also joined, whilst a winning mentality will hopefully be brought to the club by experienced players Armazi Sander and Ozan Szep, both of Saterun as well, and Farf striker Vinísíus Sïrustós will attempt to fire the Ospreys to a much more comfortable finish this season.
Prediction: 12th
Players of Note: Bryce Larkingham (TKT), Carl Urdahl, Heiki Uhlgren, Li Zhen (YZH), Toshikushi Nakagone (KOR), Arnold Brunner, Vinísíus Sïrustós (FFD), Christian Luo (SAT), Armazi Sander (SAT), Ozan Szep (SAT)


FC Torshavn
Taugen Park (28,291), Koppen-Torshavn, Farosea.
Manager: Yann-Erik Nilsson
Last season: 1st, Divisjon Two
There’s something to be said about pipping your fierce rivals to a title win on the final day of the season. It just seems to energise the fanbase. Can’t think why... Anyway, Yann-Erik Nilsson is a firebrand of a manager, not that that should be much of a surprise given how he played in defence for SK and the Terns all those years ago, and he’s got Taugen Park absolutely rocking to his brand of rock’n’roll football. With the squad he’s got they should comfortably stay up, but failures in the transfer market have annoyed him no end, and his patience with the board is said to be extremely low, despite that Divisjon Two title just months ago. It won’t take much for them to give him the heave-ho before he gets a chance to ditch them, and fans are nervous as a result. And who can blame them – he'd be a big loss.
Transfer Window: Torshavn attempted to save their money by mostly going for free transfers this season, with Robert Howard, Nefina yChwyllenys, and Jessica Sanders all joining the club that way. Young Róbert Vig of Pasarga is almost certainly one for the future, whilst small fees were also outlayed on Vadim Arkhipov from Scapa Bay, and Solveig Vedmark and Sara Iudac of Savojarna and Auprussia respectively. The reason for this frugalness? A monumentally Serious Attempt to bring former club captain Usko Stomberg back to the club from relegated FC Cape St Paul. An attempt they failed spectacularly with. This is a big blow for the Kittiwakes, make no mistake.
Prediction: 13th
Players of Note: Robert Howard (TFS), Vadim Arkhipov (SRS), Solveig Vedmark (SVJ), Sara Iudac (AUP), Jessica Sanders (XAN), Philipp Zeglin, Jeppe Hasped, Solvi Blazevic, Alexander Muri



Koppen Rig Force
Pad Lane (30,491), Koppen-Torshavn, Farosea.
Manager: Kenth Hendel
Last season: 2nd, Divisjon Two
The unlucky losers in last season’s battle at the top of the second flight, it say something about the combative nature of the Koppen-Torshavn rivalry that going up and sealing promotion alongside the Kittiwakes was of almost no consolation to the Koppen fans whatsoever. The Rig Army were distraught, and Kenth Hendel has got some srious ground to make up and trust to rebuild if he’s going to be able to count on the support of the Pad Lane stands this season. A few bad results could be all it take to tip the balance of favouri against him, and that’s the main reason I’m tipping them to go down. There could be a feeding frenzy over their squad if so.
Transfer Window: Koppen Rig’s attempts to stay up revolve mostly around the signings of Fourteen Stars striker Alain Germain and left sided midfielder Isabella Clark. Offensive midfielder Dalia Smith of Xanneria also comes in, but with only youngsters on negligible fees coming in beyond that, Kenth Hendel will clearly be looking to rely on the incredible squad unity he’s created at the club to keep them up.
Prediction: 16th
Players of Note: Alain Germain (TFS), Isabella Clark (TFS), Dalia Smith (XAN), Lebesc Bresaix (AUP), Niksa Srejovic (MYT), Johnas Jochem, Eduards Suiter


Matahiko Viktory SK
Matahiko Stadium (12,946), Matahiko, Kuril Arkhipelago.
Manager: Gregers Seiz
Last season: 3rd, Divisjon Two
And, well, this is a nice surprise. For the first time in a long time, we have a new team in Divisjon One, as Matahiko saw off a challenge from Neuerlatz to be the next first-timer in the top flight of pan-Federation football. It’s going to be a monumental challenge for them, and if Seiz manages to keep them up he serves every statue they joke about building for him. He’s not native to Kuril, as his middle name of Christian should have made obvious (there are no letter C’s in the Kurik Dialekt), but he’s as beloved a figure as the kity could hope to have. But, hey, Bohemiens didn’t go straight down when they were last up here, and nor did Skipsbyggere, or even Hospitaliers, and they’re no bigger than Matahiko when you think about it. I don’t think they’ll manage it, even though I’d love them to, so grab your ‘Kerrin Metkalfe’ merkhandise whilst you still kan.
Transfer Window: Promotion seemed to catch the recruitment team at Matahiko slightly off-guard, and they were almost scrambling to sign players by the end of the window, having failed in a misguided attempt to go for unrealistic targets earlier in the off-season. Nonetheless, the experience of Mahader Mohamad and Kerrin Metcalfe into the spine of the squad could be invaluable, and if any of those youngsters hit the ground running, Viktory might just make a go of it after all.
Prediction: 18th
Players of Note: Mahader Mohamad (ANU), Kerrin Metcalfe (TKT), Leo Fulmer (XAN), Artemiusz Ostland, Joakim Winogradski, Kyosti Westler





Polarian football doesn't just start and end with Divisjon One though of course, and the teams in what was at one point the 'Strongest Second Tier in the Multiverse'™ are all vying to take or re-take that next step up and join the big teams at the top table. Not least amongst them being last season’s relegated sides, of course, but I think the likes of Islay, Neuerlatz, and Sturm Nuuk are probably best placed to challenge for the title this season.
Teams:
Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Eintracht Moss-Rygge
FC Cape St Paul
FC Solovetsky Monastery
FK Viipuri 56
Franz Josef Young Boys
Hospitaliers
Islay Town Mechanical
Maritime Hove FC
Måriussa Viking FK
Neuerlatz AFK
Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Rapid SK Eysturoy
SC Kiel
Scapa Bay Rovers
SK Sturm Nuuk - (Favourites)
Skipsbyggere IFK
Yuzhny Equinox FC




In the third tier, there are still a lot of big names waiting for their resurgence... I’m talking about you, Aleutia. At some point soon I’m going to have to stop putting that ‘favourites’ tag next to the Volcanoes, but surely this will be their year? Surely. You’d have to hope so, anyway. At the bottom, you do somewhat get the sense that GVFFK Pekarik and Meteor Kholmsk are just happy to be here, but let’s see if they make a go of it in the third flight.
Teams:
AC Aleutia Volcanoes - (Favourites)
AFK Hans Island Pioneers
Agheim CF
Bennett and Zhokhov
FC North Melville
FC1. Rangers
FC1. Sturm Grímsey
FK Grise Fiord
Franz Josef Sharks
GVFFK Pekarik
Korsten Lokomotiv
Lokomotiv Barentsberg
McAvery Centurions
Meteor Kholmsk SK
Seratakki Villagers
SK Yuzhny Albion
Sutherland Foundry SK
Uelmark MK





Whilst the league might split geographically at step four it doesn’t get any less competitive, and with only twenty-six games in the season, there is zero room for error. So, whilst KAS might be overwhelming favourites for the title, it would only take a couple of games for any slow start to quickly develop into a nightmare...
Teams:
AIK Alejavik
Bielstrich Timbers FC
IHK Geddesberg
Ingvar Peaks FC
Invermuir Highlanders FC
Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen - (Favourites)
Krykkjesund Olympic
Larsen Bay Thunder FC
San Moranna FC
Sisimut Black Star
SK Stryær
Sporting Club Aasiaat 87
Steffansson Island FC
Vale of Moray



In the Challenge West, the team with the target on their back is Universitet... Or Logan United. Or Ostermeier. Honestly, this league is stacked with similarly sterling sides this year, and we could be in for a classic – not least because both Devon Bay sides are in the same league for the first time in what feels like forever.
Teams:
Axel Town AFC
Bulargen Independents
Devon Bay Lights FC
Devon Bay Seals FC
Energie Zemlya FK
FK Norsviken Cossacks
FK Ost-Volonovsk
Logan United FC
Ostermeier Old Boys
Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox
Torpedo Sibir RKA
Ueland-Alne
Universitet - (Favourites)
West End



Lastly, for your interest, the premier divisions of the Regional Conferences...

1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt - (Favourites)
Bindelsfjorden Dynamo
FC Velcosta Cliffs
FK Fairbanks
FKS-North
Green Star Kobelevskov
Lindesvogne Violets
Machtspool Whitesleeves FC
Morrenmark IFK
Royal NK Sikjonek
SK Nolmkien 1949
St Gallen 47



Aleutia Town Dragons
Arbor CSK
Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC
Aurora Hammarby
FC Kampengar Magpies
FK Aagen Zenith
Hanshaugen Gate FK
KSC Brighthelmstone - (Favourites)
Resolute Hills FC
Sannegarden Fleet FK
SK Carson Islanders
Waldenøya Bears



Bathurst Zenith FC
Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais
Forrairn St Johan FC
Friedrichsund Fencing Club
Hauken Orca
Holtrecht Force SK
Ilksporta IK
KA Rikyaare - (Favourites)
Oaks of Fjellisroy
SK Thor 1898
Sleijnmakt Sport
US Saint-John



Dinamo Olsa FK
FC Fetlar - (Favourites)
Fjorhorgen SK
Fynersturen Valhalla
Gjornhammer Pier FC
IHK Sirius
Marine FC
NKK Urri
Northbrook Zenith FC
Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC
Orebro FK
SK Stromness Electric



So, there you have it. The only thing left to do now is to start the games!

[Polar Islandstates]

Eight matches into the sixty-sixth season, let’s have a quick summary of what has happened so far...


MATCHDAY 1
East Franz Athletic 3–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
FC Axel Heiburg 4–3 Red Star Severny
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
North Star Grímsey 3–3 Matahiko Viktory SK
Melville Celtic 0–2 SK Franz Josef City
FC Torshavn 0–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–0 Koppen Rig Force
The start of a new season, and the opening weekend has already set us up for what should be a great season of top flight football. New signing Alija Sutalo actually scored the first goal of the new season, bagging for new club Red Star after just three minutes, only for Axel Heiburg to take a three-on lead into half-time after a devastating comeback. Roald Eike-Rasmussen completed his hat trick on the hour mark, and whilst the visitors made things interesting in the final few minutes, the Argonauts held on for a thrilling opening day victory. Kyong Tripp scored the only goal of the game as Bjarnarey got their title defence off to an efficient start, but the top of the table is shared after one weekend by East Franz and Nasjonale, who both recorded three-nil wins to get their seasons off to an emphatic start. FC Torshavn were on the other side of one of those three-nil defeats, with fellow promotees Koppen Rig also suffering a defeat on their return to Divisjon One. Matahiko, however, fared much better, and buoyed by the thrill of promotion they recorded an impressive three-all draw with North Star at Steffansen Lane. Which, let’s be fair, is exactly the kind of fighting spirit they’ll need if they’re going to stay up.


MATCHDAY 2
Novaya Sibir Reds 1–1 Koppen Rig Force
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–4 Northbrook Diamonds FK
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–3 SK Aasiaat Harbour
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
SK Franz Josef City 4–0 FC Torshavn
Matahiko Viktory SK 1–0 Melville Celtic
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 North Star Grímsey
Red Star Severny 2–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
East Franz Athletic 0–3 FC Axel Heiburg
A rude awakening for FC Torshavn so far, with SK knocking four past them at the Landstadt today; Quelabura, Turner, and a Sorensen double handing a footballing lesson to the Kittiwakes and making it no goals scored and seven conceded already. New signing Alvaro Biaggi got off the mark for Nasjonale, scoring the only goal of the game against a Jan Mayen side still trying to put the pieces of new manager Einar Jepsen’s tactical plan together, and Bjarnarey had to come through the first test of their title defence, coming from behind at home to Norscelt rivals North Star to come through two-one in the second half. Axel Heiburg certainly know where the goal is right now, humiliating East Franz at the Rendahl with a dominant three-nil performance courtesy of another brace from Eike-Rasmussen, but result of the day surely has to go to Northbrook Diamonds. Surtsey came into the start of this season making all the right noises about going one better than simply upsetting the Big Six this year, and finishing inside the top four. Well, Northbrook have a title bid to put together, and goals from Andreas Melhus, Nico Wickenheiser, and a Ryn Jaxon double unceremoniously demolished the Gulls in their own backyard. Though it seems harsh to call that result of the day after Matahiko picked up their first win in the top flight thanks to Kerrin Metcalfe’s first half header against Melville Celtic.


MATCHDAY 3
FC Axel Heiburg 3–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–2 East Franz Athletic
North Star Grímsey 1–2 Red Star Severny
Melville Celtic 1–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC Torshavn 3–1 Matahiko Viktory SK
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–2 SK Franz Josef City
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Koppen Rig Force 1–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Not content with slotting four past Red Star and three past East Franz, Axel Heiburg have now gone and stuck another three goals past Novaya Sibir. Roald Eike-Rasmussen ‘only’ scored the one this week, but both he and the Argonauts have started like a runaway train, and it’ll be interesting to see how long they can keep this up for. Koppen Rig Force get their first win of the season over a shellshocked-looking Surtsey side thanks to a solitary goal from Alain Germain, as do FC Torshavn, with a two-one win over Matahiko. Einar Jepsen knows the value of a result against SK for the fans at Victoria Stadium, of course, and now he’s picked up his first point against the old enemy from the dugout to complement all the ones he masterminded on the pitch before his career ending injury. Certainly, Li Zhen looks a player reborn under the new coaching regime, and a brace from the Yuezhou striker ensured SK could only get a point for their trouble on the road in Norscelt. Bjarnarey eased past Melville thanks to an inspired performance from new signing Lucas Dupont in the midfield, though Northbrook matched their result with a come-from-behind win over Longyearbyen later that day.


MATCHDAY 4
Novaya Sibir Reds 1–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–2 Koppen Rig Force
SK Nasjonale Hauker 0–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Franz Josef City 2–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Matahiko Viktory SK 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 0–0 FC Torshavn
Red Star Severny 1–0 Melville Celtic
East Franz Athletic 3–2 North Star Grímsey
FC Axel Heiburg 2–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
A trip to Kungsdocks is never an easy thing to take three points from; even when they don’t have a squad capable of mixing it up in the IFCF, Nasjonale Hauker do tend to take great delight in frustrating visiting teams that come to play. Just for the hell of it, seemingly. And they do that today, holding a hungry and determined looking Northbrook to a frustrating nil-nil draw. Bjarnarey couldn’t take advantage however, being held to a nil-nil draw of their own at The Barge by Torshavn of all people. Credit where it’s due, Bjarnarey weren’t at their fluent best as they get used to this new 4-3-2-1 formation, but that’s a great result for the Kittiwakes. East Franz showed their willingness to battle for their manager with a resilient three-two win at home to North Star, but the best performance of the day probably came from Matteus Henschen, who scored a fabulous brace to drag Aasiaat to a point at the Landstadt almost single handed.


MATCHDAY 5
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
North Star Grímsey 1–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Melville Celtic 0–1 East Franz Athletic
FC Torshavn 0–2 Red Star Severny
Jan Mayen Islanders 3–0 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–0 Matahiko Viktory SK
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–0 SK Franz Josef City
Koppen Rig Force 0–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
This is going to be a very interesting season, isn’t it? Just as I start typing the words; “...and that dominant win for Northbrook over SK – goals from Tariq Will and Ryn Jaxon in a Chromatik one-two suckerpunch – shows how big the gap between the top two teams from the last two seasons and the rest of the pack really is right now”, then Bjarnarey go and lose three-nil to Jan Mayen. Which, aside from hurting to lose to a Norscelt rival, also has to hurt to see your previously proud start to the title defence get shredded like that. Mind you, Bjarnarey have started slow the last two seasons, and look what happened then. Surtsey consolidate their return to winning ways with a hard-fought win over Longyearbyen – Player with the goal – and Resolute Storm show Novaya Sibir just how long and hard this season might be for them without Coia, dominating the Reds from start to finish in a game at Mossy Park that ended two-nil thanks to goals from Ali Ari and Kyriakos Moreitas; you know, the mezzala... *hushed awe intensifies*



LATITUDE CUP Round One
Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox 0-1 San Moranna FC
Bindelsfjorden Dynamo 0-0 Aleutia Town Dragons (0-0 AET, 2-0 PKs)
FC Kampengar Magpies 2-1 Sporting Club Aasiaat 87
FK Ost-Volonovsk 1-1 Torpedo Sibir RKA (1-1 AET, 2-4 PKs)
Logan United FC 3-0 KSC Brighthelmstone
Oaks of Fjellisroy 0-1 Energie Zemlya FK
Dinamo Olsa FK 1-1 Waldenøya Bears (1-1 AET, 1-2 PKs)
SK Stryær 1-0 Devon Bay Lights FC
FC Velcosta Cliffs 1-0 SK Nolmkien 1949
Forrairn St Johan FC 3-1 Fynersturen Valhalla
Resolute Hills FC 0-0 Ilksporta IK (0-0 AET, 1-3 PKs)
Aurora Hammarby 1-0 AIK Alejavik
Invermuir Highlanders FC 0-0 Klub Athletisk Spitsbergen (0-0 AET, 2-1 PKs)
FKS-North 1-0 Hauken Orca
Ostermeier Old Boys 0-0 US Saint-John (0-2 AET)
Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais 1-0 Gjornhammer Pier FC
Bulargen Independents 0-1 FC Fetlar
Sisimut Black Star 0-1 NKK Urri
Axel Town AFC 3-2 FK Norsviken Cossacks
Arbor CSK 0-1 West End
Ueland-Alne 1-2 Bielstrich Timbers FC
Steffansson Island FC 2-0 FK Fairbanks
1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt 1-0 Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC
Sannegarden Fleet FK 0-1 Lindesvogne Violets
Devon Bay Seals FC 1-0 Universitet
FK Aagen Zenith 2-2 Sleijnmakt Sport (2-3 AET)
Holtrecht Force SK 4-2 Ingvar Peaks FC
Krykkjesund Olympic 0-2 Marine FC
Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC 2-0 Machtspool Whitesleeves FC
Vale of Moray 0-1 Fjorhorgen SK
Friedrichsund Fencing Club 1-0 IHK Sirius
Larsen Bay Thunder FC 2-0 Orebro FK
Royal NK Sikjonek 1-2 SK Stromness Electric
IHK Geddesberg 2-0 SK Carson Islanders
SK Thor 1898 2-0 Bathurst Zenith
St Gallen 47 2-0 Northbrook Zenith FC
Morrenmark IFK 0-0 Hanshaugen Gate FK (1-0 AET)
Green Star Kobelevskov 1-1 KA Rikyaare (1-1 AET, 3-0 PKs)
We interrupt your regular stream of Divisjon One programming however, to bring you the first round of this year's Latitude Cup, where the teams from the lowest levels of cross-Federation football duke it out for glory and some much appreciated prize money, as well as the chance to grab a money-spinning tie against a big team in the later rounds. As is often the case, a number of games go to nerve-shredding penalties, including Torpedo Sibir’s win over Ost-Volonovsk, Invermuir Highlanders’ shock win over KAS, and a drab match between Bindelsfjorden and Aleutia Town Dragons, where with the only goals in the entire game coming in spot kicks 7 and 9 of the shoot-out, fans would have been forgiven for wondering if they would ever see another goal in their entire life...


MATCHDAY 6
Novaya Sibir Reds 2–3 RSK Longyearbyen Town
SK Nasjonale Hauker 0–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Franz Josef City 0–0 Koppen Rig Force
Matahiko Viktory SK 0–3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Red Star Severny 1–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
East Franz Athletic 0–0 FC Torshavn
FC Axel Heiburg 3–0 Melville Celtic
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–0 North Star Grímsey
Whatever the chef at Axel Torvig Park is cooking this season, I want some. They just can’t seem to stop scoring at the moment, and bar a couple of less convincing results, the Argonauts have been in fine form all season, with another triumphant three-nil – this time over Melville Celtic – putting them firmly in the ‘teams to beat’ category this year. Northbrook picked a finely poised game to pieces in the second half, overcoming a resilient Matahiko side thanks for goals form Ryn Jaxon and Nico Wickenheiser, and Jan Mayen continue their impressive start to life under Einar Jepsen with a come-from-behind win at Carravale – something that’s never to be sniffed at. Bjarnarey return to winning ways with a convincing performance at home to Finn Kirkkegaard’s Aasiaat side, but the game of the weekend was at Uverdale Velde, where Novaya Sibir twice pegged RSK back with equalisers before Joel Bieri nodded home the winner in added time to break Reds’ fans’ hearts.


MATCHDAY 7
North Star Grímsey 4–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
Melville Celtic 1–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC Torshavn 2–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Jan Mayen Islanders 3–1 East Franz Athletic
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–1 Red Star Severny
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Koppen Rig Force 4–1 Matahiko Viktory SK
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–1 SK Franz Josef City
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
And there, just as I was singing their praises, Axel Heiburg phone it in against newly promoted FC Torshavn of all sides, and fall to their first defeat of the season. I mean, I did say they were the team to beat, to be fair. I just didn’t expect the Kittiwakes to take me quite so seriously, quite so quickly. Still, it was a huge result for Torshavn, and they are to be congratulated on it. Koppen Rig Force also secured a big win, this time over Matahiko Viktory, and there were also big results for North Star, Jan Mayen, and RSK, who picked up a point at home to high-flying Nasjonale. The big two games of the weekend however were at Palace Approach, where the top two teams from last season and two red-hot favourites for this year’s title were duking it out, and at Stadion Solberg, where upwardly mobile Surtsey were looking to snatch a result against SK, one of the teams they’ll need to be picking up points against if they want to be in the IFCF mix this year. Surtsey fell just short, in the end – Olsen grabbing a late equaliser after Rex had put the home side ahead – and it was also all-square in the battle at the top; Ënàrsòn cancelling out Wolfgangsson’s opener... why do I feel like both of those two battles are going to run and run this season?


MATCHDAY 8
Novaya Sibir Reds 0–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
SK Franz Josef City 2–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Matahiko Viktory SK 2–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–0 Koppen Rig Force
Red Star Severny 1–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
East Franz Athletic 0–3 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC Axel Heiburg 2–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 3–0 FC Torshavn
North Star Grímsey 3–0 Melville Celtic
The first quarter of the season ends with a featured match between two of the surprise packages of the year thus far, with FC Axel Heiburg just about edging Jan Mayen Islanders in a tight battle at Axel Torvig Park. Encouraging signs for both sides though, and fans are right to be optimistic for the rest of the season. Bjarnarey squeak past Koppen Rig as they start slow-ish this year, a Sessou goal the difference in the end, whilst Red Star held the lead against Northbrook for eighty-eight delirious minutes before a late double from Wickenheiser sunk them at the last. Matahiko pick up another valuable three points courtesy of a win over a Surtsey side that has flattered to deceive this season – maybe Sim Lefebvre was wrong about the amount of work needed over the winter break after all... The most intriguing result of the day was at Rendahl Stadion, however, where a drab and uninspired looking East Franz rolled over and had their tummies tickled by a rampant Aasiaat. Both these sides finished behind Surtsey last season of course, and I think we’re quickly discovering which of the two took that warning sign more seriously.



So, your table at the quarter-mark then, and it's looking like some of the stories we were expecting are going to feature heavily in the rest of the season, whilst others are not. The expected Surtsey charge hasn’t happened so far, and nor has SK’s surge – the Griffons only remaining in front of their rivals East Franz on goal difference after their win over RSK this weekend just gone. Northbrook look like they’ve taken the off-season very seriously indeed, and they sit unbeaten at the top of the table as they look to pry Bjarnarey’s hands off the trophy after two years with it, but their company at the top is from FC Axel Heiburg first and foremost, with Nasjonale and Bjarnarey a further two points beyond that. Jan Mayen have surpassed expectations so far, and sit in a very respectable fifth place, whilst RSK and North Star have probably been the most underwhelming teams in the bottom half of the table so far. Matahiko haven’t struggled as much as everyone thought they might, but for winless Novaya Sibir it already looks like being a long, long season.

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Northbrook Diamonds FK       8    6   2   0    15    3  +12    20
 2  FC Axel Heiburg              8    6   1   1    19    8  +11    19
 3  SK Nasjonale Hauker          8    5   2   1    13    5   +8    17
 4  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla      8    5   2   1    10    6   +4    17
 5  Jan Mayen Islanders          8    4   2   2    14    8   +6    14
 6  SK Aasiaat Harbour           8    4   2   2    13    9   +4    14
 7  SK Franz Josef City          8    3   4   1    13    8   +5    13
 8  East Franz Athletic          8    4   1   3    10   12   −2    13
 9  Red Star Severny             8    4   0   4    13   11   +2    12
10  Koppen Rig Force             8    3   2   3     8    8    0    11
11  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls    8    3   2   3     7    9   −2    11
12  Resolute Storm 1913 FC       8    3   0   5     8    8    0    9
13  North Star Grímsey           8    2   2   4    15   13   +2    8
14  Matahiko Viktory SK          8    2   2   4     9   16   −7    8
15  FC Torshavn                  8    2   2   4     5   14   −9    8
16  RSK Longyearbyen Town        8    1   1   6     8   15   −7    4
17  Melville Celtic              8    1   0   7     2   14  −12    3
18  Novaya Sibir Reds            8    0   1   7     5   20  −15    1

In the second flight, I have to say I’m slightly surprised to see Young Boys topping the table after eight games. Obviously, they’re no slouches up in Sogne, but this is still slightly unexpected. Still, all very close up there, and I still fancy Nuuk to come roaring back. Just as soon as they remember where they put their shooting boots, anyway. At the bottom things are similarly tight, yes, but I have to say after having watched a few of their games that I think the bottom three are probably three of that current bottom four.

