Oslo Vikings

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Oslo Vikings is the name of an American football club located in Oslo, Norway that competes in the Norwegian American Football Federation and the European Federation of American Football tournaments. The club was founded in 1986 and prior to 1992, the team was known as the Westside Vikings.

The Vikings have won 7 total national championship titles (trailing only the Vålerenga Trolls, who have 10). The Vikings had the most players (9) on the NoAFF 15th Anniversary All-Star Team (named in 2002). The team also has a fierce rivalry with the Vålerenga Trolls, which is the longest rivalry in the NoAFF. The Vikings' top international achievement is their 12-6 2000 EFAF EuroCup Championship Game loss to the London O's.

1 History
2 Results
3 Organization
4 Notable players, coaches and club members
5 External links

[edit] History

The Vikings was founded in Oslo in September 1986 by a group of friends who had previously played for the Ris, Ullern and Oslo Handelsgym high school teams. The founding name of the club was the Westside Vikings, and they immediately entered competition in the new, three-team strong Norwegian American Football Federation league, joining the Vålerenga Trolls and the Kolbotn Kodiaks.

[edit] Results

In the years 1990, 91 and 92 the Vikings won three consecutive National Championships under coach Mark Troop. They lost the final Championship game to the Trolls in 1993, 94, 95, 96 and 97, before they reclaimed the National Championship in 1998, 99, 2000 and 2002.

[edit] Organization

The Oslo Vikings are members of the Norwegian National Federation of Sports and the European Federation of American Football through their membership in the Norwegian American Football and Cheerleading Federation. The Vikings are also members of the Oslo City Sports Association. The highest body of the club is the annual members meeting, which elects a board for a one-year term. The board, led by a president, is responsible for the day-to-day admin and football operations of the club, the budget as well as the long-term planning. The organizational work is based entirely on volunteer efforts.

Reporting to the board, is a senior department led by the club's head coach and a junior department led by the Junior manager. The junior department consists of separate U16 and U19 teams. Associated with the Vikings, but with a separate board and organization, is the Viqueens Cheerleading and Cheerdance club.

[edit] Notable players, coaches and club members

Vikings' Members of the NoAFF 20th anniversary All-Time Allstar Team:

Erik Allum - DB
Nicolay Aslaksen - RB
Gaute Engebretsen - DB
Henrik Dahl - TE/LB
Pär Kärn - OG
Sten Kagnes - OT
Finn-Jarle Mathisen - LB/WR
Ole Petter Nyhaug - OG/LB
Christian Paulsboe - DL
David Rødsand - WR

Coaches

Mark Troop - 1990-1992
[[Val Gunn] - 1996-1997, 2004, 2006-2008
Chris Gauvreau - 1999-2000, 2002
Joe Murawa - 1996

Vikings' members inducted into the Vikings Hall of Fame for long-term and valuable service to the club:

Henrik Dahl - Co-founder, early-years club president, coach and standout player
Ole Petter Nyhaug - President of the club for 9 consecutive years, player, Federation President and organizer
Gaute Engebretsen - Founding member, veteran player, coach and club president for several years
Vilhelm Lae - Founder of the junior program, coach, board member for over 10 years responsible for football operations, standout player
Nicolay Aslaksen - Standout player, team captain and leader, board member for several years