FOOTBALL365 [ Website: http://www.football365.co.uk/content/features/365features/fw_genfeatur_327029.htm ] 
April 2000
text: Matt Hudson 

LONG DISTANCE LOVIN'

365 Meets Two Scandinavians Who Are Mad About English Footy

NOT many people start supporting a football club because their train got 
delayed in an Essex station. Not many people start supporting a football 
club purely because of the colour of their kit. And not many people travel 
over a thousand miles for the privilege of watching their beloved club play at home.

But Paul Andersson and Truls Månsson, fans of Colchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively, 
have been following their sides from far off Sweden for a combined total of 37 years!

And both will be descending on these shores this month - Mansson to see Wolves take on Blackburn 
as the Black Country side chase a play-off spot and Andersson to see Steve Whitton's Essex side take on Wycombe. 
And they're coming mob-handed, Andersson has somehow persuaded four friends to travel 1000 miles to see 
Colchester play while Mansson is leading a veritable Scandinavian invasion with around 30 Swedes and Finns 
descending on the Midlands.

"People ask me: 'Why Colchester?'" Andersson told Football365. "It all started back in October 1988, 
when about ten of us were on a train from Harwich to London. We had just arrived by ferry from Sweden 
and were on our way to see our national team play England in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

"One of the many stations the train stopped at was Colchester. One of us, and I still don't know who to blame, 
said: 'Colchester? Isn't that a football team?' Once we got home we decided to find out everything about this 
club that we weren't even sure existed. We soon discovered that Colchester indeed had a football club 
and that they had got beaten by Leyton Orient 8-0.

"At that time Colchester United played in the old fourth division and were rubbish," he continued. 
"We immediately decided that we had to get back to England soon to see this team 'in action'. 
Since then, we’ve always had a good time with the United fans and those of other clubs. 
They see these guys with their Scandinavian flags, and immediately warm to us. 
And it’s certainly been an interesting time following Colchester: a relegation, two promotions and 
three Wembley visits have made the travelling worthwhile!"

Mansson, who is approaching his 25th anniversary following Wanderers, is certainly something of a legend with fellow fans. 
His visit this week is being greatly anticipated by fellow members of the Wolves discussion group, 
and he maintains his own website on the Molineux outfit which he proudly told us receives "300-400 hits a day!"

And the rapid expansion of the internet has certainly helped fans like Mansson and Andersson maintain 
their interest in their adopted teams. Truls told Football365: "I don’t feel my experiences of following 
Wolves are any different to the rest of the fans. It’s frustrating for all of us! 
The distance has definitely been an obstacle, but with the advent of the internet, things have become a lot easier."

And Andersson agrees: "The internet has helped a lot, more than anyone can imagine. 
Before the days of the internet we had to rely on British newspapers that were a week old 
and the odd telephone call to various newsdesks in London. 
I was once told by a voice at The Sun to f*** off when I phoned them at 11pm asking for the results."

Beware. They’re Scandinavian and they’re heading your way!