------Divisjon Two             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Franz Josef Young Boys     8    6   1   1    20   11   +9    19
 2  Rapid SK Eysturoy          8    5   2   1    14    9   +5    17
 3  Islay Town Mechanical      8    5   2   1    12    7   +5    17
 4  Neuerlatz AFK              8    5   0   3    17    9   +8    15
 5  SK Sturm Nuuk              8    4   2   2    11    9   +2    14
 6  Scapa Bay Rovers           8    4   1   3    13   10   +3    13
 7  SC Kiel                    8    3   3   2    13   10   +3    12
 8  Skipsbyggere IFK           8    3   3   2    13   12   +1    12
 9  Bohemiens Grise Fiord      8    3   3   2    11   10   +1    12
10  Rapid Jan Mayen FK         8    3   3   2    10   12   −2    12
11  FC Cape St Paul            8    2   4   2    12    9   +3    10
12  FC Solovetsky Monastery    8    2   3   3    10   13   −3    9
13  Yuzhny Equinox FC          8    3   0   5     8   12   −4    9
14  Måriussa Viking FK         8    2   2   4    13   15   −2    8
15  FK Viipuri 56              8    1   3   4     9   14   −5    6
16  Maritime Hove FC           8    1   2   5     8   14   −6    5
17  Eintracht Moss-Rygge       8    1   1   6     9   17   −8    4
18  Hospitaliers               8    1   1   6     4   14  −10    4

Divisjon Three, and I notice with relative lack of shock that Aleutia are makig something of a mockery of my predictions again. Ah well Theor loss might be Yuzhny Albion’s gain at this rate. At the foot of the table, GVFFK and Meteor have put up far more of a fight than I thought they might, and to be honest, the presence of Franz Josef Sharks being right down in the dirt with them does make me wonder if things might end up being closer than I thought they might. Time will tell.

------Divisjon Three            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  SK Yuzhny Albion            8    6   0   2    15    8   +7    18
 2  Sutherland Foundry SK       8    5   2   1    19    9  +10    17
 3  Bennett and Zhokhov         8    5   2   1    12    8   +4    17
 4  FC North Melville           8    4   3   1    15    6   +9    15
 5  Lokomotiv Barentsberg       8    4   2   2    10    8   +2    14
 6  AFK Hans Island Pioneers    8    4   1   3    10   12   −2    13
 7  Seratakki Villagers         8    3   3   2    14   12   +2    12
 8  AC Aleutia Volcanoes        8    3   3   2    15   14   +1    12
 9  FC1. Sturm Grímsey          8    4   0   4    15   14   +1    12
10  FK Grise Fiord              8    3   2   3    12   11   +1    11
11  Korsten Lokomotiv           8    3   1   4    13   15   −2    10
12  McAvery Centurions          8    2   3   3    13   13    0    9
13  Uelmark MK                  8    2   3   3    13   16   −3    9
14  Agheim CF                   8    2   2   4    16   17   −1    8
15  FC1. Rangers                8    2   1   5     6   11   −5    7
16  Meteor Kholmsk SK           8    1   2   5     6   12   −6    5
17  Franz Josef Sharks          8    1   2   5     8   16   −8    5
18  GVFFK Pekarik               8    1   2   5    10   20  −10    5

[Polar Islandstates]

Halfway through the season, lets have a quick summary of what has happened in the last few MDs...


MATCHDAY 9
Melville Celtic 2–2 Novaya Sibir Reds
FC Torshavn 0–1 North Star Grímsey
Jan Mayen Islanders 0–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–2 FC Axel Heiburg
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–0 East Franz Athletic
Koppen Rig Force 2–0 Red Star Severny
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 4–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
RSK Longyearbyen Town 0–2 Matahiko Viktory SK
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–0 SK Franz Josef City
Okay, so, there might be a small chance they heard me up in Surtsey when I said they’d been disappointing so far this year, as they romp home to inflict a potentially damaging four-one defeat on their fierce rivals Bjarnarey Flotilla. Nijgaard got the away side off to a flyer, only for goals from Grief, Rios, and a Kystebo double to stick a dagger into the title hopes of the reigning champions and give Surtsey’s campaign a very welcome shot in the arm. That result was music to the ears of Diamonds fans, naturally, and they marked the occasion with a hard-fought win over East Franz, Andreas Melhus with the crucial goal. Eike-Rasmussen shows no sign of letting up his form, with another brace – this time at Aasiaat as the Argonauts secured yet another win in this incredible start to the season, but in the biggest profile match of the weekend, it was a single Biaggi goal that was the difference for Nasjonale in the Norsholmoya Derby.


MATCHDAY 10
Novaya Sibir Reds 1–2 SK Franz Josef City
Matahiko Viktory SK 0–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Red Star Severny 2–3 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
East Franz Athletic 3–0 Koppen Rig Force
FC Axel Heiburg 2–3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–3 SK Aasiaat Harbour
North Star Grímsey 3–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
Melville Celtic 3–1 FC Torshavn
Last weekend it was Surtsey shocking Bjarnarey, this weekend it’s the turn of Grímsey to shock Jan Mayen to remind us all that, amongst all the fierce two-way derbies and Big Six rivalries, the unpredictability of all these cross-Norscelt matches over the course of a season can have a huge impact on the outcome of the league. North Star had been looking drab and uninspired recently, whilst Jan Mayen look like a team reborn under Jepsen this season. So of course North Star won three-nil; Lehning, Noir, and Hasse with the goals. Northbrook continue to march ever steadily onwards with a superb comeback win at the home of high-flying Axel Heiburg – Wickenheiser continuing his fine form with a winning brace in the final half hour of the game – and Bjarnarey bounced back against Longyearbyen courtesy of their new-look midfield; goals from Baer and Breault. The highlight of the weekend was the first Feud of Victorrinn of the season however, and it was an absolute thriller at Mossy Park: twice, Aasiaat took the lead through the ever-reliable Matteus Henschen, but twice they were pegged back by goals from Moreitas (you know, the mezzala) and Leonhardt, only for Andrew Farmer to pop up with a winner in the dying moments to break Resolute hearts and ensure the bragging rights remain with Kirkkegaard’s side for another half-season at least.


MATCHDAY 11
FC Torshavn 0–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
Jan Mayen Islanders 3–1 Melville Celtic
SK Aasiaat Harbour 4–2 North Star Grímsey
Northbrook Diamonds FK 4–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Koppen Rig Force 3–1 FC Axel Heiburg
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–1 East Franz Athletic
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–1 Red Star Severny
SK Nasjonale Hauker 0–4 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Franz Josef City 2–1 Matahiko Viktory SK
There’s a small chance that Northbrook might have broken Axel Heiburg with that late goal last weekend, with the Argonauts looking a shadow of their former selves in a feeble three-one flop at the hands of Koppen Rig Force. Koppen won’t be too upset by that of course, with every win a bonus in their bid for survival. Northbrook annihilated Resolute for their part, Jaxon and Wickenheiser continuing their fine form which a first half that blew the Storm defence to pieces. Novaya Sibir win what looks like being a crucial battle at the bottom with a Pertz-Frolt Abe goal straight from second-half kick-off, but there was a shock result at Kungsdocks as Bjarnarey ran out four-nil winners against Nasjonale. Sure, Bjarnarey winning four-nil shouldn’t really be a shock these days, but against a side that plays to disrupt as much as anything else in the form of Nasjonale, at against a backdrop as ferocious as Kungsdocks, that’s a shock. A tremendous result for Ziegenhagen’s side, and should be proud of his tactical adjustments as the rest of the league still appear to be chasing the tails of the Bargemen.



LATITUDE CUP Round Two
Invermuir Highlanders FC 0-1 Logan United FC
NKK Urri 0-4 Steffansson Island FC
San Moranna FC 0-0 US Saint-John (0-0 AET, 2-1 PKs)
Franz Josef Sharks 0-1 McAvery Centurions
Meteor Kholmsk SK 0-2 Morrenmark IFK
Bennett and Zhokhov 2-0 FC North Melville
Seratakki Villagers 1-1 FC1. Sturm Grímsey (1-1 AET, 3-0 PKs)
FC Velcosta Cliffs 2-1 IHK Geddesberg
Torpedo Sibir RKA 1-1 SK Stromness Electric (1-1 AET, 3-1 PKs)
AFK Hans Island Pioneers 0-0 SK Stryær (0-0 AET, 3-0 PKs)
Friedrichsund Fencing Club 1-0 AC Aleutia Volcanoes
St Gallen 47 2-0 Energie Zemlya FK
Fjorhorgen SK 1-0 Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC
GVFFK Pekarik 3-0 Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais
Uelmark MK 1-1 Lokomotiv Barentsberg (1-2 AET)
Holtrecht Force SK 0-1 Agheim CF
FC Kampengar Magpies 3-2 West End
Marine FC 1-4 SK Thor 1898
FKS-North 2-2 Aurora Hammarby (2-2 AET, 2-0 PKs)
Lindesvogne Violets 1-0 Waldenøya Bears
Sutherland Foundry SK 3-0 Sleijnmakt Sport
SK Yuzhny Albion 3-2 Korsten Lokomotiv
Ilksporta IK 1-1 Bielstrich Timbers FC (1-1 AET, 1-2 PKs)
Larsen Bay Thunder FC 1-0 FC Fetlar
1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt 2-0 Bindelsfjorden Dynamo
FC1. Rangers 1-1 Forrairn St Johan FC (4-1 AET)
FK Grise Fiord 2-2 Axel Town AFC (4-3 AET)
Devon Bay Seals FC 2-2 Green Star Kobelevskov (2-3 AET)
The second round of the Latitude Cup always seems to come around earlier than you expect it to, especially for the Divisjon Three teams who enter at this point. And so, as the lower league teams chase the chance for a big tie in the next round, we are treated to some classic cup football, with Friedrichsund Fencing Club stunning Aleutia Volcanoes, McAvery Centurions executing a perfect smash and grab on Franz Josef Sharks, and Kampengar Magpies coming from two goals down to win three-two at home to West End. The best games were probably on the Sunday however, with FC1. Rangers smashing three goals in extra time past Forrairn St Johan, and an absolute thriller between Axel Town and FK Grise Fiord: a late equaliser from Axel Town actually took us to extra time in that game, and when they went ahead in the first minute of the second period they might have thought they’d won it, only for the home side to come hurtling back like a freight train and take the win with pretty much the last kick of the game, just when penalties looked inevitable. Brilliant entertainment.


MATCHDAY 12
Novaya Sibir Reds 0–3 Matahiko Viktory SK
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–1 SK Franz Josef City
Red Star Severny 0–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
East Franz Athletic 3–2 RSK Longyearbyen Town
FC Axel Heiburg 1–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–0 Koppen Rig Force
North Star Grímsey 1–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Melville Celtic 2–3 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC Torshavn 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Some huge results at the top of the table this week, not least at The Barge where, fresh from annihilating Nasjonale in the tactical masterclass of last weekend, Bjarnarey were held to a draw by an SK side that displayed a grit and determination we’re not used to seeing from this expensively assembled squad – Quelabura scoring the equaliser after the Griffons refused to just roll over and let Tripp’s opener prove decisive. Then, a shock in Norscelt as North Star swept to victory against a sub-par Northbrook side, Valérie Noir with another crucial goal for the Steffansen Laners as the Diamonds’ title hopes take a not insignificant and unexpected hit. East Franz have kind of gone under the radar so far after a pretty underwhelming campaign so far, but this win over RSK might be enough to kickstart their season. Not because of the result, even if RSK weren’t having a disappointing season themselves this would’ve been a game they’d be expecting to win, but because of the nature of it: going down two-nil at home to the Citizens won’t have been in the plan, but a superb penalty save from Trajko Popovski was enough to inspire the comeback, with goals from Katinka Fazakas, Sho Itō, and Gunnar Martikainen showing there’s life in the old Spires after all. Football is made of moments, and seasons can turn on any one of them. Could that save from Popovski turn the Spires’ season around?


MATCHDAY 13
Jan Mayen Islanders 3–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–1 FC Torshavn
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–1 Melville Celtic
Koppen Rig Force 1–3 North Star Grímsey
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 8–2 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–1 FC Axel Heiburg
SK Nasjonale Hauker 0–2 East Franz Athletic
SK Franz Josef City 1–2 Red Star Severny
Matahiko Viktory SK 0–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
As if to emphasise this new found confidence, East Franz then become the second big team in three weeks to go to Kungsdocks and hold the Hawks to nil in a superb two-nil win; Joni Siebel joining Katinka Fazakas on the scoresheet this time, as the Spires get a well earned boost to their season. Red Star stunned SK at the Landstadt meanwhile, making it a pair of surprise home defeats in the capital this weekend – a late double from Alija Sutalo proving to be worth every penny Red Star paid as Lucic’s side continue to stumble through the season, but the biggest result of the day is undoubtedly at Stadion Solberg. Surtsey might have started the season slower than their ‘dark horses’ tag might have suggested, but they’re really picking up speed now, and fresh from an impressive win at Axel Torvig Park, they come home to familiar surroundings and absolutely annihilate unfortunate Resolute Storm by eight goals to two. Eight. Volkhardt Grief has had a quite season so far for someone who was tipped for greatness, but he filled his boots and helped himself to a four-goal haul here; Kystebo, Stockman, Player, and Rex with the other four goals as Resolute’s two from Ali Ari were blown completely out of the water.


MATCHDAY 14
Novaya Sibir Reds 0–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Red Star Severny 1–1 Matahiko Viktory SK
East Franz Athletic 0–1 SK Franz Josef City
FC Axel Heiburg 3–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–4 RSK Longyearbyen Town
North Star Grímsey 0–4 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Melville Celtic 2–1 Koppen Rig Force
FC Torshavn 0–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
The two teams might be struggling slightly this season given their usual high standards, but the Elfsteijn Derby is still the biggest game in the domestic calendar, and despite East Franz’s recent run of form, it is SK who steal a win in the dying minutes at the home of their hated cross-channel rivals; Antonio Govorcinovic boosting his own growing cult status with Griffons’ fans after sliding home the winner. Melville Celtic look like they’re stitching their new squad together nicely at the moment, with a fluent and professional display in a win over Koppen Rig Force, but Nasjonale’s little wobble continues with another defeat – this time in Axel Heiburg. Surtsey’s run of form shows no sign of slowing up meanwhile, as North Star are the latest side to succumb to Sim Lefebvre’s charges and suffer an embarrassing defeat; the cross-Commonwealth nature of the derby adding just that little bit of extra seasoning for the Gulls’ support. There was also a powerful win for RSK as their fortunes look like taking a turn for the better, but poor old Novaya Sibir are still struggling, though, to be fair nobody would have expected them to get a result at home to Bjarnarey. And... they didn’t, so. Yeah.


MATCHDAY 15
SK Aasiaat Harbour 4–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
Koppen Rig Force 3–3 FC Torshavn
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–1 Melville Celtic
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–0 North Star Grímsey
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
SK Franz Josef City 3–3 FC Axel Heiburg
Matahiko Viktory SK 1–3 East Franz Athletic
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–0 Red Star Severny
There’s more than one high profile fixture in the top flight this season of course, and it’s time once again for the Farosea police to get out in numbers for the fixture that tends to feature the biggest number of arrests each year; the Twin-Cities Derby. This year, in the top flight for the first time in a while. And it’s honours shared this time around, with FC Torshavn dragging themselves to a three-one lead at one point, only for Jonas Jocehm and Alain Germain to pop up in the second half and snatch a draw for the home side, which must have felt like a win. Torshavn fans probably went home disappointed, then, whilst we try not to think about the potential relegation battle implications the return fixture might have the next time these two meet in the closing few days of the season. Axel Heiburg played the role of spoiler against SK, battling back with the help of another inspiration performance from Roald Eike-Rasmussen to take a point in the day’s second three-all draw, whilst Nasjonale Hauker stop the rot with a win over struggling Resolute Storm. Northbrook drop points with another sluggish looking performance at home to Jan Mayen – a trait that Victor Otkupshchikov probably needs to sort out before it becomes an unwelcome habit – and Matteus Henschen continued his run of form with a stunning thirty-yard strike in a four-nil home win over Novaya Sibir.


MATCHDAY 16
Novaya Sibir Reds 2–4 Red Star Severny
East Franz Athletic 0–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC Axel Heiburg 2–0 Matahiko Viktory SK
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–0 SK Franz Josef City
North Star Grímsey 0–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Melville Celtic 2–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
FC Torshavn 1–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Jan Mayen Islanders 3–0 Koppen Rig Force
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
An incredible day for proceedings at the top of the table today, as three big defeats for SK, East Franz, and Northbrook absolutely opened the door for their rivals to steal a march at the top. To be fair to Esat Franz and Northbrook, their defeats did at least come against Big Six said rivals; goals from Ënàrsòn, Tripp, and Sassou for Bjarnarey as they won handsomely at the Rendahl, and from Henschen, Nguyen, and Farmer for Aasiaat as they jumped out into a lead that Herzog and Melhus’ goals couldn’t drag back for the Diamonds. SK’s defeat away to struggling Resolute Storm has left fans calling for Lucic to leave now rather than at the end of the season, however; a call that only intensified after the evening kick-off where they will have watched Kirkkegaard’s Nasjonale side totally outplay North Star and seal a one-nil away win courtesy of Elmo Polland’s second half header. Whether Teitur Ronkainen would actually ever want to leave Kungsdocks for the Landstadt however, let alone midway through the season, is another matter altogether. Surtsey are the othe rbig winners of that ‘triple-trip-up' at the top meanwhile, coming from behind to beat Torshavn and boost their IFCF credentials.


MATCHDAY 17
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
Koppen Rig Force 2–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–3 Jan Mayen Islanders
RSK Longyearbyen Town 0–0 FC Torshavn
SK Nasjonale Hauker 0–0 Melville Celtic
SK Franz Josef City 2–0 North Star Grímsey
Matahiko Viktory SK 0–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Red Star Severny 1–2 East Franz Athletic
Not content with being beaten by the better side on the day in Aasiaat, Northbrook are now fluffing their lines at home, which will be of great concern to Otkupshchikov and his coaches. Not only that, but a one-one draw against rock bottom Novaya Sibir exposed a weakness or two in the Diamonds’ line-up that maybe other opposition sides can exploit in the future. Surtsey and Jan Mayen share a thrilling three-three draw at Stadion Solberg, goals from Grief, Rex, and Kystebo dovetailing nicely with the hat trick from Sïrustós for the Ospreys. Koppen Rig almost held onto a famous win against Aasiaat only for a late Kommersen equaliser to ruin things at Pad Lane. Nasjonale at least keep things tight at last at Kungsdocks, this time at home to Melville Celtic, SK Franz Josef City are thanking Igerne Félix for a late double that saved their blushes at home to North Star, whilst Axel Heiburg clung onto Bjarnarey’s coattails for just long enough at The Barge to score a late equaliser courtesy of Lapij-Lenpi Zev.



LATITUDE CUP Round Three
Fjorhorgen SK 1-0 Yuzhny Equinox FC
Islay Town Mechanical 0-1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3-1 SK Yuzhny Albion
Eintracht Moss-Rygge 4-1 FC Solovetsky Monastery
Bennett and Zhokhov 1-0 SK Thor 1898
Novaya Sibir Reds 2-0 Steffansson Island FC
Neuerlatz AFK 1-0 Morrenmark IFK
East Franz Athletic 4-0 SC Kiel
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 2-2 FC Torshavn (2-2 AET, 3-2 PKs)
GVFFK Pekarik 0-2 Rapid SK Eysturoy
1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt 3-2 Hospitaliers
FK Grise Fiord 1-2 SK Sturm Nuuk
Torpedo Sibir RKA 1-2 FK Viipuri 56
Larsen Bay Thunder FC 0-2 FC Axel Heiburg
Red Star Severny 0-1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Måriussa Viking FK 0-1 Franz Josef Young Boys
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 4-2 Lokomotiv Barentsberg
Lindesvogne Violets 0-1 FC Velcosta Cliffs
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 0-0 Skipsbyggere IFK (2-1 AET)
Matahiko Viktory SK 0-2 Maritime Hove FC
Logan United FC 1-0 Bielstrich Timbers FC
SK Franz Josef City 2-0 San Moranna FC
Green Star Kobelevskov 0-1 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
McAvery Centurions 1-0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Seratakki Villagers 0-0 AFK Hans Island Pioneers (0-1 AET)
Friedrichsund Fencing Club 1-1 FC Kampengar Magpies (1-1 AET, 1-2 PKs)
Melville Celtic 0-0 FC1. Rangers (2-0 AET)
FC Cape St Paul 2-0 St Gallen 47
Sutherland Foundry SK 2-1 North Star Grímsey
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0-0 Scapa Bay Rovers (0-0 AET, 1-3 PKs)
Koppen Rig Force 4-2 Agheim CF
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1-0 FKS-North
The third round of the Latitude Cup is always a highlight in the Polarian football calendar, and of course this year is just like any other. With the big teams joining the league we keep our eyes peeled for any shocks or embarrassments, and it was so almost a bumper crop this year. Yes, we still had Scapa Bay knocking Resolute out on penalties, and yes, we still have McAvery Centurions humiliating a strong RSK Longyearbyen Town side, and yes, seeing Bohemiens knocking of FC Torshavn on penalties was something of a shock... but both RC1. Rangers and Skipsbyeggere took Melville Celtic and Bjarnarey respectively to extra time. Both Divisjon One sides squeaked through in the added periods, but, what a weekend we almost had.



We reach the halfway point then, and after that poor run of form, Northbrook Diamonds have slipped to second place and allowed Bjarnarey to steal into the lead. Given the form with which the Bargemen have finished the previous couple of seasons, that should be an ominous sign for everyone else at the top of the table. That said, not even these top two have proven themselves infallible this season, despite being clear favourites, and Surtsey have reversed their indifferent form from the early part of the season to surge up to third, just one point adrift of the Diamonds. Nasjonale have weathered a rough patch of their own to sit in fourth, whilst Axel Heiburg and Jan Mayen are still baffling the pundits (me) to sit in fifth and sixth. Not a clear fifth and sixth, mind, with Aasiaat, East Franz, and SK sitting within striking distance as things stand, but file this half-way table as further evidence that the dominant era of the Big Six that we’ve seen over the past decade or so might be about to crack. It’s the final table that counts however, and we’ve got time to change all this.

Things at the bottom are a little clear cut, with Novaya Sibir some way off and already making plans for Divisjon Two football next season. There’s a big ol’ clump of teams above them, of course, and in truth that whole bottom half of the table won’t consider themselves anywhere near safe just yet, but certain narratives are beginning to pencil in their remaining plots for the rest of the season.

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     17   11   4   2    26   12  +14    37
 2  Northbrook Diamonds FK      17   10   5   2    31   13  +18    35
 3  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   17   10   4   3    37   21  +16    34
 4  SK Nasjonale Hauker         17   10   3   4    21   14   +7    33
 5  FC Axel Heiburg             17    9   3   5    35   24  +11    30
 6  Jan Mayen Islanders         17    8   6   3    30   19  +11    30
 7  SK Aasiaat Harbour          17    9   3   5    33   23  +10    30
 8  East Franz Athletic         17    9   2   6    24   22   +2    29
 9  SK Franz Josef City         17    7   6   4    25   19   +6    27
10  North Star Grímsey          17    6   2   9    25   27   −2    20
11  Koppen Rig Force            17    5   5   7    20   25   −5    20
12  Red Star Severny            17    6   1  10    24   27   −3    19
13  RSK Longyearbyen Town       17    5   2  10    21   26   −5    17
14  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      17    5   2  10    15   28  −13    17
15  Matahiko Viktory SK         17    4   3  10    17   28  −11    15
16  Melville Celtic             17    4   3  10    16   29  −13    15
17  FC Torshavn                 17    3   5   9    12   27  −15    14
18  Novaya Sibir Reds           17    1   3  13    13   41  −28    6

In Divisjon Two, Young Boys haven’t dropped off at all, totally confounding my prediction earlier in the season, but they have at least been overtaken at the top by St Paul and Eysturoy. The former are of course banking on an immediate return to the top flight having kept hold of many of their big names, so they’ll be hoping to keep this form up in the second half of the year. Only eight points are separating the entire top eleven, however, so Divisjon Two is proving just as difficult to predict as usual. At the bottom, Hospitaliers have added only two points in nine games, and they look in a real mess.

------Divisjon Two             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC Cape St Paul           17    9   5   3    34   16  +18    32
 2  Rapid SK Eysturoy         17    9   5   3    32   30   +2    32
 3  Franz Josef Young Boys    17   10   1   6    28   26   +2    31
 4  Neuerlatz AFK             17   10   0   7    36   24  +12    30
 5  Rapid Jan Mayen FK        17    8   4   5    23   21   +2    28
 6  Islay Town Mechanical     17    8   3   6    25   20   +5    27
 7  SK Sturm Nuuk             17    8   3   6    25   20   +5    27
 8  SC Kiel                   17    7   5   5    30   23   +7    26
 9  Skipsbyggere IFK          17    7   5   5    24   22   +2    26
10  Bohemiens Grise Fiord     17    7   4   6    24   21   +3    25
11  Scapa Bay Rovers          17    7   3   7    22   19   +3    24
12  Måriussa Viking FK        17    4   8   5    23   25   −2    20
13  Yuzhny Equinox FC         17    6   2   9    20   25   −5    20
14  Eintracht Moss-Rygge      17    6   2   9    20   26   −6    20
15  FK Viipuri 56             17    4   6   7    23   28   −5    18
16  FC Solovetsky Monastery   17    5   3   9    18   25   −7    18
17  Maritime Hove FC          17    4   4   9    19   30  −11    16
18  Hospitaliers              17    1   3  13     8   33  −25    6

In Divisjon Three, Aleutia have picked up! Could this finally, finally be their year to go back up?They’ve rarely been better placed to do so than right now, even if they’re a little closer to the chasing pack of North Melville and Barentsberg than the leading pair of Sutherland and Yuzhny Albion than they’d like. At the bottom, the novelty might be wearing off slightly for GVFFK Pekarik and Meteor Kholmsk, as they’ve seemingly reverted to the struggle we all expected them to have. Franz Josef Sharks being down there in such bad shape is something of a surprise, however.

