It seems like an age since Långholmen dramatically clinched the league title on the last day of the season way back in October. The long winter break means that league action resumes in April and the start of what will be a tough season for the newcomers to Div 3.
Some new additions to both the playing staff and managerial team have been witnessed during the cold and dark winter months. Max Hallberg joins Stuart Lascelles and will be a welcome addition to the coaching staff. Mr Hallberg has vast experience of club football in Stockholm being involved in clubs such as Skå and Ekerö, Max has also been involved with coaching at youth level with the Stockholm Football Association.
On the playing side of things there have been a few additions and the squad should be further strengthened by the time Assyriska visit Essinge on the 17th of April. Players that will be missing from the first team squad are Mattias Larsson who returns to his old club Mälarhöjden and will be facing Långholmen next season, as they too made the jump into division 3. Club captain Robbie Graham moves into a playing/coaching role along with former first team manager Chris Latham as they lead the second string in a new division and they will be looking to emulate last seasons title winning escapades. Robbie has been a great ambassador for the first team and has led by example in his role as skipper.
The club have a few pre- season friendlies lined up and they have continued involvement in the prestigious Stockholm Cup, a tournament that they had a good run in last season before being knocked out by eventual winners Sörskogens IF.
This seasons cup saw Långholmen enter at the second round stage and they comfortably saw off Saltsjöbaden by a 6-3 scoreline.
Hässelby are their opponents in the third round and with two penalties before the game the division 5 side will fancy their chances.
The league season starts with a home match against former Allsvenskan side Assyriskas youth side, the clubs have met on 3 previous occasions with a win for both sides and a drawn affair.
It is not only on the pitch that things are happening, an official supporters club has been formed and will be hoping it can grow in numbers for this seasons matches. The clubs supporters were commended last season for their sportsmanlike manner at both home and away matches, the emphasis both on and off the pitch is fair play and the club encourages families to come and watch a good level of football without the trouble that is unfortunately spoiling the game for the real supporters at a higher level in Sweden today.
In the coming weeks we shall following the club in it’s build up to the new season and taking a look at some of the players that will figure strongly in 2010.
Stockholm Cup 3rd Round
Hässelby SK v Långholmen FC
Wednesday 24th February
Skytteholms IP 21.30pm
MATCH POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER
info about the club at www.langholmenfootball.com
Text by Scot James
Photo courtesy of Per Hägglund
