Classical Hammarby Moments - Part 1

Initiating a series of articles, we start off with the obvious highlight - our latest, and for a club that has existed 110 years rather surprisingly ONLY victory so far - the 2001 Championship victory.

Before the season started, Hammarby was close to bankruptcy and went through an annual meeting that was in an uproar. All odds against them; some 'experts' even predicted us to be relegated before the season started. But a legendary coach, Mr Sören Cratz, found a recipe that would deliver glory in the end for tens of thousands of Hammarby supporters.

Winning match after match, we find ourselves facing Örgryte IS in the second last round of the season at home. Söderstadion is absolutely sold out, and the masses are both nervous and anxious. Örgryte scored first; after only 8 minutes the ball found it's way past Hammarby legendary goalkeeper Lars Eriksson.

But when 30 minutes had past, striker Andreas Hermansson delivered once again, sending the equalizer in a lob past Örgryte keeper. Half time, and the supporters are optimistic; Hammarby recovered quickly after 0-1. Just 5 minutes into the second half, Hammarby central defender Jonas Stark throws himself, disregarding his own health, and knobs 2-1. Söderstadion explodes in joy and it takes minutes before the match is resumed.

Hammarby is now in full control of the game and in the 72nd minute midfielder Kennedy Bakircioglu (now in AJAX) steals the ball and send it flying behind Örgryte keeper. He sends Hammarby supporters to heaven with his decider. 8 minutes later Örgryte scores 3-2, and the last minutes of the match seemed like hours.

But eventually the referee blows the final whistle, and Söderstadion collapse in ecstasy. I see grown up men crying like babies. Hugging, screaming, some went rampart and didn't know what to do with their bodies. The field got invaded by thousands of spectators, all wanted to hug the players and express their joy. The celebrations at the arena went on, but eventually all spectators walked the short distance to closby south-central part named Södermalm, dense with bars and pubs, and initiated a celebration that lasted for days. Thousands of ordinary people went out of their houses just to experience the festivities, all the pubs and bars were full to maximum. Close by, fans gathered around the statue of Hammarby legend Lennart "Nacka" Skoglund (during his career he played at several clubs in Italy, among them Inter where he is still a saint.). Quietly, people stood close, some crying, some smiling, filling the statue with green and white scarfs and other items.

A week later, Hammarby returned to Stockholm after the final away game, meeting the supporters in Citizens Square. Some say there were 50.000 people there that evening, some say 75.000. I do not know, but when the players entered the stage, the crowd erupted in a massive roar.

That week, from the victory against Örgryte until the final celebration, is one of the best weeks of my life. And I am not alone in that.