------Divisjon Three            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Sutherland Foundry SK      17   11   3   3    35   22  +13    36
 2  SK Yuzhny Albion           17   11   2   4    35   20  +15    35
 3  AC Aleutia Volcanoes       17    9   6   2    36   22  +14    33
 4  FC North Melville          17    9   5   3    30   14  +16    32
 5  Lokomotiv Barentsberg      17    8   3   6    22   16   +6    27
 6  FK Grise Fiord             17    8   3   6    24   21   +3    27
 7  AFK Hans Island Pioneers   17    8   3   6    28   26   +2    27
 8  McAvery Centurions         17    7   6   4    25   24   +1    27
 9  Agheim CF                  17    7   3   7    32   29   +3    24
10  FC1. Sturm Grímsey         17    8   0   9    26   27   −1    24
11  Bennett and Zhokhov        17    7   3   7    21   24   −3    24
12  Seratakki Villagers        17    6   5   6    20   19   +1    23
13  Uelmark MK                 17    5   6   6    30   29   +1    21
14  Korsten Lokomotiv          17    5   4   8    22   33  −11    19
15  FC1. Rangers               17    3   5   9    12   23  −11    14
16  Franz Josef Sharks         17    3   4  10    18   26   −8    13
17  Meteor Kholmsk SK          17    2   4  11    14   31  −17    10
18  GVFFK Pekarik              17    2   3  12    18   42  −24    9

Skipping over to the East Divisjon of the short and sharp Challenge League, and KAS have avoided all talk of a slow start scuppering their chances of going up by absolutely smashing the hell out of the league so far. They might have drawn their first two games, but they’ve won every single game since, with striker Alex Ross on a twelve-game scoring streak. The chasing pack are slightly more stretched than usual, with Vale of Moray in the hot seat so far.

------East Divisjon              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen   13   11   2   0    30    8  +22    35
 2  Vale of Moray               13    8   2   3    25   15  +10    26
 3  Ingvar Peaks FC             13    5   6   2    18   14   +4    21
 4  Sisimut Black Star          13    6   2   5    20   20    0    20
 5  Larsen Bay Thunder FC       13    5   3   5    20   17   +3    18
 6  Steffansson Island FC       13    3   8   2    17   16   +1    17
 7  Sporting Club Aasiaat 87    13    5   2   6    21   21    0    17
 8  Krykkjesund Olympic         13    5   2   6    14   17   −3    17
 9  San Moranna FC              13    4   3   6    18   25   −7    15
10  Invermuir Highlanders FC    13    3   5   5    19   23   −4    14
11  AIK Alejavik                13    2   7   4    19   24   −5    13
12  IHK Geddesberg              13    2   6   5    15   17   −2    12
13  SK Stryær                   13    3   3   7    11   16   −5    12
14  Bielstrich Timbers FC       13    3   1   9     9   23  −14    10

And it's a similar story in the West Divisjon, with Logan United stretching out a comfortable lead at the halfway stage, having only lost once. Truth be told, the battle for the second promotion spot looks likely to be between Ostermeier and Torpedo as well several strata becoming evident at the bottom of the table, meaning that this might be the most predictable West Divisjon season in living memory.

------West Divisjon                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Logan United FC               13    9   3   1    18    4  +14    30
 2  Ostermeier Old Boys           13    8   2   3    25   16   +9    26
 3  Torpedo Sibir RKA             13    8   1   4    17   14   +3    25
 4  Universitet                   13    6   2   5    30   22   +8    20
 5  Energie Zemlya FK             13    6   1   6    21   18   +3    19
 6  Axel Town AFC                 13    6   1   6    22   20   +2    19
 7  FK Ost-Volonovsk              13    6   1   6    15   16   −1    19
 8  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox   13    5   3   5    13   15   −2    18
 9  West End                      13    5   2   6    16   19   −3    17
10  Devon Bay Lights FC           13    5   2   6    16   22   −6    17
11  FK Norsviken Cossacks         13    4   3   6    17   17    0    15
12  Bulargen Independents         13    4   2   7    18   25   −7    14
13  Devon Bay Seals FC            13    3   3   7    15   24   −9    12
14  Ueland-Alne                   13    1   4   8    11   22  −11    7

Not forgetting the Regional League, of course, whose divisions look like this at the halfway point. Still 2000 minutes or so to play however, and a lot can happen yet. The teams at the bottom of each division will be cast out into the cold of the Regional Conferences, so a lot rides on this.

------Central Premier             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  St Gallen 47                 22   17   4   1    58   20  +38    55
 2  1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt       22   12   7   3    39   23  +16    43
 3  FK Fairbanks                 22   10   6   6    39   27  +12    36
 4  Machtspool Whitesleeves FC   22    8  10   4    31   20  +11    34
 5  FC Velcosta Cliffs           22    9   4   9    27   30   −3    31
 6  Green Star Kobelevskov       22    4  12   6    23   24   −1    24
 7  Royal NK Sikjonek            22    6   6  10    24   34  −10    24
 8  Bindelsfjorden Dynamo        22    6   6  10    30   45  −15    24
 9  SK Nolmkien 1949             22    3  13   6    22   32  −10    22
10  Morrenmark IFK               22    5   6  11    24   38  −14    21
11  Lindesvogne Violets          22    5   6  11    22   36  −14    21
12  FKS-North                    22    4   6  12    27   37  −10    18

------North-Eastern Premier    Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  KSC Brighthelmstone       22   16   6   0    51   14  +37    54
 2  Hanshaugen Gate FK        22   12   6   4    34   23  +11    42
 3  Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC   22   12   5   5    38   17  +21    41
 4  Aleutia Town Dragons      22   10   8   4    36   24  +12    38
 5  Sannegarden Fleet FK      22    9   7   6    30   25   +5    34
 6  FC Kampengar Magpies      22    8   6   8    39   38   +1    30
 7  Waldenøya Bears           22    8   5   9    33   38   −5    29
 8  SK Carson Islanders       22    7   3  12    26   37  −11    24
 9  Arbor CSK                 22    5   7  10    23   28   −5    22
10  Aurora Hammarby           22    5   3  14    19   41  −22    18
11  FK Aagen Zenith           22    4   5  13    20   38  −18    17
12  Resolute Hills FC         22    2   7  13    14   40  −26    13

------South-Eastern Premier       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  SK Thor 1898                 22   18   2   2    54   18  +36    56
 2  KA Rikyaare                  22   15   2   5    43   16  +27    47
 3  Holtrecht Force SK           22   12   4   6    43   30  +13    40
 4  Bathurst Zenith FC           22   11   5   6    34   23  +11    38
 5  US Saint-John                22    9   5   8    25   29   −4    32
 6  Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais       22    9   3  10    33   38   −5    30
 7  Hauken Orca                  22    7   8   7    27   27    0    29
 8  Forrairn St Johan FC         22    8   4  10    29   36   −7    28
 9  Oaks of Fjellisroy           22    7   4  11    24   33   −9    25
10  Friedrichsund Fencing Club   22    4   5  13    13   34  −21    17
11  Sleijnmakt Sport             22    4   3  15    21   40  −19    15
12  Ilksporta IK                 22    3   5  14    25   47  −22    14

------Western Premier          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC Fetlar                 22   14   4   4    45   15  +30    46
 2  Northbrook Zenith FC      22   13   6   3    39   24  +15    45
 3  NKK Urri                  22   12   7   3    36   21  +15    43
 4  Orebro FK                 22   10   7   5    34   27   +7    37
 5  Gjornhammer Pier FC       22    8   6   8    27   33   −6    30
 6  Fjorhorgen SK             22    8   4  10    30   33   −3    28
 7  Marine FC                 22    8   4  10    31   35   −4    28
 8  IHK Sirius                22    7   5  10    30   32   −2    26
 9  Fynersturen Valhalla      22    5   7  10    30   43  −13    22
10  Dinamo Olsa FK            22    5   5  12    20   33  −13    20
11  Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC   22    5   5  12    23   40  −17    20
12  SK Stromness Electric     22    5   4  13    29   38   −9    19

[Polar Islandstates]

Third part of the league season, and there is everything to play for still.


MATCHDAY 18
Novaya Sibir Reds 3-2 East Franz Athletic
Red Star Severny 3–2 FC Axel Heiburg
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 4–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Matahiko Viktory SK 1–3 North Star Grímsey
SK Franz Josef City 1–1 Melville Celtic
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 FC Torshavn
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–4 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Koppen Rig Force 0–3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
In case you missed it, SK are having an underwhelming season so far, and that continued today with another dismal home performance – this time against Melville Celtic – and the clamour for Lucic to leave sooner rather than later is only growing. Nasjonale’s new strike partnership of Polland and Biaggi appears to be gelling quite nicely as they take it in turns to set each other up for goals at home to FC Torshavn, whilst Surtsey kick off their second half of the campaign with a terrific three points at home to top four rivals Aasiaat. A single goal from Goran Stockman was the difference for the Gulls, and that three points could be crucial in the IFCF run-in. Jan Mayen win handsomely away at Longyearbyen, but the biggest result was at Carravale, where a raucous home crowd roared their heroes home with just nine players on the pitch after injuries to both centre-backs after all substitutions had been made allowed Axel Heiburg to pull two dramatic late goals back. Red Star just about got over the line in the end, and with every block or clearance being celebrated like a goal, it was Carravale at its finest. Also Novaya Sibir Reds played East Franz, with the rock bottom club recording a sensational win against the Spires, who I think we can definitely classify as Having A Bad Season now.


MATCHDAY 19
Koppen Rig Force 0–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Jan Mayen Islanders 0–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC Torshavn 0–2 SK Franz Josef City
Melville Celtic 3–3 Matahiko Viktory SK
North Star Grímsey 2–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–0 Red Star Severny
FC Axel Heiburg 2–0 East Franz Athletic
They may have come off the back of a hugely impressive win at home to Resolute Storm last weekend, but Bjarnarey are not infallible – particularly not when it comes to those cross-Norscelt battles I was talking about earlier, and North Star get a win and revenge over the Flotilla for their defeat earlier in the season. Aasiaat bounced back with a Henschen double that propelled them to a win over RSK, whilst his former strike partner almost scored a double from the bench for SK, as they underwhelmed again but nicked a win against FC Torshavn as a result. Joel Bieri scored a magnificent overhead kick as Resolute picked up a very welcome win at home to Red Star, but the biggest result of the day was in Northbrook, where the Diamonds came from behind to beat the Gulls and retake the initiative in the title-race – Ryn Jaxon with a valuable brace. Meanwhile, Novaya Sibir picked up another win with a late goal at Pad Lane, which, if anything, is a bit embarrassing for Koppen Rig despite their status as a newly-promoted team.


MATCHDAY 20
Novaya Sibir Reds 2–0 FC Axel Heiburg
East Franz Athletic 2–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Red Star Severny 3–2 North Star Grímsey
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 8–0 Melville Celtic
Matahiko Viktory SK 1–0 FC Torshavn
SK Franz Josef City 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–4 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 4–1 Koppen Rig Force
A cornered beast is a very dangerous thing, of course, and when push comes to shove it looks like Bjarnarey are more than willing to defend their title like beasts when they need to. Hence, poor Melville Celtic are on the other side of an absolute kicking following Bjarnarey’s defeat last weekend: goals from Nijgaard, Tripp, Sessou, Dupont, Baer, Kazimir, Hodge, and Ënàrsòn mean eight different scorers feature in one game for the first time ever in Divisjon One for the same side. Northbrook returned fire by scoring four of their own against RSK, and Surtsey prove they want to mix it with the very best by also recording a four-one win at home to Koppen Rig. Novaya Sibir pick up a third win from three with a fine display at home to Axel Heiburg, and maybe, just maybe, tales of their demise have been exaggerated. Which of course is bad news for the likes of Torshavn, who lose at fellow promotees Matahiko Viktory. Axel Heiburg, for their part, don’t look like sustaining their form from the start of the season right now, and don’t be surprised to see them slip back towards the mid-table as a result. SK and Jan Mayen have reignited their rivalry this season with the two teams actually near each other in the table for once; this year, Jan Mayen manage to avoid defeat altogether by nicking a point at the Landstadt with a late goal from Sïrustós cancelling out Sorensen’s opener.



LATITUDE CUP Round Four
East Franz Athletic 1-0 SK Sturm Nuuk
FC Axel Heiburg 0-1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Melville Celtic 2-0 Logan United FC
1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt 1-1 FC Kampengar Magpies (1-1 AET, 0-2 PKs)
AFK Hans Island Pioneers 0-2 Sutherland Foundry SK
Fjorhorgen SK 1-1 Maritime Hove FC (1-2 AET)
Jan Mayen Islanders 1-1 SK Aasiaat Harbour (1-1 AET, 0-1 PKs)
SK Franz Josef City 3-0 Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Rapid Jan Mayen FK 1-1 Franz Josef Young Boys (1-2 AET)
Scapa Bay Rovers 4-3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC Velcosta Cliffs 0-1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FK Viipuri 56 6-0 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Rapid SK Eysturoy 2-2 Bennett and Zhokhov (3-5 AET)
McAvery Centurions 0-1 Koppen Rig Force
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 4-0 FC Cape St Paul
Novaya Sibir Reds 4-1 Neuerlatz AFK
The fourth round of the Latitude Cup comes around, and from here on out the teams that progress would be forgiven for allowing themselves to dream just a little bit. Kampengar Magpies will be one of those teams dreaming; they might have had another favourable draw, but it’s what you do with it that counts, and they’ll be in the fifth round counting the prize money after their win on penalties over Karlstadt. As will Bennett and Zhokhov, thanks to a remarkable extra time period that saw four goals in their win at Eysturoy, as many as were scored in the entire preceding ninety minutes. There were also big wins for Surtsey, Novaya Sibir (four from four?!), and Viipuri, but the big news of the weekend is that the holders are out. Having knocked out Divisjon One opposition in the form of Resolute in the last round, freshly relegated Scapa Bay make up for their inability to put together a season likely to end in promotion by knocking the holders out in the fourth round. The Rovers simply wouldn’t stay down, as every time the Flotilla pulled level and seemingly expected to go on and win, they’d go forwards themselves and snatch a goal to put them back in front. Bjarnarey pay the price for resting players then, and their hopes of an unprecedented double-double are at least over.


MATCHDAY 21
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
Koppen Rig Force 3–0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Northbrook Diamonds FK 5–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–1 SK Franz Josef City
Jan Mayen Islanders 3–1 Matahiko Viktory SK
FC Torshavn 3–6 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Melville Celtic 2–1 Red Star Severny
North Star Grímsey 1–0 East Franz Athletic
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–2 FC Axel Heiburg
Boooo, Novaya Sibir can’t make it five from five, as the Gulls are simply too strong and manage to sweep the Reds aside. Sibir probably won’t have been targeting points against the likes of Surtsey in their bid for survival though, so hopefully for them they won’t take it took hard. North Star manage to overcome East Franz, Jan Mayen swat Matahiko aside, and Koppen Rig add further pain to a miserable run of form from RSK, but the two big hitters at the top of the table are making statements. Not content with scoring buttloads against Melville Celtic, Bjarnarey go and do it all again with a six-three away win at Torshavn. They can’t stop themselves! Tripp, Nijgaard, Breault, a double from Sessou, and Mikkel Makkinen also getting in on the action this time around. But Northbrook aren’t happy to sit and let Bjarnarey seize the initiative of course, and with a far more imposing opposition sitting across them on the pitch (with respect and apologies to Torshavn, of course), they secured an arguably more impressive result: five-one the margin of victory over Nasjonale. And, never mind frustrating for Bjarnarey, that result will have hurt for Nasjonale. Perhaps that gap to the top two is even bigger than we thought after all.


MATCHDAY 22
Novaya Sibir Reds 2–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC Axel Heiburg 1–1 North Star Grímsey
East Franz Athletic 2–0 Melville Celtic
Red Star Severny 4–0 FC Torshavn
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 4–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
Matahiko Viktory SK 3–4 SK Aasiaat Harbour
SK Franz Josef City 2–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 Koppen Rig Force
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Okay, so, just like I said, then: Novaya Sibir don’t take their defeat to Surtsey to heart, and they do indeed bounce back with a fine win over Resolute Storm, who need to just be careful they’re not slipping into a relegation spot, to be honest. The Reds only had six points at the halfway point in the table, and they’ve since tripled that in just five games. A remarkable turnaround to lift them off the bottom of the table, and that drops Torshavn right in it. Particularly because they lost heavily to Red Star. Bjarnarey hit four past Jan Mayen to avoid another Norscelt-based slip-up and take their goals total to a scary eighteen scored in the three league games since that defeat to North Star. Scary stuff from the reigning champions. The big tie of the weekend was between SK and Northbrook however, and perhaps there is life in the ol’ Griffons after all, as they twice fight back from behind to hold the Diamonds to a draw; Igerne Félix and Gavilan Quelabura after Mátyás Vass and Tariq had each scored from set piece routines to silence the Landstadt. Some grit from SK however, and that will be of great relief to Griffons fans after fearing their side was on nothing more than a procession towards Lucic’s golden handshake and carriage clock ceremony at the end of the season.


MATCHDAY 23
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–2 Novaya Sibir Reds
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Koppen Rig Force 2–2 SK Franz Josef City
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–1 Matahiko Viktory SK
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–0 Red Star Severny
FC Torshavn 1–2 East Franz Athletic
Melville Celtic 0–2 FC Axel Heiburg
North Star Grímsey 4–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Then again, maybe the Griffons are phoning it it. I don’t know. Who saw them drawing two-all with Koppen Rig? It’s all a bit of a mess at SK right now, and yet more evidence that managers shouldn’t pre-announce their intention to retire or leave a club. Where has the passion gone? Gavilan Quelabura has it in spades, scoring two goals in the second half to rescue a draw, but it takes a whole squad, not just one new signing. Bjarnarey ease to a two-nil win at Aasiaat, but Northbrook drop yet more points, this time with a draw against little ol’ Matahiko Viktory, and that’s a huge advantage for the Bargemen. Jan Mayen and East Franz record wins that will serve them both well in that expected tussle for positions in the top half of the table (listen to me, ruling East Franz out of IFCF contention already), but the biggest bellweather fixture happened at Stadion Solberg, where Surtsey hosted Nasjonale. It was a ding-dong battle, with pressure ebbing this way and that, but as the Gulls seek to join the bigger teams at the top of the table, these are fixtures they’re going to have to get results in, and with Volkhardt Grief cancelling out Elmo Polland’s opener, it was a tale of two strikers hoping to make the next Terns squad that played out on the pitch.


MATCHDAY 24
Novaya Sibir Reds 2–3 North Star Grímsey
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–1 Melville Celtic
FC Axel Heiburg 0–0 FC Torshavn
East Franz Athletic 1–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
Red Star Severny 1–4 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 0–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Matahiko Viktory SK 3–2 Koppen Rig Force
SK Franz Josef City 2–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Nasjonale Hauker 4–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
And yet, for all that bluster and a seriously impressive performance at home to a team that is unquestionably playing better football at the moment in the form of Nasjonale, Surtsey then go and lose to SK. Sorensen and Langager scored the goals as Lucic continues to tweak and rotate strikers in an attempt to try and work out his best line-up. But. It’s matchday twenty-four. Why doesn’t he already know? Still. They brought the Gulls back down to earth with a bump. North Star’s little run of form continues with a win in Sibir, whose little burst of form appears to have dropped off a bit, apparently, whilst a late Joni Siebel goal was enough for East Franz to get three points at home to Jan Mayen. So. Maybe I was being cruel last weekend with my comments. The game we were all waiting for however was the tussle at the top between Bjarnarey and Northbrook. Last season this was the curtain dropper, and, in the end it didn’t matter. We got an entertaining three-all draw, but there was a sense that the title-deciding six-pointer just, never happened. Northbrook went into this game on the back of two draws, and whilst a win would have been useful to haul Bjarnarey in, Otkupschchikov probably took the view that avoiding defeat was the most important thing; with Bjarnarey’s finishes the past couple of seasons, a big deficit at this point of the season could well have been curtains. Alors. A gritty nil-nil draw was the result. Not a classic, no, but a far better draw for Northbrook than the previous two, and the result probably suited them better than it suited the Flotilla. Probably. The gap at the top hasn’t increased, anyway.



LATITUDE CUP Round Five
East Franz Athletic 1-0 FC Kampengar Magpies
Franz Josef Young Boys 0-1 Bennett and Zhokhov
Scapa Bay Rovers 1-2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
FK Viipuri 56 0-1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Sutherland Foundry SK 0-3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Melville Celtic 1-1 SK Aasiaat Harbour (2-1 AET)
Novaya Sibir Reds 1-0 Koppen Rig Force
SK Franz Josef City 2-0 Maritime Hove FC
And so we move back to the Latitude Cup, and a spot in the quarter-finals awaits the winners of these eight ties. Kampengar’s run is finally over, a sprited performance at the Rendahl not quite enough to see them past the might of East Franz, but they can be proud of getting this far. And their bank account. Scapa Bay’s run of knocking out top flight sides is also over, with Surtsey proving a bridge too far for the Farosea club, but Bennett and Zhokhov continue to be a thorn in the side of bigger sides, knocking out Young Boys after a single goal in the second half topped off a determined defensive performance. There were also wins for a Northbrook side still in the hunt for a league and cup double that would match Bjarnarey’s from last season, Melville Celtic, Novaya Sibir, and both Nasjonale and SK; and with the three capital sides kept apart in the draw for the quarter-finals, the chance for a fierce derby in the final is only increasing.


MATCHDAY 25
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–2 Novaya Sibir Reds
RSK Longyearbyen Town 0–2 SK Franz Josef City
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2–0 Matahiko Viktory SK
Koppen Rig Force 0–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–1 Red Star Severny
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–0 East Franz Athletic
Jan Mayen Islanders 3–1 FC Axel Heiburg
FC Torshavn 1–3 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Melville Celtic 3–0 North Star Grímsey
Back to winning ways at last for Northbrook, with Red Star’s comeback being instantly dismissed as soon as it began thanks to a goal from Ryn Jaxon, but Youssef Nijgaard drags Bjarnarey to a win at Pad Lane as the Bargemen and Diamonds start their now annual tit-for-tat result comparison earlier than ever before. Melville Celtic record a superb win at home to North Star as they look to build on their survival from last year with a rather more comfortable performance this year, but there was disappointment for East Franz as their old foe both on and off the pitch Finn Kirkkegaard masterminded a one-nil win for Aasiaat at Harbour Walk. Novaya Sibir give warning that they’re still capable of those strong bursts of form by almost picking up a win away at Kungsdocks, but the experience of Nasjonale just came through in the end. FC Torshavn can’t seem to pick up points for love nor money right now though, with a damaging home defeat to Resolute Storm ringing great big alarm bells that the Kittiwakes that they might be headed straight back down again.


MATCHDAY 26
Novaya Sibir Reds 2–2 Melville Celtic
North Star Grímsey 2–0 FC Torshavn
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC Axel Heiburg 2–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
East Franz Athletic 0–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Red Star Severny 2–2 Koppen Rig Force
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Matahiko Viktory SK 2–3 RSK Longyearbyen Town
SK Franz Josef City 3–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Grab your drinks and popcorn, it’s going to be another Flotilla-Diamonds title battle... Both teams came through tough fixtures today, Northbrook easing to a powerful two-nil away win at East Franz, whilst the Bargemen avoided a potential banana skin at home to improving Surtsey with a calm and efficient two-nil win of their own. Goals on the day came from Wickenheiser and Will for the Diamonds, and Makkinen and Baer for the Flotilla as both managers lean on their experienced players to guide them into the title run-in. The most thrilling game of the day comes at the Landstadt, where SK and Nasjonale share six goals in an entertaining Norsholmoya Derby – goals from Sorensen, Langager, Govorcinovic, Polland twice, and a late equaliser from Henri Laurent – and Axel Heiburg show they’re not yet done with the battle for pride in the top half of the table as they put two stoppage time Eike-Rasmussen goals past Aasiaat’s defence to snatch a win. Resolute pick up a second win in as many weekends meanwhile, and suddenly they’ve surged up the table in what is a very congested bottom half.



Eight games left then, and we are beginning to see where the battles will play out in the final couple of months. As I just said, that bottom half of the table is looking pretty tight, with those six points for Resolute enough to propel them from fifteenth to twelfth and put a bit of daylight between them and the drop spots. Novaya Sibir have that run of form to thank for lifting them above Torshavn at the bottom and within touching distance of an unlikely survival, whilst Matahiko and Koppen Rig must be hopeful of survival themselves, and what a story that would be for the little klub from Kuril. RSK have had a bit of a shocker so far, and they’ll be looking to drag themselves out of danger in the last few months – they're certainly capable of it. Red Star are also likely to be disappointed with their position so far; they might not be in any serious danger of going down, but they’re not safe by any stretch, and they’re ten points adrift of North Star in tenth. North Star, for their part, have closed that gap to the top half of the table admirably, and they’re now well and truly in that chasing cluster of teams from fifth to tenth, all closely bunched but, crucially, even the teams at the top of that cluster are five points adrift of the IFCF spots. Surtsey and Nasjonale have the benefit of that clean air at the moment, but there’s a six point gap from Surtsey to Northbrook in second, who in turn are three points adrift of the reigning champions in first. Some big gaps, some small gaps, but with twenty-four points on the line, everything is still on the table.

