Club football is finally back with us this weekend but forget the Barclays or La Liga, this weekend is ALL about what’s going down in Norway where a Leicester City style title win is about to go down, a football fairytale for the ages THREAD:

That’s because if Norwegian giants Molde drop points in their match today, FK Bodø/Glimt, a tiny club from the Arctic circle in the very north of Norway will win their very first Norwegian top division or “Eliteserien” title, only three years after being promoted to the top tier

This isn’t a story of a minnow stumbling across the finish line. Bodø went undefeated for the first 21 matches (winning the first 12) while playing an attacking style their captain describes as “kamikaze” i.e going for this goal at 6-0 up in the 92nd min https://twitter.com/i/status/1327506550903230464

24 rounds in they have scored an incredible 83 goals & with 6 games left in the season are 2 wins off recording the most ever wins in the top flight & 6 points off the highest points tally. https://twitter.com/FotMob/status/1283352299855851520

This also isn’t a story of a newly moneyed side buying their way to success. Bodø have achieved their route to the top with only a tenth of the budget of the country’s biggest clubs & more than half their squad come from the northern region of Norway they so proudly call home.

The fact the club have stayed true to their Northern roots is of particular importance as the North/South divide in Norwegian football has long been an issue going all the way back to the 1970’s when northern teams weren’t even allowed to compete in the official national league.

Instead Bodø have gone for the alternative route to success, through unorthodox means like hiring a former fighter of Norway’s Air force pilot Bjornn Mannsverk to work with the squad as a mental health coach and enforcing group meditation before training.

But then again perhaps nothing should come as a surprise at a club as special as Bodø/Glimt (Glimt being Norwegian for flash) where supporters bring novelty sized toothbrushes to matches as a running joke since the 70’s and at time boasted a giant salmon in their stadium.

Sadly celebrations may be a little muted, not only due to Covid restrictions but thanks to the towns extremely northern geographical location (in sight of the Northern lights) which sees the sun set around 2pm amongst freezing cold temperatures at this time of year.

Instead there'll be unique celebrations with the Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra recording a special version of the song celebrating the north of Norway (sung before every Bodø home game) & local brewers Bådin have created this special title winning lager https://twitter.com/byGundersons/status/1327625041517932551