Volunteering at the Dana Cup for More Than 30 years

Without volunteers, no Dana Cup. This is how Dana Cup Director, Jette Andersen, describes the importance of volunteers for the organization of one of the world's largest youth football tournaments. Up to 2000 volunteers make a completely unique and invaluable contribution year after year. Among them is 66-year-old Lone Bang Andersen.

"I have been a volunteer at the Dana Cup for more than 30 years. For the past many years, I've handed out food in Vendiahallen, where my daughter and four grandchildren are also part of the team," smiles Lone, who actually began her volunteer work elsewhere.

"My good friend's younger brother asked one day if it would be something for me to help out in Frem's clubhouse during the Dana Cup. I had no connection to the club but could lend a hand. My friend and I were asked if we could make burgers. We didn't know because we had never tried it, but we ended up making 34 burgers.”

“When my daughter turned five and wanted to start playing soccer at Fortuna, I became a volunteer here. I was put in charge of wiping down trays, and by the end of the week I decided that I would never help at the Dana Cup again. I'd had enough. My hands were completely ruined. But the very next year I was ready again and have been working food delivery shifts ever since. Here I work with people I only see for one week a year, but there's still a great sense of community. We have a good time, even though it's a long day. This year I have 14 shifts and I walk around 28,000 steps on each shift," says Lone, who also acts as a guide. This

means that she helps pick up players and managers at ferries and airports and helps them to their accommodation.

"I don't get to know people that way, but there are still many who recognize me when they're picking up food”, she adds. When Lone is not volunteering at the Dana Cup in week 30, she still volunteers at Hjørring Frem's clubhouse, where she works in the cafeteria at home matches.

Tina Bang Andersen 38, Lone Bang Andersen 66, Emma 14, Alma 7 and Oskar 10

Dana Cup Hjørring 2025
Foto: Hans Ravn