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     26   18   5   3    54   18  +36    59
 2  Northbrook Diamonds FK      26   16   8   2    52   20  +32    56
 3  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   26   15   5   6    51   30  +21    50
 4  SK Nasjonale Hauker         26   14   7   5    39   28  +11    49
 5  SK Franz Josef City         26   11  11   4    41   28  +13    44
 6  Jan Mayen Islanders         26   12   8   6    43   31  +12    44
 7  SK Aasiaat Harbour          26   13   4   9    47   35  +12    43
 8  FC Axel Heiburg             26   12   6   8    47   36  +11    42
 9  East Franz Athletic         26   13   2  11    33   33    0    41
10  North Star Grímsey          26   12   3  11    43   39   +4    39
11  Red Star Severny            26    9   2  15    39   44   −5    29
12  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      26    8   4  14    28   45  −17    28
13  Koppen Rig Force            26    6   7  13    30   43  −13    25
14  Melville Celtic             26    6   7  13    28   49  −21    25
15  Matahiko Viktory SK         26    6   5  15    32   49  −17    23
16  RSK Longyearbyen Town       26    6   3  17    31   51  −20    21
17  Novaya Sibir Reds           26    5   5  16    29   56  −27    20
18  FC Torshavn                 26    3   6  17    17   49  −32    15

In the second flight, St Paul have only strengthened their grip on the top spot, with Neuerlatz still in a strong position to become the second team in two seasons to make it a first promotion to the top tier, after Matahiko. Islay Town and Franz Josef Young Boys are at the top of a long and congested list of teams just itching to bump them out of contention however. At the bottom, and things look pretty hopeless for Hospitaliers already, with Solovestky and Yuzhny Equinox not faring much better to be honest. It’s been fairly clear that these three have been a level below the rest of the teams for some time now, and it would take something special to upset the applecart form this point. Full props if they can pull it off, though. Never say never in Divisjon Two; it’s just that kind of league.

------Divisjon Two             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC Cape St Paul           26   15   7   4    51   23  +28    52
 2  Neuerlatz AFK             26   15   1  10    46   33  +13    46
 3  Islay Town Mechanical     26   13   5   8    41   32   +9    44
 4  Franz Josef Young Boys    26   13   4   9    41   38   +3    43
 5  Rapid SK Eysturoy         26   12   7   7    46   48   −2    43
 6  Skipsbyggere IFK          26   11   9   6    36   30   +6    42
 7  Scapa Bay Rovers          26   12   4  10    37   30   +7    40
 8  SK Sturm Nuuk             26   12   4  10    47   41   +6    40
 9  SC Kiel                   26   11   6   9    42   35   +7    39
10  Bohemiens Grise Fiord     26   11   6   9    36   31   +5    39
11  Rapid Jan Mayen FK        26   10   7   9    34   32   +2    37
12  Eintracht Moss-Rygge      26   10   5  11    34   38   −4    35
13  FK Viipuri 56             26    7  10   9    37   38   −1    31
14  Måriussa Viking FK        26    7  10   9    34   40   −6    31
15  Maritime Hove FC          26    8   7  11    32   39   −7    31
16  Yuzhny Equinox FC         26    7   4  15    29   41  −12    25
17  FC Solovetsky Monastery   26    5   4  17    26   47  −21    19
18  Hospitaliers              26    3   4  19    17   50  −33    13

As for the third flight, and things are a little closer. Though, honestly, not by much. Sutherland have a narrow lead over Barentsberg, with Yuzhny Albion only just above McAvery Centurions as things stand, and Aleutia... oh, Aleutia. Surely not, Aleutia. Not again. Facing the drop are Pekarik and Kholmsk, as predicted, with ragners also joining them in the murky depths at the bottom of the Albatross League. Franz Josef Sharks are not out of it yet, but they’ve picked up remarkably to give themselves a fighting chance of survival, even if they do still probably need a collapse form one of the teams in front of them to have any hope.

------Divisjon Three            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Sutherland Foundry SK      26   16   5   5    49   32  +17    53
 2  Lokomotiv Barentsberg      26   16   3   7    42   21  +21    51
 3  SK Yuzhny Albion           26   14   6   6    48   30  +18    48
 4  McAvery Centurions         26   14   6   6    42   34   +8    48
 5  AC Aleutia Volcanoes       26   12   9   5    44   33  +11    45
 6  AFK Hans Island Pioneers   26   13   4   9    47   38   +9    43
 7  FC North Melville          26   12   6   8    41   26  +15    42
 8  FK Grise Fiord             26   12   5   9    35   32   +3    41
 9  Bennett and Zhokhov        26   12   3  11    34   34    0    39
10  FC1. Sturm Grímsey         26   12   2  12    43   37   +6    38
11  Seratakki Villagers        26    9   9   8    34   28   +6    36
12  Uelmark MK                 26    9   7  10    37   39   −2    34
13  Agheim CF                  26    8   7  11    42   46   −4    31
14  Korsten Lokomotiv          26    8   7  11    33   44  −11    31
15  Franz Josef Sharks         26    6   5  15    28   43  −15    23
16  FC1. Rangers               26    4   6  16    23   44  −21    18
17  Meteor Kholmsk SK          26    4   6  16    19   42  −23    18
18  GVFFK Pekarik              26    3   4  19    21   59  −38    13

[Polar Islandstates]

Final part of the league season, and at last, we get our exciting conclusion!


MATCHDAY 27
SK Franz Josef City 0–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–0 Matahiko Viktory SK
RSK Longyearbyen Town 0–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2–0 Red Star Severny
Koppen Rig Force 1–0 East Franz Athletic
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–0 FC Axel Heiburg
SK Aasiaat Harbour 4–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 North Star Grímsey
FC Torshavn 3–0 Melville Celtic
Sibir are scrapping for every point at the moment, and whilst their opponents this weekend might be the most storied in the league, there has never been any equal to hard work when it comes to Divisjon One, and a goalless draw at the Landstadt would have been far more use to Sibir than it was for SK. Bjarnarey showed their clinical side with a goal from every shot on target against RSK, whilst Koppen stunned the Spires with a late goal to boost their chances of survival. Those points dropped for East Franz and SK were music to the ears of Surtsey and Nasjonale, who recorded easy wins to nil, and Northbrook kept pace at the top with a dominant win over Axel Heiburg – there may only have been a single Ryn Jaxon goal in it come the end of the ninety minutes, but this was as comfortable as one-nil wins can be. The final Feud of Victorrinn of the season drew the most attention from the press over the weekend however, and what a game it was: the two teams traded set piece goals within a minute of each other just before half-time, but there was no stopping the home side in the second half, and a devastating Matteus Henschen hat-trick meant Resolute were sent home over the bay with their tails between their legs.


MATCHDAY 28
Novaya Sibir Reds 1–2 FC Torshavn
Melville Celtic 0–3 Jan Mayen Islanders
North Star Grímsey 2–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC Axel Heiburg 1–0 Koppen Rig Force
East Franz Athletic 0–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Red Star Severny 0–2 RSK Longyearbyen Town
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Matahiko Viktory SK 0–1 SK Franz Josef City
All change at the bottom, as two wins in two weeks for FC Torshavn produces a turnaround in form just when they need it, including a crucial win over Novaya Sibir Reds this weekend. The Reds will be hoping for another upturn in form like they had in the previous quarter, but this will have been circled by Sibir as a must-win in their bid for survival, so that late goal from Sara Iudac could prove very costly indeed. Northbrook take advantage of Bjarnarey dropping points at home to Nasjonale by leaving it late to beat Resolute Storm – Andreas Melhus with the only goal of the game – whilst Mathias Langager proved there’s more to SK than flashy foreign signings with his winning goal at Matahiko. Surtsey took a huge step towards IFCF football with a dominant win over rivals East Franz, and a Li Zhen hat trick was the highlight of the day for Jan Mayen, as their impressive campaign under Einar Jepsen continues.



LATITUDE CUP Quarter Finals
Melville Celtic 1-2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Bennett and Zhokhov 0-0 East Franz Athletic (0-0 AET, 2-3 PKs)
SK Franz Josef City 1-0 Novaya Sibir Reds
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2-0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
The Latitude Cup always brings intrigue with it, and the quarter-finals - played mid-week under the lights as is tradition - are no exception. FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls have won this competition more times than anyone else in the history of the cup, and with a pedigree like that it’s no wonder that new players buy into it just as easily as youth team players – Nicollo Rios and Volkhardt Grief with the goals as they squeezed past Melville Celtic. Over in Bennett, meanwhile, East Franz were doing some squeaking of their own: their league campaign might be a bit of a mess but they’re into yet another semi-final, even if they only beat Bennett and Zhokhov on penalties in the end following a drab goalless draw. Beezee deserve huge credit for getting within a spot kick of a semi, though. What a run! The following evening, the capital was lit up in various shades of floodlights as Novaya Sibir visited the Landstadt and Northbrook made the trip to Kungsdocks. What followed were two very tight games: a single goal from Safarov proving the difference for SK, whilst a late double from Biaggi took Nasjonale into the semis at Northbrook’s expense – so close to a third successive semi-final appearance, too. And, look: we said we were hoping for a tasty final, and whilst we weren’t exactly rooting for them per se, the chance of an all-capital final, or even an Elfsteijn Derby final, is as high as it can be right now without being guaranteed. Exciting times.


MATCHDAY 29
Matahiko Viktory SK 1–0 Novaya Sibir Reds
SK Franz Josef City 0–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–2 Red Star Severny
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–1 East Franz Athletic
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–2 FC Axel Heiburg
Koppen Rig Force 0–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Northbrook Diamonds FK 3–0 North Star Grímsey
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–2 Melville Celtic
Jan Mayen Islanders 3–1 FC Torshavn
They might be through to the Latitude Cup semi-finals, but SK remain significantly off the pace in the league, with a two-nil defeat at home to reigning champions Bjarnarey showing the Griffons just what is needed to become Divisjon One champions these days; goals from Nijgaard and Ënàrsòn. Resolute Storm make a welcome return to winning ways with a late win over Koppen Rig, whilst Matahiko further boost their chances of an unlikely survival with a win over struggling Novaya Sibir - Kerrin Metcalfe with yet another crucial goal for Viktory. Or, should that be ‘krukial’? RSK score late to compound East Franz’s misearable season, but a late turnaround for Red Star was the real sotry of the day – after conceding to their former talisman Elmo Polland at Kungsdocks, Josh Scraff and Alija Sutalo scored a goal apiece to make a statement of intent in the mid-table and damage Nasjonale’s IFCF hopes in the process.


MATCHDAY 30
Novaya Sibir Reds 0–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC Torshavn 0–3 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Melville Celtic 1–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
North Star Grímsey 1–2 Koppen Rig Force
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
FC Axel Heiburg 5–2 RSK Longyearbyen Town
East Franz Athletic 0–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Red Star Severny 0–1 SK Franz Josef City
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–5 Matahiko Viktory SK
Stunning. Absolutely stunning. Defending champions Bjarnarey Flotilla came away shellshocked today after a second half blitz from Matahiko swept them away, giving Matahiko a huge and unexpected boost in their bid for survival and severely damaging the Bargemen’s title bid in the process. They were winning three-one at half time, but the Flotilla simple failed to deal with the movement and finishing of Kerrin ‘Metkalfe’ Metcalfe, with the Tikariot forward scoring two and laying a further two assists on to build on a growing cult status in explosive fashion. Northbrook capitalise on this trip-up from Bjarnarey by coming from behind to beat Melville Celtic and rise to the top of the table, whilst a single Christian Luo goal was enough to keep Jan Mayen in shock IFCF contention with a win over Novaya Sibir. The fact that that fixture was a relegation six-pointer showing just how far Jepsen has taken the Ospreys this season. Nasjonale keep pace with Surtsey with a win over East Franz, who slump into the bottom half as a result, but the Gulls themselves are looking good for IFCF football at the moment thanks to a fine win in Resolute. RSK get hammered at Axel Torvig Park however, and that will set alarm bells ringing for Citizens’ fans as they drop into the bottom three as a result. FC Torshavn’s heavy defeat at home to Aasiaat also means that they join Novaya Sibir in “surely that’s them down, now” territory.

So, four games left, twelve points on the table, and with the customary late break for the Latitude Cup semi final next weekend, here's how things are looking:

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Northbrook Diamonds FK      30   20   8   2    59   21  +38    68
 2  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     30   20   6   4    63   24  +39    66
 3  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   30   18   5   7    57   32  +25    59
 4  SK Nasjonale Hauker         30   16   8   6    44   31  +13    56
 5  Jan Mayen Islanders         30   15   9   6    51   33  +18    54
 6  FC Axel Heiburg             30   15   6   9    55   40  +15    51
 7  SK Franz Josef City         30   13  12   5    43   30  +13    51
 8  SK Aasiaat Harbour          30   15   5  10    56   40  +16    50
 9  North Star Grímsey          30   13   4  13    47   45   +2    43
10  East Franz Athletic         30   13   3  14    34   39   −5    42
11  Red Star Severny            30   10   2  18    41   50   −9    32
12  Koppen Rig Force            30    8   7  15    33   46  −13    31
13  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      30    9   4  17    30   51  −21    31
14  Matahiko Viktory SK         30    8   5  17    38   54  −16    29
15  Melville Celtic             30    6   8  16    31   59  −28    26
16  RSK Longyearbyen Town       30    7   4  19    36   60  −24    25
17  Novaya Sibir Reds           30    5   6  19    30   60  −30    21
18  FC Torshavn                 30    5   6  19    23   56  −33    21

LATITUDE CUP Semi Finals
SK Franz Josef City 0-1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
East Franz Athletic 0-1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Well, we almost had it. Two nights, two incredibly tight games, two goals, and two finalists. But only one team from the capital. Saturday night saw Elmo Polland step up when called upon and score the only goal of the game away at SK, meaning that Nasjonale Hauker had ended the dream of an Elfsteijn final. But we could still have an all-capital one. Until Sunday night that is, when veteran Surtsey hero Goran Stockmann slammed home an emphatic winner for the Gulls and lift them into another final for the chance of a record-extending win. Gulls, or Hawks? We’ll have to find out at the end of the season...


MATCHDAY 31
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–2 Novaya Sibir Reds
Matahiko Viktory SK 0–2 Red Star Severny
SK Franz Josef City 2–1 East Franz Athletic
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–2 FC Axel Heiburg
RSK Longyearbyen Town 3–1 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–1 North Star Grímsey
Koppen Rig Force 1–0 Melville Celtic
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–2 FC Torshavn
SK Aasiaat Harbour 4–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
Oh, Northbrook. Was that the title? With a two point gap at the top of the table, the Diamonds knew that they were in the driving seat at this late stage of the season, and the title was surely theirs to lose. The top two played the bottom two this weekend however, so everyone was as desperate as could be. First off, Bjarnarey dropped points to relegation threatened Novaya Sibir, squandering yet another lead at home to draw two-two, but at least coming away with a point. Nonetheless, the Diamonds knew that a win over struggling Torshavn would extend their lead to four points... but it was a win that eluded them. Inspired by seeing Novaya Sibir salvage an unexpected point at The Barge, FC Torshavn reacted admirably, and stunned Palace Approach with a second half brace from Philipp Zeglin. Surtsey’s win over North Star all but guarantees them IFCF football next season thanks to Jan Mayen’s heavy defeat at Aasiaat, whilst Nasjonale’s win over the next nearest team after Jan Mayen – Axel Heiburg – also likely does the same for them. It’s not mathematically certain yet, but, it’s close. At the bottom, things are still close, but those points for Torshavn and Novaya Sibir have certainly condensed things, along with defeats for Matahiko and Melville Celtic. RSK’s win over Resolute has a similar effect, with any of eight teams still able to go down with three games left after everyone in the bottom three picked up points. The mid-table “meh-ness” of the clubs in the Elfsteijn Derby this season meanwhile meant that this was probably the lowest profile derby between the two sides in years. It almost passed without notice at all, in fact. As it is, goals from Sorensen, Felix, and a late consolation from Siebel meant SK fans got the bragging rights, but they’ll feel pretty hollow given their overall position in the table to be honest.


MATCHDAY 32
Novaya Sibir Reds 1–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Jan Mayen Islanders 0–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC Torshavn 2–0 Koppen Rig Force
Melville Celtic 1–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
North Star Grímsey 2–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC Axel Heiburg 0–2 SK Franz Josef City
East Franz Athletic 4–0 Matahiko Viktory SK
Red Star Severny 0–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
My, my, my. The Twin-Cities Derby has rarely, if ever, been this emotional.except maybe last season when they were both going for the title, I suppose Koppen still aren’t safe. Torshavn need every point they can get. So what happens? Obviously, a two-nil win for the Kittiwakes. Iudac and Sanders scored the goals for the home side, and they could be really important goals come the end of the season. The dream of IFCF football is over for Jan Mayen and Axel Heiburg. It was an unlikely dream, sure, but the fact they were even in the discussion for this long just shows how far both have come this season. For the Argonauts, it was a home defeat to a charging SK side that did for them, whilst Jan Mayen would ordinarily be happy with a draw against Northbrook. As it is, it does neither side any favours, and Bjarnarey move back to the top of the table with just two games left thanks to their win over Severny – Makkinen and Tripp scoring the goals for the defending champions. Aasiaat beat Novaya Sibir with a comeback win at Uverdale Veldt, and that’s the Reds down. They gave it a good go, but few can truly be surprised that they’ve gone down again. The rest of the relegation threatened teams are still closely bunched however, and thanks to Surtsey’s shock defeat at Melville, the same can be said in the race for IFCF football, where the form of SK and Aasiaat is keeping things very interesting indeed.


MATCHDAY 33
Red Star Severny 2–1 Novaya Sibir Reds
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–1 East Franz Athletic
Matahiko Viktory SK 1–2 FC Axel Heiburg
SK Franz Josef City 2–0 Resolute Storm 1913 FC
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 North Star Grímsey
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–0 Melville Celtic
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–4 FC Torshavn
Koppen Rig Force 0–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Northbrook Diamonds FK 3–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
So, the penultimate set of results are in, and what’s been settled ahead of the final matchday? Well, not much, actually. Bjarnarey are in full juggernaut mode again, powering past East Franz three-one at The Barge – Tripp, Nijgaard, and Sessou with the goals thanks to a hat-trick of assists from Ënàrsòn - but Northbrook match them with a win over Aasiaat, meaning the gap at the top remains just one point going into the final weekend. Northbrook will be kicking themselves having led so recently, but going into the final day knowing you still have a chance to win the title is an improvement on last year, at least. All you can worry about it yourself at this point. SK Nasjonale Hauker have been IFCF mainstays in recent years, even if they’re yet to make a group stage, and they’ve qualified with a game to spare this season thanks to their win over North Star. SK’s two goals from Langager were enough to sink Resolute and keep their momentum going meanwhile, keeping the pressure on Surtsey in the process. The Gulls’ IFCF status looked nailed on at one point, but three points from their last three games means they’re only two points ahead of SK now thanks to today’s hammering at home to a desperate looking Torshavn side that are scrapping for every point at the moment. Results went Koppen Rig’s way, so despite their defeat at home to Jan Mayen they are safe, but Melville get leapfrogged by the resurgent RSK thanks to a one-nil defeat in Svalbard. Matahiko’s home defeat to Axel Heiburg is also poorly time, and so it’s all to play for at the bottom, with RSK and Resolute Storm sitting on thirty-one points, Torshavn on thirty, and Matahiko and Melville currently occupying the final drop spots on twenty-nine points each. Two from that five will go down next week. Either Surtsey or SK will secure international football. And the title will be headed to either Bjarnarey or Northbrook. So. What’ll it be...?


MATCHDAY 34
Novaya Sibir Reds 0–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–0 Koppen Rig Force
Jan Mayen Islanders 0–0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
FC Torshavn 1–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Melville Celtic 4–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
North Star Grímsey 1–3 SK Franz Josef City
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 1–5 Matahiko Viktory SK
FC Axel Heiburg 0–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
East Franz Athletic 4–0 Red Star Severny
There you have it, folks! Would Northbrook do their part? Emphatically yes. A two-nil win at already relegated Novaya Sibir doesn’t do justice to the scale of the beating they handed out, hitting the woodwork three times and having a further three goals disallowed. But despite this show happening on the pitch, all eyes and ears in the stands were on events at Axel Torvig Park, where a jubilant Bjarnarey were steadily and methodically picking the home side apart. Goals from Baer, Breault, and Tripp were enough to make sure the trophy stayed in Bjarnarey and ensured that the Bargemen become only the third team to pull off the incredible feat of sustained brilliance that is the ‘three-peat’, joining SK and Northbrook (twice) in that little club. Congratulations to Arno Ziegenhagen and co. It looked in doubt at one point, but they’ve pulled it out of the back once again with their remarkable consistency, and chances are they’ll remain the team to beat next season.

In the IFCF race, Surtsey just about held off SK. Four wins from their final four games meant SK were – unusually for them this season – the form team in the entire league, but a single point on the final day for Surtsey at Norscelt rivals Jan Mayen was just enough for them to keep their heads above SK despite the Griffons’ final day victory at North Star.

The really interesting things were happening at the bottom of the table however, and there was something of a shock relegation for Resolute Storm 1913 FC! At the start of the month they were sitting happily in thirteenth place, but you cannot let up for a second in this league, and a run of four defeats since then – the only team to have recorded such a streak in that time – means they’ve slipped almost carelessly to a relegation tha tnobody would have thought was on the cards at the start of the season. Oopsie-daisy. The opposition for that final defeat? Matahiko Viktory. Matahiko, the little Klub from Kuril, absolutely rose to the occasion when they needed to and showed their more illustrious opponents a thing or two about fighting for your top-flight status, the influential Kerrin Metcalfe scoring another couple of goals on the Viktory’s way to survival. And it is a survival that is shared also by Melville Celtic, who also put their backs into it when required and squeezed past Nasjonale Hauker at home courtesy of a last minute equaliser from Provencher, and an even later winner from Beaumanoir – a goal that was greeted with despair amongst the home fans at Taugen Park, as it meant that Torshavn’s draw against fellow strugglers RSK would no longer be enough to secure safety. The home side pushed for a winner that would relegate RSK at their expense, but the Citizens’ defence held firm and it is the Kittiwakes who go down. Having won Divisjon Two last season you wouldn’t have guessed that they would be the only one of the three promoted sides to go back down again, but that’s Divisjon One. It’s a brutal, brutal league.

So, your final league table then:

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     34   23   7   4    73   27  +46    76 - Champions, IFCF CL, CdC
 2  Northbrook Diamonds FK      34   22   9   3    65   24  +41    75 - IFCF CC
 3  SK Nasjonale Hauker         34   19   8   7    53   37  +16    65 - IFCF CC
 4  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   34   19   6   9    60   38  +22    63 - IFCF CC
 5  SK Franz Josef City         34   17  12   5    52   32  +20    63
 6  SK Aasiaat Harbour          34   18   5  11    64   44  +20    59
 7  Jan Mayen Islanders         34   16  11   7    52   37  +15    59
 8  FC Axel Heiburg             34   16   6  12    59   49  +10    54
 9  East Franz Athletic         34   15   3  16    44   44    0    48
10  North Star Grímsey          34   14   4  16    51   54   −3    46
11  Red Star Severny            34   12   2  20    45   57  −12    38
12  Koppen Rig Force            34    9   7  18    34   50  −16    34
13  Matahiko Viktory SK         34    9   5  20    44   63  −19    32
14  RSK Longyearbyen Town       34    9   5  20    42   64  −22    32
15  Melville Celtic             34    8   8  18    36   64  −28    32
16  FC Torshavn                 34    8   7  19    32   58  −26    31 - Relegated
17  Resolute Storm 1913 FC      34    9   4  21    32   62  −30    31 - Relegated
18  Novaya Sibir Reds           34    5   7  22    34   68  −34    22 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Runners-Up: Northbrook Diamonds FK
Relegated: FC Torshavn, Resolute Storm 1913 FC, Novaya Sibir Reds
Player of the Season:
1.  Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
2.  Floryan Dubravko  (Northbrook Diamonds FK)
3.  Youssef Nijgaard (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
4.  Kerrin Metcalfe  (Matahiko Viktory SK)
5.  Kian Hodge  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
Young Player (u-23) of the Season:
1.  Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
2.  Floryan Dubravko  (Northbrook Diamonds FK)
3.  Youssef Nijgaard (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
4.  Antonio Govorcinovic  (SK Franz Josef City)
5.  Volkhardt Grief (FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls)
Signing of the Season:
1.  Floryan Dubravko  (Northbrook Diamonds FK)
2.  Kerrin Metcalfe  (Matahiko Viktory SK)
3.  Kian Hodge  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
4.  Christian Luo  (Jan Mayen Islanders)
5.  Lucas Dupont  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
Foreign Player of the Season:
1.  Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
2.  Floryan Dubravko  (Northbrook Diamonds FK)
3.  Kerrin Metcalfe  (Matahiko Viktory SK)
4.  Kian Hodge  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
5.  Antonio Govorcinovic  (SK Franz Josef City)
Top Goalscorers:
18 -  Ryn Jaxon  (Northbrook Diamonds FK)
16 -  Katinka Fazarkas  (East Franz Athletic)
15 -  Youssef Nijgaard (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla),  Elmo Polland (SK Nasjonale Hauker),  Matias Langager (SK Franz Josef City)
13 -  Kerrin Metcalfe  (Matahiko Viktory SK),  Alvaro Biaggi  (SK Nasjonale Hauker)
12 -   Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla),  Kyong Tripp  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla),  Nico Wickenheiser (Northbrook Diamonds FK)
Top Assistmakers:
15 -  Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
13 -  Antonio Govorcinovic  (SK Franz Josef City) 
12 -  Mátyás Vass  (Northbrook Diamonds FK),  Andrew Farmer  (SK Aasiaat Harbour)
11 -  Khephren Sassou  (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla),  Jalmari Hagen (SK Franz Josef City)
10 -  Youssef Nijgaard (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla), 
Manager of the Season:
1.  Gregers Seiz (Matahiko Viktory SK)
2.  Arno Ziegenhagen (FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla)
3.  Einar Jepsen (Jan Mayen Islanders)

Team of the Season:

In the second flight, FC Cape St Paul managed to complete the job it always looked like they’d be able to complete, and comfortably in the end. Managing to keep hold of Stomberg proved to be a huge difference in the end, and he was rightly crowned player of the season as a result, whilst the goals of Hogland propelled them over the threshold when it counted. Islay Town eased clear of the rest in the end to take a relatively comfortable second place, but all eyes were on the race for the final promotion spot and whether or not Neuerlatz would hold their nerve – and they did! Young Boys couldn’t sustain or re-find their early season form in the end, and Neuerlatz are the second first-timers into Divisjon One in two seasons. Finally some variety! At the bottom of the table, Hospitaliers did catch Solovetsky up in the last few weeks at least, but the damage for those two sides was done a long long time ago. Yuzhny on the other hand genuinely did almost make it out of the relegation spots, coming within a point of Viipuri at one point. Alas for the Equinox fans, it was just too little too late, and a win for Viipuri on the final day sealed their fate.

