Vidar is part of Dana Cup's DNA

When the first Dana Cup was held in 1982, 222 teams participated. One of them was FK Vidar from Stavanger. Since then the Norwegian club has been part of the Dana Cup every single year. This means that FK Vidar together with the Dana Cup can celebrate its 40th anniversary this year.

‘The trip to the Dana Cup in Hjørring is such an ingrained tradition at FK Vidar that everyone looks forward to the trip every single year’, smiles Gaute Meling, who is known in the club as Mr Dana Cup. He is responsible for arranging the trip and the several hundred participants. Dana Cup 2023 is his 23rd tournament.

‘In 2022 we participated with 17 teams and 238 players. This year we are again 17 teams but with 265 players and 40 managers, and it shows quite well that the Dana Cup is such an established tradition that we just have to go. The Norwegian krone has weakened somewhat compared to the Danish krone. Last year, each participant paid NOK 5,600 to participate. This year the price is NOK 6,500, and yet more people participate. It is impressive’, he says.

‘Everyone pays to participate. Some teams sell lotto or something else. Otherwise, we experience great support from the local business community. And the parents are happy to pay anyway’, smiles Gaute Meling, who is the head coach of the teams in B13.

‘In 2022 we won the final in B16 and lost the final in B19. Of course, we want to win, and I think that the teams in the same two classes again this year might reach the finals, but otherwise we come first and foremost for the good experience at the Dana Cup’, he emphasizes.

For Gaute Meling work on the new Dana Cup begins as early as October.