Icelandic capital provides a unique experience for small number of travelling Dundalk supporters
Niall Newberry: From the very south of Europe to the very north, Reykjavik was every bit a unique experience as what preceded it just a couple of weeks prior.
Barely in the door from Gibraltar, supporters of Dundalk FC were booking flights and accommodation taking them to Iceland for the latest chapter of the team’s Europa Conference League odyssey. There’s worse ways to decide on your summer holiday.
From the very south of Europe to the very north, Reykjavik was every bit a unique experience as what preceded it just a couple of weeks prior.
While approximately 200 Lilywhites made the journey to Gibraltar, a more modest figure of about 15 braved the 24-hour daylight, plus cost of living that’s synonymous with the land of fire and ice.
For myself, a Wednesday morning flight (via Edinburgh) brought me from Dublin to Keflavik, where Stephen O’Donnell had watched opponents KA Akureyri record a 4-3 win over the Icelandic League’s bottom side the previous Monday.
Exchanged from the local currency, a bus return ticket from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik amounted to just over €50 – a very, very early insight into the expense visits to Iceland are renowned for.
Things would have got even more pricey had KA been permitted by UEFA to play their home matches in their own ground, which is close to 400km north of the Icelandic capital.
The game was instead played at Framvöllur in east Reykjavik, meaning both teams ended up sharing the Hotel Cabin, where I had also coincidentally based myself.
Using the Google Maps app as a compass, I made my way to the pre-match press conference on the Wednesday before 5pm, only to find it had brought me to the old Framvöllur, where Dundalk had once upon a time duelled with Fram Reykjavik in the Cup Winners’ Cup.
It would have done the job in 1981, but upon contacting Dundalk media officer Gavin McLaughlin, I found that the new Framvöllur was further out than anticipated, meaning this presser would oddly have to do without a media presence!
Still, better to have this knowledge at hand on Wednesday as opposed to Thursday’s matchday.
Eating breakfast that morning, both the Dundalk and KA players shared the same breakfast hall – not the picture one would expect to observe on the morning of a big European game, as in just a few hours, they would be sharing the same football pitch.
Upon arrival at the ground, I was greeted by KA representative Ágúst Orri Benediktsson, who was aware of Dundalk’s recent domestic scalps of Shamrock Rovers, also believing that the outcome of this tie was 60/40 in favour of The Lilywhites, and not my suggested 50/50.
What ensued was a 3-1 victory in the first leg for last year’s Icelandic runners-up, donning the colours of Brazil, and made to look like the Seleção Canarinha by Dundalk at times throughout what was a disastrous opening half.
The post-match press briefing with a disappointed Stephen O’Donnell saw myself, as well as the rest of the travelling local media, having to slouch over a wall in order to record comments from the head coach.
Friday provided an opportunity to explore the city of Reykjavik. After enjoying the novelty of buying Christmas decorations in July, on the main street I bumped into Daniel Shields and Jack McLoughlin, two ardent supporters who also made the trek to Gibraltar, not to mention pre-booking arrangements to Belgium for a prospective third-qualifying-round clash with Club Brugge – a great example of the optimism, plus impeccable behaviour Dundalk fans have exhibited on their European travels this year.
The day ends with me just about making my way up the third floor of the Hotel Cabin, ready to pack for Saturday morning’s early flight back home.
Hopefully next week will see Dundalk reach the third floor of the Europa Conference League’s qualifying stage.