------Divisjon Two             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC Cape St Paul           34   20   9   5    75   30  +45    69 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 2  Islay Town Mechanical     34   19   6   9    57   39  +18    63 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 3  Neuerlatz AFK             34   18   5  11    60   41  +19    59 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 4  Franz Josef Young Boys    34   17   7  10    55   46   +9    58
 5  Scapa Bay Rovers          34   16   8  10    56   39  +17    56
 6  Skipsbyggere IFK          34   14  14   6    53   41  +12    56
 7  SC Kiel                   34   15   8  11    49   44   +5    53
 8  Rapid SK Eysturoy         34   15   8  11    57   59   −2    53
 9  SK Sturm Nuuk             34   15   6  13    58   54   +4    51
10  Rapid Jan Mayen FK        34   13   8  13    44   44    0    47
11  Bohemiens Grise Fiord     34   13   8  13    44   47   −3    47
12  Måriussa Viking FK        34   10  13  11    46   50   −4    43
13  Maritime Hove FC          34   10  10  14    46   50   −4    40
14  Eintracht Moss-Rygge      34   11   6  17    39   56  −17    39
15  FK Viipuri 56             34    8  12  14    46   56  −10    36
16  Yuzhny Equinox FC         34    9   6  19    36   54  −18    33 - Relegated
17  FC Solovetsky Monastery   34    5   6  23    29   63  −34    21 - Relegated
18  Hospitaliers              34    5   6  23    26   63  −37    21 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: FC Cape St Paul
Runners-Up: Islay Town Mechanical
Promoted: FC Cape St Paul, Islay Town Mechanical, Neuerlatz AFK
Relegated: Yuzhny Equinox FC, FC Solovetsky Monastery, Hospitaliers
Player of the Season:  Usko Stomberg (FC Cape St Paul)
Top Goalscorer: 25 -  Kaspar Hogland (FC Cape St Paul)

In the third tier, Sutherland Foundry managed to hold their nerve and win what was a pretty unexpected league win in the end, finishing. Comfortable four points clear of Barentsberg, who were in turn a good four points clear of Aleutia. Yes! Aleutia! SK Yuzhny Albion would have liked nothing more than to have gone past Equinox in the other direction, I’m sure, but they’ll have to make do with a Yuzhny derby in the third flight next year instead, as a late equaliser on the final day for the Volcanoes at home to already promoted Barentsberg meant they finally, finally, end their stay in Divisjon Three. For now, anyway. In the relegation spots, GVFFK Pekarik and Meteor Kholmsk were done a long time again, despite Kholmsk’s significantly better-looking final points tally. FC1. Rangers didn’t manage to pull themselves towards anything like safety in the end either, but thanks to a monumental effort, Franz Josef Sharks achieved safety by some distance. Agheim CF were the club to drop in and fill the gap vacated by Sharks, with nobody at the Saari club sure how it happened, really. Fans looked stunned when the relegation was confirmed, and who can blame them?

------Divisjon Three            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Sutherland Foundry SK      34   20   8   6    64   41  +23    68 - Promoted
 2  Lokomotiv Barentsberg      34   19   7   8    53   27  +26    64 - Promoted
 3  AC Aleutia Volcanoes       34   16  12   6    57   42  +15    60 - Promoted
 4  SK Yuzhny Albion           34   17   8   9    58   40  +18    59
 5  FC North Melville          34   16   7  11    58   39  +19    55
 6  McAvery Centurions         34   15   9  10    53   48   +5    54
 7  AFK Hans Island Pioneers   34   16   4  14    57   49   +8    52
 8  FK Grise Fiord             34   15   6  13    43   42   +1    51
 9  Bennett and Zhokhov        34   14   7  13    45   44   +1    49
10  Uelmark MK                 34   13   9  12    47   49   −2    48
11  Korsten Lokomotiv          34   12  10  12    43   50   −7    46
12  FC1. Sturm Grímsey         34   13   5  16    51   52   −1    44
13  Franz Josef Sharks         34   13   5  16    46   52   −6    44
14  Seratakki Villagers        34   11   9  14    41   41    0    42
15  Agheim CF                  34    9  10  15    54   63   −9    37 - Relegated
16  FC1. Rangers               34    7   7  20    33   56  −23    28 - Relegated
17  Meteor Kholmsk SK          34    6   9  19    32   58  −26    27 - Relegated
18  GVFFK Pekarik              34    5   6  23    29   71  −42    21 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Sutherland Foundry SK
Runners-Up: Lokomotiv Barentsberg
Promoted: Sutherland Foundry SK, Lokomotiv Barentsberg, AC Aleutia Volcanoes
Relegated: Agheim CF, FC1. Rangers, Meteor Kholmsk SK, GVFFK Pekarik
Player of the Season:  Elias Baus (Sutherland Foundry SK)
Top Goalscorer: 26 -  Elias Baus (Sutherland Foundry SK)

In the Challenge League East Divisjon, KAS absolutely smashed it, as expected, although what wasn’t expected was by just how much. They went unbeaten all season in the end, with the sensational Alex Ross scoring twenty-eight Goals in twenty-six games. He only failed to score in three games in fact, and one of those was a goalless draw. Sisimut Black Star go up, lending further weight to the claim that they’re now the biggest club in Sisimut, whilst there was disappointment for Invermuir, Stryær, Sporting Club, and Bielstrich, who all go down to the Regional League.

------East Divisjon              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen   26   21   5   0    57   14  +43    68 - Promoted
 2  Sisimut Black Star          26   13   5   8    47   36  +11    44 - Promoted
 3  Vale of Moray               26   11   8   7    42   34   +8    41
 4  Ingvar Peaks FC             26   11   7   8    43   32  +11    40
 5  Steffansson Island FC       26    9  13   4    37   32   +5    40
 6  San Moranna FC              26   11   4  11    38   40   −2    37
 7  Larsen Bay Thunder FC       26   10   5  11    43   41   +2    35
 8  IHK Geddesberg              26    7  10   9    34   35   −1    31
 9  AIK Alejavik                26    6  12   8    35   41   −6    30
10  Krykkjesund Olympic         26    7   9  10    29   40  −11    30
11  Invermuir Highlanders FC    26    5  11  10    29   40  −11    26 - Relegated
12  SK Stryær                   26    6   7  13    22   36  −14    25 - Relegated
13  Sporting Club Aasiaat 87    26    6   6  14    32   45  −13    24 - Relegated
14  Bielstrich Timbers FC       26    5   6  15    25   47  −22    21 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen
Runners-Up: Sisimut Black Star
Promoted: Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen, Sisimut Black Star
Relegated: Invermuir Highlanders FC, SK Stryær, Sporting Club Aasiaat 87, Bielstrich Timbers FC
Player of the Season:  Alex Ross (Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen)
Top Goalscorer: 28 -  Alex Ross (Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen)

In the West meanwhile, Logan United completed a similar story of dominance, even if it wasn’t quite so emphatic as KAS’, with Ostermeier winning the academic battle between them and Universitet for the other promotion spot – though Ost-Volonovsk almost stole through to snatch it from right under the noses of both of them when they weren’t looking. Bulargen, the Seals, Ueland-Alne, and West End go down, much to the delight of the Lights fans, who only avoided joining their cross-town rivals in being relegated with a win over Norsviken on the penultimate weekend of the season.

------West Divisjon                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Logan United FC               26   14   8   4    37   21  +16    50 - Promoted
 2  Ostermeier Old Boys           26   12   7   7    40   32   +8    43 - Promoted
 3  Universitet                   26   12   6   8    53   34  +19    42
 4  FK Ost-Volonovsk              26   12   5   9    35   29   +6    41
 5  Axel Town AFC                 26   12   4  10    48   39   +9    40
 6  Torpedo Sibir RKA             26   11   7   8    29   30   −1    40
 7  FK Norsviken Cossacks         26   11   4  11    35   33   +2    37
 8  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox   26   10   7   9    29   29    0    37
 9  Energie Zemlya FK             26   10   4  12    37   38   −1    34
10  Devon Bay Lights FC           26    8   8  10    35   39   −4    32
11  West End                      26    8   7  11    29   36   −7    31 - Relegated
12  Ueland-Alne                   26    6  10  10    26   37  −11    28 - Relegated
13  Devon Bay Seals FC            26    5   8  13    30   48  −18    23 - Relegated
14  Bulargen Independents         26    5   7  14    27   45  −18    22 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Logan United FC
Runners-Up: Ostermeier Old Boys
Promoted: Logan United FC, Ostermeier Old Boys
Relegated: West End, Ueland-Alne, Devon Bay Seals FC, Bulargen Independents
Player of the Season:  Mihaels Pautz (Logan United FC)
Top Goalscorer: 20 -  Geir Westergaard (Universitet)

In the always competitive Regional League, we of course first turn out attention to the Central Premier, where St Gallen just about popped Karlstadt to the title after an enthralling battle at the top of the league – teenage sensation Bo Fichter just failing to help his side overhaul the Muskoxes despite his best efforts. Ninety-eight to ninety-seven points is a tremendous return, and Fairbanks and Machtspool had to concede they were some distance from matching that level in the end. At the bottom of the table, FKS-North were also some distance away, but unfortunately for them that meant to the team in front of them in eleventh.

------Central Premier             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  St Gallen 47                 44   30   8   6    95   43  +52    98 - Promoted
 2  1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt       44   28  13   3    90   38  +52    97 - Promoted
 3  FK Fairbanks                 44   23   7  14    82   56  +26    76
 4  Machtspool Whitesleeves FC   44   20  13  11    67   45  +22    73
 5  FC Velcosta Cliffs           44   18   7  19    63   69   −6    61
 6  Green Star Kobelevskov       44   12  19  13    55   57   −2    55
 7  Royal NK Sikjonek            44   15   9  20    61   71  −10    54
 8  SK Nolmkien 1949             44   11  16  17    47   71  −24    49
 9  Bindelsfjorden Dynamo        44   14   7  23    59   86  −27    49
10  Lindesvogne Violets          44   12  10  22    54   75  −21    46
11  Morrenmark IFK               44   10  10  24    49   77  −28    40
12  FKS-North                    44    6  11  27    47   81  −34    29 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: St Gallen 47
Runners-Up: 1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt
Promoted: St Gallen 47, 1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt
Relegated: FKS-North
Player of the Season:  Ove Aasen (St Gallen 47)
Top Goalscorer: 30 -  Bo Fichter (1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt)

In the North-Eastern, KSC Brighthelmstone win the league with almost a whole month to spare in the end, though Dragons needed a final day victory over Sannegarden to make sure of that second promotion spot at the expense of Hanshaugen and Aurich-Hassen. At the bottom, there were sad times for Aurora Hammarby fans.

------North-Eastern Premier    Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  KSC Brighthelmstone       44   27  12   5    83   35  +48    93 - Promoted
 2  Aleutia Town Dragons      44   21  17   6    78   44  +34    80 - Promoted
 3  Hanshaugen Gate FK        44   23  11  10    70   51  +19    80
 4  Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC   44   24   7  13    81   48  +33    79
 5  Sannegarden Fleet FK      44   19  13  12    72   52  +20    70
 6  FC Kampengar Magpies      44   18   9  17    69   68   +1    63
 7  Waldenøya Bears           44   15  10  19    65   71   −6    55
 8  SK Carson Islanders       44   15  10  19    58   70  −12    55
 9  Arbor CSK                 44   11  12  21    49   69  −20    45
10  FK Aagen Zenith           44    9  11  24    47   78  −31    38
11  Resolute Hills FC         44   10   8  26    43   78  −35    38
12  Aurora Hammarby           44    9   6  29    42   93  −51    33 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: KSC Brighthelmstone
Runners-Up: Aleutia Town Dragons
Promoted: KSC Brighthelmstone, Aleutia Town Dragons
Relegated: Aurora Hammarby
Player of the Season:  Nathan Illg (KSC Brighthelmstone)
Top Goalscorer: 34 -  Claus Reuland (Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC)

In the South-Eastern, SK Thor saw what Karlstadt and St Gallen achieved and said “hold my beer”, notching up an incredible hundred-and-six points in the end on their way to promotion, and leaving KA Rikyaare trailing some way away in their wake, even if they were also comfortably clear of Hauken Orca. At the bottom, Sleijnmakt’s form deserted them at just the wrong time of the season, and they depart the Regional Premier tier for another season at least.

------South-Eastern Premier       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  SK Thor 1898                 44   33   7   4   103   36  +67    106 - Promoted
 2  KA Rikyaare                  44   27   8   9    75   34  +41    89 - Promoted
 3  Hauken Orca                  44   23  10  11    72   47  +25    79
 4  Bathurst Zenith FC           44   18  16  10    59   46  +13    70
 5  Holtrecht Force SK           44   18  12  14    70   57  +13    66
 6  US Saint-John                44   16   8  20    53   66  −13    56
 7  Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais       44   15  10  19    59   69  −10    55
 8  Forrairn St Johan FC         44   13  10  21    60   70  −10    49
 9  Ilksporta IK                 44   12  11  21    58   89  −31    47
10  Friedrichsund Fencing Club   44   12  10  22    46   78  −32    46
11  Oaks of Fjellisroy           44   10   9  25    52   80  −28    39
12  Sleijnmakt Sport             44    9   5  30    43   78  −35    32 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: SK Thor 1898
Runners-Up: KA Rikyaare
Promoted: SK Thor 198, KA Rikyaare
Relegated: Sleijnmakt Sport
Player of the Season:  Ernesti Picken (SK Thor 1898)
Top Goalscorer: 42 -  Ernesti Picken (SK Thor 1898)

Finally, the Western Premier, and we actually saw a close battle here. Not at the top, where FC Fetlar won, as expected. Nor at the bottom, particularly – don’t let the points difference fool you; Olsa were relegated before they won their last three on the trot. In second place, Northbrook Zenith had been trading places with NKK Urri for much of the season, but it took a final day win over their rivals – in Kuril no less – to overhaul them in the only table that matters: the final one.

------Western Premier          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC Fetlar                 44   27  10   7    87   36  +51    91 - Promoted
 2  Northbrook Zenith FC      44   23  12   9    79   50  +29    81 - Promoted
 3  NKK Urri                  44   22  13   9    78   46  +32    79
 4  Marine FC                 44   20   8  16    65   62   +3    68
 5  Orebro FK                 44   17  16  11    67   58   +9    67
 6  Gjornhammer Pier FC       44   14  13  17    52   68  −16    55
 7  IHK Sirius                44   15   7  22    61   73  −12    52
 8  Fjorhorgen SK             44   13  11  20    57   66   −9    50
 9  Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC   44   12  11  21    50   71  −21    47
10  SK Stromness Electric     44   11  12  21    60   73  −13    45
11  Fynersturen Valhalla      44   10  15  19    49   70  −21    45
12  Dinamo Olsa FK            44   10  12  22    36   68  −32    42 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: FC Fetlar
Runners-Up: Northbrook Zenith FC
Promoted: FC Fetlar, Northbrook Zenith FC
Relegated: Dinamo Olsa
Player of the Season:  Andrias Voeks (FC Fetlar)
Top Goalscorer: 32 -  Oddvar Biehl (FC Fetlar)

And so with four teams relegated, we also need to say welcome to the four new teams promoted from the new second tiers of the Regional Conferences:
Eastgate Victoria FC, Kerrisgorforth Athletic FC, Sodermalm Wasps, and Verdin Brook FC

However, in a somewhat surprising move, the VFA announced that next season will be the last with only a single relegation spot between the Regional League Conference Premier Divisjons and the Feeder Leagues below them. To get teams used to the idea of increased mobility between the levels of the pyramid that will be coming round the corner at some point, there will be two relegation spots in each Regional Conferences Premier from Season 70 onwards.



Having both comfortably won their respective leagues we were expecting a thriller from the Challenge Cup, and that’s just what we got. The lead changed hands three times over the course of the game, but in the end it was KAS who completed an almost entirely unbeaten season, and really, who was actually expecting them to win the Latitude Cup?

Final
Logan United FC 2-3 Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen


CHAMPIONS:Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen

The Regional Trophy also captures our attention in the closing weeks of the season, and whilst Brighthelmstone might have inflicted a shock defeat upon overwhelming favourites SK Thor in their semi-final, it was FC Fetlar who triumphed in the final.

Semi-Finals
St Gallen 47 1-1 FC Fetlar
FC Fetlar 1-0 St Gallen 47 (2-1 agg)

SK Thor 1898 3-0 KSC Brighthelmstone
KSC Brighthelmstone 3-0 SK Thor 1898 (4-0 AET, 4-3 agg)

Final
FC Fetlar 3-1 KSC Brighthelmstone


CHAMPIONS: FC Fetlar

So, to the Latitude Cup final then; the centrepiece of the closing weeks of the season. It’s been a while since one of these ended up being settled on penalties but that’s exactly what happened here: the Gulls put up a hell of a show for us, and hit the post twice during extra time to arguably say they deserved to win the whole thing, but Teitur Ronkainen and his disruptors weren’t to be denied, and a penalty from Ainsley Stenhouse was enough for Hauker to claim a long overdue piece of silverware. Encouraging signs for Surtsey however, as if the fact that this game was third versus fourth wasn’t enough motivation to go harder next season. Nothing hits quite like a cup final defeat...

Final
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1-1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls (1-1 AET, 3-2 PKs)


CHAMPIONS: SK Nasjonale Hauker

Polar Islandstates (PIS) qualifiers
Champions League: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Challengers Cup: Northbrook Diamonds FK, SK Nasjonale Hauker, FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Liga B Champions Trophy: FC Cape St Paul, Islay Town Mechanical, Neuerlatz AFK
Cup Winners’ Cup: SK Nasjonale Hauker

CdC: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla

[Polar Islandstates]

2056
Season 69 Preview

So, last season saw an historic three-peat from Bjarnarey, becoming the third team in Divisjon One to manage the feat after SK Franz Josef City, and Northbrook (twice). Nasjonale laid further claim to the title of ‘best of the rest’ with another third place finish, and Surtsey’s ascent continued by pipping the mighty SK to the final international competition spot, propelled by the goals of young sensation Volkhardt Grief. East Franz’s woes continued with a ninth place finish – a dismal return for a side used to chappenging for titles – and the tightest relegation battle in years saw everything chance on the final day to send Torshavn, Resolute, and Novaya Sibir down. But what about this year? Will East Franz bounce back? Will Axel Heiburg and Jan Mayen continue to enjoy their recent turnaround in fortunes and consolidate their spots in the top half? Will SK and Nasjonale finally make the step up to title challengers, or will Surtsey beat them to it? Will Bjarnarey manage to make it an unprecedented fourth title on the bounce? Or will Northbrook finally convert promise into action and reclaim the title? And will newly promoted St Paul, Islay Town, and Neuerlatz manage to stay in the top flight? There was minimal movement in the transfer market this winter break, almost none in fact, so we can skip that usual discussion. In which case, read on to see what we think of it all...



FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
The Barge (32,340), Bjarnarey, Norscelt.
Manager: Arno Ziegenhagen
Last season: Champions
Arno Ziegenhagen might be the best incremental-gains-based manager that Divisjon One has ever seen. Taking a successful team and having the patience and confidence to make only slight tweaks each season in order to stay at the top is not an easy thing to do. You have to have faith in your players, faith in yourself, and faith in your plans, as well as the constant drive to continue winning. And once you’ve won three in a row, that’s not an easy thing to achieve. They’ve got talented players all over the park, now, all rallying behind instrumental forward Youssef Nijgaard and some of the best midfielders in the league. Some of the players who’ve been at Bjarnarey for a while are now more decorated than a number of legends that you could name of to have come through Divisjon One, but they need to keep it going if they want to cement their legacy. So, with a chance to make history and create the first four-peat that the Federation has ever seen: what’s the tactic this year, Arno?
Prediction: Champions. Again.
Players of Note: Youssef Nijaard, Mikkel Makkinen, Povl Kazimir, Khephren Sassou (QUE), Mêlçôr Ënàrsòn (FFD), Kyong Tripp (CMT), Jori Sipp, Michael Baer (PAS), Sigmunder Aalstadt, Kelvin Rowley (TKT), Mark Jamieson (BRO), Lucas Dupont (CRN), Kian Hodge (ZEN), Eamon Breault (KSK)


Northbrook Diamonds FK
Palace Approach (31,392), Northbrook, Northbrook.
Manager: Victor Otkupshchikov
Last season: Runners-Up
So close, and yet so far. Once again... (again), Northbrook were the nearly-side of Polarian football as they came up short in their personal battle with the Flotilla for the third year in a row. Diamonds fans must be sick of the sight of those green and black jerseys, and who can blame them? Bjarnarey have now joined Northbrook and SK in the little exclusive club of ‘teams that have pulled off a three-peat', and although by all accounts they look set to make it an historic four from four, stopping them from taking an outright lead will be Otkupshchikov’s main aim this season. Northbrook are hungry for silverware, and their fans are desperate for a league title as reward for how good this current squad is. Let's be real, this is one of the best squads that Divisjon One has ever seen. But when, if indeed, at all, is that reward going to come their way?
Prediction: Runners-Up
Players of Note: Magnus Dahm, Mátyás Vass (PAS), Joel Wolfgangsson (GRÆ), Ryn Jaxon (CMT), Tariq Will (CMT), Nico Wickenheiser, Uwe Grendahl, Ruben Herzog, Rafaela Pilzer (CMT), Andreas Melhus (VAL), Floryan Dubravko (ZEN)


SK Nasjonale Hauker
Kungsdocks (30,297), Franz Josef City, Franz Josef.
Manager: Teitur Ronkainen
Last season: 3rd
If finishing third once felt like an over-reach from Nasjonale, doing it three seasons in a row totally changed opinions of this side. There’s no reason to think that they won’t do it again, either... unless you count the advance of SK and Surtsey. Honestly speaking, this is not the third best squad in the league, not at all. But what they lack with their holes and gaps in proper top class depth, they more than make up for with their squad harmony and willingness to fight for each other. But they don’t do statistics at Kungsdocks, with only board intervention reportedly stopping Ronkainen from sacking the entire staff of analysts. No tactics, only vibes, apparently, and yet somehow that seems to work just fine for the fans. They love mixing things up at Nasjonale, and those irritatingly persistent yellow and black hornets will likely be buzzing around the top of the table once again. Quite how high they’ll reach is seemingly in the lap of the gods, but fans would absolutely take another season of IFCF football if you offered it to them. Just so long as Hauker are fun to watch, anyway. As they say at Kungsdocks, the real friends were the absolute chaos we made along the way. Or something like that.
Prediction: 4th
Players of Note: Elmo Polland, Eddie Mostert (CMT), Karl Kvist (SEM), Raino Jeppersen, Owen Toole (XAN), Yanni Eklund, Ainsley Stenhouse (TKT), Leon Bruvoll (VAL), Kyugagun Zurrald (KOR), Alvaro Biaggi (TER), Henri Laurent (CRN)


FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Stadion Solberg (45,924), Surtsey, Norscelt.
Manager: Sim Lefebvre
Last season: 4th
Okay, so that’s three seasons in a row I’ve underrated the Gulls going into the season, and three seasons in a row that they’ve shown me up for the amateur I am. Having broken the stranglehold the Big Six had on the top of the table two seasons ago, last season they went one better and actually jumped beyond SK and into the IFCF spots. Which, listen, this is huge for the overall balance of the league. It’s also huge for Northbrook, as traditional dictates that when the Norscelt sides are closer to each other in quality, they all start dropping points to each other with more regularity. Bigger teams than Surtsey might have more experience at the top of the table and will surely know what to do to close the gap on the soaring Gulls above them, but Surtsey are young and hungry, and they’re going to be a difficult side to haul back and stop crashing the party. With an expanded IFCF qualification zone this season, I’d still back Sim Lefebvre’s side to make it into international football for another year.
Prediction: 5th
Players of Note: Christoffer Rex, Volkhardt Grief, Niko Wederberg, Dan-Arne Kystebo (TKT), Goran Stockman, Kieron Player (FLA), Marcus Autta (CMT), Nicollo Rios (SAT)


