IT was an international match with a difference when a team of former Norwegian premiership players took on a veteran pub side from York.

Firkin 103 hosted an international visit by the over 40s Red & White team from Fredrikstad in Norway over the weekend.

After the traditional handing over of English and Norwegian flags, they played a match on an artificial surface at York College, and Firkin won 5-2 – despite their opponents including a player who scored for Norway against England in 1981.

“We had the better legs. We’re about five years younger,” said Firkin captain Mick Hodson.

He said the team was originally connected to the former Phalanx and Firkin pub in Micklegate, but now meets at the Tap & Spile, in Monkgate.

He said the links between the clubs started some years ago when Norwegian player Kyrre Fritzner, living in York at the time, turned up one day at a Firkin training session on a Wednesday night, asking for a game of football.

“From then on, he played for the Firkin 103 for approximately two seasons until he returned home to Norway,” he said.

Firkin then paid a visit to Norway last year, playing in the Red & Whites’ old ground, which had once been a 12,000-seater stadium.

The Firkin players were take on trips down the Norwegian fjords by their hospitable hosts, and they also made a football song in a recording studio. The Firkin club returned the compliment over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, laying on an entertainment evening at the Tap & Spile, where three team players, Andrew Hird, Julian Gladwin and Aaron Simpson, formed a band for the evening. “It was a fantastic weekend. We had a great time,” said Mick.

He said the Firkin side would be travelling back to Norway next year.

He added the Jorvik Challenge Cup, won by the Firkin 103 on Saturday, was now on display at the Tap & Spile.