SK Franz Josef City
Landstadt Stadion (54,195), Franz Josef City, Franz Josef.
Manager: Vladimir Lucic
Last season: 5th
Oh, SK. The club that every loves to see fail. Every year, the fans talk the big’un - “this is going to be the year we bounce back”, “this is the best signing of the season”, “we’ve got the best squad in the country”, “this is Polarian football heritage”... and sometimes, they’re actually right about some of those claims. Usually however, in recent years, they’ve been spectacularly wrong about winning the league. I don’t know what they need, but after the initial thrill and excitement of signing foreign stars again seemed to genuinely lift their performances, things have fallen a bit flat again. Lucic surely hasn’t got long left in his career, so whether he can propel this side into one that is attractive for future managers is probably going to be the making of his legacy or not. As for the title? I hardly think so. Bjarnarey and Northbrook are simply too far ahead. And, increasingly, so are Surtsey and Nasjonale. They’ll have the bit between their teeth in order to rectify that down at the Landstadt this year, and maybe, for once, I actually believe their rhetoric.
Prediction: 3rd
Players of Note: Alf Lofthus, Igerne Félix (CMT), Loick Sorensen (SEM), Rahmonberdi Zhusupov (DEL), Gunnar Keppler, Heino Olsen, Jalmari Hagen, Tord Alexandersson, Antonio Govorcinovic (MYT), Rabia Safarov (SRS), William Turner (CRN), Gavilan Quelabura (FFD), Bosko Pestotnik (MYT)


SK Aasiaat Harbour
Harbour Walk (28,385), Aasiaat, Victorrinn.
Manager: Finn Kirkkegaard
Last season: 6th
Finn Kirkkegaard might be the most laid-back man in Polarian football. Yes, he was delighted to lead the Pilots to the title, but he didn’t get carried away. Yes, he was delighted to be linked with the Terns position, but he didn’t get carried away. Yes, he was disappointed to have to rebuild a winning team, but he didn’t get too downbeat. They struggled again last season, with a second successive sixth place perhaps not being the return fans were hoping for, but they need to remain patient. This is probably about where they are right now. That title wasn’t a flash in the pan exactly, but it didn’t come from a dynasty-ready side like Bjarnarey’s have, and that’s the difference between the two in the years since the Pilot’s title. This is a good squad, but not a great one. They’ve had heavy turnover in recent years, after all, and is almost unrecognisable from the side that won the league. Kirkkegaard also has some reputation-rebuilding to do, but you can rest assured he won’t panic at the prospect. Aasiaat are a very well-run club, don’t be surprised to see them occupying the 4-7 spots in the season for years to come. Unless Kirkkegaard loses his touch for the set piece, anyway.
Prediction: 7th
Players of Note: Matteus Henchsen, Matias Langager, Rafael Kowaleski, Jaan Reusser, Cixin Nguyen (ZWZ), Duncan McCariot (TKT), Gustav Kommersen, Andrew Farmer (KSK)


Jan Mayen Islanders
Victoria Stadium (51,293), Jan Mayen, Norscelt.
Manager: Einar Jepsen
Last season: 7th
From almost cracking the Big Six to almost being relegated in three years, Jan Mayen’s was has been dramatic and distressing to fans. It’s true, they’ve fallen into the second flight before, but unlike in the case of fellow ‘Divisjons-One-and-Two-winning' sides St Paul and RSK, whose title wins were anomalies to some extent, Jan Mayen are a side that were well used to top half finishes, title fights, and international football. Maybe not recently, no, but old habits die hard, and the Ospreys have higher aspirations than relegation. So, unsurprisingly, Klemmensen lost his job, and in came former player Einar Jepsen, fresh from assistant posts at both the Chicks and the Terns. Once safety looked likely he began to instill his philosophy at the club – perhaps a bit too quickly given how they finished the season – but boy did that pay off in style last season. The experiments and the training sessions were all worth it as the Ospreys leapt back up as high as seventh, and they’ll once again have their eyes set on the top third of the league. It’s been a while since the violet clad Islanders can say that, and their fans will be revelling in it.
Prediction: 8th
Players of Note: Bryce Larkingham (TKT), Carl Urdahl, Heiki Uhlgren, Li Zhen (YZH), Toshikushi Nakagone (KOR), Arnold Brunner, Vinísíus Sïrustós (FFD), Christian Luo (SAT), Armazi Sander (SAT), Ozan Szep (SAT)


FC Axel Heiburg
Axel Torvig Park (39,345), Axel Heiburg, Axel Heiburg.
Manager: Ricards Egge
Last season: 8th
You all know the story with Axel Heiburg by now, surely? Youth team this, Haapa-Mechelin that, struggle to attract big names the other. Ricards Egge is skilled at choosing which players to promote and which to cash in on however, which means the money is there to spend should they ever need to, although with much of the money instantly being reinvested in the academy, it’s hard to see him getting a chance to do so; not unless there was a dramatic need. And, there isn’t, to be honest. It’s a business model and a recipe for successful survival in the top flight, and that’s apparently enough for Axel Heiburg at the moment. They’d like to be challenging for international football again, but it’s a long time since that came to Axel Torvig Park, and mentalities like that don’t just spring out of nowhere. One day might be the time for Egge to step aside and let a more ambitious manager take this club to where it could be. But this it not that day. Not yet, anyway. More of the same for the Argonauts awaits, and that’s probably fine, actually.
Prediction: 10th
Players of Note: Olav Glanzer, Vilhjalmur Wedland, Melvin Ferg, Arvid Wedemeyer, George Nelson (EUR), Liselotte Strannegård (TKT), Viljo Nilsen, Richard Rasmussen (SEM), Roald Eike-Rasmussen, Tanar-Ilinx Wek (QU), Lapij-Lenpi Zev (QUS)


East Franz Athletic
Rendahl Stadion (47,911), Franz Josef City, Franz Josef.
Manager: Vladimir Hove
Last season: 9th
Well, it felt inevitable, but it finally happened. Andriy Chtgheglovski paid the price for a series of underperformances, with last year’s ‘achievement’ of a top half finish at the last minute nowhere near enough to give him a seventh, eighth, maybe even ninth chance with the East Franz board. The board didn’t reach out very far to find their replacement; Vladimir Hove of SC Kiel in the second flight. On paper, this isn’t a signing to set the world alight, but a closer look at Hove’s playing style and management of budget whilst at Kiel will make for very enjoyable reading indeed if you’re a Spires fan. This is a talented-enough squad, so who knows, Hove might be able to pull off something thrilling. Fans will be looking at Jepsen and Jan Mayen as an example of what is possible when you make a much-needed switch at managerial level, but I’m not convinced Hove will hit the ground running with anything like the same amount of speed as Jepsen managed. Still, the transition season, if it does indeed only last a season, should be interesting at least.
Prediction: 6th
Players of Note: Joni Siebel, Sho Itō (SQR), Arsene-Michael Litt (QUE), Gunner Martikainen (KSK), Jere Karschner, Arni Lauff, Katinka Fazaka (PAS), Joo Pil-Seund (QUE), Petar Pejakovski (MYT), Trajko Popovski (JSF), Burley Trac (ZEN)


North Star Grímsey
Steffansen Lane (32,492), Grímsey, Norscelt.
Manager: Alexsandr Kiriyenko
Last season: 10th
North Star weren’t exactly happy with tenth last year, but, when you look closer, it’s hard to see how fans thought they deserved to finish any higher. It’s possible that the strength of the other three major Norscelt clubs might be colouring their opinion on this somewhat, of course, and if they sat down and looked at things logically, they might see what I’m talking about. But then, since when did football fans ever have any fun thinking logically? Lehning and Borjeson aren’t the players they used to be, and long gone are the years when the Norscelt side were undisputedly the closest thing we had to a challenger against the might of the Big Six. The fans still dream, though, and who can blame them? Thornburrow and Drouin-Lacroix have both been shrewd signings, and Kiriyenko is a decent manager, but there’s a growing sense that he might have run out of ideas. Time for a refresh? We’ll see.
Prediction: 9th
Players of Note: Georges-André Drouin-Lacroix (TKT), Cornelius Thornburrow (TKT), Mihal Harodman (KAN), Nuut Borjeson, Philip Lehning, Eirikur Schoenly Gael Larsen (SEM), Germán Hasse (TER), Valérie Noir (CMT), Undeio Dettman (ZEN)


Red Star Severny
Carravale (41,734), Severny, Novaya Zemlya.
Manager: Sebastian Enger
Last season: 11th
After losing a player like Elmo Polland, I suppose nobody really knew what would happen to Red Star, but I have to say, they’ve coped admirably. The didn’t quite replace all of the goals that Polland brought them, but they consolidated well in his absence and fought battles all over the pitch that mostly kept them safe and set for a pair of comfortable mid-table performances. This will be their third seasons without their hero however, and it’s fair to start asking what the plan is from this point onward. Enger has an outside shot at keeping things interesting into the last few weeks of the season if he plays his modest cards in the right place and at the right time, but the truth is fans are probably happy with a cup run and avoiding the relegation skirmishes. Whatever happens, he’ll need the formidable Carravale Voice keeping things intimidating at home to create an environment in which his charges can flourish.
Prediction: 11th
Players of Note: Kain Arnoldy, Sylvester Sandbjorn, Ludvid Altermatt, Michael Morck (TKT), Silas Nielsen, Aake Meinke, Benedikt Gipp, Forzu-Lucex Yem (QUS), Fraser Chitwick (TKT), Alija Sutalo (MYT), Josh Scraff (KSK)


Koppen Rig Force
Pad Lane (30,491), Koppen-Torshavn, Farosea.
Manager: Kenth Hendel
Last season: 12th
Cast your minds back to two seasons ago, where Koppen Rig were the unlucky losers in the battle at the top of the second flight with their fierce rivals Torshavn. Indeed, it says something about the combative nature of the Koppen-Torshavn rivalry that going up and sealing promotion alongside the Kittiwakes was of almost no consolation to the Koppen fans whatsoever. The Rig Army were distraught, and Kenth Hendel had some serious ground to make up if he was going to repair his relationship with the rabid fans at Pad Lane... although I won’t pretend that it didn’t help considerably when Koppen Rig got to watch and laugh as they stayed up easily whilst Torshavn plummeted back into the second flight. Turns out squad harmony and planning effectivley for the future really is a better route to long term success than betting it all on a league title. Who knew? That said, they’ll find things tougher this year, and will have to work hard to avoid joining Torshavn in Divisjon Two, or worse; being leapfrogged by them...
Prediction: 14th
Players of Note: Alain Germain (TFS), Isabella Clark (TFS), Dalia Smith (XAN), Lebesc Bresaix (AUP), Niksa Srejovic (MYT), Johnas Jochem, Eduards Suiter


Matahiko Viktory SK
Matahiko Stadium (12,946), Matahiko, Kuril Arkhipelago.
Manager: Gregers Seiz
Last season: 13th
And, well, this is a nice surprise; not only did lowly little Matahiko reach the top-flight for the first time in Divisjon One history, but they actually stayed up, too! It took an awful lot of work, but scrapping for every single point bore dividends in the end, and Gregers Seiz deserves a statue at the very least if he manages to keep them up for a second season. Seiz isn’t native to Kuril, as his middle name of Christian should have made obvious (there are no letter C’s in the Kurik Dialekt), but he’s as beloved a figure as the kity could hope to have. I think making it three seasons in the top flight might be a stretch, sadly, but, hey, look at it this way: Bohemiens took a while to go back down when they were last up here, Skipsbyggere are always bouncing up and down between the top flights, and even Hospitaliers made it several years up here. All of whom are no bigger than Matahiko when you think about it. Although Hospitaliers did get relegated to the third tier last season, so, maybe don’t think about them too hard... Nonetheless, I don’t think they’ll manage it, even though I’d love them to, so grab your ‘Kerrin Metkalfe’ merkhandise whilst you still kan.
Prediction: 18th
Players of Note: Mahader Mohamad (ANU), Kerrin Metcalfe (TKT), Leo Fulmer (XAN), Artemiusz Ostland, Joakim Winogradski, Kyosti Westler


RSK Longyearbyen Town
Sivertsson Road (28,548), Longyearbyen, Svalbard.
Manager: Joachim Elden
Last season: 14th
As ever, certainly as far as Joachim Elden and RSK are concerned, hard work beats talent where talent didn’t work hard, and the ever-dogged Longyearbyen are more than capable of stunning their opposition on any occasion, although maybe last year they didn’t manage that quite as often as they’d’ve hoped. The top half finish a distant memory, Citizens fans were stressing until very late in the season to see their survival confirmed, and people are getting a little bit twitchy in the Svalbard capital. Without a rich owner to please or a reputation to flatter, Elden has been allowed to just get on with things, and whilst it’s not football that would keep Nasjonale fans happy, RSK fans are more than happy so long as it leads to a quiet life, thank you very much. One day, they might get back up towards the top, but there is no interest in any risktaking at Sivertsson Road, and, so long as they’re not looking over their shoulders too nervously, they’ll do it at their own pace, thank you very much.
Prediction: 12th
Players of Note: Joel Bieri, Phillip Shea (CRT), Raymond Bury, Zandre Cohen (VWD), Floriss Marshavin (AUP), Illar Aslin, Stanislaus Gronewold, Stig Barie, Eric Jocelín (TER), Euan Berby (KOR), Denisa Sadikaj (JUE), Baily Oppenheimer (XAN)


Melville Celtic
Melville House (19,284), Melville, Hans and Melville.
Manager: Jon Wisliceny
Last season: 15th
Okay, so I didn’t think they’d stay up... again... but they absolutely did. Just. And good for them. Melville Celtic always claimed that money was on the way if Wisliceny kept them up, and he’s managed to do just that for a couple of years now. Things might be trickier this time around, sure, but he’s got the best tools in his arsenal that Melville could convince to move to well, Melville. Sorry, Melvillians but you have to see my point. It’s not the prettiest city in the country, is it. Nor is it a hotbed for footballing glamour. But, you know, neither was Bjarnarey once upon a time, and have you seen Northbrook on a grey day?! Bleugh. Anyway, they’ve managed to pinch a few of the best names that exited the relegated three from last season, so Celtic should have enough to stay up again this season I reckon. And, hey, if they can manage to establish themselves as a regular top flight side, good luck to them.
Prediction: 13th
Players of Note: Kolgrímur Hersisson (GRÆ), Koit Rickenbach, Vilmundur Drydahl, Leon Eriksen (SEM), Max Witting, Benjamin Thompson (TFS), Roxane Beaumanoir (CMT), Emma Zimpel (SYL), Maximon Nance (ZEN), Pierre-Luc Provencher (KSK)


FC Cape St Paul
Millerntor Area (49,592), St Paul, Nunivak.
Manager: Natanael Schoenfeld
Last season: 1st, Divisjon Two
Sweeping to the Divisjon Two title for the second time in four years, you’d be forgiven for thinking that St Paul were a yo-yo club, constantly going up and down between the top two flights, and, certianly, that’s sometimes how it feels. They’re used to finer things at the Millerntor however, with a Divisjon One title that the parents or certainly grandparents of young Dockers fans still talk baout with misty eyes, and they’ll be looking to make it a more prolonged stay in the top tier this time around. Divisjon Two titles are nice and everything, but, with the strengthening of the league overall leading to another IFCF qualification spot, St Paul fans are dreaming big that that could be them in a few years time. It won’t be. But, they can dream, I suppose. Schoenfeld has gone rooting through the squads of relegated clubs to boost his roster before the season starts, which is usually a risky strategy, but when coupled with the quality of the players he already has at his disposal I think the Dockers will be free to dream in Divisjon One again next season. Just.
Prediction: 15th
Players of Note:


Islay Town Mechanical
The Workshop (35,992), Islay, Terra Scotia.
Manager: Alexander Krasner
Last season: 2nd, Divisjon Two
COMING SOON.
Prediction: 16th
Players of Note: tba



Neuerlatz AFK
Globenko Road (17,390), Neuerlatz, Franz Josef.
Manager: Bernt Venhaus
Last season: 3rd, Divisjon Two
COMING SOON.
Prediction: 17th
Players of Note: tba





Polarian football doesn't just start and end with Divisjon One though of course, and the teams in what was at one point the 'Strongest Second Tier in the Multiverse'™ are all vying to take or re-take that next step up and join the big teams at the top table. Not least amongst them......
Teams:
AC Aleutia Volcanoes
Bohemiens Grise Fiord
Eintracht Moss-Rygge
FC Torshavn
FK Viipuri 56
Franz Josef Young Boys
Lokomotiv Barentsberg
Maritime Hove FC
Måriussa Viking FK
Novaya Sibir Reds
Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Rapid SK Eysturoy
Resolute Storm 1913 FC - (Favourites)
SC Kiel
Scapa Bay Rovers
SK Sturm Nuuk
Skipsbyggere IFK
Sutherland Foundry SK



In the third tier...
Teams:
AFK Hans Island Pioneers
Bennett and Zhokhov
FC North Melville
FC Solovetsky Monastery
FC1. Sturm Grímsey
FK Grise Fiord
Franz Josef Sharks
Hospitaliers
Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen
Korsten Lokomotiv
Logan United FC
McAvery Centurions
Ostermeier Old Boys
Seratakki Villagers
Sisimut Black Star
SK Yuzhny Albion
Uelmark MK
Yuzhny Equinox FC - (Favourites)




Whilst the league might split geographically at step four it doesn’t get any less competitive, and with only twenty-six games in the season, there is zero room for error. So...
Teams:
Agheim CF - (Favourites)
AIK Alejavik
Aleutia Town Dragons
FC1. Rangers
IHK Geddesberg
Ingvar Peaks FC
KA Rikyaare
Krykkjesund Olympic
KSC Brighthelmstone
San Moranna FC
SK Thor 1898
St Gallen 47
Steffansson Island FC
Vale of Moray



In the Challenge West, the team with the target on their back is...
Teams:
1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt
Axel Town AFC
Devon Bay Lights FC
Energie Zemlya FK
FC Fetlar
FK Norsviken Cossacks
FK Ost-Volonovsk
GVFFK Pekarik
Larsen Bay Thunder FC
Meteor Kholmsk SK
Northbrook Zenith FC
Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox
Torpedo Sibir RKA - (Favourites)
Universitet



Lastly, for your interest, the premier divisions of the Regional Conferences...

Bindelsfjorden Dynamo
Devon Bay Seals FC
FC Velcosta Cliffs
FK Fairbanks
Green Star Kobelevskov
Kerrisgorforth Athletic FC
Machtspool Whitesleeves FC - (Favourites)
Morrenmark IFK
Royal NK Sikjonek
SK Nolmkien 1949
Ueland-Alne
West End



Arbor CSK
Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC
FC Kampengar Magpies
FK Aagen Zenith
Hanshaugen Gate FK
Oaks of Fjellisroy
Resolute Hills FC
Sannegarden Fleet FK
SK Carson Islanders
SK Stryær
Sporting Club Aasiaat 87 - (Favourites)
Waldenøya Bears



Bathurst Zenith FC
Bielstrich Timbers FC
Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais
Forrairn St Johan FC
Friedrichsund Fencing Club
Hauken Orca
Holtrecht Force SK
Ilksporta IK
Invermuir Highlanders FC - (Favourites)
Lindesvogne Violets
US Saint-John
Verdin Brook FC



Bulargen Independents
Eastgate Victoria FC
Fjorhorgen SK
Fynersturen Valhalla
Gjornhammer Pier FC
IHK Sirius
Marine FC
NKK Urri - (Favourites)
Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC
Orebro FK
SK Stromness Electric
Sodermalm Wasps


So, there you have it. The only thing left to do now is to start the games! And, finish writing the previews, I suppose...

[Polar Islandstates]

Eight matches into the sixty-ninth season, let’s have a quick summary of what has happened so far...


MATCHDAY 1
Melville Celtic 0–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC Axel Heiburg 1–0 Neuerlatz AFK
Matahiko Viktory SK 0–5 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–2 RSK Longyearbyen Town
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 4–0 East Franz Athletic
FC Cape St Paul 1–1 North Star Grímsey
Red Star Severny 1–1 Koppen Rig Force
Northbrook Diamonds FK 4–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
SK Franz Josef City 4–1 Islay Town Mechanical
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 2
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–0 Islay Town Mechanical
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–1 SK Franz Josef City
Koppen Rig Force 1–3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
North Star Grímsey 4–2 Red Star Severny
East Franz Athletic 2–0 FC Cape St Paul
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–4 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Neuerlatz AFK 2–1 Matahiko Viktory SK
Melville Celtic 2–0 FC Axel Heiburg
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 3
FC Axel Heiburg 1–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
Matahiko Viktory SK 0–0 Melville Celtic
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–0 Neuerlatz AFK
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 4–0 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC Cape St Paul 2–2 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Red Star Severny 2–0 East Franz Athletic
Northbrook Diamonds FK 3–1 North Star Grímsey
SK Franz Josef City 5–2 Koppen Rig Force
Islay Town Mechanical 0–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 4
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Koppen Rig Force 0–3 Islay Town Mechanical
North Star Grímsey 2–3 SK Franz Josef City
East Franz Athletic 1–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
RSK Longyearbyen Town 3–0 Red Star Severny
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–1 FC Cape St Paul
Neuerlatz AFK 0–5 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Melville Celtic 2–3 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC Axel Heiburg 2–1 Matahiko Viktory SK
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 5
Matahiko Viktory SK 2–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 4–1 FC Axel Heiburg
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2–0 Melville Celtic
FC Cape St Paul 1–0 Neuerlatz AFK
Red Star Severny 1–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
SK Franz Josef City 2–0 East Franz Athletic
Islay Town Mechanical 2–2 North Star Grímsey
SK Nasjonale Hauker 4–0 Koppen Rig Force
COMING SOON.



LATITUDE CUP Round One
Bulargen Independents 1-1 Invermuir Highlanders FC (1-1 AET, 0-2 PKs)
Kerrisgorforth Athletic FC 0-1 Axel Town AFC
Bindelsfjorden Dynamo 2-4 Meteor Kholmsk SK
SK Nolmkien 1949 0-1 GVFFK Pekarik
Resolute Hills FC 2-2 Royal NK Sikjonek (2-2 AET, 2-1 PKs)
Hauken Orca 1-0 Sannegarden Fleet FK
Bielstrich Timbers FC 1-2 SK Stryær
NKK Urri 1-1 Devon Bay Lights FC (1-1 AET, 3-1 PKs)
Sodermalm Wasps 2-0 FC1. Rangers
FC Kampengar Magpies 1-1 FC Fetlar (2-2 AET, 3-4 PKs)
Orebro FK 0-1 Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais
Arbor CSK 0-1 West End
San Moranna FC 3-1 Northbrook Zenith FC
Bathurst Zenith 3-3 Forrairn St Johan FC (3-3 AET, 1-2 PKs)
Energie Zemlya FK 1-2 Agheim CF
US Saint-John 1-0 Larsen Bay Thunder FC
Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox 2-1 IHK Sirius
Ueland-Alne 3-0 Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC
Gjornhammer Pier FC 1-0 Eastgate Victoria FC
Krykkjesund Olympic 4-0 Fjorhorgen SK
Ingvar Peaks FC 2-1 Steffansson Island FC
Torpedo Sibir RKA 0-0 Friedrichsund Fencing Club (1-0 AET)
Waldenøya Bears 1-2 Devon Bay Seals FC
Sporting Club Aasiaat 87 0-1 SK Stromness Electric
Hanshaugen Gate FK 1-1 St Gallen 47 (3-1 AET)
1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt 3-3 FK Norsviken Cossacks (3-4 AET)
FC Velcosta Cliffs 3-2 Lindesvogne Violets
Holtrecht Force SK 0-0 FK Fairbanks (0-1 AET)
AIK Alejavik 1-0 KA Rikyaare
Aleutia Town Dragons 2-0 FK Aagen Zenith
Universitet 1-0 Green Star Kobelevskov
Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC 3-1 Oaks of Fjellisroy
Morrenmark IFK 1-1 FK Ost-Volonovsk (1-1 AET, 1-3 PKs)
Fynersturen Valhalla 1-1 Marine FC (1-2 AET)
Ilksporta IK 2-0 Vale of Moray
SK Thor 1898 0-2 Verdin Brook FC
Machtspool Whitesleeves FC 0-2 SK Carson Islanders
IHK Geddesberg 0-2 KSC Brighthelmstone
We interrupt your regular stream of Divisjon One programming to bring you the first round of this year's Latitude Cup, where the teams from the lowest levels of cross-Federation football duke it out for glory and some much appreciated prize money, as well as the chance to grab a money-spinning tie against a big team in the later rounds. As is often the case, a number of games go to nerve-shredding penalties, including


MATCHDAY 6
Jan Mayen Islanders 0–0 Koppen Rig Force
North Star Grímsey 0–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
East Franz Athletic 3–0 Islay Town Mechanical
RSK Longyearbyen Town 0–1 SK Franz Josef City
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Neuerlatz AFK 0–2 Red Star Severny
Melville Celtic 1–0 FC Cape St Paul
FC Axel Heiburg 1–4 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Matahiko Viktory SK 1–0 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 7
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–2 Matahiko Viktory SK
FC Cape St Paul 3–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Red Star Severny 4–1 Melville Celtic
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–1 Neuerlatz AFK
SK Franz Josef City 1–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Islay Town Mechanical 1–2 RSK Longyearbyen Town
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–1 East Franz Athletic
Koppen Rig Force 1–2 North Star Grímsey
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 8
Jan Mayen Islanders 3–1 North Star Grímsey
East Franz Athletic 0–0 Koppen Rig Force
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–3 Islay Town Mechanical
Neuerlatz AFK 1–3 SK Franz Josef City
Melville Celtic 1–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC Axel Heiburg 5–1 Red Star Severny
Matahiko Viktory SK 0–3 FC Cape St Paul
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
COMING SOON.



So, your table at the quarter-mark then,

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Northbrook Diamonds FK       8    7   1   0    18    7  +11    22
 2  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls    8    6   1   1    25    6  +19    19
 3  SK Franz Josef City          8    6   1   1    20   10  +10    19
 4  SK Nasjonale Hauker          8    5   2   1    18    9   +9    17
 5  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla      8    5   2   1    16    9   +7    17
 6  Jan Mayen Islanders          8    4   3   1    12    7   +5    15
 7  FC Cape St Paul              8    3   2   3    11   10   +1    11
 8  Red Star Severny             8    3   2   3    13   15   −2    11
 9  FC Axel Heiburg              8    3   0   5    12   17   −5    9
10  SK Aasiaat Harbour           8    2   2   4    13   14   −1    8
11  RSK Longyearbyen Town        8    2   2   4    13   15   −2    8
12  North Star Grímsey           8    2   2   4    13   16   −3    8
13  East Franz Athletic          8    2   2   4     7   11   −4    8
14  Matahiko Viktory SK          8    2   2   4     7   15   −8    8
15  Melville Celtic              8    2   1   5     7   12   −5    7
16  Islay Town Mechanical        8    2   1   5    10   18   −8    7
17  Neuerlatz AFK                8    1   1   6     4   15  −11    4
18  Koppen Rig Force             8    0   3   5     5   18  −13    3

In the second flight,

------Divisjon Two            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1  Novaya Sibir Reds         8    6   1   1    12    6   +6     19
 2  SK Sturm Nuuk             8    6   0   2    14    8   +6     18
 3  Resolute Storm 1913 FC    8    5   1   2    17    9   +8     16
 4  AC Aleutia Volcanoes      8    5   1   2    13   10   +3     16
 5  Sutherland Foundry SK     8    4   2   2    15    9   +6     14
 6  Franz Josef Young Boys    8    4   1   3    15   10   +5     13
 7  SC Kiel                   8    4   1   3    17   14   +3     13
 8  Rapid SK Eysturoy         8    3   3   2    15    9   +6     12
 9  Bohemiens Grise Fiord     8    4   0   4    12   11   +1     12
10  FC Torshavn               8    3   3   2    12   12    0     12
11  Rapid Jan Mayen FK        8    3   2   3    13   10   +3     11
12  Skipsbyggere IFK          8    3   2   3    10   11   −1     11
13  Scapa Bay Rovers          8    3   0   5     6    6    0     9
14  Måriussa Viking FK        8    3   0   5    10   15   −5     9
15  FK Viipuri 56             8    2   2   4     8   17   −9     8
16  Lokomotiv Barentsberg     8    2   1   5     7   21  −14     7
17  Eintracht Moss-Rygge      8    1   0   7     7   17  −10     3
18  Maritime Hove FC          8    0   2   6     5   13   −8     2

Divisjon Three, and

------Divisjon Three             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  SK Yuzhny Albion             8    5   2   1    15    8   +7    17
 2  Hospitaliers                 8    5   2   1    14   10   +4    17
 3  AFK Hans Island Pioneers     8    4   4   0    13    9   +4    16
 4  FK Grise Fiord               8    4   3   1    18   11   +7    15
 5  FC North Melville            8    4   2   2    17   13   +4    14
 6  Bennett and Zhokhov          8    3   4   1     9    4   +5    13
 7  FC1. Sturm Grímsey           8    4   1   3    14   15   −1    13
 8  FC Solovetsky Monastery      8    3   3   2    17   15   +2    12
 9  Logan United FC              8    3   2   3    14    9   +5    11
10  Uelmark MK                   8    3   2   3    16   13   +3    11
11  Yuzhny Equinox FC            8    3   2   3    12    9   +3    11
12  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen    8    2   4   2    10   10    0    10
13  McAvery Centurions           8    2   2   4     9   15   −6    8
14  Franz Josef Sharks           8    1   4   3    10   13   −3    7
15  Sisimut Black Star           8    2   1   5    14   19   −5    7
16  Korsten Lokomotiv            8    1   3   4     7   14   −7    6
17  Seratakki Villagers          8    1   2   5     8   14   −6    5
18  Ostermeier Old Boys          8    0   1   7     5   21  −16    1

[Polar Islandstates]

Halfway through the season, let’s have a quick summary of what has happened in the last few MDs...


MATCHDAY 9
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
FC Cape St Paul 1–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Red Star Severny 2–1 Matahiko Viktory SK
Northbrook Diamonds FK 4–1 FC Axel Heiburg
SK Franz Josef City 1–2 Melville Celtic
Islay Town Mechanical 3–0 Neuerlatz AFK
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Koppen Rig Force 0–2 RSK Longyearbyen Town
North Star Grímsey 2–0 East Franz Athletic
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 10
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–1 East Franz Athletic
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–1 North Star Grímsey
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–0 Koppen Rig Force
Neuerlatz AFK 2–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Melville Celtic 1–2 Islay Town Mechanical
FC Axel Heiburg 0–0 SK Franz Josef City
Matahiko Viktory SK 0–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–0 Red Star Severny
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 6–3 FC Cape St Paul
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 11
FC Cape St Paul 1–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
Red Star Severny 1–3 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Northbrook Diamonds FK 3–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Franz Josef City 1–0 Matahiko Viktory SK
Islay Town Mechanical 0–1 FC Axel Heiburg
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 Melville Celtic
Koppen Rig Force 0–2 Neuerlatz AFK
North Star Grímsey 1–4 SK Aasiaat Harbour
East Franz Athletic 2–2 RSK Longyearbyen Town
COMING SOON.



LATITUDE CUP Round Two
GVFFK Pekarik 1-0 NKK Urri
FC Fetlar 2-1 Franz Josef Sharks
Meteor Kholmsk SK 1-2 US Saint-John
Axel Town AFC 5-1 Invermuir Highlanders FC
Seratakki Villagers 0-1 Resolute Hills FC
Verdin Brook FC 1-1 Ilksporta IK (1-1 AET, 0-3 PKs)
AIK Alejavik 0-3 McAvery Centurions
Aleutia Town Dragons 0-1 Hauken Orca
Yuzhny Equinox FC 1-0 SK Stromness Electric
FC North Melville 1-0 Ingvar Peaks FC
Sisimut Black Star 2-1 FC Velcosta Cliffs
Hospitaliers 0-0 KSC Brighthelmstone (1-1 AET, 3-0 PKs)
Forrairn St Johan FC 2-1 SK Yuzhny Albion
FK Ost-Volonovsk 0-3 SK Stryær
FK Fairbanks 1-0 Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais
FC Solovetsky Monastery 3-1 SK Carson Islanders
FK Grise Fiord 1-0 Korsten Lokomotiv
Uelmark MK 3-1 Gjornhammer Pier FC
Logan United FC 4-1 FK Norsviken Cossacks
Bennett and Zhokhov 2-0 Agheim CF
Ueland-Alne 1-2 Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC
Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox 0-1 Sodermalm Wasps
West End 0-0 Devon Bay Seals FC (2-0 AET)
FC1. Sturm Grímsey 1-2 Hanshaugen Gate FK
Universitet 0-1 AFK Hans Island Pioneers
Ostermeier Old Boys 2-0 Torpedo Sibir RKA
San Moranna FC 1-0 Marine FC
Klub Athletisk Spitsbergen 1-1 Krykkjesund Olympic (2-1 AET)
The second round of the Latitude Cup always seems to come around earlier than you expect it to, especially for the Divisjon Three teams who enter at this point. And so, as the lower league teams chase the chance for a big tie in the next round, we are treated to some classic cup football, with


MATCHDAY 12
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–3 RSK Longyearbyen Town
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–0 East Franz Athletic
Neuerlatz AFK 0–2 North Star Grímsey
Melville Celtic 3–1 Koppen Rig Force
FC Axel Heiburg 1–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Matahiko Viktory SK 0–1 Islay Town Mechanical
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–0 SK Franz Josef City
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC Cape St Paul 4–0 Red Star Severny
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 13
Red Star Severny 2–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Northbrook Diamonds FK 4–0 FC Cape St Paul
SK Franz Josef City 1–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Islay Town Mechanical 0–4 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 Matahiko Viktory SK
Koppen Rig Force 2–1 FC Axel Heiburg
North Star Grímsey 3–2 Melville Celtic
East Franz Athletic 1–0 Neuerlatz AFK
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 14
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–4 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Neuerlatz AFK 1–0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Melville Celtic 3–0 East Franz Athletic
FC Axel Heiburg 0–0 North Star Grímsey
Matahiko Viktory SK 2–0 Koppen Rig Force
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 3–1 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–1 Islay Town Mechanical
FC Cape St Paul 0–0 SK Franz Josef City
Red Star Severny 0–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 15
Northbrook Diamonds FK 4–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
SK Franz Josef City 2–0 Red Star Severny
Islay Town Mechanical 3–2 FC Cape St Paul
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Koppen Rig Force 0–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
North Star Grímsey 3–2 Matahiko Viktory SK
East Franz Athletic 2–0 FC Axel Heiburg
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–2 Melville Celtic
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–0 Neuerlatz AFK
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 16
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–0 Neuerlatz AFK
Melville Celtic 2–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC Axel Heiburg 2–0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Matahiko Viktory SK 2–0 East Franz Athletic
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–0 North Star Grímsey
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–0 Koppen Rig Force
FC Cape St Paul 1–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Red Star Severny 3–3 Islay Town Mechanical
Northbrook Diamonds FK 3–2 SK Franz Josef City
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 17
SK Franz Josef City 5–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
Islay Town Mechanical 1–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–2 Red Star Severny
Koppen Rig Force 0–2 FC Cape St Paul
North Star Grímsey 1–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
East Franz Athletic 1–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
RSK Longyearbyen Town 3–1 Matahiko Viktory SK
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Neuerlatz AFK 2–2 Melville Celtic
COMING SOON.



LATITUDE CUP Round Three
Rapid SK Eysturoy 1-0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Logan United FC 1-1 Jan Mayen Islanders (2-2 AET, 1-2 PKs)
Neuerlatz AFK 1-0 FC Torshavn
SK Stryær 2-0 GVFFK Pekarik
Lokomotiv Barentsberg 4-0 West End
Hauken Orca 2-2 Northbrook Diamonds FK (2-3 AET)
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2-2 AC Aleutia Volcanoes (2-3 AET)
Uelmark MK 1-0 Rapid Jan Mayen FK
Maritime Hove FC 4-0 FC Fetlar
Ostermeier Old Boys 3-0 Måriussa Viking FK
North Star Grímsey 2-0 Klub Athletisk Spitsbergen
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 2-1 San Moranna FC
FC Cape St Paul 2-2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls (2-2 AET, 2-3 PKs)
Matahiko Viktory SK 0-3 Red Star Severny
Bennett and Zhokhov 0-0 FC North Melville (0-1 AET)
SK Franz Josef City 3-0 FK Fairbanks
Skipsbyggere IFK 2-1 Axel Town AFC
Yuzhny Equinox FC 0-1 Melville Celtic
Islay Town Mechanical 1-1 East Franz Athletic (1-1 AET, 3-4 PKs)
FK Grise Fiord 2-2 Hanshaugen Gate FK (2-2 AET, 3-2 PKs)
Forrairn St Johan FC 0-2 Resolute Hills FC
Sisimut Black Star 1-1 Franz Josef Young Boys (1-1 AET, 2-1 PKs)
Bohemiens Grise Fiord 1-1 FC Solovetsky Monastery (1-2 AET)
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2-0 Scapa Bay Rovers
FK Viipuri 56 1-0 Novaya Sibir Reds
FC Axel Heiburg 1-1 Ilksporta IK (1-1 AET, 3-1 PKs)
Sutherland Foundry SK 1-2 Sodermalm Wasps
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2-0 US Saint-John
SK Sturm Nuuk 3-1 Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Hospitaliers 3-0 AFK Hans Island Pioneers
SC Kiel 3-1 McAvery Centurions
Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC 1-1 Koppen Rig Force (1-1 AET, 1-3 PKs)
The third round of the Latitude Cup is always a highlight in the Polarian football calendar, and of course this year is just like any other. With the big teams joining the league we keep our eyes peeled for any shocks or embarrassments, and



We reach the halfway point then,

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Northbrook Diamonds FK      17   14   3   0    40   15  +25    45
 2  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     17   12   3   2    34   15  +19    39
 3  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   17   10   5   2    45   17  +28    35
 4  SK Nasjonale Hauker         17   11   2   4    35   20  +15    35
 5  SK Franz Josef City         17    9   4   4    32   19  +13    31
 6  SK Aasiaat Harbour          17    6   6   5    29   23   +6    24
 7  Jan Mayen Islanders         17    7   3   7    26   30   −4    24
 8  North Star Grímsey          17    6   5   6    26   28   −2    23
 9  Red Star Severny            17    6   4   7    23   33  −10    22
10  RSK Longyearbyen Town       17    5   6   6    27   27    0    21
11  FC Axel Heiburg             17    6   3   8    19   26   −7    21
12  Islay Town Mechanical       17    6   3   8    24   32   −8    21
13  FC Cape St Paul             17    5   4   8    25   28   −3    19
14  Melville Celtic             17    5   4   8    24   27   −3    19
15  East Franz Athletic         17    4   3  10    14   26  −12    15
16  Matahiko Viktory SK         17    4   2  11    15   28  −13    14
17  Neuerlatz AFK               17    3   2  12    11   29  −18    11
18  Koppen Rig Force            17    1   4  12     8   34  −26    7

In Divisjon Two,

------Divisjon Two            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1  Resolute Storm 1913 FC   17   11   4   2    33   16  +17     37
 2  Novaya Sibir Reds        17    9   5   3    26   17   +9     32
 3  SK Sturm Nuuk            17   10   2   5    26   19   +7     32
 4  Sutherland Foundry SK    17    8   7   2    30   18  +12     31
 5  Bohemiens Grise Fiord    17    9   3   5    32   20  +12     30
 6  AC Aleutia Volcanoes     17    8   3   6    24   23   +1     27
 7  Rapid SK Eysturoy        17    6   7   4    28   18  +10     25
 8  Scapa Bay Rovers         17    7   4   6    19   13   +6     25
 9  Franz Josef Young Boys   17    7   4   6    30   26   +4     25
10  Rapid Jan Mayen FK       17    7   4   6    22   21   +1     25
11  SC Kiel                  17    7   3   7    33   26   +7     24
12  Skipsbyggere IFK         17    6   6   5    20   21   −1     24
13  FK Viipuri 56            17    7   3   7    21   28   −7     24
14  FC Torshavn              17    6   5   6    22   23   −1     23
15  Måriussa Viking FK       17    3   4  10    21   35  −14     13
16  Eintracht Moss-Rygge     17    3   1  13    15   30  −15     10
17  Lokomotiv Barentsberg    17    2   3  12    13   44  −31     9
18  Maritime Hove FC         17    1   4  12    12   29  −17     7

In Divisjon Three,

------Divisjon Three             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FK Grise Fiord              17   11   3   3    36   19  +17    36
 2  SK Yuzhny Albion            17   11   2   4    29   15  +14    35
 3  Hospitaliers                17   10   4   3    34   24  +10    34
 4  FC Solovetsky Monastery     17    9   5   3    34   20  +14    32
 5  Yuzhny Equinox FC           17   10   2   5    29   15  +14    32
 6  FC1. Sturm Grímsey          17    9   2   6    30   30    0    29
 7  FC North Melville           17    8   4   5    34   26   +8    28
 8  AFK Hans Island Pioneers    17    7   7   3    26   23   +3    28
 9  Franz Josef Sharks          17    7   5   5    25   25    0    26
10  Uelmark MK                  17    6   5   6    33   26   +7    23
11  Logan United FC             17    5   6   6    24   19   +5    21
12  Bennett and Zhokhov         17    4   6   7    19   21   −2    18
13  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen   17    3   6   8    17   26   −9    15
14  McAvery Centurions          17    4   3  10    18   31  −13    15
15  Sisimut Black Star          17    4   3  10    21   35  −14    15
16  Korsten Lokomotiv           17    3   4  10    15   28  −13    13
17  Seratakki Villagers         17    3   3  11    14   33  −19    12
18  Ostermeier Old Boys         17    3   2  12    14   36  −22    11

Skipping over to the East Divisjon of the short and sharp Challenge League,

------East Divisjon          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Agheim CF               13    9   2   2    23   15   +8    29
 2  San Moranna FC          13    8   2   3    20   11   +9    26
 3  Steffansson Island FC   13    6   3   4    22   16   +6    21
 4  FC1. Rangers            13    5   6   2    20   14   +6    21
 5  SK Thor 1898            13    6   3   4    22   21   +1    21
 6  Aleutia Town Dragons    13    6   1   6    13   15   −2    19
 7  IHK Geddesberg          13    4   5   4    13   10   +3    17
 8  KSC Brighthelmstone     13    4   4   5    14   22   −8    16
 9  Vale of Moray           13    4   2   7    19   18   +1    14
10  KA Rikyaare             13    2   8   3    18   19   −1    14
11  Ingvar Peaks FC         13    3   5   5    13   14   −1    14
12  Krykkjesund Olympic     13    3   4   6    20   29   −9    13
13  St Gallen 47            13    2   6   5    16   17   −1    12
14  AIK Alejavik            13    2   3   8    14   26  −12    9

And

------West Divisjon                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FK Norsviken Cossacks         13    7   4   2    25   12  +13    25
 2  1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt        13    6   6   1    26   18   +8    24
 3  Larsen Bay Thunder FC         13    7   1   5    20   14   +6    22
 4  Universitet                   13    6   4   3    24   19   +5    22
 5  Meteor Kholmsk SK             13    5   6   2    22   16   +6    21
 6  Energie Zemlya FK             13    5   4   4    21   21    0    19
 7  Axel Town AFC                 13    5   2   6    20   29   −9    17
 8  FK Ost-Volonovsk              13    3   7   3    14   16   −2    16
 9  Torpedo Sibir RKA             13    4   3   6    27   21   +6    15
10  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox   13    4   3   6    17   19   −2    15
11  GVFFK Pekarik                 13    4   3   6    19   22   −3    15
12  Devon Bay Lights FC           13    3   4   6    17   22   −5    13
13  Northbrook Zenith FC          13    3   3   7    18   30  −12    12
14  FC Fetlar                     13    2   4   7    13   24  −11    10

Not forgetting the Regional League, of course, whose divisions look like this at the halfway point. Still 2000 minutes or so to play however, and a lot can happen yet. The teams at the bottom of each division will be cast out into the cold of the Regional Conferences, so a lot rides on this.

------Central Premier             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FK Fairbanks                 22   13   6   3    39   21  +18    45
 2  Royal NK Sikjonek            22   12   5   5    37   22  +15    41
 3  Ueland-Alne                  22   11   5   6    41   27  +14    38
 4  Bindelsfjorden Dynamo        22   10   6   6    30   24   +6    36
 5  Machtspool Whitesleeves FC   22   10   4   8    33   29   +4    34
 6  Devon Bay Seals FC           22   10   3   9    31   30   +1    33
 7  FC Velcosta Cliffs           22    8   3  11    29   38   −9    27
 8  Morrenmark IFK               22    8   2  12    20   33  −13    26
 9  West End                     22    7   4  11    26   29   −3    25
10  Green Star Kobelevskov       22    4  12   6    27   28   −1    24
11  SK Nolmkien 1949             22    6   5  11    22   33  −11    23
12  Kerrisgorforth Athletic FC   22    3   5  14    20   41  −21    14

------North-Eastern Premier     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Sporting Club Aasiaat 87   22   15   2   5    41   19  +22    47
 2  Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC    22   13   4   5    38   23  +15    43
 3  Sannegarden Fleet FK       22   12   3   7    32   25   +7    39
 4  SK Stryær                  22   11   5   6    38   31   +7    38
 5  Hanshaugen Gate FK         22    9   7   6    32   29   +3    34
 6  SK Carson Islanders        22    8   6   8    24   26   −2    30
 7  Arbor CSK                  22    8   4  10    29   25   +4    28
 8  FC Kampengar Magpies       22    7   6   9    35   34   +1    27
 9  Resolute Hills FC          22    6   7   9    24   31   −7    25
10  FK Aagen Zenith            22    6   5  11    22   35  −13    23
11  Waldenøya Bears            22    4   5  13    24   40  −16    17
12  Oaks of Fjellisroy         22    4   4  14    23   44  −21    16

------South-Eastern Premier       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Invermuir Highlanders FC     22   14   2   6    44   22  +22    44
 2  Bielstrich Timbers FC        22   13   2   7    33   28   +5    41
 3  Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais       22   12   4   6    34   26   +8    40
 4  Bathurst Zenith FC           22   11   5   6    38   19  +19    38
 5  Holtrecht Force SK           22   12   1   9    30   27   +3    37
 6  Verdin Brook FC              22   11   3   8    29   31   −2    36
 7  US Saint-John                22    9   4   9    27   29   −2    31
 8  Ilksporta IK                 22    8   5   9    35   38   −3    29
 9  Lindesvogne Violets          22    7   2  13    24   36  −12    23
10  Hauken Orca                  22    6   4  12    30   37   −7    22
11  Forrairn St Johan FC         22    6   1  15    23   36  −13    19
12  Friedrichsund Fencing Club   22    4   5  13    24   42  −18    17

------Western Premier          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Bulargen Independents     22   15   3   4    41   19  +22    48
 2  NKK Urri                  22   12   3   7    27   25   +2    39
 3  Fynersturen Valhalla      22   10   4   8    31   24   +7    34
 4  Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC   22   10   4   8    34   32   +2    34
 5  Sodermalm Wasps           22    8   7   7    31   27   +4    31
 6  Orebro FK                 22    9   4   9    28   27   +1    31
 7  IHK Sirius                22    8   5   9    32   35   −3    29
 8  Fjorhorgen SK             22    7   7   8    24   29   −5    28
 9  SK Stromness Electric     22    6   7   9    32   37   −5    25
10  Marine FC                 22    5   8   9    26   30   −4    23
11  Eastgate Victoria FC      22    6   4  12    26   41  −15    22
12  Gjornhammer Pier FC       22    5   6  11    27   33   −6    21

[Polar Islandstates]

Third part of the league season, and there is everything to play for still.


MATCHDAY 18
Jan Mayen Islanders 4–0 Melville Celtic
Neuerlatz AFK 0–2 FC Axel Heiburg
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–0 Matahiko Viktory SK
RSK Longyearbyen Town 0–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
East Franz Athletic 1–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
North Star Grímsey 1–1 FC Cape St Paul
Koppen Rig Force 2–3 Red Star Severny
SK Nasjonale Hauker 1–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Islay Town Mechanical 0–1 SK Franz Josef City
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 19
Islay Town Mechanical 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
SK Franz Josef City 3–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Northbrook Diamonds FK 5–0 Koppen Rig Force
Red Star Severny 5–0 North Star Grímsey
FC Cape St Paul 1–2 East Franz Athletic
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–3 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Matahiko Viktory SK 2–0 Neuerlatz AFK
FC Axel Heiburg 4–0 Melville Celtic
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 20
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Melville Celtic 2–0 Matahiko Viktory SK
Neuerlatz AFK 0–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
SK Aasiaat Harbour 1–1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
RSK Longyearbyen Town 4–0 FC Cape St Paul
East Franz Athletic 2–2 Red Star Severny
North Star Grímsey 2–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Koppen Rig Force 0–2 SK Franz Josef City
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–0 Islay Town Mechanical

COMING SOON.



LATITUDE CUP Round Four
Resolute Storm 1913 FC 0-1 FC Axel Heiburg
SK Stryær 1-1 Lokomotiv Barentsberg (2-1 AET)
Melville Celtic 0-0 East Franz Athletic (1-0 AET)
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 0-0 Sisimut Black Star (1-0 AET)
Sodermalm Wasps 0-1 AC Aleutia Volcanoes
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2-0 Maritime Hove FC
Skipsbyggere IFK 0-1 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SC Kiel 3-2 FK Viipuri 56
FC North Melville 0-2 Jan Mayen Islanders
Uelmark MK 3-0 FC Solovetsky Monastery
Hospitaliers 4-2 FK Grise Fiord
Red Star Severny 1-3 Neuerlatz AFK
Resolute Hills FC 2-0 Ostermeier Old Boys
North Star Grímsey 1-1 Northbrook Diamonds FK (1-1 AET, 4-2 PKs)
SK Sturm Nuuk 1-0 SK Franz Josef City
Koppen Rig Force 1-3 Rapid SK Eysturoy
The fourth round of the Latitude Cup comes around, and from here on out the teams that progress would be forgiven for allowing themselves to dream just a little bit.


MATCHDAY 21
SK Nasjonale Hauker 0–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Islay Town Mechanical 1–2 Koppen Rig Force
SK Franz Josef City 3–1 North Star Grímsey
Northbrook Diamonds FK 3–1 East Franz Athletic
Red Star Severny 4–0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
FC Cape St Paul 0–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 5–4 Neuerlatz AFK
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–0 Melville Celtic
Matahiko Viktory SK 0–3 FC Axel Heiburg
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 22
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–0 Matahiko Viktory SK
FC Axel Heiburg 0–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Melville Celtic 3–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Neuerlatz AFK 1–1 FC Cape St Paul
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–0 Red Star Severny
RSK Longyearbyen Town 0–3 Northbrook Diamonds FK
East Franz Athletic 2–1 SK Franz Josef City
North Star Grímsey 2–1 Islay Town Mechanical
Koppen Rig Force 2–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 23
Koppen Rig Force 1–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
SK Nasjonale Hauker 5–1 North Star Grímsey
Islay Town Mechanical 0–2 East Franz Athletic
SK Franz Josef City 2–0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Northbrook Diamonds FK 2–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Red Star Severny 4–2 Neuerlatz AFK
FC Cape St Paul 0–2 Melville Celtic
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–1 FC Axel Heiburg
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–0 Matahiko Viktory SK
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 24
Jan Mayen Islanders 3–1 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Matahiko Viktory SK 0–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
FC Axel Heiburg 2–0 FC Cape St Paul
Melville Celtic 1–0 Red Star Severny
Neuerlatz AFK 1–7 Northbrook Diamonds FK
SK Aasiaat Harbour 2–1 SK Franz Josef City
RSK Longyearbyen Town 4–2 Islay Town Mechanical
East Franz Athletic 4–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
North Star Grímsey 4–4 Koppen Rig Force
COMING SOON.



LATITUDE CUP Round Five
AC Aleutia Volcanoes 2-1 Melville Celtic
SK Sturm Nuuk 2-0 Resolute Hills FC
SC Kiel 0-2 North Star Grímsey
Neuerlatz AFK 0-0 Uelmark MK (0-1 AET)
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2-0 SK Stryær
Hospitaliers 5-0 Rapid SK Eysturoy
FC Axel Heiburg 1-1 SK Aasiaat Harbour (1-1 AET, 5-4 PKs)
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 4-2 Jan Mayen Islanders
And so we move back to the Latitude Cup, and a spot in the quarter-finals awaits the winners of these eight ties.


MATCHDAY 25
North Star Grímsey 0–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
Koppen Rig Force 1–2 East Franz Athletic
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Islay Town Mechanical 0–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
SK Franz Josef City 2–1 Neuerlatz AFK
Northbrook Diamonds FK 3–0 Melville Celtic
Red Star Severny 2–0 FC Axel Heiburg
FC Cape St Paul 5–0 Matahiko Viktory SK
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 26
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–1 FC Cape St Paul
Matahiko Viktory SK 1–5 Red Star Severny
FC Axel Heiburg 1–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Melville Celtic 1–3 SK Franz Josef City
Neuerlatz AFK 0–3 Islay Town Mechanical
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
RSK Longyearbyen Town 1–2 Koppen Rig Force
East Franz Athletic 2–3 North Star Grímsey
COMING SOON.



Eight games left then, and we are beginning to see where the battles will play out in the final couple of months.

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Northbrook Diamonds FK      26   20   5   1    67   23  +44    65
 2  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     26   17   5   4    46   24  +22    56
 3  SK Franz Josef City         26   16   4   6    50   26  +24    52
 4  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   26   13  10   3    64   31  +33    49
 5  SK Nasjonale Hauker         26   15   3   8    48   34  +14    48
 6  SK Aasiaat Harbour          26   13   8   5    49   28  +21    47
 7  Jan Mayen Islanders         26   12   7   7    42   36   +6    43
 8  Red Star Severny            26   12   5   9    48   44   +4    41
 9  FC Axel Heiburg             26   10   5  11    33   34   −1    35
10  East Franz Athletic         26    9   5  12    32   38   −6    32
11  North Star Grímsey          26    8   8  10    40   52  −12    32
12  Melville Celtic             26    9   4  13    33   44  −11    31
13  RSK Longyearbyen Town       26    7   6  13    36   47  −11    27
14  FC Cape St Paul             26    6   7  13    34   43   −9    25
15  Islay Town Mechanical       26    7   4  15    32   48  −16    25
16  Matahiko Viktory SK         26    5   2  19    18   51  −33    17
17  Koppen Rig Force            26    3   7  16    22   55  −33    16
18  Neuerlatz AFK               26    3   3  20    20   56  −36    12

In the second flight,

------Divisjon Two            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1  Resolute Storm 1913 FC   26   15   7   4    47   29  +18     52
 2  Bohemiens Grise Fiord    26   14   5   7    47   27  +20     47
 3  Novaya Sibir Reds        26   13   6   7    40   32   +8     45
 4  Scapa Bay Rovers         26   13   5   8    38   23  +15     44
 5  Sutherland Foundry SK    26   11  11   4    43   31  +12     44
 6  SK Sturm Nuuk            26   13   5   8    33   30   +3     44
 7  Rapid Jan Mayen FK       26   12   7   7    39   28  +11     43
 8  Rapid SK Eysturoy        26   10   9   7    40   27  +13     39
 9  SC Kiel                  26   11   5  10    41   33   +8     38
10  Skipsbyggere IFK         26    9   9   8    29   31   −2     36
11  FK Viipuri 56            26   10   6  10    30   42  −12     36
12  Franz Josef Young Boys   26   10   5  11    41   37   +4     35
13  AC Aleutia Volcanoes     26   10   5  11    33   39   −6     35
14  FC Torshavn              26    7   8  11    33   43  −10     29
15  Maritime Hove FC         26    6   5  15    26   38  −12     23
16  Måriussa Viking FK       26    5   5  16    31   47  −16     20
17  Eintracht Moss-Rygge     26    5   3  18    24   45  −21     18
18  Lokomotiv Barentsberg    26    4   6  16    21   54  −33     18

As for the third flight,

------Divisjon Three             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FK Grise Fiord              26   17   6   3    57   28  +29    57
 2  SK Yuzhny Albion            26   15   2   9    41   25  +16    47
 3  Hospitaliers                26   13   7   6    48   36  +12    46
 4  FC Solovetsky Monastery     26   12   7   7    49   34  +15    43
 5  FC North Melville           26   12   7   7    46   37   +9    43
 6  Yuzhny Equinox FC           26   12   4  10    39   32   +7    40
 7  Franz Josef Sharks          26   11   7   8    37   34   +3    40
 8  Bennett and Zhokhov         26   10   9   7    37   31   +6    39
 9  FC1. Sturm Grímsey          26   11   6   9    43   43    0    39
10  Uelmark MK                  26   10   7   9    48   41   +7    37
11  AFK Hans Island Pioneers    26    9   9   8    40   38   +2    36
12  Logan United FC             26    8   9   9    35   32   +3    33
13  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen   26    8   7  11    32   40   −8    31
14  Sisimut Black Star          26    6   6  14    34   52  −18    24
15  McAvery Centurions          26    6   5  15    29   46  −17    23
16  Seratakki Villagers         26    5   8  13    25   47  −22    23
17  Ostermeier Old Boys         26    6   4  16    28   52  −24    22
18  Korsten Lokomotiv           26    5   6  15    26   46  −20    21

[Polar Islandstates]

Final part of the league season, and at last, we get our exciting conclusion!


MATCHDAY 27
East Franz Athletic 3–1 Jan Mayen Islanders
North Star Grímsey 0–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Koppen Rig Force 2–2 SK Aasiaat Harbour
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–0 Neuerlatz AFK
Islay Town Mechanical 2–0 Melville Celtic
SK Franz Josef City 0–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–1 Matahiko Viktory SK
Red Star Severny 1–4 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
FC Cape St Paul 3–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 28
Jan Mayen Islanders 1–0 FC Cape St Paul
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 0–1 Red Star Severny
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Matahiko Viktory SK 1–1 SK Franz Josef City
FC Axel Heiburg 3–1 Islay Town Mechanical
Melville Celtic 1–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
Neuerlatz AFK 2–2 Koppen Rig Force
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–0 North Star Grímsey
RSK Longyearbyen Town 2–1 East Franz Athletic

COMING SOON.



LATITUDE CUP Quarter Finals
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1-1 North Star Grímsey (2-1 AET)
AC Aleutia Volcanoes 1-0 SK Sturm Nuuk
Uelmark MK 1-1 FC Axel Heiburg (1-2 AET)
Hospitaliers 2-3 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
The Latitude Cup always brings intrigue with it, and the quarter-finals - played mid-week under the lights as is tradition - are no exception.


MATCHDAY 29
RSK Longyearbyen Town 5–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
East Franz Athletic 1–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour
North Star Grímsey 1–0 Neuerlatz AFK
Koppen Rig Force 4–1 Melville Celtic
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–1 FC Axel Heiburg
Islay Town Mechanical 4–0 Matahiko Viktory SK
SK Franz Josef City 2–0 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–3 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Red Star Severny 1–1 FC Cape St Paul
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 30
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–1 Red Star Severny
FC Cape St Paul 1–2 Northbrook Diamonds FK
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 3–2 SK Franz Josef City
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2–1 Islay Town Mechanical
Matahiko Viktory SK 1–3 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC Axel Heiburg 3–1 Koppen Rig Force
Melville Celtic 1–1 North Star Grímsey
Neuerlatz AFK 0–2 East Franz Athletic
SK Aasiaat Harbour 3–0 RSK Longyearbyen Town
COMING SOON.

So, four games left, twelve points on the table, and with the customary late break for the Latitude Cup semi final next weekend, here's how things are looking:

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Northbrook Diamonds FK      30   21   6   3    71   30  +41    69
 2  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     30   20   5   5    54   28  +26    65
 3  SK Nasjonale Hauker         30   19   3   8    58   37  +21    60
 4  SK Franz Josef City         30   17   5   8    55   31  +24    56
 5  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   30   15  10   5    72   38  +34    55
 6  SK Aasiaat Harbour          30   15  10   5    58   31  +27    55
 7  Jan Mayen Islanders         30   14   7   9    48   45   +3    49
 8  Red Star Severny            30   13   6  11    52   51   +1    45
 9  FC Axel Heiburg             30   13   5  12    41   39   +2    44
10  East Franz Athletic         30   11   6  13    39   42   −3    39
11  RSK Longyearbyen Town       30   10   6  14    44   53   −9    36
12  North Star Grímsey          30    9   9  12    42   57  −15    36
13  Melville Celtic             30    9   5  16    36   53  −17    32
14  Islay Town Mechanical       30    9   4  17    40   53  −13    31
15  FC Cape St Paul             30    7   8  15    39   49  −10    29
16  Koppen Rig Force            30    4   9  17    31   63  −32    21
17  Matahiko Viktory SK         30    5   4  21    21   60  −39    19
18  Neuerlatz AFK               30    3   4  23    22   63  −41    13

LATITUDE CUP Semi Finals
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 2-0 AC Aleutia Volcanoes
FC Axel Heiburg 2-0 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
Two nights, two games, two goals in each, and two finalists.


MATCHDAY 31
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–0 Jan Mayen Islanders
RSK Longyearbyen Town 3–2 Neuerlatz AFK
East Franz Athletic 2–0 Melville Celtic
North Star Grímsey 0–2 FC Axel Heiburg
Koppen Rig Force 2–2 Matahiko Viktory SK
SK Nasjonale Hauker 2–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Islay Town Mechanical 0–2 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Franz Josef City 4–0 FC Cape St Paul
Northbrook Diamonds FK 4–2 Red Star Severny
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 32
Jan Mayen Islanders 0–1 Northbrook Diamonds FK
Red Star Severny 0–0 SK Franz Josef City
FC Cape St Paul 1–0 Islay Town Mechanical
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 2–0 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–0 Koppen Rig Force
Matahiko Viktory SK 0–4 North Star Grímsey
FC Axel Heiburg 0–1 East Franz Athletic
Melville Celtic 1–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
Neuerlatz AFK 0–1 SK Aasiaat Harbour

COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 33
Neuerlatz AFK 2–2 Jan Mayen Islanders
SK Aasiaat Harbour 0–0 Melville Celtic
RSK Longyearbyen Town 0–5 FC Axel Heiburg
East Franz Athletic 2–1 Matahiko Viktory SK
North Star Grímsey 1–2 FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Koppen Rig Force 2–3 FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls
SK Nasjonale Hauker 3–0 FC Cape St Paul
Islay Town Mechanical 1–1 Red Star Severny
SK Franz Josef City 0–0 Northbrook Diamonds FK
COMING SOON.


MATCHDAY 34
Jan Mayen Islanders 2–1 SK Franz Josef City
Northbrook Diamonds FK 1–0 Islay Town Mechanical
Red Star Severny 1–2 SK Nasjonale Hauker
FC Cape St Paul 2–0 Koppen Rig Force
FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls 1–0 North Star Grímsey
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1–0 East Franz Athletic
Matahiko Viktory SK 0–1 RSK Longyearbyen Town
FC Axel Heiburg 1–3 SK Aasiaat Harbour
Melville Celtic 2–1 Neuerlatz AFK

There you have it, folks!

So, your final league table then:

------Divisjon One               Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Northbrook Diamonds FK      34   24   7   3    77   32  +45    79 - Champions, IFCF CL, CdC
 2  FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla     34   23   6   5    60   31  +29    75 - IFCF CL
 3  FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls   34   19  10   5    80   40  +40    67 - IFCF CC
 4  SK Nasjonale Hauker         34   21   4   9    65   42  +23    67 - IFCF CC
 5  SK Aasiaat Harbour          34   17  12   5    62   32  +30    63 - IFCF CC
 6  SK Franz Josef City         34   18   7   9    60   33  +27    61
 7  Jan Mayen Islanders         34   15   9  10    52   49   +3    54
 8  FC Axel Heiburg             34   15   5  14    49   43   +6    50
 9  East Franz Athletic         34   14   6  14    44   44    0    48
10  Red Star Severny            34   13   8  13    56   58   −2    47
11  RSK Longyearbyen Town       34   12   7  15    49   61  −12    43
12  North Star Grímsey          34   10   9  15    47   62  −15    39
13  Melville Celtic             34   10   7  17    39   57  −18    37
14  FC Cape St Paul             34    9   8  17    42   56  −14    35
15  Islay Town Mechanical       34    9   5  20    41   58  −17    32
16  Koppen Rig Force            34    4  10  20    35   71  −36    22 - Relegated
17  Matahiko Viktory SK         34    5   5  24    24   69  −45    20 - Relegated
18  Neuerlatz AFK               34    3   5  26    27   71  −44    14 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Northbrook Diamonds FK
Runners-Up: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
Relegated: Koppen Rig Force, Matahiko Viktory SK, Neuerlatz AFK
Awards:
Coming Soon

In the second flight,

------Divisjon Two            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1  Resolute Storm 1913 FC   34   20   9   5    61   38  +23     69 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 2  Novaya Sibir Reds        34   17   9   8    50   39  +11     60 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 3  Scapa Bay Rovers         34   17   7  10    50   29  +21     58 - Promoted, IFCF LBCT
 4  Sutherland Foundry SK    34   15  13   6    57   41  +16     58
 5  Bohemiens Grise Fiord    34   16   7  11    59   41  +18     55
 6  SK Sturm Nuuk            34   16   7  11    43   37   +6     55
 7  SC Kiel                  34   16   6  12    50   38  +12     54
 8  AC Aleutia Volcanoes     34   14   8  12    42   44   −2     50
 9  Rapid SK Eysturoy        34   12  13   9    48   36  +12     49
10  Franz Josef Young Boys   34   14   6  14    54   48   +6     48
11  Rapid Jan Mayen FK       34   13   9  12    46   41   +5     48
12  Skipsbyggere IFK         34   10  11  13    39   46   −7     41
13  FC Torshavn              34   10  11  13    46   54   −8     41
14  FK Viipuri 56            34   10  10  14    36   54  −18     40
15  Måriussa Viking FK       34    8   8  18    38   54  −16     32
16  Maritime Hove FC         34    9   5  20    37   54  −17     32 - Relegated
17  Lokomotiv Barentsberg    34    8   6  20    33   67  −34     30 - Relegated
18  Eintracht Moss-Rygge     34    6   5  23    31   59  −28     23 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Resolute Storm 1913 FC
Runners-Up: Novaya Sibir Reds
Promoted: Resolute Storm 1913 FC, Novaya Sibir Reds, Scapa Bay Rovers
Relegated: Maritime Hove FC, Lokomotiv Barentsberg, Eintracht Moss-Rygge
Awards:
Coming Soon

In the third tier

------Divisjon Three             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FK Grise Fiord              34   20   8   6    65   35  +30    68 - Promoted
 2  SK Yuzhny Albion            34   20   3  11    54   34  +20    63 - Promoted
 3  FC North Melville           34   17   8   9    59   42  +17    59 - Promoted
 4  Hospitaliers                34   16   8  10    58   48  +10    56
 5  Franz Josef Sharks          34   16   7  11    55   42  +13    55
 6  FC Solovetsky Monastery     34   15   8  11    62   45  +17    53
 7  Yuzhny Equinox FC           34   16   5  13    49   41   +8    53
 8  FC1. Sturm Grímsey          34   15   6  13    58   56   +2    51
 9  AFK Hans Island Pioneers    34   13  11  10    54   52   +2    50
10  Logan United FC             34   12  12  10    51   43   +8    48
11  Uelmark MK                  34   12  11  11    57   49   +8    47
12  Bennett and Zhokhov         34   12  10  12    44   44    0    46
13  Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen   34   12  10  12    44   49   −5    46
14  McAvery Centurions          34   12   7  15    47   53   −6    43
15  Sisimut Black Star          34    8   7  19    38   66  −28    31 - Relegated
16  Seratakki Villagers         34    6  10  18    34   63  −29    28 - Relegated
17  Korsten Lokomotiv           34    7   6  21    33   62  −29    27 - Relegated
18  Ostermeier Old Boys         34    6   5  23    32   70  −38    23 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: FK Grise Fiord
Runners-Up: SK Yuzhny Albion
Promoted: FK Grise Fiord, SK Yuzhny Albion, FC North Melville
Relegated: Sisimut Black Star, Seratakki Villagers, Korsten Lokomotiv, Ostermeier Old Boys
Awards:
Coming Soon

In the Challenge League East Divisjon,

------East Divisjon          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FC1. Rangers            26   14   9   3    49   27  +22    51 - Promoted
 2  Agheim CF               26   14   7   5    40   28  +12    49 - Promoted
 3  Steffansson Island FC   26   13   5   8    38   30   +8    44
 4  IHK Geddesberg          26   12   7   7    34   25   +9    43
 5  San Moranna FC          26   10  10   6    40   30  +10    40
 6  Ingvar Peaks FC         26    9   9   8    31   30   +1    36
 7  Aleutia Town Dragons    26    9   7  10    25   28   −3    34
 8  SK Thor 1898            26    9   6  11    39   49  −10    33
 9  KA Rikyaare             26    6  13   7    34   32   +2    31
10  Vale of Moray           26    9   4  13    38   37   +1    31
11  Krykkjesund Olympic     26    7   7  12    39   53  −14    28 - Relegated
12  KSC Brighthelmstone     26    6   7  13    31   44  −13    25 - Relegated
13  AIK Alejavik            26    6   7  13    26   40  −14    25 - Relegated
14  St Gallen 47            26    4  10  12    24   35  −11    22 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: FC1. Rangers
Runners-Up: Agheim CF
Promoted: FC1. Rangers, Agheim CF
Relegated: Krykkjesund Olympic, KSC Brighthelmstone, AIK Alejavik, St Gallen 47
Awards:
Coming Soon

In the West meanwhile,

------West Divisjon                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Universitet                   26   15   7   4    47   29  +18    52 - Promoted
 2  1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt        26   14   6   6    51   33  +18    48 - Promoted
 3  FK Norsviken Cossacks         26   11  10   5    47   26  +21    43
 4  Meteor Kholmsk SK             26   12   7   7    40   35   +5    43
 5  Larsen Bay Thunder FC         26   12   4  10    31   26   +5    40
 6  Torpedo Sibir RKA             26   10   7   9    47   37  +10    37
 7  FK Ost-Volonovsk              26    8  11   7    25   28   −3    35
 8  Severnaya Zemlya 88 Equinox   26    9   7  10    37   38   −1    34
 9  Northbrook Zenith FC          26    9   7  10    36   46  −10    34
10  Devon Bay Lights FC           26    8   6  12    36   42   −6    30
11  Energie Zemlya FK             26    8   4  14    34   46  −12    28 - Relegated
12  GVFFK Pekarik                 26    6   9  11    29   39  −10    27 - Relegated
13  FC Fetlar                     26    5   9  12    29   42  −13    24 - Relegated
14  Axel Town AFC                 26    5   6  15    27   49  −22    21 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Universitet
Runners-Up: 1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt
Promoted: Universitet, 1. Lokomotiv Karlstadt
Relegated: Energie Zemlya FK, GVFFK Pekarik, FC Fetlar, Axel Town AFC
Awards:
Coming Soon

In the always competitive Regional League, we of course first turn out attention to the Central Premier, where

------Central Premier             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  FK Fairbanks                 44   26  11   7    83   48  +35    89 - Promoted
 2  Ueland-Alne                  44   28   5  11    83   49  +34    89 - Promoted
 3  Machtspool Whitesleeves FC   44   22   6  16    71   58  +13    72
 4  Bindelsfjorden Dynamo        44   18  12  14    60   49  +11    66
 5  West End                     44   19   7  18    68   62   +6    64
 6  Devon Bay Seals FC           44   18   9  17    69   66   +3    63
 7  Royal NK Sikjonek            44   15  12  17    65   62   +3    57
 8  FC Velcosta Cliffs           44   16   9  19    60   73  −13    57
 9  SK Nolmkien 1949             44   12  11  21    41   64  −23    47
10  Green Star Kobelevskov       44   10  16  18    55   61   −6    46
11  Kerrisgorforth Athletic FC   44   11  11  22    57   79  −22    44
12  Morrenmark IFK               44   11   7  26    42   83  −41    40 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: FK Fairbanks
Runners-Up: Ueland-Alne
Promoted: FK Fairbanks, Ueland-Alne
Relegated: Morrenmark IFK
Awards:
Coming Soon

In the North-Eastern,

------North-Eastern Premier     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Sporting Club Aasiaat 87   44   27   6  11    81   43  +38    87 - Promoted
 2  SK Stryær                  44   26   8  10    83   53  +30    86 - Promoted
 3  Aurich-Hassen Scouts FC    44   25   8  11    68   47  +21    83
 4  Hanshaugen Gate FK         44   22   9  13    73   57  +16    75
 5  Sannegarden Fleet FK       44   18   8  18    62   59   +3    62
 6  Resolute Hills FC          44   14  13  17    47   59  −12    55
 7  Waldenøya Bears            44   15   8  21    52   67  −15    53
 8  Arbor CSK                  44   14   9  21    54   61   −7    51
 9  SK Carson Islanders        44   13  12  19    50   58   −8    51
10  FC Kampengar Magpies       44   12  13  19    59   64   −5    49
11  Oaks of Fjellisroy         44   11  10  23    46   75  −29    43
12  FK Aagen Zenith            44   10  10  24    42   74  −32    40 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Sporting Club Aasiaat 87
Runners-Up: SK Stryær
Promoted: Sporting Club Aasiaat 87, SK Stryær
Relegated: FK Aagen Zenith
Awards:
Coming Soon

In the South-Eastern,

------South-Eastern Premier       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Bathurst Zenith FC           44   24   9  11    74   41  +33    81 - Promoted
 2  Holtrecht Force SK           44   24   6  14    57   42  +15    78 - Promoted
 3  Bielstrich Timbers FC        44   23   9  12    68   64   +4    78
 4  Invermuir Highlanders FC     44   21  10  13    79   51  +28    73
 5  US Saint-John                44   18  10  16    54   57   −3    64
 6  Verdin Brook FC              44   17  11  16    51   57   −6    62
 7  Cap-Pele Cotdelapomais       44   14  11  19    56   68  −12    53
 8  Ilksporta IK                 44   12  15  17    60   67   −7    51
 9  Hauken Orca                  44   14   8  22    65   71   −6    50
10  Lindesvogne Violets          44   14   8  22    51   61  −10    50
11  Friedrichsund Fencing Club   44   12  13  19    47   63  −16    49
12  Forrairn St Johan FC         44   11  10  23    51   71  −20    43 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Bathurst Zenith FC
Runners-Up: Holtrecht Force SK
Promoted: Bathurst Zenith FC, Holtrecht Force SK
Relegated: Forrairn St Johan FC
Awards:
Coming Soon

Finally, the Western Premier,

------Western Premier          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Bulargen Independents     44   29   7   8    77   42  +35    94 - Promoted
 2  NKK Urri                  44   23  10  11    62   45  +17    79 - Promoted
 3  Fynersturen Valhalla      44   21   5  18    57   54   +3    68
 4  Okhotsk Kholmsk Town FC   44   18  10  16    65   58   +7    64
 5  Orebro FK                 44   18   9  17    54   51   +3    63
 6  IHK Sirius                44   17  10  17    63   62   +1    61
 7  Sodermalm Wasps           44   16  12  16    59   62   −3    60
 8  Fjorhorgen SK             44   16  11  17    46   55   −9    59
 9  Marine FC                 44   14  13  17    54   53   +1    55
10  SK Stromness Electric     44   11  12  21    55   70  −15    45
11  Eastgate Victoria FC      44   10  12  22    49   71  −22    42
12  Gjornhammer Pier FC       44   10  11  23    55   73  −18    41 - Relegated


CHAMPIONS: Bulargen Independents
Runners-Up: NKK Urri
Promoted: Bulargen Independents, NKK Urri
Relegated: Gjornhammer Pier FC
Awards:
Coming Soon

And so with four teams relegated, we also need to say welcome to the four new teams promoted from the new second tiers of the Regional Conferences:
At some point, anyway.
As a reminder, this season is the last with only a single relegation spot between the Regional League Conference Premier Divisjons and the Feeder Leagues below them. To get teams used to the idea of increased mobility between the levels of the pyramid that will be coming round the corner at some point, there will be two relegation spots in each Regional Conferences Premier from Season 70 onwards.



Having won their respective leagues, you know the drill.

Final
Universitet 2-0 FC1. Rangers


CHAMPIONS: Universitet

The Regional Trophy also captures our attention in the closing weeks of the season, and... you know, just read it.

Semi-Finals
Sporting Club Aasiaat 87 3-1 Bathurst Zenith FC
Bathurst Zenith FC 1-0 Sporting Club Aasiaat 87 (2-3 agg)

FK Fairbanks 3-2 Bulargen Independents
Bulargen Independents 2-0 FK Fairbanks (4-3 agg)

Final
Sporting Club Aasiaat 87 0-1 Bulargen Independents


CHAMPIONS: Bulargen Independents

So, to the Latitude Cup final then; the centrepiece of the closing weeks of the season.

Final
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 1-1 FC Axel Heiburg (2-1 AET)


CHAMPIONS: FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla